Griffin Theatre to Stage MEN SHOULD WEEP, 7/5-8/10

Griffin Theatre Company will present the Chicago premiere of Ena Lamont Stewart's landmark Scottish drama MEN SHOULD WEEP, directed by ensemble member Robin Witt, playing July 5 - August 10, 2014 on the East Stage of the Raven Theatre Complex, 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (866) 811-4111. The press opening is Sunday, July 13 at 7 pm. Griffin Theatre is the recipient of the 2014 Special Jeff Award, marking 25 years of presenting provocative and transformational theatre that bridges the generations.

MEN SHOULD WEEP features Katherine Banks, Maggie Cain, Christina Gorman, Ada Gray, Curtis Jackson, Jodi Kingsley, Tim Martin, Lori Myers, Ashley Neal, Amanda Powell, Ellie Reed, Michael Saguto, Roxanne Saylor, Isaac Sherman and Scot West.

Set in Glasgow's tenements during the 1930s depression, MEN SHOULD WEEP follows the misfortunes of the Morrison family. Care-worn matriarch Maggie finds herself supported and challenged by a network of neighbors and family from whom it is impossible to keep any secrets. She does her very best in the worst of circumstances - always putting herself last in this searing and often funny depiction of the working class.

MEN SHOULD WEEP has not received an American production in 30 years. The Griffin Theatre is thrilled to bring this classic Scottish drama to Chicago and American audiences for the first time since 1984. Stewart's play fits perfectly with Griffin's mission of exploring inter-generational themes as it did with past productions like Time and the Conways, Flare Path and Ah, Wilderness!

A seminal work in the UK's contemporary play canon, MEN SHOULD WEEP was named one of the "Top 100 Plays of the Century" National Theatre of London's millennium poll. The play made its hit debut at Glasgow Unity in 1947 followed by critically-acclaimed revivals at the Edinburgh Festival in 1982 and more recently at National Theatre of Scotland in 2010. In his four-star review, Michael Billington of The Guardian wrote, "This remains a landmark play in British drama; and, if men should weep, it is because Lamont Stewart was discouraged from ever writing a successor to a work that blends such indignation with theatrical exuberance."

The production team for MEN SHOULD WEEP includes: Courtney O'Neill (set design), Kate Murphy (costume design), Brandon Wardell (lighting design), Victoria (toy) Deiorio (sound design), Adam Goldstein (dialect coach), Mary O'Connor (assistant director) and Ellie Reed (casting director).