The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) conclude their 35th season with Susan Hill's acclaimed ghost story, The Woman in Black. Performances run April 29-May 22 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey (enter on Marshfield), Chicago.
A lawyer, obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the specter of a woman in black, engages a skeptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It all begins innocently enough, but then, as they reach further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds. Stephen Mallatratt's ingenious stage adaptation, a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror, has been running in London's West End for more than 25 years. Directing The Woman in Black is SSP company member Jack Dugan Carpenter, whose previous SSP directing credits include Measure for Measure and Figments. He is managing director of The Plagiarists and has directed their productions of These Saints Will Burn, War Song, Matryoshka and Caesura: A Butchery. The cast features Joe Feliciano as the Actor, Ian Maryfield as Kipps and Billie Rye Bryant as The Woman in Black. SSP company members on the production team include Steven Walanka as production manager, Jim Masini as technical director, Emil Zbella as set designer and Nancy Pollock as props designer. Also on staff are Emma Cullimore as costume and props designer, Charles Blunt as lighting designer, Christi Mueller as sound designer, Robert-Eric West as makeup designer and Megan Chaney as stage manager.Videos