Lifeline Theatre Announces 28th Anniversary Season

Lifeline Theatre Artistic Director Dorothy Milne and the artistic ensemble announce their 2010-2011, 28th anniversary season of presenting Big Stories, Up Close. In its award-winning and audience-acclaimed style, Lifeline's 2010-2011 season will feature six popular books onstage, all productions adapted by Lifeline ensemble members. The season will feature sprawling, legendary stories as well as stirring, contemporary titles, as Lifeline retains its reputation for fresh, imaginative interpretations of well-loved classics and embraces the challenge and excitement of modern, thought-provoking works.

MainStage
"The Moonstone," February 4-March 27, 2011 (opens 2/14/11, 7:30 p.m.)
"Watership Down," April 29-June 19, 2011 (opens 5/9/11, 7:30 p.m.)

KidSeries
"Arnie the Doughnut," March 19-May 15, 2011 (opens 3/20/11, 1 p.m.)

The MainStage season will begin with the legendary drama "Wuthering Heights," followed by the classic mystery "The Moonstone," and conclude with the thrilling adventure of "Watership Down." Celebrating ten years of collaboration with composer and lyricist George Howe, Lifeline' KidSeries offerings include the return of two audience favorites plus one brand new title featuring Howe's memorable music. The KidSeries season starts with a remount of Lifeline's best-selling 2002 musical, "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type," followed by a remount of the heartwarming 2001 musical "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch," and ending with a world premiere musical adaptation of the whimsical children's book "Arnie the Doughnut." CDs of the cast recordings of "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type," "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch," and "Arnie the Doughnut," featuring Lifeline performers, will be on sale in the lobby, in addition to copies of the source books. Cast recordings of previous Lifeline KidSeries productions "The Blue Shadow" and "The Last of the Dragons" will be available as well. Each season, Lifeline also offers three "Stories Come Alive" series at the Rogers Park Branch of the Chicago Public Library. These free events for children ages 5-8 feature read-alouds and story theatre performances from a KidSeries book with interactive drama games.

To purchase season subscriptions, tickets, or for more information, call the Lifeline Box Office at
773-761-4477, or visit www.lifelinetheatre.com. Season subscriptions go on sale April 1, and offer the three MainStage productions for $75; and the three KidSeries plays for $27. Lifeline Theatre is known for specializing in original literary adaptations, and its ensemble of artists uses imaginative, unconventional staging to portray sprawling stories in an intimate space. Lifeline is committed to promoting the arts in its Rogers Park neighborhood and is an anchor of the Glenwood Avenue Arts District, aspiring to create art that is relevant to the culturally diverse, increasingly youthful neighborhood. For Rogers Park Flex Pass information, visit www.rogersparkflexpass.com. Lifeline will again co-present the ninth annual Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest on August 21 and 22, 2010, featuring arts and crafts, theater, music, food and drink for the whole family on the cobblestone streets of historic Rogers Park - for information about artist applications, sponsorships, and more, visit www.GlenwoodAve.org.

New this year are Lifeline's "Book Club Subscriptions," which include tickets to all three productions of either the MainStage or KidSeries season, plus copies of the source books. Read the books beforehand, discuss them with the creative team at MainStage Sneak Peeks, and then experience Lifeline's adaptation. Sneak Peeks are held on a Sunday evening early in the rehearsal process, and feature refreshments and discussions with the adaptor, director, designers and cast. "Book Club Subscriptions" are $100 for the MainStage series (includes paperback copies of the source novels), and $60 for the KidSeries (includes hardcover copies of the source books).

Also new this year is the "KidSeries PLUS Subscription" for $100, which features admission to all three KidSeries productions, plus all three of Lifeline's "School's Out Workshops:" the Veteran's Day workshop held 11/12/10, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day workshop held 1/17/11, and the Presidents' Day workshop held 2/21/11, all from 9 a.m.-12 noon (the workshops alone, purchased individually, are worth $90). Lifeline's creative workshops are for kids ages 5 -10, and past activities have included break dancing, puppetry, stage combat, mime, and physical comedy.

