Saint Sebastian Players Presents Arms and the Man 2/18-3/13

Having produced Shakespeare, Sheridan, Simon, Sondheim and more during its 30-year history, the Saint Sebastian Players will produce its first Shaw production with Arms and the Man. Performances are February 18-March 13, 2011 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, in Chicago.

Arms and the Man questions the romantic ideas about love and war that seem to crop up in every age. During the 1885 Serbo-Bulgarian War, Bluntschli, a Swiss mercenary, steals into the bedroom of Raina, a romantic young Bulgarian woman, to escape a street battle. His practical "cowardice" starts a conflict in her mind about her arrogant fiancé's blustering and posing, eventually challenging her visions of romance, and she is forced to begin making choices based upon real life rather than fairy tales.

SSP's production of Arms and the Man is directed by SSP co-founder Jim Masini, whose past directing credits include The Rivals, As You Like It, Holiday and Crimes of the Heart, among others. The cast features SSP members Kelly Rhyne (Raina) and Victoria Montalbano, along with Charles Askenaizer, Greg Callozzo, Drew Longo, Chris McGillivray and Melissa Reeves. Emil Zbella is the set designer, Tina Godziszewski and Mansie O'Leary are costume designers, Kalin Gullberg is lighting designer and Leah Cox is dramaturg. Other SSP members on the production team are Adam Seidel as set construction manager, Don Johnson as sound designer, Al Cerkan as stage manager, Mary Whalen as properties manager and Nancy Pollock and Jill Chukerman Test as co-producers.

SSP's 30th Anniversary Season concludes with The Sisters Rosensweig by Wendy Wasserstein, running April 29-May 22, 2011.

SSP began producing theatre in 1982 at its original home, the St. Sebastian parish, located at the corner of Halsted Street and Wellington Avenue on Chicago's North Side. When the parish closed, SSP relocated to its current home, St. Bonaventure, at 1625 W. Diversey. During those 30 seasons, the company has produced original and previously produced dramas, comedies and musicals; original audience-participation murder mysteries for special events; and its annual Monologue Matchup Competition, as well as provided support for smaller Sebastian Studio Projects produced by company members.

Arms and the Man runs February 18 through March 13, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, at Marshfield just west of Ashland, in Chicago. Free parking is available in two lots. Tickets are $15, $10 for students with valid IDs and $7 for seniors and children younger than 12. Group rates also are available, including school groups. SSP also will host a special "Theater Thursday" performance, featuring refreshments and a post-show discussion, on Thursday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $21. All programming is subject to change. For information, call 773-404-7922 or visit saintsebastianplayers.org.