ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS Opens 8/31 at American Blues Theater

By: Kelsey Denette Jun. 11, 2012

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, proudly kicks off the Ensemble's 27^th season with the world premiere of Illegal Use of Hands by Emmy Award-winner, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and ABT Artistic Affiliate James Still, directed by Sandy Shinner, August 31 – September 30 at Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. Press opening for Illegal Use of Hands is Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $10 - $39. Complete ticket information including ticket on-sale date and performance schedule will be announced at a later date.

In a small town where buzzards feast on a dead Chevy and the local Wal-Mart hires only college graduates, three men [ABT ensemble member Steve Key (Broadway tour of August: Osage County), ABT Artistic Affiliate Dennis Zacek (founding artistic director of Victory Gardens Theater) and Howie Johnson (award-winning Killer Joe at Profiles Theater)] wait out the night in the company of a high school football trophy they have rescued from obscurity. It's a story about revenge,glory, and being a man-if only the characters could agree on what they can't remember."We're thrilled to present James Still's voice to Chicago audiences for the first time," says Gwendolyn Whiteside, ABT producing artistic director. "Many of our ensemble have worked with James at other regional theaters, and we're honored to bring him to our own artistic home."

"This is my first major production in Chicago – a homecoming that is long in the making. Right out of college in the 1980s, I moved to Chicago as a young actor where I got my Equity card doing CLOUD 9 with Steppenwolf. Doing that play at that time and also sitting in the audience witnessing dozens of other great collaborations going on Chicago made a huge impact on me. Illegal Use of Hands comes from that instinct. I deeply admire ABT's commitment to straight-shooting, muscular, hair-raisingly beautiful work with American plays," says ABT Artistic Affiliate James Still.

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