Chicago Dramatists Begins Season with 'Ten Cent Night'

Chicago Dramatists kicks off its 30th anniversary season with resident playwright Marisa Wegrzyn's new comedy "Ten Cent Night." Country singer Hewitt Finley has shot himself in the head, and his daughter, Roby, is hitting the road, hoping to leave behind her failed music career and the boyfriend who can't say her name.  With a folding chair handcuffed to one hand and a guitar case full of stolen cash in the other, Roby hitchhikes home to Burkeville, Texas to save her heart-sick little sister.  Roby's twin, Dad's mistress, and the owner of the stolen cash all end up on the Finley porch, renewing sibling rivalries, the fight over Dad's royalties, and their hatred of the song that made him famous.  An offbeat family comedy from a time when a dime could buy you a phone call home.

At Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622. Opening nights Friday, September 26, and Saturday, September 27, 2008, 8 p.m. (receptions following). Closes Sunday, October 26, 2008. Runs Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Previews on September 18, 19, 20, and 25 at 8 p.m.

Box Office: 312-633-0630, www.chicagodramatists.org, www.hottix.com

Resident Playwright Marisa Wegrzyn's The Butcher of Baraboo was produced in Steppenwolf Theatre's First Look Repertory in 2006, and premiered off-Broadway at Second Stage last summer. Her play Killing Women was produced by Theatre Seven of Chicago.  Wegrzyn is currently working on commissions from Steppenwolf, Yale Rep, and Actors Theatre of Louisville.  Her other plays include Psalms of a Questionable Nature and Hickorydickory.  Her work has been produced or read at Chicago Dramatists, Washington University in St. Louis, Eckerd College/WordBRIDGE, Geva Theatre Center, Lucid by Proxy, The Hourglass Group, The Women's Project, Centerstage, and The Magic Theatre. She has a B.A. from Washington University, where she studied playwriting with Carter W. Lewis.

 

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