ATC Announces Season 25 With HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH Extension & More

American Theater Company proudly announces Season 25, which includes the Chicago Premiere of Yeast Nation (the triumph of life) by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli; the Chicago Premiere of Lisa Loomer's Distracted, also directed by PJ Paparelli; and the World Premiere of Welcome to Arroyo's, written by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Jaime Castañeda. Back for the holiday season is It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play, directed by Jason Gerace.

In addition, ATC announces a second extension for its current production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The extension will run Wednesday - Friday at 8pm, and Saturday at 8pm and 11pm, until June 13. Hedwig has already broken this season's box office record and is on track to be the highest grossing production in ATC's history.

Currently in development is the original work The Project(s), a collaboration between American Theater Company, Congo Square Theatre Company and the National Public Housing Museum. The Project(s) is a documentary style exploration of the rise and fall of public housing in Chicago. A multicultural team of scholars, sociologists, and ensemble members are in the process of interviewing former and current residents, Housing Authority administrators, and community leaders to shatter myth and misconception and reveal the true stories of the people who lived in and shaped public housing in Chicago. Commissioned by a $75,000 grant from the Chicago Community Trust, The Project(s) is slated to make its World Premiere in the 2012-2013 season.

Artistic Director PJ Paparelli states, "Like the rest of the nation, ATC has had an extraordinary year of change. We are grateful and proud that our production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch continues to cultivate a wonderfully diverse audience and significant box office success. We are thrilled to present a slate of groundbreaking premieres next season that reflect the diversity and identity of the new American family."

THE 2009-2010 AMERICAN THEATER COMPANY SEASON IS:

The Chicago Premiere of

Yeast Nation (the triumph of life)

By the writers of Urinetown: The Musical

Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann

Book and Lyrics by Greg Kotis

Directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli

Previews: September 10 - 16, 2009

Press Opening: September 17, 2009

Regular Run: September 18 - October 18, 2009

The Primordial Soup. 3,000,458,000 B.C. The world's first family, a colony of salt-eating yeasts, float in the brine of the primordial soup under the rule of a tyrannical baritone. When resources deplete and fear pervades, the faith of a single-celled dreamer starts an evolutionary chain reaction that changes the course of existence forever. ATC brings together an all-star Chicago cast including Barbara Robertson, Gary Houston, Michael Mahler, Phil Ridarelli and many more. Here come the Yeasts!

A Chicago Holiday Tradition

It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play

Based on the Frank Capra Film

Directed by Jason Gerace

Previews: November 27 - 29, 2009

Press Opening: November 30, 2009

Regular Run: December 3 - 27, 2009

Bedford Falls. 1948. ATC transforms into a 1940's radio studio to tell Capra's classic story of one man's affect on his community. This year ATC brings new life to this holiday tradition with a new cast, new Foley sound, and new scenes. Free milk and cookies are served after every show.

The Chicago Premiere of

Distracted

Written by Lisa Loomer

Directed by PJ Paparelli

Previews: January 28 - 31, 2010

Press Opening: February 1, 2010

Regular Run: Febrary 4 - 28, 2010

America. Today. When Mom and Dad's problems with Junior escalate, the advice from the world around them is to medicate. Does Jesse have Attention Deficit Disorder, or is he just a kid growing up in an A.D.D. world? From the author of Season 20's smash hit Living Out, this fast-paced theatrical comedy explores the challenges of modern parenting in suburban America.

The World Premiere of

Welcome to Arroyo's

Written by Kristoffer Diaz

Directed by Jaime Castañeda

Featuring Ensemble Members Joe Minoso and Sadieh Rifai

Previews: April 15 - 18, 2010

Press Opening: April 19, 2010

Regular Run: April 22 - May 16, 2010

New York. Today. Two DJ narrators spin a heartwarming and hilarious tale of two siblings' desire to transform their family-run bar into New York City's cultural sensation. Combining the adolescent wit of Season 23's Speech & Debate with the music and world of Broadway's Tony Award-winning In the Heights, ATC premieres this groundbreaking celebration of the urban rhythms of life and love.

Work in Development

The World Premiere of

The Project(s)

A collaboration between American Theater Company, Congo Square Theatre Company and the National Public Housing Museum

Slated for the 2012-2013 season

Chicago. 1937-Today. ATC, Congo Square, and the National Public Housing Museum team up to develop a documentary style exploration of the rise and fall of public housing in Chicago. A multicultural team of scholars, sociologists, and ensemble members interview former and current residents, Housing Authority administrators, and community leaders to shatter myth and misconception and reveal the true stories of the people who lived in and shaped public housing in Chicago.

TICKET INFORMATION:

Subscriptions range in price from $75 to $150, and are available at the box office, (773) 409-4125 or www.atcweb.org.

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?" We provide a truly intimate home for the community to experience meaningful stories. We foster a nurturing environment for artists to take risks and create essential work.

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 Bruce B. Boyd 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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