MARK'S GOSPEL Offers Special Mother's Day Celebration 5/10 At Mercury Theater

Mark's Gospel, the hit Chicago premiere presented through May 17 by the Fellowship for the Performing Arts at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is featuring a special Mother's Day celebration on Sunday, May 10. The first 25 moms to arrive at the theater prior to the 3 p.m. show will receive a treat-filled spring gift bag from popular Southport candy shop Candyality. All mothers in attendance will receive a rose from Southport Blooms, and after the performance everyone in The Audience is invited to indulge in complimentary cake and coffee, served by Cullen's Bar and Grill in the lobby following the show.

Fresh from his tour de force performance in The Screwtape Letters as Screwtape, Max McLean brings a magnificent voice, compelling interpretation and exuberant theatricality to a more heavenly venture - the story of Jesus. Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune raved that Mark's Gospel is "Compelling...Life-changing moments!" and Hedy Weiss of The Chicago Sun-Times said "Impeccable...with wit, humor and dramatically rooted clarity."

Mark's Gospel, is the believed to be the first eye witness story of Jesus. "More than any other Gospel, Mark lends itself to theatre," says Jeffrey Fiske, who also directed The Screwtape Letters. It is written as if a reporter is sending first hand reports of Jesus' remarkable journey from rural obscurity to urban sensation to political assassination. The dialogue is both compelling and funny. Max McLean humanizes what are often seen by secular society as distant archetypes. He plays each character as a real human being, sometimes rendered comical in gape-mouthed incredulity by The Miracles of a man who warns them ‘not to tell anyone.' That, of course, is the very thing they do."

"Jesus is certainly a controversial figure." Max McLean says. "Yet he has been tamed by over familiarity. Bringing a theatrical lens to the original source for Christianity helps restores Jesus back to size. It is meant to surprise and delight. And I need to redeem myself for doing Screwtape these past few years."

Max McLean is not new to presenting the Bible on stage. Not only has he made an audio recording of the Bible that was twice nominated for Best Inspirational Audio, but he has previously toured Chicago with Genesis following an Off - Broadway opening at the Lamb's Theatre. Anita Gates of the New York Times described it as "Bible stories told with laughter and affection. Max McLean has complete command."

Mark's Gospel is directed by Jeffrey Fiske who also directed The Screwtape Letters. Also from the Screwtape design team are costumes by Michael Bevins and sound design by Bart Fasbender. Scenic design is by Nick Rastenis and lighting by Jesse Klug. Both are local Chicago designers. Projection design is by Sage Carter from New York. For more information, visit www.MarkOnStage.com.

The performance schedule for Mark's Gospel is Thursday thru Saturday at 8PM

with matinees on Saturday at 4PM and Sunday at 3PM. Tickets range in price from $29.00 - $48.50. $20 for students. Must show valid ID at the box office at the time of purchase. Tickets are available by calling The Mercury Theater Box Office at 773.325.1700, TicketMaster at 312.902.1500, or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Discounted tickets for groups are also available by calling 773.477.7666.