Next Theatre Company is proud to present the Midwest Premiere of Adam Rapp's The Metal Children, directed by Joanie Shultz, April 7- May 8 at 927 Noyes Street in Evanston. Previews are April 7 - 10. Opening/press night is Wednesday, April 13 at 7 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Saturdays, April 23 and 30 and May 7 have an added 4 p.m. matinee. Tickets are $25 - $40 with subscriber and student discounts available. Tickets may be purchased at nexttheatre.org or by calling 847-475-1875 x2.
In The Metal Children, Rapp creates a timely, semi-autobiographical drama about a New York writer (Sean Cooper) and his explosive encounter with a small American town that he travels to in order to defend one of his young adult novels, which has been banned by the local school board. The story introduces not only the writer and his views but all sides of this controversial issue: the head of the school board (Bradley Mott), the religious right (Laura T. Fisher) and the writer's devout followers (Meg Thalken, Paul Fagen, Caroline Neff). The controversy ignites heated emotions over religious beliefs and censorship. The book-banning incident also forces the writer to reflect on his own work, the motivations that drive him and the gap between artist and product.
The cast also includes Marc Grapey, Nicole Ripley, and Caitlin Collins. The production staff includes Chelsea Warren, set design; Joanna Melville, costume design; Nick Keenan, sound design; JaRed Moore, lighting design and Nancy Staiger, production stage manager.
Since its founding in 1981 by Harriet Spizziri and Brian Finn, the 167-seat space has been home to over a hundred productions, serving nearly a quarter of a million theatergoers and winning Jeff Awards in nearly every category. The theater's adventurous spirit and great conviction prompted Richard Christiansen of the Chicago Tribune to announce that Next is "a resounding reaffirmation of what faith, dedication and talent can accomplish. It is what distinguished Chicago theatre in its Early Stages more than a quarter century ago, and it is what continues to make Chicago theater so exciting."
The Next serves over 15,000 patrons annually, including students, elderly, and everyone in between. The Next audience includes locAl Evanstonians as well as Chicago and North Shore residents, and they have come to expect artistic excellence in the pursuit of culturally progressive work.
The Next Theatre is located inside the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston, adjoining the Noyes street stop on the Evanston "el." Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the theatre and the Evanston Civic Center. Next Theatre Company presents The Metal Children at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston. Previews are April 7 - 10 and the opening/press Night is Wednesday, April 13 at 7 p.m. The regular performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Saturdays, April 23 and 30 and May 7 have an added 4 p.m. matinee. Tickets are $25 - $40 with subscriber and student discounts available. Tickets may be purchased at nexttheatre.org or by calling 847-475-1875 x2.Videos