Akvavit Theatre's Nordic Spirit Festival Set for 12/12-14

Akvavit Theatre, now in its fourth year producing theatrical works that explore the Nordic experience, will be bringing its Nordic Spirit festival of staged readings to The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee, for 2014. Featuring contemporary work from all five Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland), the festival will begin on Friday, December 12 and continue through Sunday, December 14.

Post-show discussions will follow each reading, and there will be a special St Lucia's Day celebration the evening of Saturday, December 13, featuring traditional Nordic treats homemade lefse and lucekatten, as well as the Den Theatre's exclusive aquavit cocktail, the "Nordic Pause."

The plays featured in the Nordic Spirit Festival are often chosen as full productions in future Akvavit Seasons; the upcoming (March 2015) production of Blue Planet at Chicago's DCASE Storefront Theater was originally presented as a reading in the 2012 Festival. Past Nordic Spirit Directors include Jessica Hutchinson, Kevin Heckman, Robin Witt, Jonathan Berry, Paul S. Holmquist, James D. Palmer, and Lavina Jadhwani, as well as Akvavit company members Chad Eric Bergman, Wm. Bullion, Mark Litwicki, and Matthew Isler.

Akvavit Theatre especially welcomes directors, producers and other members of the Chicago theater community to attend and consider these engaging scripts which have not yet been seen or produced in the US.

Reading Schedule:

Friday, December 12

7:30PM: The Orchestra by Okko Leo (Finland), directed by Mark Litwicki.*

A group of has-been rockers playing weddings for peanuts sees an opportunity for one last push for fame when a band-mate's famous sister visits them at a gig.

Saturday, December 13

3PM: Neverland by Maria Tryti Vennerød (Norway), directed by Kristin Franklin.*

A young son and his mother struggle with his illness, coping together through a shared love of Michael Jackson and the son's dream of visiting Neverland.

7:30PM: People Under the Sun by Jonas Gardell (Sweden), directed by Breahan Eve Pautsch* and made possible by the Swedish Council of America.

Two couples strike up an acquaintance while on a beach vacation. Soon, a strange new neighbor and a series of unnatural occurrences start to foretell drastic changes on the horizon.

Sunday, December 14

3PM: I Am the Maestro by Hrafnhildur Hagalín Guömundsdóttir (Iceland), directed by Elizabeth Margolius.

A concert guitarist's life and marriage are turned upside down when her former teacher pays her an unexpected visit and makes a tempting offer.

7:30PM: The Sauna by Tomas Lagermand Lundme (Denmark), directed by Jacqueline Stone and made possible by The Danish Home of Chicago.
An exclusive, anonymous club meets for a secret 12-hour sauna session with a few strict rules: no names, no clothes, no sex and no water.

Admission to all readings is a suggested donation of $5.

*Denotes Akvavit Theatre Company member.