Mercy Street Theatre Casts Workshop Premiere of THE BIRD GIRL, Running, 3/18-28

Mercy Street Theatre has announced the full cast for the world premiere workshop production of THE BIRD GIRL, a new play by resident playwright E.J.C. Calvert. The show runs March 18 to­ March 28, 2015 at Unity Lutheran Church, 1212 W Balmoral Ave. Tickets are available February 18 via brownpapertickets.com. The press performance is Friday, March 20, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

Living a life of solitude in a remote asylum, Amity's world is shaken when she's scooped up by an enterprising ringmaster and finds herself the centerpiece of a travelling freak show. Amity's multitudinous deformities allow her to blossom as "The Bird Girl." She enjoys her spotlight while simultaneously being deluged with memories of her earlier life, one spent hidden in shadows by a mother humiliated by the living evidence of her broken womb.

Directed by Artistic Director Julia Rohed*, the ensemble piece will feature Sonja Mata (Amity), Sarah Razmann (Mother/Nurse), Ben Page (JD/Boo), Travis Austin Wright (Roy), Rachel Minkoff* (Julie), and Nellsyn Hill (Jennie).

The creative team includes Kenton Jones (Scenic Design and Prop Design), Kate Grudichak (Costume Design), Eli Van Sickel (Sound Design), Rosemary Ford (Stage Manager), and Danielle Stack* (Production Manager).

*Denotes Mercy Street Theatre Company Member

About the Playwright: E.J.C. CALVERT is from St. Louis, Missouri. Most recently, she developed and performed the shadow puppet play The Infinity Carrot with the Meowsner Players at the Piccolo Theatre in Evanston, IL. Publications include Calamity with YouthPlays LLC, The Bear (A Tragedy) in Samuel French's Off­-Off Broadway Festival Plays 35th Series, and A Dinner Party Goes Awry in the 31 Plays in 31 Days Project anthology. E. J. C. holds an MFA in Playwriting from the New School for Drama.

About the Director: Artistic Director JULIA ROHED is a freelance theatre artist originally from Charlotte, NC. She is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre­Directing. Her directing credits include; The Rubenstein Kissby James Phillips, Animal Farm: a workshop production (Coriolis Theatre Company), Rusalka by Ashlee Marie Mundy (Snapshots Festival ­ 20% Theatre Company), Ionesco's The Chairs, PJ Paparelli and Stephen Karam's columbinus, and the world premiere of Skye Robinson Hillis' The Running Mate: A Workshop Production (Columbia College Chicago). Julia is also a proud Company Member at Interrobang Theatre Project where she has served as a stage manager for Craig Wright's Orange Flower Water, Phillip Ridley's The Pitchfork Disney and the world premiere of Calamity West's The Dolls House Project: Ibsen is Dead as well as Assistant Director for the Midwest Premiere of Paul Downs Colaizzo's Really Really.

Mercy Street Theatre (Julia Rohed, Artistic Director; Danielle Stack, Producing Director; Jake L. Fruend, Associate Artistic Director) is an ensemble driven theatre dedicated to telling stories that examine the modern myth; stories of everyday interaction with the epic, iconic and divine. Mercy Street seeks to produce work that transcends the familiar by bringing the spectacular to life on stage, and scrutinizes the orthodox by putting key ideas and events of our world on display. By providing stories from unfamiliar places, cultures and times, MSTC aims to cultivate unity. Finally, MSTC strives to bring the house down by presenting an entertaining theatrical experience. For more information, visit www.mercystreettheatre.org.