'Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates' Begins 4/19 at ICT

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre (ICT) presents the final production of their 2007-2008 season dedicated to the topic Righteousness: Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates, written by Pulitzer Prize Winner Robert Schenkkan (The Kentucky Cycle) and directed by Chris Maher (Artistic Director, Open Eye Productions).

This bitingly funny commentary about America's hubris in domestic and foreign policy follows the cleverly imagined, two-century journey of explorers Lewis and Clark from the Louisiana Purchase to the Spanish-American, Vietnam and Iraq wars. Along the way they meet a variety of "characters," including Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, Sacagawea, Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld. But regardless of the time period in which they find themselves, Lewis and Clark continuously witness the disturbing role violence plays in shaping the past, present and future of the United States. 

Lewis And Clark Reach the Euphrates received its professional debut (and only production to date) at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in December 2005. ICT previously produced Robert Schenkkan's The Kentucky Cycle in July 2005, winning three After Dark Awards and four Joseph Jefferson Citations, including Outstanding Ensemble, Direction and Production.

Robert Schenkkan will participate in an audience discussion following the Sunday, May 11 matinee of Lewis and Clark Reach The Euphrates. Tickets for this special performance remain $20, but reservations are very strongly recommended.

Robert Schenkkan is best known for writing The Kentucky Cycle, which premiered at Seattle's Intiman Theatre and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the first time a play which had not first been presented in New York City was so honored. It also won the PEN Centre West and the LA Drama Critics Circle Awards for Best Play and was nominated for a Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award. Heaven on Earth premiered Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre and won the Julie Harris/Beverly Hills Theatre Guild Award. Other plays include Final Passages, Tachinoki, Handler and Arturo & Katherine. As a screenwriter, Schenkkan adapted Graham Greene's The Quiet American, directed by Phillip Noyce and starring Michael Caine and Brendan Frasier. For television, he wrote a mini-series adaptation of Howard Fast's novel Spartacus and a Movie of the Week for TNT entitled "Crazy Horse." Schenkkan is a New Dramatists alumnus and a member of The Ensemble Studio Theatre.

Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates runs Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm April 19 - May 18 at National Pastime Theater, 4139 N. Broadway Ave. Tickets are $20. Students/Seniors/Industry are $15 and available for any performance with proper ID. Group discounts are also available. For reservations, call 312.458.9780 or email info@infamouscommonwealth.org.

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