Jackalope Theatre Wraps 7th Season with LIVING NEWSPAPERS FESTIVAL, Beginning Today

Jackalope Theatre Company wraps up its 7th season with The 6th Annual Living Newspapers Festival. In homage to the 1930's Living Newspapers of the Federal Theatre Project, Jackalope has assembled an exciting group of Chicago playwrights, directors, and actors to dramatize stories ripped from recent newspaper headlines. Presented for a five-performance limited engagement at The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave, the festival will run today, August 19, through August 23, Wednesday - Sunday at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 and can be reserved via www.jackalopetheatre.org.

Hosted by Behzad Dabu, the 6th Annual Living Newspapers Festival is produced by Elana Boulos*, Andrew Burden Swanson*, and Will Kiley*. The Production Stage Manager is Rachel Hayes, Lighting Design is by Claire Sangster*, and Sound Design is by Will Quam. The Festival is curated by Jon Cohen*.

---

TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED, AND BLACK
by Ike Holter
Directed by Pat Whalen*
Featuring Dana Black and Travis Delgado

LEAH AND SIGRID THEMATICALLY RUMINATE OVER THE CALIFORNIA WATER SHORTAGE AND HOW YOUR MOM LIKES TOM SELLECK
by Calamity West*
Directed by Will Kiley*
Featuring: Leah Raidt and Sigrid Sutter

AS IS
by Sam Beach
Directed by Michelle Maurer
Featuring: Kelly Parker, Vered Hankin, Jack Miggins, and Doug Schuetz

MATTER
by Idris Goodwin
Directed by Cody Spellman
Featuring: Ryan Hake and Kimberly Vaughn

RED TEAM
by Joel Kim Booster
Directed by Diana Raislis
Featuring: Jon Cohen* and Tiffany Williams

UNDENIABLY BRUTAL BUT BETTER THAN LAST YEAR
By Nate Whelden
Directed by Lavina Jadhwani
Featuring: Sasha Smith, Anthony Venturini, and Rolo Rodriguez

*Denotes Jackalope Company Member

---

About the Federal Theatre Project

With a history in the USSR and Germany in the early part of the century, the Living Newspaper was initiated in the United States in 1935 as part of the Federal Theatre Project. Its founders believed in the value of drama as an instrument of social change and the Living Newspapers became a highly effective new form, boldly producing plays that often brought to light social injustices, challenged ideals, and criticized the government.

In response to the Great Depression, Congress appropriated $4.8 billion for work relief and created agencies to administer the funds, including the Works Progress Administration. Despite being allocated less than one percent of WPA funding, the Federal Theatre Project employed approximately eight thousand Theatre professionals a year during its four-year run.

In an attempt to create new plays, the Federal Theatre Project often recruited new writers. One of the goals of the short-lived FTP was to create plays and provide training for aspiring writers, and the Living Newspapers fostered this on a grand scale. Even though insiders acknowledged that it is much easier to build a dam or teach a trade than it is to develop a playwright, the legacy of the FTP laid the groundwork for using theatre to invoke conversation on national themes.

We cultivate theatre that manifests the adventure deeply rooted in the American mythos.

For more information, visit www.jackalopetheatre.org.

###