Genesis Theatrical Productions Presents SATIE ET COCTEAU, Starting 5/12

Genesis Theatrical Productions will present the U.S. premiere of the play Satie et Cocteau: A Rehearsal of a Play of a Composer by a Poet by Canadian playwright Mike Czuba about the classical music composer Erik Satie and his complex relationship with the surrealist poet Jean Cocteau.

The play is set 15 years after the death of Satie during the final rehearsal of a play which Cocteau has written and where, in an opium haze, he directs an Actor in a series of 'scenes' which run the length of Satie's life and career.

Intertwined with Satie's music, we discover that Cocteau's intentions are for the Actor to fully embody Satie and bring him to life so Cocteau can finally exorcise him from his life.

Cocteau and the Actor embark on a journey through time and theatrical space which the Actor describes in his opening monologue as "What you are about to see is a re-creation of a memory of a memory of actual events." Satie et Cocteau is a play about the reality of memories, the possession of art and the 'truth' of the theater.

Mike Czuba is writer, director and producer with a BFA and MFA in Playwriting. He is currently a performance instructor at the University of Calgary and founder of the performance collective Dancing Monkey Laboratories (dancingmonkeylab.com). His play I AM I has been internationally produced and is published by Original Works Publishing. Multiple plays have been presented in Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Chicago, Los Angeles, Amsterdam and Berlin. Most recently his play Reprise had staged readings at both The Blank Theatre in Los Angeles and The Red Theatre in Chicago.

Appearing in the show are Scott Purdy as Cocteau and Dwight Sora as The Actor. The play is directed by Associate Artistic Director Elayne LeTraunik, assisted by Stage Manager Beth Bruins. Set design is by Harrison Ornelas, Light Design by Jess Goings, Costumes by Paula Kenar, Sound by JJ Porterfield and Props by Serena Sandoval.

The play will be presented in May 12-June 5, 2016 at the Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport, Chicago. Playwright Mike Czuba will be in attendance at the May 14th performance.

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $30 with discounts for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. A limited number of discounted tickets are available on Goldstar.

To purchase tickets call 773-935-6875 or go to https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/32915/1462075200000