Northlight Extends FUNNYMAN with Tim Kazurinsky and George Wendt

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces five additional performances for the World Premiere of Bruce Graham's Funnyman, directed by BJ Jones. Due to demand, the production has been extended through October 25, 2015, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

New York City, 1959. Fading vaudeville comic Chick Sherman, along with his long-suffering agent, tries to revive his career with a role in an avant-garde off-Broadway play. While his grown daughter searches for answers from her absentee showbiz father, a lifetime of private and professional struggles rise to the surface, cracking the polished public persona of the world's favorite former "funny man."

Funnyman marks Northlight's fourth world premiere with playwright Bruce Graham, author of The Outgoing Tide, Stella & Lou and White Guy on the Bus.

The cast includes George Wendt, Tim Kazurinsky, Amanda Drinkall, Steve Haggard, Rob Lindley and Michael Perez.

The designers are Jeffrey D. Kmiec (Set Design), Rachel Laritz (Costume Design), Jesse Klug (Lighting Design), Andrew Hansen (Sound Design) and Stephan Mazurek (Projection Design). The Stage Manager is Rita Vreeland.

Northlight Theatre aspires to promote change of perspective and encourage compassion by exploring the depth of our humanity across a bold spectrum of theatrical experiences, reflecting our community to the world and the world to our community.

Now entering its 41st season, the organization has mounted over 200 productions, including more than 40 world premieres. Northlight has earned 151 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and 28 Awards. As one of the area's premier theatre companies, Northlight is a regional magnet for critical and professional acclaim, as well as talent of the highest quality.

Funnyman is supported in part by Tom Stringer Design Partners.

Northlight is supported in part by generous contributions from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; BMO Harris Bank; The Chicago Community Trust; Cramer-Krasselt; the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; ComEd, An Exelon Company; Edgerton Foundation for New American Plays Award; Evanston Community Foundation; First Bank & Trust; Full Circle Foundation; Henrietta Lange Burke Fund; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; Kirkland & Ellis Foundation; The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Melvoin Award for Playwriting; Modestus Bauer Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; NorthShore University HealthSystem; The Offield Family Foundation; The Pauls Foundation; Room & Board; Sage Products; Sanborn Family Foundation; The Shubert Foundation, Inc.; Skokie Fine Arts Council; The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust; The Sullivan Family Foundation; Tom Stringer Design Partners; and Venturous Theater Fund of the Tides Foundation.