ATC Announces 2011-12 Season, Includes THE AMISH PROJECT

American Theater Company proudly announces Season 27, which includes the Chicago Premiere of The Amish Project, written by Jessica Dickey and directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli; K2 written by Patrick Meyers and directed by ATC Ensemble Member Jaime Castañeda and featuring Ensemble Members Usman Ally and Kareem Bandealy; the World Premiere of Tennessee Williams' one act play Escape directed by PJ Paparelli, with choreography by DanceLoop's Paula Frasz; and a co-production of Rent with About Face Theatre, directed by AFT Artistic Director Bonnie Metzger and ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli. It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play directed by Jason W. Gerace, will return for a tenth and final holiday season.

"Season 27 is intense. We want to explore the limits of theatre and the human experience," says Paparelli. "Each of the stories we tell and the way we tell them are extremes: from the depths of human tragedy to the highest summits in the world. Next season celebrates the talents of our ensemble and the joy of collaboration with two exciting theatre and dance companies in the city. "

THE 2011-2012 AMERICAN THEATER COMPANY SEASON IS:
Chicago Premiere
The Amish Project
Written by Jessica Dickey
Directed by PJ Paparelli
With ATC Ensemble member Sadieh Rifai

September-October 2011

Nickel Mines. 2006. Five years ago, a thirty-year old man walked into a one-room Amish schoolhouse and opened fire, killing 5 girls and himself. In a decision that shocks the world, the Amish community later the same day forgives his crime and offers aid to his grieving widow. ATC Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai performs this devastating tour-de-force through the mystical world of the Amish and the ultimate limits of forgiveness.

A Chicago Holiday Tradition
It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play
Adapted from the Frank Capra film
Directed by ATC Artistic Associate Jason W. Gerace

November-December 2011

Bedford Falls. 1948. Celebrating its tenth year, ATC transforms its space into a 1940's radio studio to tell Capra's classic story of one man's effect on his community. Free milk and cookies are served after every show!

K2
Written by Patrick Meyers
Directed by ATC Ensemble Member Jaime Castañeda
With ATC Ensemble Members Usman Ally and Kareem Bandealy

January-March 2012

K2. 1983. Two American climbers face the unimaginable after an accident cripples them near the top of the world's most treacherous mountain.
ATC Ensemble Member Jaime Castañeda dangles fellow Ensemble Members Usman Ally and Kareem Bandealy high above the audience for this 75-minute theatrical heart-stopper that explores the boundaries of the human spirit. Note: This production offers 100 standard theater seats as well as 20 supine position seats directly underneath the actors.

The World Premiere
Escape
Written by Tennessee Williams
Choreographed by Paula Franz
Directed by PJ Paparelli

March-April 2012

America. 1940. Recently-discovered in the vaults of America's most prolific playwright, ATC pushes the boundaries of theatre by merging groundbreaking works from Tennessee Williams with the power of modern dance. ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli teams up with DanceLoop Chicago Artistic Director Paula Frasz to stage three theatrical explorations of escape in America: from white oppression in the Bible Belt, from a co-dependent mother and son in New England, to the bacchanal of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

American Theater Company/About Face Theatre Co-Production
Rent
Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Directed by AFT Artistic Director Bonnie Metzger & ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli

May-July 2012

East Village. 1990. American Theater Company teams up with About Face Theatre to create a stunning re-imagining of Jonathan Larson's 1996 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning rock opera. At the end of the 1980's, a group of Bohemian artists struggle to find life, love and art in a brutal economy and the height of the AIDS crisis. Artistic Directors Bonnie Metzger and PJ Paparelli will bring a staggering reality to this landmark musical.
Parental Discretion is Advised.

SEASON 27 SUBSCRIPTION AND TICKET INFORMATION:
Friday or Saturday Night $160 ($130 without It's a Wonderful Life*)
Thursday Night or Weekend Matinee $140 ($110 without It's a Wonderful Life*)
Preview Performance $125 ($100 without It's a Wonderful Life*)
FLEX PASS (3 tickets for any combination of shows) $ 99

* Packages without It's A Wonderful Life are only available to renewing subscribers

Subscriptions range in price from $99 to $160 and are available at the Box Office, (773) 409-4125, or online at www.atcweb.org.

About American Theater Company
American Theater Company is an ensemble of artists committed to producing new and classic American stories that ask the question, "What does it mean to be an American?" ATC's Ensemble includes Usman Ally, Patrick Andrews, Kareem Bandealy, Jaime Castañeda, Joe Minoso and Sadieh Rifai.

American Theater Company is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and CityArts II. Additional valuable support is provided by the Alphawood Foundation, the Boeing Charitable Trust, the Bruce B. Boyd Foundation, the Elizabeth F. Chaney Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, the Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, the Polk Bros. Foundation, the MacArthur Fund at Prince Charitable Trust, and the Shubert Foundation.

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