Casting Announced for FUN HOME, FADE, 'BREACH' and DOING IT at Victory Gardens

Victory Gardens Theater, under the direction of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels, announces complete casting for its upcoming productions of Fun Home, music written by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics written by Lisa Kron and directed by Gary Griffin; Fade, a co-production with Teatro Vista by Tanya Saracho, directed by Sandra Marquez; BREACH: A manifesto on race in america through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu, directed by Lisa Portes; and Doing It by Boo Killebrew, directed by Chay Yew.

Note: Casting for Yaël Farber's Mies Julie, directed by Dexter Bullard, will be announced at a later date.

Fun Home

Music by Jeanine Tesori

Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron

Directed by Gary Griffin

Based on the Graphic Novel by Alison Bechdel

September 19 - November 12, 2017

Press Opening: September 27, 2017

Fun Home features McKinley Carter (Helen Bechdel), Preetish Chakraborty (John Bechdel), Danielle Davis (Joan), Leo Gonzalez (Christian Bechdel), Sage Elliott Harper (Small Alison), Stella Rose Hoyt (Small Alison), Rob Lindley (Bruce Bechdel), Joe Lino (Roy/Mark/Pete/Bobby Jeremy), Danni Smith (Alison) and Hannah Starr (Medium Alison).

Hailed as one of Broadway's most original musicals and the winner of 5 Tony Awards, Fun Home is a groundbreaking story inspired by Alison Bechdel's best-selling graphic memoir. In this intimate musical, Alison sets out to unravel the many mysteries of her childhood through a series of memories and conversations - from her coming out to her moving journey to acceptance. Gary Griffin (Hand to God, Never the Sinner) directs this emotionally charged family drama that The New York Times calls "extraordinary," and "a rare beauty."

Fade

By Victory Gardens Theater Ensemble Playwright Tanya Saracho

Directed by Teatro Vista Ensemble Member Sandra Marquez

A Co-Production with Teatro Vista (In Partnership with CLATA)

November 4 - December 23, 2017

Press Opening: November 10, 2017

Fade features Eddie Martinez (Abel) and Sari Sanchez (Lucia).

In this witty behind-the-scenes drama, Mexican-born Lucia is hired to write for a ruthless Hollywood TV series. She soon discovers that the Mexican American custodian, Abel, has a windfall of plot ideas. As their friendship grows, his stories start to blur with hers with unexpected consequences. Fade, directed by Sandra Marquez, is an acclaimed new play from Tanya Saracho (How to Get Away with Murder, Looking, Girls) whose writing "lands in that sweet spot between comedy and drama" (Chicago Tribune).

BREACH: A manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate

By Antoinette Nwandu

Directed by Lisa Portes

February 9 - March 11, 2018

Press Opening: February 16, 2018

The cast of BREACH includes Keith D. Gallagher (Nate), Linda Bright Clay (Sylvia), Caren Blackmore (Margaret), Julian Parker (Rasheed) and Karen Rodriguez (Carolina).

What happens when a woman trapped in a dead-end job and a fizzling relationship accidentally gets pregnant by a man that she's not dating? A coming-of-age story about race, class and motherhood, BREACH by Antoinette Nwandu and directed by Lisa Portes, examines how hard it is to love others when it's you that you loathe most of all.

Doing It

By Boo Killebrew

Directed by Chay Yew

April 6 - May 6, 2018

Press Opening: April 13, 2018

Doing It includes Charin Alvarez (Minny), Matt Farabee (River), Krystal Ortiz (Layla), Caroline Neff (Lettie), Kirsten Fitzgerald (Carly), and Ryan Kitley (Frank).

After serving seven years in prison, Lettie is released and struggles to make a fresh start. Her children, who have been cared for by her half-sister, want little to do with her. Her re-entry job is anything but gentle as she takes on the dark, harsh world of welding. Trying again and again to create a non-criminal life, Lettie is confronted by her past and must make impossible choices to protect her future. Doing It, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew (A Wonder In My Soul, The House That Will Not Stand) marks playwright Boo Killebrew's Victory Gardens Theater debut.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels, Victory Gardens is dedicated to artistic excellence while creating a vital, contemporary American Theater that is accessible and relevant to all people through productions of challenging new plays and musicals. Victory Gardens Theater is committed to the development, production and support of new plays that has been the mission of the theater since its founding, set forth by Dennis Za?ek, Marcelle McVay, and the original founders of Victory Gardens Theater.

Victory Gardens Theater is a leader in developing and producing new theater work and cultivating an inclusive Chicago theater community. Victory Gardens' core strengths are nurturing and producing dynamic and inspiring new plays, reflecting the diversity of our city's and nation's culture through engaging diverse communities, and in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, bringing art and culture to our city's active student population.

Since its founding in 1974, the company has produced more world premieres than any other Chicago theater, a commitment recognized nationally when Victory Gardens received the 2001 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater includes the Za?ek-McVay Theater, a state-of-the-art 259-seat mainstage and the 109-seat studio theater on the second floor, named the Richard Christiansen Theater.

Victory Gardens Ensemble Playwrights include Luis Alfaro, Philip Dawkins, Marcus Gardley, Ike Holter, Samuel D. Hunter, Naomi Iizuka, Tanya Saracho and Laura Schellhardt. Each playwright has a seven-year residency at Victory Gardens Theater.

For more information about Victory Gardens, visit www.victorygardens.org. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/victorygardens, Twitter @VictoryGardens and Instagram at instagram.com/victorygardenstheater.