Being a Lifeline subscriber allows patrons to save up to 25% off regular ticket prices; offers discounts on additional tickets for friends and family; gives first choice of seats with unlimited free ticket exchanges (and includes reminder cards for shows selected, plus a reminder call a few days before the reservation); knocks 25% off party room rental for audience pre- or post-show events; and offers invitations to subscriber events such as sneak peeks of the rehearsal process, book discussions with the creative team, and author events (previous writers have included Ron Hansen, Adam Langer, Daniel Mason, Sara Paretsky and Donald Westlake).

Ticket prices for the 2010-2011 season are: regular single MainStage tickets are $32 on Thursdays and Fridays; regular single MainStage tickets are $35 for both Saturday performances and Sundays; seniors and groups (12 or more) are $27; previews, students (with ID) and rush tickets (half-hour before show, subject to availability) are $20. Lifeline's KidSeries single tickets for adults and kids are $12 each; and groups of 15 or more are $9 each. Pay-what-you-can KidSeries tickets are available a half-hour before show time (subject to availability). Lifeline Theatre also offers a full-service party room for on-site, pre- or post-show events.

Lifeline Theatre is located at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood. Lifeline Theatre has a designated parking lot, which may be used for all performances and for any other Lifeline activity, located at the NE corner of Morse and Ravenswood (one block west of Clark Street). Lifeline Theatre's shuttle van will run between the theatre and the parking lot 45 minutes prior to each performance and make loops back to the lot immediately after each performance. Street parking is also available. The theatre is wheelchair accessible, and is located half a block south of the Morse Red Line El train stop.

Founded in 1982, Lifeline is known for staging innovative adaptations of great works of fiction as well as commissioning original work. In 1987, Lifeline added KidSeries plays for children and families, and has been producing full seasons of programming for both adults and children ever since. Lifeline Theatre's programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; The Arts Work Fund; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Chicago Community Trust; CityArts 3 grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; The Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund; The Rhoades Foundation; The Polk Bros. Foundation; S&C Foundation; Taproot Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

MainStage Productions
"Wuthering Heights," a world premiere based on the classic novel by Emily Brontë
Adapted by Lifeline ensemble member Christina Calvit
Directed by Lifeline ensemble member Elise Kauzlaric
September 10-October 31, 2010
Regular tickets $32-35; preview tickets $20
Previews: Fridays, 9/10 and 9/17 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 9/11 and 9/18 at 8 p.m.; Sundays, 9/12 and 9/19 at 4 p.m.
Press Opening: Monday, 9/20 at 7:30 p.m. (press also invited to final preview on 9/19 at 4 p.m.)
Regular Run: 9/23 - 10/31/10: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and
Sundays at 4 p.m.

Inseparable from childhood, Heathcliff and Cathy believe themselves eternally bound. But when they are brutally torn apart, the resulting course of retribution provides an unflinching look into the cyclic nature of revenge and the unknowable passions of the heart. Travel across Yorkshire's stormy moors with one of literature's darkest antiheroes in this legendary tale of devotion and redemption. An epic love story, re-imagined as a highly physical work of powerful imagery, by the award-winning adaptor and director of "Mariette in Ecstasy."

"The Moonstone," a world premiere based on the classic mystery by Wilkie Collins
Adapted by Lifeline ensemble member Robert Kauzlaric
Directed by Lifeline ensemble member Paul S. Holmquist
February 4-March 27, 2011
Regular tickets $32-35; preview tickets $20
Previews: Fridays, 2/4 and 2/11 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 2/5 and 2/12 at 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2/6 and 2/13 at 4 p.m.
Press Opening: Monday, 2/14 at 7:30 p.m. (press also invited to final preview on 2/13 at 4 p.m.)
Regular Run: 2/17 - 3/27/11: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and
Sundays at 4 p.m.

The Moonstone, an Indian diamond steeped in violence and mysticism, has been stolen from Rachel Verinder's bedroom, and no one in her household is above suspicion. Join a devious collection of liars, lovers, addicts and outcasts as they struggle to expose the truth and recover the stone before its curse destroys them all, in this classic tale regarded as the first detective story in the English language. A thrilling mystery, re-imagined to explore the tension between fact and memory, by the award-winning adaptor and director of "The Island of Dr. Moreau."

