Adventure Stage Chicago Closes 10th Season with Tom Arvetis' SPARK, Now thru 5/8

Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC) closes their 10th season with the world premiere of SPARK: Chapter One of The Prometheus Project, which runs today, April 5 - May 8, 2014 at ASC's Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. SPARK is written by Tom Arvetis (ASC Producing Artistic Director) and directed by Rives Collins (Theatre and Drama for Youth Specialist, Northwestern University).

Pandora lives a regimented life within the underground tunnels of Sanctuary, a secluded community designed to outlast the raging violence outside its walls. Each inhabitant of Sanctuary has a purpose, a place, and a common enemy-the mysterious Outliers who live in the world above.

But after Pandora personally encounters two young Outliers, she starts to question all that has been taught to her. Is Sanctuary the safe haven she has always believed it to be, or a prison built on fear? As sides are chosen and truths shattered, Pan must ultimately decide between the life she knows and the one that is calling to her.

Using projections designed by Liviu Pasare to simulate the texting and gaming that is ever-present in Sanctuary's techno-savvy world, this inventive adventure set in the near future is recommended for ages 9 (grade 4) and up.

The Prometheus Project began when playwright Tom Arvetis and director Rives Collins visited several Chicago middle school classrooms and conducted a series of story circles with Adventure Stage's West Town neighbors, utilizing the Greek myth of Prometheus as a starting point for understanding contemporary challenges within our community. Themes of power, violence, sacrifice and hope emerged as young people and families shared the daily struggles they experience. Out of these story circles, SPARK was born.

Relying heavily on the archetypes of the Hero's Journey, ASC's goal with SPARK is to ask our audience to think critically about the responsibility we have to our neighbors and the courage it takes to move our communities toward a more imaginative, healthy and tolerant status quo.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Weekend Evenings: 7:30pm
Fri, Apr 11 | Fri, Apr 18 | Fri, Apr 25 | Fri, May 2

Weekend Matinees: 4:00pm
Sat, Apr 5 | Sat, Apr 12 | Sat, Apr 19 | Sat, Apr 26 | Sat, May 3

Weekday Education Matinees: 10:30am (also open to general public)
Tue, Apr 8 | Wed, Apr 9 | Thur, Apr 10 | Thur, Apr 17 | Tue, Apr 22 | Wed, Apr 23* | Thu, Apr 24* | Tue, Apr 29 | Wed, Apr 30 | Thu, May 1 | Tue, May 6 | Thur, May 8

Previews: 10:30am
Thu, Apr 3 | Fri, Apr 4

TICKETS
Adult: $25.00 | Child: $15.00 (14 and under) | Educator/Industry: $10.00 | Previews: $10.00
Public Groups: $13.00 (10 or more) | School Groups: $8.00 per student
Neighborhood Discount (zip codes 60642 and 60622): $10.00

For tickets, call 773-342-4141 or visit www.adventurestage.org.

PERFORMANCE EXTRAS
FREE Sneak Peak
Sun, March 23, 4:00-5:00pm
Please join us for an open rehearsal of SPARK! Gain a glimpse into the journey that awaits you, and then tell us what you think. Refreshments provided.

Settlement Saturday
Sat., April 5, 4:00-8:00pm
Settlement Saturday is a day to celebrate our parent organization, the Northwestern University Settlement House, as well as the Settlement's neighbors. This performance includes Spanish supertitles, and the pre- and post-show discussion are conducted in both Spanish and English. The show is followed by a food and entertainment reception in Vittum Theater's Burnside Hall for all audience members to enjoy!

Curtain Conversations
Every ASC performance is framed by a pre-show question and a post-show conversation. Our hope is not only to encourage thought and curiosity and in our audience, but also to spur ongoing family discussions that continue long after leaving our theatre.