Keaton Wooden To Direct IN THE JUNGLE at Brown Elephant

Wakadoo Productions and the Howard Brown Health Organization are pleased to present Wallace Dirges' adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's In the Jungle of Cities, directed by Emmy-nominee Keaton Wooden. The production will run from Nov. 17th-20th and Nov. 30th-Dec. 18th at Brown Elephant, 5404 N Clark, at the site of the historic Calo Theatre in Andersonville. Half of all ticket proceeds will be donated to the Howard Brown Health Organization. The press performance will be held Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Dirges' In the Jungle, an adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's In the Jungle of Cities, is an allegorical story of the epic battle between a wealthy businessman and a poor bookseller in 1912 Chicago. "The piece is more timely than ever. It is a tale of the destructive and senseless power of hatred," explains director Wooden. "Brecht wanted us to think that there is intimacy in violent hatred just as there is in love. Our choices in life dictate which fruit our actions grow into. The danger and perhaps even the draw of this story is its acknowledgment that we all have thought to resort to vulgar actions similar to our main characters. I am thrilled to bring this story to the Chicago community."

Tickets for $30 are on sale to the public and may be purchased by visiting https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/207296.

For more information, please visit www.InTheJungleChicago.com and facebook.com/inthejunglechicago

HOWARD BROWN HEALTH CENTER: A CHICAGO PIONEER

Howard Brown Health Center is a Chicago-based organization that seeks to benefit the LGBT community, fund HIV prevention, and promote sexual wellness in Chicago. The organization feels that this production will aid in its ongoing efforts to address not only LGBT health issues, but also social stigma and prejudice. To date, Howard Brown has provided health care services to more than 36,000 adults and youth each year, with services such as primary medical care, behavioral health, research, HIV/STD prevention, youth services, elder services, and community initiatives. The Brown Elephant, located in the heart of Andersonville, raises funds for Howard Brown through its thrift store operations.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Keaton Wooden (Director) is an Emmy nominee for his work with Vibrations, a documentary that tells the story of a group of deaf teenage students who form their own performing arts troupe. He has traveled to three continents to present research on the humanities. He was recently nominated for the Rhodes scholarship.

Alyssa Ramos (Producer) is a recent graduate of Northwestern University with a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre. She is a freelance director, producer, teaching artist, and theatre maker. She is a member of For Youth Inquiry, a collective that tours to schools, teaching sexual health through drama. She also serves as director of Teatro Luna's New Works and Reading Series. This fall, she will be a part of the Teaching Artist Development Studio at Columbia College Chicago. Previously, she has worked with Lookingglass, The Neo-Futurists, Remy Bummpo, and Cardboard Citizens (UK).

The production features Helene Alter-Dyche (Baboon/Mae), Edward J. Eberwine (George), Drew Johnson (Shlink), Laura Lapidus (Marie Garga), Bruce Alexander McConnell (Army Officer/Understudy), Brett Meslar (Skinny), Michael Moran (Manky), Howard A. Raik (John/Maynes), Elise Spoerlein (Jane), and Edwin Unger (Worm).

The designers are Jeremy Cluette T. Todd (Production Coordinator/Stage Manager), Alyssa Vera Ramos (Producer) Keaton Wooder (Director), Liz Golko (Assistant Director), Shaun Renfro (Set Designer), Bill Marcella (Light Designer), Dustin Spence (Movement), Alissa Norby (Marketing), and Candice Conner (Photography).