"Watership Down," a world premiere based on the contemporary bestseller by Richard Adams
Adapted by Lifeline ensemble member John Hildreth
Directed by Lifeline ensemble member Katie McLean
April 29-June 19, 2011
Regular tickets $32-35; preview tickets $20
Previews: Fridays, 4/29 and 5/6 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 4/30 and 5/7 at 8 p.m.; Sundays, 5/1 and 5/8 at 4 p.m.
Press Opening: Monday, 5/9 at 7:30 p.m. (press also invited to final preview on 5/8 at 4 p.m.)
Regular Run: 5/12 - 6/19/11: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and
Sundays at 4 p.m.

When their birthplace is destroyed, brothers Hazel and Fiver lead a misfit band of survivors on a quest for a new home. Confronted with insurmountable dangers on all sides, the refugees must join forces with unexpected allies and conquer their deepest fears in order to endure. Join a pair of unlikely leaders in the adventure of a lifetime, in this unforgettable story of survival against impossible odds. A stirring adventure, re-imagined for the Lifeline stage by the award-winning adaptor and director of "Johnny Tremain."

KidSeries Productions
"Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type," a musical based on the popular bestseller by Doreen Cronin,
illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Adapted by Lifeline ensemble member James E. Grote
Music and lyrics by George Howe
Directed by Lifeline ensemble member Shole Milos
October 16-December 5, 2010
All tickets $12
Previews: Saturday, 10/16 at 1 p.m.; and Sunday, 10/17 at 11 a.m.
Opening: Sunday, 10/17 at 1 p.m.
Regular Run: 10/23 - 12/5: Saturdays at 1 p.m..; Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (No performances Halloween,
Sunday, October 31, 2010)

The animals on Farmer Brown's farm have had enough! They work all day to provide milk and eggs, but when their request for electric blankets to warm the drafty barn is ignored, action must be taken. Join the Cows, Hen, and Duck - and their trusty typewriter - as they engage in peaceful protest to improve their working conditions. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the publishing of "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type," Lifeline Theatre remounts this delightful musical adaptation, an audience favorite since 2002.

"Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch," a musical based on the uplifting children's book by Eileen Spinelli,
illustrated by Paul Yalowitz
Adapted by Lifeline ensemble member Frances Limoncelli
Music and lyrics by George Howe
Directed by Ann Boyd
January 8-February 27, 2011
All tickets $12
Previews: Saturday, 1/8 at 1 p.m.; and Sunday, 1/9 at 11 a.m.
Opening: Sunday, 1/9 at 1 p.m.
Regular Run: 1/15 - 2/27: Saturdays at 1 p.m..; Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Dull and predictable Mr. Hatch had always lived an isolated life until one Valentine's Day, when an unexpected delivery transforms the town's most unsociable hermit into everyone's favorite friend. Share in a heartwarming tale of companionship and acceptance, as Mr. Hatch's neighbors get to know the mysterious man next door. Lifeline remounts this beloved musical adaptation from 2001, by the adaptor and composer of "The Emperor's Groovy New Clothes."

"Arnie the Doughnut," a world premiere musical based on the whimsical children's book by Laurie Keller
Adapted by Lifeline ensemble member Frances Limoncelli
Music and lyrics by George Howe
Directed by Lifeline ensemble member Elise Kauzlaric
March 19-May 15, 2011
All tickets $12
Previews: Saturday, 3/19 at 1 p.m.; and Sunday, 3/20 at 11 a.m.
Opening: Sunday, 3/20 at 1 p.m.
Regular Run: 3/26 - 5/15: Saturdays at 1 p.m..; Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (No performances Easter Sunday,
April 24, 2011, or Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 2011)

Arnie, a lovable chocolate-covered doughnut with sprinkles, is the happiest pastry in the bakery when he's finally selected to be taken home by a new owner. But when mild-mannered Mr. Bing tries to eat the unsuspecting Arnie, both are in for the surprise of their lives. Embark upon a hilarious quest to redefine human/doughnut relations with a pair of true originals, in this world premiere musical adaptation by the creators of "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch."