Graney to Return to Court for COMEDY OF ERRORS, 9/16-10/17

Court Theatre opens its 56th season with William Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, directed by Sean Graney. The production will run September 16 - October 17, 2010 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press opening is Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 8:00PM.
 
Innovative director Sean Graney, Artistic Director of The Hypocrites, re-imagines Shakespeare's funniest farce about mistaken identity, mental illness, and xenophobia. The story of two sets of twins separated at birth, The Comedy of Errors will be a theatrical event full of energetic slapstick and lyrical comedy, performed by six virtuosic actors. This season opener represents the next step in Graney's exploration of classic farce at Court Theatre, following What the Butler Saw (2007) and The Mystery of Irma Vep (2009).
 
 "Court feels like a true artistic home for me. Charlie, the staff and audiences have really welcomed me, and I feel that I have an amazing freedom and support that allows me to explore plays in ways that I wouldn't be able to at other theaters," says Sean Graney. "I am excited to tackle The Comedy of Errors in part because I think it is Shakespeare's funniest play, and I want to discover what makes this comedy timeless. But I am equally excited to explore some of the underlying themes that Shakespeare was exploring: economically-driven xenophobia, existential crisis, and mental-illness."
 
The Comedy of Errors features Kurt Ehrmann (Angelo, the gold merchant/Dr. Pinch/Courtezan/Guard), Alex Goodrich (Dromio of Syracuse/Dromio of Ephesus/Emelia, the Abbess), Elizabeth Ledo (Luciana/Luce, the kitchen wench/Towncrier/Executioner), Erik Hellman (Antipholus of Syracuse/Antipholus of Ephesus/Egeon), Stacy Stoltz (Adriana/Boatswain/Angry Merchantess), and StEve Wilson (The Duke/Balthazar, a random merchant/Officer Jailor). 
 
The creative team includes Tom Burch (scenic design), Jacqueline Firkins (costume design), Heather Gilbert (lighting design), and Michael Griggs (sound design). The production stage manager is William Collins.

Sean Graney (Adaptor/Director) is the Artistic Director and Founder of The Hypocrites, where he has directed most of their productions. He directed What The Butler Saw at Court Theatre in fall 2007 and The Mystery of Irma Vep in fall 2009. He was born and raised in Boston, where he received his BFA in Theatre and Writing from Emerson College. His work has won Joseph Jefferson Citations and After Dark Awards. Graney was a recipient of the NEA/TCG Career Development Program for Directors and was called Chicago's Best Avant-Garde Director by Chicago Magazine in 2004. He has worked with Chicago Children's Theatre, Collaboraction, Redmoon, Court and Steppenwolf.

Kurt Ehrmann (Angelo, the gold merchant/Dr. Pinch/Courtezan/Guard) is making his Court Theatre debut with The Comedy of Errors.  Kurt was last seen understudying the roles of Don and Teach in Steppenwolf Theatre's American Buffalo, and he had the honor of performing both: Teach while the production was still in Chicago and Don during its limited engagement at McCarter Theatre in New Jersey. A company member with The Hypocrites, Kurt has performed in many of their productions, including: The Bald Soprano, The Threepenny Opera, The Hairy Ape, Equus, Death of a Salesman and Machinal. Other Chicago credits include Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (Edward II, Othello), Chicago Children's Theatre (The Hundred Dresses), and Apple Tree (Mountain). 

Alex Goodrich (Dromio of Syracuse/Dromio of Ephesus/Emilia, the Abbess) makes his debut at Court Theatre with The Comedy of Errors.  Chicago credits include: The Emperor's New Clothes, Taming of the Shrew, Aladdin, SS!, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back? (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Gutenberg! The Musical! (Royal George); It's A Wonderful Life (American Theater Company); The Misanthrope (Greasy Joan); She Stoops to Conquer (Northlight Theatre); and The UN Inspector (Next Theatre). He is a member of Barrel of Monkeys and loves his wife!

Erik Hellman (Antipholus of Syracuse/Antipholus of Ephesus/Egeon) returns to Court having previously appeared in The Mystery of Irma Vep, Titus Andronicus, and Arcadia. Recent Chicago credits include: Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, and Edward II (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Honest, Elephant Man, and Huck Finn (Steppenwolf Theatre); All My Sons (Timeline); as well as shows at Writers' Theatre, Next, Remy Bumppo, Chicago Dramatists, The House, The Side Project, Oak Park Festival, and multiple appearances as an ensemble member of Strawdog Theatre Company. Outside of Chicago, Erik has performed off-Broadway at the Mirror Repertory Theatre and has made regional appearances at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz Theatre, and Houston's Stages Repertory Theatre. Film work includes The Dark Knight.
 
