Writers’ Theatre Presents the revival of 'Nixon’s Nixon'

 

 

Writers' Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma proudly announce the revival of Nixon's Nixon by Russell Lees, directed by Michael Halberstam. The production runs August 19-October 19, 2008, at Writers' Theatre, 664 Vernon Avenue in Glencoe. The official press openings are August 27 and 28, 2008, at 7:30 p.m.

This is the strongest presale in the history of Writers' Theatre as ticket sales exceeded 80% of the goal in presale to season ticket holders. The production has already been extended by three weeks and must close October 19, 2008.

Just in time for the elections, Writers' brings back its critically-acclaimed, award-winning production of Nixon's Nixon. This box office record-breaking production returns to our most intimate theatre for a limited engagement. Artistic Director Michael Halberstam will once again direct William Brown and Larry Yando as they reprise their tour-de-force performances as Kissinger and Nixon in this thrilling, hilarious and brilliantly imagined story of what might have happened in the Lincoln sitting room the night before Nixon resigned.

"With our revival of Nixon's Nixon, Writers' Theatre proves that the word and the artists combined with an intimate setting make for an amazing theatrical experience," says Michael Halberstam, "while also providing a vehicle for some truly dynamic conversation in this especially intense political season!"  He continues, "Larry Yando and William Brown, two of the cities finest artist. reprise their award-winning roles in the same performance venue as the original production. They thrillingly demonstrate how world class theatre can happen in humble environments – which is after all, what truly places Chicago Theatre at the creative forefront of the nation!"

The designers are Jack Magaw (scenic), Josh Schmidt (sound), Keith Parham (lighting), Sarah Heberlein (costume).  

Michael Halberstam (Artistic Director) and co-founder of Writers' Theatre, where he has directed Love & Lunacy, A Play on Words, Dear Master, Not About Heroes (starring Nicholas Pennell), Diary of a Madman, My Own Stranger, Marriage & Bears, Blake, Memoir, Private Lives, Look Back in Anger, Candida, Fallen Angels, Nixon's Nixon, Spite for Spite, The Father, A Phoenix Too Frequent, Rough Crossing, Crime and Punishment, Benefactors, The Doctor's Dilemma, Seagull, The Uneasy Chair, The Duchess of Malfi, Othello, and most recently The Savannah Disputation. Michael appeared in the Writers' Theatre productions Two by Shaw, Oscar Remembered, Damon, Ring & F. Scott, In the Heart of Winter, the title role in Richard II, pInteracts, Loot and Misalliance. Previously, he spent two years at The Stratford Festival in Ontario and performed in Timon of Athens, The Knight of the Burning Pestle (title role), Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It and Macbeth. Halberstam's other Chicago acting credentials include productions with Wisdom Bridge, Court Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He spent two-and-a-half years teaching Shakespeare at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Elsewhere he directed Pledge of Allegiance (American Theatre Company), The Gamester (Northlight Theatre), A Man for All Seasons (Peninsula Players Theatre), Hamlet (Illinois Shakespeare Festival), Candida (Jean Cocteau Repertory in New York City, NY) and Ten Little Indians (Drury Lane Oakbrook), a highly acclaimed revival of Crime And Punishment, which Writers' Theatre produced Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theatres in New York and most recently, Enchanted April (Milwaukee Repertory Theater). His forays into opera have included The Rape of Lucretia (Chicago Opera Theater), Francesca da Ramini featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Christoph Eschenbach and Le Freyschutz, a Berlioz adaptation of the Weber opera conducted by Christoph Eschenbach in its North American Premiere (Ravinia Festival). Halberstam has received awards for excellence in theatre management and artistic achievement from The Chicago Drama League, The Arts & Business Council and the Chicago Lawyers for the Creative Arts. Halberstam will direct State of the Union at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, in their Powerhouse venue this September. Also, Halberstam will direct Nixon's Nixon and the world premiere musical A Minister's Wife, based on Candida by George Bernard Shaw, as part of the 2008/09 Season.

