Dead Writers Theatre Collective to Stage THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Dead Writers Theatre Collective brings a new level of appreciation to the Oscar Wilde classic, The Importance of Being Earnest, opening July 1 at The Athenaeum Theatre. "To showcase this classic concoction of whipped cream and razor blades, we're juxtaposing the subversive deceit of Wilde's classic while also emphasizing the love story of the two couples," states Collective Artistic Director Jim Schneider. "We're literally staging it in a series of Victorian Valentines -- complete with costumes that are a little over-the-top as they were in Wilde's original production."

Today, most people are not aware of the underlying theme of Earnest including Wilde's use of puns to skirt the strict moral censorship codes of the time. "Earnest was a secret code word known among the gay crowd for homosexual while Bunburying was a double pun for gay sex," states Schneider. "This play was Wilde's gay 'Valentine' to the aristocracy whose hypocrisy he despised. The general audience was unaware of Wilde's joke, but he got what would turn out to be his parting shot - and last laugh."

By being true to the style of the original production, this Dead Writers Theatre Collective production pulls out all the stops in high fashion style. "We're once again being meticulous with our settings and costumes," states Collective Managing Director Bob Douglas. "Wilde used the stage to launch fashion trends and this was the wonderful glittering world of the Victorian Dandy -- a time when gentlemen wore top hats and velvet collars while holding an elegant walking stick in a white gloved hand."

Directed by Artistic Director Jim Schneider, the cast includes: Sean Magill as John Worthing , Jack Dryden as Algernon Moncrieff, Maeghan Looney as Gwendolyn Fairfax, Megan Delay as Cecily Cardew, Patti Roeder as Miss Prism, Mary Anne Bowman as Lady Bracknell, , Elliott Fredland as Dr. Chasuable , Chris Bruzzini as Lane and Jonathan Crabtree as Merriman . Production Stage Management is by Shannon Desmond with Matthew Bonaccorso as her assistant. Kendra Kingsbury is dialect coach.

The Design team is: Scenic Design - Eric Luchen; Lighting Design - Aaron Lorenz, Costume Design - Patti Roeder, Sound Design - Jeffrey Levin, and Prop Design - Jim Schneider and Dialect Coach is Kendra Kingsbury. Technical Direction is by Warren Wernick.

Schneider is known for his Wilde endeavors that include award-winning shows such as his 2007 Circle Theatre production of An Ideal Husband as well as last season's Dead Writers productions of Lady Windermere's Fan and The Judas Kiss. "The Importance of Being Earnest was an instant success when it opened on Valentine's Day in 1895 and Wilde was at the pinnacle of his career," Schneider explains. "His philosophy of 'feasting with panthers' is clearly demonstrated in this play as its major theme involves the very deception he was practicing in reality. He was leading a double life with his young lover Lord Alfred Douglas against his wife Constance."

Wilde had been informed that on opening night, his young lover's father the Marquis of Queensbury, would hurl a bouquet of phallic vegetables at him during the curtain call. "Wilde simply did not take bow," states Schneider. "However, soon after this, Wilde was arrested on a charge of gross indecency and his name was removed from the program and all advertising for 30 years. The box office collapsed immediately."

Tickets are available at the Athenaeum Box Office at 773-935-6875 or through their website at www.athenaeum.org. "This small, intimate space seats only 75 people," says Douglas. "There are 7:30pm performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as well as a 2:30pm Sunday matinees. As we have a limited run of only 4 weeks and our productions are popular and sell out quickly, we strongly recommend you order your tickets as soon as possible."

Recently chosen to be Jeff Eligible, Dead Writers Theatre Collective is dedicated to producing works either by or about dead writers. They are the only group of directors, designers, actors, playwrights and educators who focus solely on the writer's original voice rather than imposing contemporary interpretations of his/her work. Their goal is to provide audiences a chance to understand the original work through its own uniquely beautiful aesthetics. To find out more, contact: Dead Writers Theatre Collective, 1143 West North Shore Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626. 773-305-8221 bob@deadwriters.net