Cast Announced For City Lit's THE SAFE HOUSE

Full casting was announced today for City Lit's commissioned world premiere of THE SAFE HOUSE, by the Chicago-based playwright, director and actor Kristine Thatcher. In this play commissioned by City Lit, 32-year-old Bridget has come back home for a visit to Lansing, Michigan from New York City, where she has been getting by--but not better than that--as an actress. She is staying with her widowed grandmother Hannah, whose forgetfulness and declining physical abilities have begun to concern Bridget's uncle Matt. But in her own way, Hannah may just be the strongest member of the family. Thatcher's play, set in 1982, is a study in the sometimes unexpected ways families can support each other as they adapt to life changes and make peace with the past. Terry McCabe is directing this world premiere opening November 11, 2018, following previews from November 2.

McCabe's cast includes Kat Evans as Bridget, Marssie Mencotti as Hannah and Paul Chakrin as Matt. Evans was seen at City Lit earlier this year in PROMETHEUS BOUND, in which she played the mythological Io, condemned by Zeus to live in the body of a cow and swat gadflies for eternity. Evans has also been seen at City Lit in LONDON ASSURANCE, as Grace Harkaway; and in HAUPTMANN, as Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Marssie Mencotti was seen in two shows at City Lit last fall: DEIRDRE OF THE SORROWS and the company's all-female J.B. Matt will be played by Paul Chakrin, who has appeared at City Lit in FORTY-TWO STORIES and THE BLOODHOUND LAW and last holiday season was Jacob Marley and The Ghost of Christmas Present in A (VERY ZOMBIE) CHRISTMAS CAROL with Otherworld Theatre. McCabe's design team includes Ray Toler (set design), Eric Watkins (lighting design), LaVisa Angela Williams (costume design), and Danielle Myerscough (properties design). Angela Kring is Stage Manager and Hazel Marie Flowers-McCabe is Production Manager.

Kristine Thatcher's plays include AMONG FRIENDS, VOICE OF GOOD HOPE, NIEDECKER, EMMA'S CHILD, and WAITING FOR TINA MEYER. This is City Lit's second Thatcher commission. The company produced the world premiere of her play THE BLOODHOUND LAW in 2015. Thatcher's work has been produced by Victory Gardens, Writers Theatre and Oregon Shakespeare Festival among many other companies. She is an alumna of the Victory Gardens Playwrights Ensemble.

Single tickets priced at $28 for previews and $32 for regular performances are on sale now at www.citylit.org. Senior prices are $23 for previews and $27 for regular performances. Students and military are $12.00 for all performances. Season subscriptions are available at $90.00 good for all performances or $68.00 for preview performances. Subscriptions may be ordered online at www.citylit.org.