PTE Presents Tony Kushner's 'THE ILLUSION' Opening 12/20

Promethean Theatre Ensemble continues to strive for artistic excellence as they begin their third season of quality theatre with the Tony Kushner play The Illusion.

Freely adapted by Tony Kushner (Angels in America, A Bright Room Called Day) from the Pierre Corneille work L'Illusion Comique, this fantastical journey unfolds when a stately lawyer, Pridamant of Avignon, treks to a magician's cave to purchase news of the son he banished years ago. The sorcerer conjures up otherworldly visions of the son's life of love and betrayal that blur the line between fantasy and reality and leave the nobleman forever changed.

The Illusion is directed by PTE artistic associate and Chief of Production Russell Berns. A graduate of Northwestern University, Berns has worked with companies that include City Lit (Frigg's Grief), and Writers' Theatre (assistant director, Othello). Other directing credits include The Lion in Winter, The Skin of Our Teeth, and Caligula. The cast of The Illusion includes ensemble members Anne Korajczyk, Nick Lake, Ed Rutherford, and Tom Weber, and also features guest artists John Christopher Brown, Devon Candura, Steve Gensler, and Blake Williams.

While The Illusion marks a welcome alternative to the typical holiday fare, Promethean still wants to share in the holiday spirit with its audiences. To that end, every Thursday performance and the two Saturday matinees have been designated "Winter Wonderland" performances, with complementary hot chocolate offered to the audience at intermission.

Since their inaugural production of Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy in 2006, Promethean Theatre Ensemble has striven to bring audiences and artists together to collaborate in storytelling. Employing simplicity of design and performance to engage the imagination, the company produces plays rooted in creativity, language and ideas. With the support of its dedicated ensemble, Promethean has gone on to produce Our Country's Good, The Light of Love, Six Characters in Search of an Author and their popular Evening of Shakespeare series. The company has also collaborated with the Chicago and Evanston Public Libraries to offer theatre education to teens. Their third season will conclude with William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure in 2009.

The Illusion will be presented at City Lit Theater, 1020 W Bryn Mawr Ave, from December 19 to January 17, 2009, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There are also 2 p.m. Saturday matinees on January 10 and January 17, and a 7 p.m. performance on Sunday January 11. Opening night will take place on Saturday, December 20 at 8 p.m. There are no performances on December 25 and 26. Tickets are $20 and can be reserved by calling (773) 305-2897. Thursday performances and Saturday matinees are "Winter Wonderland" performances, and hot cocoa will be provided to the audience at intermission. For more information, please visit
http://www.prometheantheatre.org

 

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