Black Button Eyes Productions' Announces 2018-19 Season

Black Button Eyes Productions is pleased to announce its 2018-19 season, kicking off late this summer with the world premiere of NIGHTMARES AND NIGHTCAPS: The Stories of John Collier, a non-musical adaption of British author and screenwriter John Collier's phantasmagoric short stories. Written and directed by Producing Artistic Director Ed Rutherford, the production will feature choreography by Derek Van Barham and star Kevin Webb with additional casting to be announced.

The season continues in winter 2019 with the Chicago storefront premiere of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL, a parody of Sam Raimi's classic Evil Dead horror films. Directed by Producing Artistic Director Ed Rutherford with choreography by Derek Van Barham, this spooky send-up features book and lyrics by George Reinblatt with music by Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt.

NIGHTMARES AND NIGHTCAPS: The Stories of John Collier will be staged at The Athenaeum Theatre (Studio Two), 2936 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at athenaeumtheatre.org, by calling (773) 935-6875 or in person at The Athenaeum Theatre Box Office. EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL will be staged at Pride Arts Center (The Broadway), 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. Ticket will go on sale at a later date.

Black Button Eyes Productions' 2018-19 Season:

August 17 - September 15, 2018

NIGHTMARES AND NIGHTCAPS: The Stories of John Collier - World Premiere!

Adapted and directed by Producing Artistic Director Ed Rutherford

Choreography by Derek Van Barham

Featuring Kevin Webb

at The Athenaeum Theatre (Studio Two), 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago

Press opening: Saturday, August 18 at 7:30 pm

Before the Twilight Zone, there was British expatriate John Collier, writing humorous stories about the bizarre and fantastical for The New Yorker and sardonic screenplays in Hollywood throughout the first half of the 20th century. In this world premiere adaptation, an ominous host weaves together Collier's comic tales of love, loss and the mysterious for the audience's delight.

January 11 - February 16, 2019

EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL - Chicago Storefront Premiere!

Book and Lyrics by George Reinblatt
Music by Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris and George Reinblatt

Directed by Producing Artistic Director Ed Rutherford

Choreography by Derek Van Barham

at Pride Arts Center (The Broadway), 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago

Press opening: Friday, January 18 at 7:30 pm

It just wouldn't stay dead. Black Button Eyes Productions brings this loving musical parody of Sam Raimi's classic Evil Dead films back to the city for its Chicago Storefront Premiere. When a group of fresh-faced college kids go to a cabin in the woods for spring break, it's only a matter of time before spells are spoken and demonic possession begins. Take in the horror and hilarity in the gritty storefront setting where this show belongs!

About the Artists:

Ed Rutherford (Adapter, Director) For Black Button Eyes, Ed most recently directed the Jeff-Recommended production of Nevermore - The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe (Chicago premiere), preceded by Shockheaded Peter (Chicago storefront premiere), Amour (Chicago premiere), Goblin Market and Stephin Merrit's musical adaptation of Coraline (Midwest premiere). Recent directing credits elsewhere include the Jeff-Recommended productions of The Liar with Promethean Theatre Ensemble and Paula Vogel's The Baltimore Waltz at Brown Paper Box Co. He is an artistic associate at Promethean, where he staged his own world premiere adaptation of the Peter S. Beagle fantasy novel The Last Unicorn, Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle and the company's inaugural production, Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy. As an actor, he has performed with Drury Lane Oakbrook, Porchlight, Theater Wit and many others. A graduate of Northwestern's theater program, he is currently completing his MBA at Kellogg.

About Black Button Eyes Productions

The 2018-19 season continues Black Button Eyes Productions' mission to bring to Chicago premieres and seldom-seen works containing elements of fantasy, in which the magical and surreal invade reality. the company was founded in 2014 with the acclaimed Midwest premiere of the musical Coraline, and continued in 2015 by producing the musical Goblin Market in its first Chicago production in over 15 years, attended by the author, Chicago native Polly Pen. In the past few seasons, the company has produced the Chicago premiere of the musical Amour, the Chicago storefront premiere of Shockheaded Peter, and the Chicago premiere of the musical Nevermore - The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe.