Cast Announced for FRANKLINLAND World Premiere at Jackalope Theatre Company

Jackalope will continue its 10th season with the world premiere of Franklinland, written by Lloyd Suh, directed by Chika Ike, with the full cast announced below.

Franklinland runs January 8 - February 24th, 2018 at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N Broadway in Chicago. The press performance is Tuesday, January 16th, 2017 at 8pm. Tickets are $5 (Previews) - $30, and are on sale now at www.jackalopetheatre.org.

Philadelphia, 1752. Growing up as the only son of Benjamin Franklin - the greatest scientific mind in the world; inventor of the lightning rod, the odometer, the glass harmonica, bifocal glasses, and, in his spare time, The United States of America - is not all it's cracked up to be. In the world premiere of this moving new play, Franklinland asks what it's like to make your way in life knowing your father's greatest invention wasn't you.

The cast for Franklinland features Tom Hickey (Ben), Kai Ealy (William), and Nik Kmiecik (Temple).

The production team includes: Milo Bue (scenic designer), Catharine Young (costume designer), Lacie Hexom (props designer), Steve LaBedz (projection designer), Claire Chzran (lighting designer), Emily Loppolo (stage manager), Sabina Dzelilovic (dramaturg), Shain Longbehn (sound designer), Sammi Grant (voice coach), Almanya Narula (fight choreographer), Andrew Swanson* (technical director), Alon Stotter (master electrician), Eleanor Axt* (casting director), Kathleen Gullion (assistant director), Danielle Stack* (production manager), and Kelly Cosgrove (assistant stage manager). *denotes Jackalope company member

Lloyd Suh (playwright) is the author of Charles Francis Chan Jr's Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery, American Hwangap, The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go!, Jesus in India, Great Wall Story, and others, produced with Ma-Yi, Magic Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Play Company, La Mama, Denver Center Theatre Company, ArtsEmerson, The Guthrie Theatre with Mu Performing Arts, East West Players, and internationally at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila, and with PCPA in Seoul, Korea. He has received support from the NEA Arena Stage New Play Development program, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, NYFA, NYSCA, Jerome, TCG, and Dramatists Guild, and has been a recipient of the Roe Green Award from Cleveland Playhouse and the Helen Merrill Award. His plays have been published by Samuel French, Playscripts, Smith & Kraus, Duke University Press and American Theater magazine. He is an alum of Youngblood and the Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab, and from 2005-2010 served as Artistic Director of Second Generation and Co-Director of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab. He currently serves on the Dramatists Guild Council and has since 2011 served as Director of Artistic Programs at The Lark.

Chika Ike (director) is a Chicago-based freelance director. She is also an ensemble member at The Gift Theatre Company and has received the SDCF Gielgud Directing Fellowship,the Victory Garden Directing Initiative Fellowship, and the Bret.C. Harte Directing Fellowship at Berkeley Rep. She has worked with many Chicago and regional theatre companies, including Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Victory Gardens, The Gift Theatre Company, American Blues Theatre Company, Eclipse Theatre, and Prologue Theatre Company. Her most recent productions: A Swell in the Ground by Janine Nabers for The Gift Theatre, Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea by Nathan Alan Davis for First Floor Theatre (upcoming).

---

IF YOU GO:

FRANKLINLAND
By Lloyd Suh

Directed by Chika Ike
Featuring: Tom Hickey (Ben), Kai Ealy (William), and Nik Kmiecik (Temple)

At Broadway Armory Park: 5917 N Broadway St., Chicago

Press Night: Tuesday, January 16th at 8pm
Previews: January 8th, 10th--11th, 13th, and 15th at 8pm
Regular Run: January 16th - February 24th

Schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm; Matinee - February 18th
Additional Monday performances: February 5th and February 12th at 8pm

Tickets: $5 (previews) - $30, on sale via jackalopetheatre.org

---

Jackalope Theatre Company, now in its tenth season, is committed to cultivating theatre that manifests the adventure deeply rooted in the American mythos. The company, recipient of the 2015 Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award, produces three full-length plays in Broadway Armory Park each season, as well as a series of experimental, one-act, off-night, and late-night programming in The Frontier in Edgewater. Like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jackalopetheatrecompany. Follow on Twitter at twitter.com/jackalopetc.

To post a comment, you must register and login.