About Face Theatre Presents WHAT'S THE T? Beginning 5/19

About Face Theatre will present a remount of its wildly popular Youth Ensemble world premiere WHAT'S THE T? by Sara Kerastas and The About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble, directed by Artistic Associate Eric Hoff, playing May 19 - June 2, 2013 at the Prince Charitable Trusts Upstairs Loft at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., in Chicago. The production features members of the About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble. Tickets are available at www.aboutfacetheatre.com or at the door. The press performance is Sunday, May 19 at 3 pm.

Internet personality/trans activist/fierce community leader Ms. Ma uses her YouTube page to create community, serve glamour and spread the good word about queer safe spaces in Chicago. WHAT'S THE T? tells the story of Ms. Ma's tangled web of connections, her struggle to stay positive and what happens to her community when she disappears. Inspired by issues of race, gender, age and class in Chicago's "Boystown," WHAT'S THE T? is based on true stories and interviews from LGBTQA youth and adults in and around Chicago.

WHAT'S THE T? began with the theme of trans identity, but after year-one, the youth ensemble chose to take it a step further by using this theme to address the significant tensions arising in the queer community. As such, the play examines issues of race, gender, class and age in the queer community, with trans characters at the heart of the story. For 13 years, The Youth Theatre has sought changes within the larger community through innovative thought, dialogue, and performance. AFYT hopes to move their ensemble from positions of marginalization into positions of inclusion and power.

"There's a whole storyline in the play that takes place on the Internet - with two people documenting their lives through YouTube videos, and ultimately building a relationship in that digital elusive space," comments playwright Sara Kerastas. "This play is so right now. The story speaks to how we communicate right now. How we build, how we own, and how we use space right now."

The production team for WHAT'S THE T? includes: John Holt (set design/technical director), Mieka van der Ploeg (costume design), Jeff Glass (lighting design/production manager), Erik Roldan (sound design), Liviu Pasare (projections design), Nic K (choreography), Rupert Priniski (production coordinator) and John Rooney (stage manager).

Title: WHAT'S THE T?
Playwright: Sara Kerastas and The About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble
Director: Artistic Associate Eric Hoff
Featuring: About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble members
Location: Prince Charitable Trusts Upstairs Loft at Victory Gardens Theater
2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.
Dates: Press Opening: Sunday, May 19 at 3 pm
Regular Run: Friday, May 24 - Sunday, June 2
Curtain Times: Fridays at Saturdays at 7 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Note: there will an added 3 pm performance on Saturday, June 1.
Tickets: $15. $5 youth tickets; $25 AFYT Support Ticket.
Tickets for WHAT'S THE T? are available at www.aboutfacetheatre.com or at the door.

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