Gift Theatre Co. Hosts "Stop and Kiss" Night for STOP/KISS on Feb. 18th

The Gift Theatre Company's hosts "STOP AND KISS" NIGHT!! on Wednesday, February 18th from 7pm - close. Press notes promise "Our economic stimulus plan: You show up, drink and eat with us in the back room, and raise awareness for our Critics' Choice production of Stop/Kiss. Raffle! Prizes! Cupid! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Center on Halsted."

The event takes place at T's Bar. 5025 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL 60640

The Gift's current production of STOP/KISS plays through March 14th. Thursdays & Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2:30pm and 7:30pm. Tickets at (773) 283-7071 or www.thegifttheatre.org

Diana Son's play about a friendship between two girls which blossoms into a romance with devastating consequences receives a bold storefront staging at Chicago's award-winning Gift Theatre.

The Gift Theatre is dedicated to telling great stories on stage with honesty and simplicity. Since its 2002 debut, The Gift has consistently established itself as an actors' theatre, eschewing directorial cleverness for honest, powerful connections between the actors and the audience. With the conception of The Lab-an ensemble-only forum dedicated to artistic growth and exploration-The Gift continues to deepen its commitment to the idea of 'ensemble' by training together on an ongoing basis. Previous and future instructors in The Lab include Sheldon Patinkin, Jeff Perry, and Dr. Eric Forsythe.

Previous productions include Santa's Great American Depression Holiday Show! America, Streamers, W;t, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, White People, Three Sisters, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Blithe Spirit, 365 Days/365 Plays, The Halloween Show, Long Day's Journey Into Night, The Glass Menagerie (Remount-Theatre on the Lake), The Good Thief, The Clearing, Hurlyburly, The Glass Menagerie, The Pavilion, A Young Man In Pieces, Language of Angels, 6, County Fair, The Countess, Alcatraz (Abbie Hoffman Festival), Orestes 2.0, Boys' Life, and Sexual Perversity in Chicago (giftSYDNEY).

The educational program of The Gift Theatre Company, giftED., continues its work at The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) by combining theatre and speech therapy to combat pediatric oral aversion in addition to its work through Chicago Public Schools, staging extant productions such as Pecos Bill as well as creating new pieces for the theatre, such as HOME / ROOM. The Gift is also beginning to secure equipment for its first feature-length project under its film component, giftFILM.

The Gift Theatre is the only professional theatre company in the working class neighborhood of Jefferson Park. As one of Chicago's most exciting theatre companies, The Gift is marked by acting of the highest caliber with continual training in The Lab, the important educational work being done at RIC through giftED., and sold-out houses on the northwest side of Chicago. Recent generous support has been provided by the Donnelley Foundation and Driehaus Foundation as well as The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Illinois Arts Council.