Elizabeth Ledo (Luciana/Luce, the kitchen wench/Towncrier/Executioner) returns to Court Theatre for her 5th production. Previous Court credits include: The Illusion, Titus Andronicus, Uncle Vanya, and The Real Thing. Chicago credits include Amadeus, Funk it Up About Nothin', A Midsummer Night's Dream (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), Morning Star, Homebody/Kabul (Steppenwolf Theatre), Boleros for the Disenchanted (The Goodman Theatre), Arms and the Man (Writers' Theatre), The Chalk Garden (Northlight Theatre), and The Odd Couple and Barefoot in the Park (Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre). Regional credits include Romeo and Juliet, Comedy of Errors (Summer Shakespeare at Notre Dame), Arcadia (Indiana Repertory Theatre), and 20 productions with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Elizabeth is also a voice over talent and a proud member of AEA, SAG, and AFTRA.
 
Stacy Stoltz (Adriana/Boatswain/Angry Merchantess) recently appeared as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire at Writers' Theatre. She was also seen in Over the Tavern with Noble Fool Theatricals, and she is a company member with The Hypocrites and The House Theatre of Chicago. Hypocrites' shows include: Frankenstein, Oedipus, The Hairy Ape (The Goodman Theatre), Miss Julie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and 4.48 Psychosis (Steppenwolf Garage). House Theatre credits include: Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe, and Hatfield and McCoy. Stacy also performed off-Broadway in Sean Graney's The 4th Graders Present an Unnamed Love Suicide at 59E59 Theaters.
 
StEve Wilson (The Duke/Balthazar, a random merchant/Officer Jailor) is making his Court Theatre debut. He has been working in Chicago as an actor, director and educator for the past 14 years. As an actor, he has worked with the fine folks at The Factory, The Griffin, and A Red Orchid, among others. He is a proud member of The Hypocrites, where has performed in dozens of shows, including: The Bald Soprano, Angels in America Parts 1 and 2, The Cherry Orchard, Arcadia, Balm in Gilead, The Glass Menagerie, and, most recently, as the title role in Sean Graney's adaptation of Oedipus. He also serves as The Artistic Director of A Red Orchid Theatre's Youth Ensemble, where he will be directing Craig Wright's adaptation of Homer's The Iliad, opening this November. Steve is in his fourth year as a full time acting teacher at North Lawndale College Prep.
 
Previews are September 16 - September 24, 2010.  The opening press performance is on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Curtain times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. with Saturday matinees at 3 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
 
Ticket prices are $30 to $40 for preview performances; $40 to $60 for regular run performances. Tickets are available at the Box Office, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or online at www.CourtTheatre.org. Student and senior discounts available. Groups of 10 or more may purchase tickets by calling Milan Pejnovich at (773) 834-3243. 
Upcoming Events
University of Chicago Student Night
Friday, October 1, 2010 at 8:00PM
University of Chicago students are invited to enjoy free food and soda after the performance. University of Chicago student tickets are always just $10 with valid U of C student ID.
 
David Bevington Post-show Discussion
Wednesday, October 6, 2010, following the 7:30PM performance of The Comedy of Errors
Join world-renowned University of Chicago theater scholar David Bevington in a lively post-show conversation with Resident Dramaturg Drew Dir. Your comments and questions are part of the discourse as Professor Bevington and the artistic staff provide context and probe the deeper issues of each play in Court Theatre's season. One Wednesday performance of each play features this popular in-depth discussion. These conversations begin immediately after the performance, last approximately 30 minutes, and are free and open to all.
 
The Comedy of Errors is sponsored by Grant Thornton and Winston & Strawn LLP.
Court Theatre is the professional theatre in residence at the University of Chicago continuing to discover the power of classic theatre. Court Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Productions are made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and by a City Arts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. Court Theatre is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for the American Theatre; the League of Resident Theatres; the Illinois Humanities Council; the Illinois Arts Alliance; the League of Chicago Theatres; and Hyde Park Cultural Alliance.
 
 
Synopsis: Innovative director Sean Graney (The Hypocrites) re-imagines Shakespeare's funniest farce about mistaken identity, mental illness, and xenophobia. The story of two sets of twins separated at birth, The Comedy of Errors will be a theatrical event full of energetic slapstick and lyrical comedy, performed by six virtuosic actors. This season opener represents the next step in Graney's exploration of classic farce at Court Theatre, following What the Butler Saw (2007) and The Mystery of Irma Vep (2009).

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