About Face Announces Casting For TIME IS ON OUR SIDE

Following its sell-out hit SIGNIFICANT OTHER, About Face Theatre is pleased to announce casting for the second production of its 2017-18 season, the Midwest premiere of R. Eric Thomas' gleeful mystery TIME IS ON OUR SIDE, directed by Artistic Director Megan Carney.

TIME IS ON OUR SIDE will feature Esteban Andres Cruz, Rashaad Hall, Riley Mondragon and Maggie Scrantom.

TIME IS ON OUR SIDE will play March 1 - April 7, 2018 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets go on sale Friday, January 5, 2018 at aboutfacetheatre.com by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. The press opening is Wednesday, March 7 at 7:30 pm.

How can we learn from the past if we don't know our own history? Annie and Curtis have big dreams for their DIY 'queering history' podcast but can't seem to break out of obscurity. The surprising discovery of a secret family journal sets them off on a gleeful and high stakes adventure to unravel the mysteries of the early LGBTQ rights movement and its impact on their own lives. Connecting essential historical landmarks from the Underground Railroad to Rosa Parks to Celebrity Jeopardy, this time-hopping tale redefines how personal the political can really get.

"R. Eric Thomas' magnificent play absolutely fizzles with life and hope," comments Director Megan Carney. "Time Is On Our Side is a hilarious and deeply personal story. I recognize the longing these characters express to connect with their LGBTQ roots and pass on what they've learned. There is such value in learning the stories of resistance and power from our ancestors. This play serves as an important reminder that although we still have to go looking for that history, it's waiting for us, and if we can access some of that queer magic, we'll be better suited to meet the challenges of today."

The production team for TIME IS ON OUR SIDE includes José Manuel Diaz (scenic design), Robert Kuhn (costume design), Christopher Kriz (sound design), Claire Sangster (lighting design) Blake Burke (properties design) Catherine Allen (production manager) and Dana Nestrick (stage manager).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: TIME IS ON OUR SIDE

Playwright: R. Eric Thomas

Director: Artistic Director Megan Carney

Cast (in alphabetical order): Esteban Andres Cruz (Rene), Rashaad Hall (Curtis), Riley Mondragon (Claudia) and Maggie Scrantom (Annie).

Location: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, March 1 at 7:30 pm, Friday, March 2 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, March 2 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, March 4 at 3 pm and Tuesday, March 6 at 7:30 pm

Press opening: Wednesday, March 7 at 7:30 pm

Regular run: Friday, March 9 - Saturday, April 7, 2018

Curtain Times: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will not be a performance on Thursday, March 8.

Tickets: Previews: $15. Regular run: $20-$38. Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Single tickets go on sale Friday, January 5, 2018 at aboutfacetheatre.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at Theater Wit Box Office.

Artist Biographies

R. Eric Thomas (Playwright) is an award-winning playwright, humorist and the long-running host of The Moth in Philadelphia. His play Time is on Our Side was the recipient of two Barrymore Awards including Best New Play and was named a finalist for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award. Forthcoming productions include Mrs. Harrison at Azuka Theatre. He writes a daily humor column for Elle.com in which he "reads" the news. In addition to Elle.com and ELLE magazine, his writing has appeared in the New York Times, W Magazine, Man Repeller, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine and more. www.rericthomas.com

Megan Carney (Director) is a director, playwright, educator and the Artistic Director of About Face
Theatre. Recent Chicago directing credits include Julie Jenson’s Winter, George Brandt’s Grizzly
Mama, Danielle Pinnock’s Body/Courage and Lisa Dillman’s American Wee Pie and The Walls with
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. She was lead interviewer and playwright for Women at War, a multi-year
performance and civic dialogue project about women in the military that continues to tour. Megan was
a founding director of About Face Youth Theatre and served as Associate Artistic Director for several
years while she created original ensemble plays. Carney’s work has been recognized with multiple
After Dark Awards, the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, an APA Presidential Citation, induction in Chicago’s
Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, a Rockefeller Foundation MAP Grant and a GLAAD Media Award
nomination. Megan served as the Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 2011-2017 where she created arts based educational programs for and about diverse LGBTQIA+ people and communities. She has a MFA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech with a focus on Directing and Public Dialogue.

About Face Theatre creates exceptional, innovative, and adventurous theatre and educational programming that advances the national dialogue on sexual and gender identity, and challenges and entertains audiences in Chicago and beyond.

PHOTO CREDIT: The cast of About Face Theatre's Midwest premiere of TIME IS ON OUR SIDE includes (top, l to r) Maggie Scrantom as Annie and Rashaad Hall as Curtis (bottom, l to r) Esteban Andres Cruz as Rene and Riley Mondragon as Claudia.

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