Casting Announced for Other Theatre's THE MAKING OF A MODERN FOLK HERO

Other Theatre, in association with Chicago Dramatists' Grafting Project, is pleased to announce casting for its world premiere of Martín Zimmerman's comedic graphic novel for the stage THE MAKING OF A MODERN FOLK HERO, directed by Kelly Howe.

THE MAKING OF A MODERN FOLK HERO will feature Aida Delaz, Adelina Feldman-Schultz, Robert N. Isaac, Christopher Meister, Becca Sheehan and Hannah Toriumi.

Launching Other Theatre's 4th season, THE MAKING OF A MODERN FOLK HERO will play September 29 - October 29, 2017 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently available at theothertheatrecompany.com. The press opening is Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 8 pm.

A congressman entices an old friend (and washed-up actor) to portray a superhero in a publicity stunt designed to stop the unjust bulldozing of a public housing complex. They leave the crowd enthralled, but what happens when the character the politician created goes rogue? This graphic novel for the stage employs a seamless blend of live actors and shadow puppets to interrogate the hopes, fears and social forces that push people to yearn for and believe in the possibility of superheroes.

Comments Artistic Director Carin Silkaitis, "Martín's play touches on some important ideas - particularly what happens when our politicians are too entrenched in the political ecosystem to be able to enact real change, even if their intentions are in the right place? I am so interested in the fact that the congressman must hire an actor to save this housing complex. He knows the right choice is siding with the disenfranchised, the poverty-stricken, but he is too embedded in the political mess to be able to vocally side with the very people he represents. After conversations with the playwright (and because of Donald Trump's campaign strategy) I am also struck by the way this play grapples with the idea of a person - one who has deep and intense psychological needs for admiration and adoration - hijacking a political movement."

THE MAKING OF A MODERN FOLK HERO was developed in part through readings and workshops at Chicago Dramatists.

The production team for THE MAKING OF A MODERN FOLK HERO includes: Milo Bue (scenic design), Olivia Crary (costume design), Will Coeur (lighting design), Colin Trevor (sound design), Nick Thornton (puppet design & puppet choreography) and Kasey Trouba (stage manager).

Tickets: Previews: $20 with code "PREVIEW." Regular run: $25. Students $15 with code "STUDENT." Industry $15 with code "INDUSTRY." Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently available at theothertheatrecompany.com.

Chicago Dramatists Benefit Performances: The performances on Saturday, September 30 at 8 pm and Thursday, October 12 at 8 pm will benefit Chicago Dramatists. Tickets for these performances are available only through chicagodramatists.org.

Since 1979, Chicago Dramatists has been dedicated to the development and advancement of playwrights. Chicago Dramatists nurtures extraordinary playwrights with the space, resources and collaborators needed to realize new work and thrive as artists. Workshops, readings, classes and special programs provide opportunities for beginning and established dramatists to develop their work, expand their professional affiliations, showcase their plays and collaborate with actors, directors and audiences during the creative process. The Resident Playwright program is a selective program offered at no cost to playwrights who demonstrate talent and dedication to the craft of playwriting. But we also believe that to discover untapped talent and nurture playwriting as a discipline, we need to embrace playwrights wherever they are on their writing path-which is why we offer our Network Playwright program to playwrights at all levels of ability.

Every year, plays developed at Chicago Dramatists earn hundreds of professional accomplishments, including productions, awards, commissions and readings at theatres in Chicago and worldwide. Distinguished alumni of Chicago Dramatists include Tanya Saracho (El Nogalar, How to Get Away with Murder), Andrew Hinderaker (Colossus, Penny Dreadful), Rick Cleveland (The West Wing, Six Feet Under, Mad Men), Rebecca Gilman (Pulitzer nominee, Spinning into Butter, Luna Gale), Keith Huff (A Steady Rain, House of Cards), and many others.