William Brown (Henry Kissinger) returns to reprise his Joseph Jefferson winning portrayal of Henry Kissinger in Nixon's Nixon at Writers' Theatre where he also previously appeared as Dr. Lyman in Bus Stop. Directing credits at Writers' Theatre include last season's As You Like It and Joseph Jefferson nominated productions of Another Part of the Forest, Our Town, Rocket to the Moon, Misalliance and The Glass Menagerie, among others. At Northlight Theatre he has directed productions of She Stoops to Conquer (After Dark Award), The Chalk Garden, and Lady Windermere's Fan, a play he also directed at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. At American Players Theatre in Spring Green, Wisconsin he has directed Night of the Iguana, Shaw's You Never Can Tell, Antony and Cleopatra, All's Well That Ends Well, The Cherry Orchard, Twelfth Night and Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker. At TimeLine Theatre, he has directed the Midwest premiere of Tennessee Williams' recently discovered prison drama Not About Nightingales, (six Jeff Citations including Best Play and Best Director), Halcyon Days and Paragon Springs. Brown is the Associate Artistic Director of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks where he has directed Heartbreak House, Cymbeline, Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale, Love's Labours Lost, The Comedy of Errors, and The Country Wife. He most recently directed A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre.

Larry Yando (Richard Nixon) will reprise his Joseph Jefferson nominated role as Richard Nixon in Nixon's Nixon after last season's unforgettable portrayal of Jaques in As You Like It, directed by William Brown. Other credits include Bach at Leipzig and Rock¬et to the Moon at Writers' Theatre; Titus Andronicus at Defiant Theatre; The Two Noble Kinsmen, Cymbeline, The Tempest, All's Well That Ends Well, Timon of Athens, Two Gentlemen of Verona, King Lear, Henry IV, Parts I and II and Antony and Cleopatra at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; and Travesties, Ghosts, The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, Electra, Measure for Measure and Travels with My Aunt at Court Theatre. He has also appeared at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire, Apple Tree Theatre, and the Royal George Theatre. Regionally, he has appeared at Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Madison Repertory Theatre. Yando also appeared as Scar in a 3-year run with the national tour of The Lion King.

Previews are August 19-26, 2008. The opening press performances are on August 27 and 28, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. The production runs through October 19, 2008. Curtain times are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. There will be no show on Tuesday, September 9 and 30, 2008.  Wednesday matinees will begin at 2 p.m. on September 10 and October 1, 2008.

Tickets are $60-$75 (Writers' Theatre subscribers receive a 10% discount) and are available at the Box Office, 376 Park Avenue, Glencoe; 847-242-6000 or online at www.writerstheatre.org.

Discussions with artistic staff and cast members will follow the performances on September 2, 3, 23 and 24, 2008. A pre-show lecture, designed to make the Writers' Theatre experience even more enjoyable, will be given by Michael Halberstam or other members of the artistic staff on September 7 at 5 p.m.  

DiPescara is the Writers' Theatre 2008/09 Season restaurant partner. Patrons can enjoy dinner before the show at Di Pescara (2124 Northbrook Court, Northbrook), one of the North Shore's top restaurants, named among the city's best new restaurants. This Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, conveniently located at Northbrook Court (just five minutes from the theatre), is offering a three-course pre-theatre meal for $29.95 (excluding tax and gratuity). Contact Di Pescara at 847-498-4321 to make your reservation and mention Writers' Theatre to receive your special offer.

The production sponsor is Philip and Janice Beck.

The Writers' Theatre season is underwritten, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Writers' Theatre is a professional company focusing on the Word and the Artist. Remaining true to the intention of the playwright and nurturing the artist stand at the center of the mission. Now in its 17th season, the company both revives classic scripts and cultivates new works and adaptations while invigorating them with fresh energy in the intimacy of its venues. Founded in 1992, Writers' Theatre performed exclusively at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue for the first 12 years. In the fall of 2003, the organization opened a new 108 seat performance venue at 325 Tudor Court. Today, Writers' theatre continues to produce in both spaces, maintaining an intimate theatrical experience for audiences.  Since 2000, the subscriber base has grown almost 250%, from 1,500 to more than 5,300 today.  With an operating budget of $3.2 million, Writers' Theatre is supported by a staff of 16 full-time employees and a 29-member Board of Trustees.