Collaboraction Announces Full Line-up for Final Sketchbook Festival at Chopin Theatre

After 15 years, 240 world premiere theater pieces, and being hailed "the premiere short play festival in the Midwest" by the Chicago Reader, Collaboraction will stage its 15th and final SKETCHBOOK Festival at the place where it all started, the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago, January 14-24, 2016.

Press Opening is Saturday, January 16 at 7 p.m. (Life) and 9 p.m. (Death).

For SKETCHBOOK'S epic finale, Collaboraction Festival Director Anthony Moseley has reunited with Wesley Kimler, the accomplished painter and original SKETCHBOOK collaborating artist, to create a cross-genre festival. Get set for two explosive weeks in January, when Collaboraction will present 16 world premiere theater pieces of seven minutes or less, created by an eclectic line-up of Chicago veterans and emerging artists.
Highlights include:

David Dastmalchian today (left) and on stage in Collaboraction's SKETCHBOOK 6 in 2006

• David Dastmalchian, a DePaul Theatre School alum who performed in SKETCHBOOK 6 as a young actor before launching a career with roles in films including Ant-Man and The Dark Night, returns to Chicago to perform in Blink by Anthony Moseley and video designer Liviu Pasare. Dastmalchian will star opposite Sandra Delgado in the story of a couple that relives their lives over and over again.

Beth Henley (left) and John Cabrera (right)

• Beth Henley, writer of the film Crimes of the Heart and the play The Jacksonian, will unveil a new work titled Seven Minutes. Former Chicagoan and SKETCHBOOK co-creator John Cabrera, notable as a recurring character on The Gilmore Girls for six seasons and as a Hollywood screenwriter, is coming from L.A. to direct Henley's piece.

• More than 50 women star in Spanx You Very Much, a simple dance piece featuring women commenting on beauty standards using "spanx," devised by Dani Bryant, directed by Erica Barnes.
  
• Trump International Tower, inspired by an actual promo video for Chicago's Trump International Tower, is adapted by Benno Nelson and Ethan Dubin. Many recall Dubin's performance in Collaboraction's Sixty Miles to Silver Lake in 2012.

• Chicago's very own masters of Hip Hop Shakespeare, The Q Brothers, and collaborator Jackson Doran will share their take on R and J in I <3 Juliet.

• Nationally acclaimed playwright Anne Washburn, author of last spring's smash hit
  Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, has penned When the Bachelors Come out of the Brush, about a rural man who works his way up to become a successful lawyer. Jeremy Wechsler, who staged Theater Wit's Chicago debut of Mr. Burns, directs.
  
• Drew Dir of Chicago's Manual Cinema will debut Menagerie, a puppet show peek into zoological life of a young girl, directed by Lee Stark.

All told, the 16 short plays are split into two programs of 8 works - Death and Life - each packed with creativity, experimentation and celebration. Each program runs under two hours, and will be paired for same-day double headers on Saturdays and for the Closing Marathon on Sunday, January 24.
Performances times in chronological order are:
Thursday, January 14 at 8 p.m. Life
Friday, January 15 at 8 p.m. Death
Saturday, January 16 at 7 p.m. Life/Opening
Saturday, January 16 at 9 p.m. Death/Opening
Sunday, January 17 at 7 p.m. Life
Monday, January 18 at 8 p.m. Death
Thursday, January 21 at 8 p.m. Death
Friday, January 22 at 8 p.m. Life
Saturday, January 23 at 7 p.m. Death
Saturday, January 23 at 9 p.m. Life
Sunday, January 24 at 3 p.m. Life
Sunday, January 24 at 5 p.m. Death

Every night will also feature a live musical guest, there will be numerous SKETCHBOOK-related after parties and special events, and a robust online presence at collaboraction.org will allow audience submissions and real-time interaction throughout the festival.

Single tickets to each program are $30; $15 for students, educators and industry. All-Access festival silk wristbands offer passes to both programs and all related events for $55; $30 for students and industry. Collaboraction is also offering a limited quantity of 20 "Exclusive VIP Passes" for $150, which includes a special collector's edition painting by Wesley Kimler. Purchase tickets or passes online at collaboraction.org or call 312.226.9633.

Leading up to SKETCHBOOK are two Open Studio Sessions at Wesley Kimler's 6,000-sq. ft. studio at 2046 W. Carroll Ave. Go behind-the scenes at these two pop-up events, featuring performances, poetry, art and music showcasing SKETCHBOOK artists on Saturday, November 14 at 8 p.m. and "designer runs" of the SKETCHBOOK plays on Saturday, December 12 at 8 p.m. Parties with live music follow both events. Tickets are $10 at the door or free with a festival pass.

Anthony Moseley, SKETCHBOOK co-curator and Collaboraction Artistic Director
According to SKETCHBOOK co-curator and Collaboraction Artistic Director Anthony Moseley, "Having created 15 SKETCHBOOK Festivals, and producing over 240 world premiere pieces of theater that have launched numerous careers and collaborations, it is time to bring the most progressive short play festival in Chicago to a glorious conclusion. I am overwhelmed by the support of the Chicago theatre community's artists and audiences, particularly in the last three years as Collaboraction has refocused our mission on exploring critical social issues. SKETCHBOOK could never have been created in another city. It is only due to the credit of the Chicago theater community that we were able to keep it going for 15 years and it is in honor of that community that we gather and share one last time."

