DESIGN FOR LIVING Set for PFP's Fall Season

Pride Films & Plays is excited to announce a new production of Design for Living, a sexy and seductive revival of this Noel Coward classic which will be directed by PFP Artistic Associate Derek Bertelsen, and running at Rivendell Theater from October 22 to November 22. The press opening is Saturday, October 24 at 7:30.

Derek Bertelsen

From 1930's bohemian Paris to the dizzying heights of Manhattan society, a tempestuous love triangle unravels between a vivacious interior designer, Gilda, playwright Leo and artist Otto - three people unashamedly and passionately in love with each other.

Initially banned in the UK and premiering on Broadway in 1933, Design for Living is a stylish and scandalous comedy that takes a close look at three dazzling, egotistical creatures and their self-destructive dependence on each other.

Noel Coward

"Eighty years after its premiere, this play still hits close to home. In a world full of complicated relationships and refusal to conform to society's norms, I am excited to bring a fresh production of this scandalous show to our audiences," said director Derek Bertelsen.

Design for Living, by Noel Coward, directed by Derek Bertelsen, with costumes by PFP Artistic Associate John Nasca, has previews on Thursday and Friday, Oct 22 and 23at 7:30 ($15). Regular performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 3:30 through November 22. Tickets are $22 Thursdays, and $27 on Friday, Saturdayand Sunday. Discounts are available for students and seniors.

Sir Noel Peirce Coward (1899-1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise." Many of his works, such as Hay Fever, Private Lives, Design for Living, Present Laughter andBlithe Spirit, have remained in the regular theatre repertoire. He composed hundreds of songs, in addition to well over a dozen musical theatre works (including the operetta Bitter Sweet and comic revues), poetry, several volumes of short stories, the novel Pomp and Circumstance, and a three-volume autobiography. Mr. Coward's stage and film acting and directing career spanned six decades, during which he starred in many of his own works. Mr. Coward won an Academy Honorary Award in 1943 for his naval film drama, In Which We Serve, and was knighted in 1969. His plays and songs achieved new popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, and his work and style continue to influence popular culture.

Derek Bertelsen is an Artistic Associate with Pride Films & Plays. Previous PFP credits include directing The Children's Hour, assistant directing Angry Fags, as well as directing numerous staged readings for the company including Mr. Teddy, Sand Manand Pig. Other Chicago credits include: The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Wit, Next Falland Doubt (AstonRep Theatre); The Dinner Party and God of Carnage (BrightSide Theatre) and assistant director for RACE (Goodman) and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Bailiwick Chicago). He's also directed for festivals with Commedia Beauregard and Arc Theatre. Regional credits include: Rumors, Monty Python's Spamalot, Red Herring and Boeing-Boeing (Timber Lake Playhouse); and God of Carnage and August: Osage County (New Ground Theatre).

Other programs in PFP's Fall Season include:

LezPlay Weekend of new plays and screenplays written by women with lesbian characters or themes September 11 to 13 at Center on Halsted;

Queer Bits Fall Film Fest on November 9 at Public House Theater;

Gay Film Weekend November 13 to 15 at Center on Halsted.

Community building and fund-raising events include:

Community Day at Marty's Martini Bar, September 20 from 2 to 6 pm.

Simply Sensational Benefit , date and place TBA

Winter Memories Cabaret at Twisted Vine, December 7 at 8 pm.

A reminder of Pride Films and Plays Summer Season:

Pride Films and Plays Summer Season includes two Chicago premieres: Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown and The Boy from Oz.

Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown

by Guillermo Reyes is series of comedic monologues and is as timely today as it was when it premiered in 1994 as it chronicles the lives of various Latino immigrants dealing with transcultural shock of race and gender identity known as the "Hispanic breakdown." The play is bracketed by the misadventures of the naive Federico or "The Gay Little Immigrant That Could" who arrives in Los Angeles during the first day of the 1992 riots and believes he's witnessing the filming of another 'Lethal We apon' sequel. Other characters include Vinnie, a kept boy; Edward, a Latino actor passing for Anglo; the Demon Roommate; and a Cuban restauranteur who was imprisoned by the Communists in Cuba for being gay and has now been exiled by his right-wing Miami family for the same reason.

Men On The Verge Of A His-panic Breakdown previews Tuesday and Wednesday, June 23 and 24 at 7:30. ($15). The press opening is Thursday, June 25 at 7:30. Press tickets are also available for June 27. The regular performance schedule isThursday 7:30, Saturday 9 pm, Sunday 6 pm and Monday 7:30. Tickets are $20 Mondays and Thursdays, and $25 on Saturday and Sunday. Please note there is no performance on Saturday, July 4. Closing is Sunday, July 26.

The Boy From Oz is the Broadway musical which tells the amazing life story of celebrated songwriter and performer Peter Allen. Featuring songs by Peter Allen, book by Martin Sherman and Nick Enright, Direction by David Zak, and Musical Direction by Robert Ollis, The Boy From Oz tells the exuberant yet heart-warming true story of a young Australian boy who loved to perform and ended up in the glamorous orbit of Judy Garland and her soon-to-be famous daughter, Liza.

The Boy From Oz previews Wednesday, August 5 and Thursday, August 6. The press opening is Friday, August 7 at 7:30. Press tickets are also available for Saturday, August 8 at 7:30. Regular performances are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 5 through August 30 only. Tickets are $25Wednesday, $30 Thursdays and $40 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Seniors can save $5 per ticket. For tickets call Stage 773 (773-327-5252) or order online atstage773.com.

Other programs in PFP's Summer Season include:

May 19 - Nominee Night, a celebration of the city's non-Equity talent, at Sidetrack.

June 1: Queer Bits Summer Film Fest, featuring the Chicago debut of short LGBT films from around the globe. The fest is at The Public House Theater of Chicago, 3914 N Clark. Tickets can be purchased at 1-800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com.

June 22 - Gay Today - A Pride Cabaret, created by PFP Artistic Ensemble Member Robert Ollis and featuring performances by Artistic Ensemble Members of Pride Films and Plays at Mary's Attic, 5400 N Clark. Tickets can be purchased at 1-800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com.

July 27 - LezFest, the kick off event for PFP's season long LezPlay celebration of plays and performances, screenplays and films written by women with lesbian characters and themes. LezFest features music, drama, comedy, spoken word, and performance art with a multi-generational cast at Mary's Attic, 5400 N Clark. Tickets can be purchased at 1-800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com.

About Pride Films and Plays

Founded in 2010, Pride Films and Plays has received 12 Jeff Nominations, and 3 Jeff Awards for productions in our first three Jeff eligible seasons. All of the performances in our 2014-15 seasons were Jeff Recommended, including the Chicago premiers of Terrence McNally's Some Men, Jeff Talbott's The Submission, Topher Payne's Angry Fags, and the world premiere of Leo Schwartz's musical The Book of Merman whichhas been extended through May 17 at Apollo Studio Theater (773-935-6100).

In addition, our script and screenplay development programs continue throughout the year at Center on Halsted, including Gay Play Weekend (May 15 to 17), LezPlay (September 11 to 13) featuring plays and screenplays written by women with lesbian characters or themes, and Gay Film Weekend (November 13 to 15) featuring LGBT screenplays and screenings.

For more information on contests or productions, visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com.

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