Oak Park Festival Theatre Presents BETRAYAL, Previews 10/7

Oak Park Festival Theatre presents Harold Pinter's Betrayal at the Oak Park-River Forest Performing Arts Center (formerly, Village Players Theatre), 1010 W. Madison St. in Oak Park. Betrayal previews October 7 through 9, with a regular run from October 10 through November 13. Performances are at 8:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 5:00 on Sundays. Members of the press are invited to attend on Sunday, October 10 at 8:00 p.m. Please note curtain time for opening night.

Nobel Prize, Tony, and Olivier Award winner Harold Pinter is one of the most celebrated and influential playwrights in the English language. His masterpiece, Betrayal, is a dangerous, funny, sexy, and deeply personal journey backward-from the end, to the beginning of a seven year affair between Jerry and Emma, the wife of Jerry's best friend. The play's unique structure, with Pinter's trademark economy of language and silence, sets the stage for a thrilling meditation on marriage, passion, trust, and friendship.

Acclaimed Chicago director and actor Kevin Christopher Fox returns to Oak Park Festival Theatre, where he directed last year's Jeff recommended Arms and the Man to the delight of both critics and audiences. Among his Chicago directing credits are the Midwest premiere of St. Crispin's Day at Strawdog, which received a Jeff Citation nomination for Best Production; Patient No. 1 for WNEP; The Pull of the Moon at 16th Street Theater; Beggars in the House of Plenty for Mary-Arrchie; the Jeff recommended The Last Days of Judas Iscariot for Gift Theatre and its transfer to Victory Gardens; Widowers' Houses (Jeff recommended) for TimeLine Theatre; and his debut, Buicks, for Precious Mettle.

Fox says about Betrayal, "I've been in love with this play for half my life, and I leaped at the chance to do this at Oak Park Festival. There is a momentum and excitement, a real artistic resurgence happening there. I am magnetized by Pinter's honesty in depicting lies. Little and big. To ourselves, our friends, and our lovers. I believe there is beauty in the gray Pinter explores here; whether you've acted the way these characters do in your life or not, there is universality in the impulses these people have. On top of that, Pinter uses this revolutionary structure that is its own mysterious and painfully funny thrillride for the audience."

The cast of Betrayal is Kathy Logelin as Emma; Ian Novak as Jerry; Mark Richard as Robert; and Nathan Pease as the Waiter. The stage manager is Helen Colleen Lattyak. The set and props designer is Andrea Ball. Lighting is by Sara Lauryn Gorsky. The costume designer is Emily Waecker. And the sound designer is Andrew Hansen.

Mark Richard was the artistic director of City Lit Theater for seven years, in which time he adapted and appeared as Bertie in seven "Jeeves" productions there. His Jeeves adaptations have also been produced in Texas and California. He is currently an associate artist at Timeline where he has been seen in numerous productions. His Chicago stage credits range from About Face to Writers' Theatre and include appearances at Lifeline, Remy Bumppo, and Pegasus Players. Following Betrayal he will be joining Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of As You Like It, directed by Gary Griffin. Mark has been the recipient of three non-Equity Jeff awards, in addition to multiple nominations.

Kathy Logelin was seen last year at Oak Park Festival Theatre as Louka in Shaw's Arms and the Man, also directed by Kevin Christopher Fox. Some of her recent credits include the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, AR, and ShawChicago. She is an ensemble member at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble and has been the recipient of an After Dark award.

Ian Novak has garnered positive reviews on stages all around Chicago, including appearances at Raven Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Caffeine Theatre, Vitalist Theatre, Live Bait Theatre, Bailiwick, New American Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Apple Tree, and The Goodman Theatre. He also spent two seasons at the Stratford Festival of Canada, and has been seen at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

Betrayal runs October 10 through November 13 in the Studio Theatre at the Oak Park River Forest Performing Arts Center, 1010 W. Madison St. in Oak Park. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m., with an opening night performance at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 10. There will be a Wednesday performance at 8:00 p.m. on November 10. Please see http://oakparkfestival.com for the complete show schedule and to purchase tickets. Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. Four-play season subscriptions are available for $80 (full price) and $60 (students and seniors). Tickets may also be purchased by calling the box office at 708-445-4440.

Oak Park Festival Theatre-Oak Park's only Equity theatre and the Midwest's oldest professional theatre performing the classics outdoors-is proud to present its 37th year of theatrical excellence and to provide Chicagoland with the greatest classical plays ever written. Since 1975, the greatest playwrights have illumined our stage and enlightened our audiences. More information on Oak Park Festival Theatre is available at http://oakparkfestival.com or by calling (708) 445-4440.

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