MORE ABOUT THE PLAYS:
Life
Thursday, January 14 at 8 p.m.| Saturday, January 16 at 7 p.m. - Opening
Sunday, January 17 at 7 p.m. | Friday, January 22 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 23 at 9 p.m. | Sunday, January 24 at 3 p.m.

Spanx You Very Much devised By Dani Bryant, directed by Erica BarnesA dance piece with 50+ women commenting on beauty standards, using the popular "spanx."
Post-Apocalyptoby Laura Jacqmin, directed by Greg Werstler Laser and commander play a video game together and sort through their relationship and the meaning of fatherhood.

Fix Your Teeth B*tch Remix
devised by Carolyn Hoerdemann
An artist's infatuation with her dentist and the rituals in his chair turn into a drug induced dreamscape in this remix of an earlier SKETCHBOOK piece. Menagerieby Drew Dir, directed by Lee StarkA puppet show peek into the zoological life of Kit as she faces the struggles of young adulthood. Trump International Towerdevised by Benno Nelson and Ethan DubinAn actual promotional video for Chicago's Trump International Tower is adapted for the stage. Silencedby Arlene Malinowski, directed by Lavina JadhwaniThrough a spoken word orchestra, we explore the racial judgments of people on an el platform. When the Bachelors Come Out of the Brushby Anne Washburn, directed by Jeremy WechslerAn uneducated rural man goes from humble beginnings to become a successful lawyer. The Title is Forgottendevised by Jen Ellison A mini opera based on the prose poem The Title is Forgotten, the piece incorporates projected images alongside song and movement. Death
Friday, January 15 at 8 p.m. | Sunday, January 16 at 9 p.m. - Opening
Monday, January 18 at 8 p.m. |Thursday, January 21 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 23 at 7 p.m. | Sunday, January 24 at 5 p.m.
Open Arms (The Rapture)by Emily Schwartz, directed by Steven WilsonBy a stroke of twisted fate, Jennifer and Brian actually end up enjoying their high school dance. We Call You Family; We Call You Memoryby Andrew Grigg, directed by Genevieve FowlerWhile sitting in a vet's office, an old dog reflects on her ideas of words and meaning of family. The Afterby Samantha Dedian, directed by Charlotte Drover Using true stories distilled into poetry, The After explores the low aftermath that leaves one splintered and the lasting effects of sexual assault.

I <3 Juliet by The Q BrothersChicago's masters of Hip Hop Shakespeare take on R and J with collaborator Jackson Doran. Ma(s)king Herdevised by Honey Pot PerformanceA multidisciplinary performance work actively imagining an Afro-feminist mythology. Overnight Parking Ban, In Effectby Joe Zarrow, directed by Sarah MoellerA driver awaits her car after being towed to the auto pound at 701 N. Sacramento in this exploration of the ups and downs of living in Chicago.

Seven Minutes by Beth Henley, directed by John Cabrera The writer of Crimes of the Heart and The Jacksonian unveils a new work that explores silence, our country's breadth of product choices and the theatrical possibilities within only seven minutes. Blinkdevised by Anthony Moseley and Liviu Pasare A couple relives their lives over and over again, starring David Dastmalchian (Ant-Man, The Dark Night) and Collaboraction ensemble member Sandra Delgado. In sum, the 15th and final SKETCHBOOK will bring together the collective talents of more than 150 pioneering and established directors, designers, actors, musicians and artists from Chicago and around the country. Set design for SKETCHBOOK is by Wesley Kimler and John Wilson. Lighting design is by Jeremy Getz and Heather Sparling. Sound design is by Matt Reich and Thomas Dixon. Video is by Liviu Pasare. Costumes are by Elsa Hiltner and Kristen Ahern. Props are by Vanessa Thomas and Victoria Apodaca. Caitlyn Boyd is stage manager. Erica Bush is floor manager. Patrick Fries and Allie Fishman are co-production managers. SKETCHBOOK is produced by Sarah Moeller.

More about Collaboraction

Collaboraction (collaboraction.org) collaborates with artists, community leaders, and citizens throughout the city to create original theatrical experiences that push artistic boundaries and explore critical social issues with a diverse community of Chicagoans. Collaboraction has worked with more than 2,500 artists to bring more than 60 productions and events to more than 50,000 audience members. Production highlights include Collaboraction's acclaimed series of Crime Scene productions by Anthony Moseley responding to Chicago's current crime epidemic, Sarah Moeller's Forgotten Future: The Education Project in 2014, 2010's Chicago premiere of 1001 by Jason Grote, 2008's world premiere of Jon by George Saunders and directed by Seth Bockley, and 2007's The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow: an instant message with excitable music by Rolin Jones.

In April 2016, Collaboraction will premiere Are We Connected?, a new theater piece devised by Anthony Moseley exploring the difference between face time (in person), face time (on a mobile device), or how technology is changing our world, for good and bad.

Collaboraction, based in Wicker Park's historic Flat Iron Building, is led by Artistic Director Anthony Moseley, Executive Director Darcy Addison and a dedicated staff and board of directors. Collaboraction is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation via the MacArthur Foundation, and the Wicker Park & Bucktown SSA #33 Chamber of Commerce. Collaboraction is partially supported by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. For tickets and information, visit collaboraction.org or call (312) 226-9633.

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