Bricklayers Theatre Company Announces Their 2010 Season

The Bricklayers Theatre Co. announces our 2010 season of plays, at its center the Chicago Premiere of Tony Kushner's translation of Mother Courage and HerChildren by Bertolt Brecht. The production stars Barbra Berlovitz (Theatre de la JeuneLune, Minneapolis) and will be directed by Mariana Araoz (Collectif Masque, France),opening August 13, 2010 at Theatre Building Chicago.

We begin in January with Bricks andMortar Fest, featuring our productions of Twelfth Night: Galaxy 4.2 and TheStrange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde playing in repertory, late night productionsfrom Piccolo Theatre, Chicago dell'Arte, and Filament Theatre Ensemble, as wellas readings and workshops. The festival opens January 28 at Theatre Building Chicago. Our season will close with the World Premiere of Bricklayer Kyle Cadotte's bluegrass fairy taleDrainpipe, based on "The Juniper Tree"."We have spent the last three years training and developing a company aesthetic, allowing us todig deep into our productions and forge lasting relationships with great artists from Chicagoand around the world", says Artistic Director Matt Trucano. "2010 is our most ambitiousand exciting year to date. The opportunity for The Bricklayers to work with Barbra Berlovitz asMother Courage in Kushner's brilliant translation is a huge honor. We are thrilled to continueto bring the highest quality mask work to Chicago audiences."

Bricks and Mortar FestJanuary 28-February 14, 2010 at Theatre Building Chicago

The Bricklayers showcase our past, present, and future work in Chicago's first ever theatrefestival dedicated solely to plays in mask. Produced with the gracious support of TheatreBuilding Chicago.Twelfth Night: Galaxy 4.2adapted from Shakespeare by The Bricklayers directed by Mariana Araoz and Matt Trucano January 28, 29, February 4, 11, 12 at 7:30PM; February 6, 14 at 2:00PM****, Time Out Chicago.

After sold out performances in Minnesota, Twelfth Night: Galaxy 4.2 returns to Chicago for seven performances only, culminating in a special Valentine's Day matinee. Bring your sweetheart to Illyria!

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde adapted from Stevenson by Frederic Fort translated by Bricklayer Kyle Cadotte creative consultant: David Zak January 30, February 5, 6, 13 at 7:30PM; January 31, February 7 at 2:00PM

Workshopped in 2008, Dr. Jekyll is receiving its first full production at the Bricksand Mortar Fest. The spooky Mr. Hyde and the quirky Dr. Jekyll are joined by a teamof lively masked characters, climaxing in "one of the most suspensful, anguishingmoments perhaps ever captured on stage". (-horrorsociety.com) Staged Reading: Mother Courage and Her Childrenby Bertolt Brecht, translated by Tony Kushnerwith Barbra Berlovitz (Theatre de la Jeune Lune)February 3 at 7:30PMBarbra Berlovitz travels to Chicago for a special sneak peek of our summer productionof Brecht's masterpiece,Mother Courage and Her Children. Joined by theBricklayers ensemble, she will read from the play,followed by a champagne reception inher honor in the lobby of Theatre Building Chicago.Staged Reading: Drainpipeby Bricklayer Kyle CadotteFebruary 10 at 7:30Bricklayer Kyle Cadotte's Drainpipe is a bluegrass fairy tale based on the classicBrothers' Grimm tale, "The Juniper Tree", about a little boy (Drainpipe) who is cookedinto a pie and served to his father for dinner. Come see the early phases of this excitingnew play, which opens in December, 2010.

Malvolio's Singles Only Cabaretconceived and performed by The BricklayersFebruary 12, 13 at 11:00PMIt's Valentine's Day, and Malvolio is alone...again. Join the Bricklayers and help himfind somebody to love. Featuring live music by Nootka Sound, don't miss the maskedcharacters running amok in this hilarious, amorous cabaret.Piccolo Theatre PresentsThe Return of the Lump Bros. and Other Vaudeville GemsPerformed by Ken Raabe and John Szostek

February 5 at 11:00PM

The Bricklayers are thrilled to host Ken Raabe and John Szostek performing together as The Lump Bros. for the first time in nearly twenty years! Come see whatthey described in the eighties as "science fiction burlesque sketch comedy".Chicago dell'Arte PresentsI'll Miss You, Lop Zhangdirected by Rebecca Butler and Ned RecordFebruary 6 at 11:00PMAfter years of avoiding each other, two professors find themselves in the same small pubin Italy. Their cohorts work hard to keep these two apart, while trying to find love andhappiness. Full of mistaken identities, love spells, and some devious means: "I'll MissYou Lop Zhang" is a classical tale, without the classical feel.

Filament Theatre Ensemble Presents The Odyssey of Arlecchinowritten and performed by Omen Sadedirected by Julie Ritchey February 7 at 7:00PM

Witness the carnivalesque journey of one man to find himself amid the trials,tribulations, and tricks of the world. See an Arlecchino's topsy-turvy version of theHero's Odyssey across the seas and into the depths of Hell itself. A commedia dell' Arte-based physical theatre piece with original music.

Tickets for Bricks and Mortar Fest are available now on Ticketmaster and from TheatreBuilding Chicago's Box Office at 773-327-5252.Twelfth Night: Galaxy 4.2$20Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde $20 Mother Courage Reading/Reception $25 Drainpipe Reading $15 All Late Night Shows $15 Under 14-All Performances $5 Student rush-All Performances $5 Brick and Mortar Pass: 1 ticket to each event $80

Mother Courage and Her Childrenby Bertolt BrechtTranslated by Tony Kushner**Chicago Premiere**Starring Barbra BerlovitzDirected by Mariana AraozSet and Costume Design by Marta CicionesiOriginal Masks by Etienne ChampionAugust 13-September 12, 2010At Theatre Building ChicagoBarbra Berlovitz, a founding artistic director of Theatre de la Jeune Lune in Minneapolis, joinsThe Bricklayers and an international creative team in the Chicago Premiere of Tony Kushner'smasterful translation of Brecht's most powerful play.Drainpipeby Kyle CadotteDirected by Matt Trucano**World Premiere**Winter 2010Venue TBAContinuing the Bricklayers' mission to create new adaptations of classic texts, Bricklayer KyleCadotte's Drainpipe is a modern day fairy tale based on the classic story The Juniper Tree. Setin Appalachia, the play features masked characters, puppets, and an infectious bluegrass score.

Founded in 2007, The Bricklayers Theatre Co. produce original adaptations of classic textsusing influences from the traditional Commedia dell'Arte and modern mask. The companytrains as a collective, fostering long-term collaboration with a core group of artists. Touring,outreach performances and workshops allow us to share our training and productions with aregional audience. Through our ongoing collaboration with French company CollectifMasque, we create and perform with hand carved wooden masks in all of our productions

To post a comment, you must register and login.