Phoenix Rising Productions Presents THE FIRES OF NERO: THE RISE OF A DICTATOR

Phoenix Rising Productions presents its inaugural play, The Fires of Nero: The Rise of a Dictator, which playwright/producer Aaron Harris Woodstein says became a cautionary tale, the longer he studied the sadistic and violent Roman emperor Nero.

"Nero (37-68 AD) gained power with everyone he killed," Woodstein said. "I was surprised that anyone could exist and be that awful, that people did not stop him. That lesson for today was what inspired me to keep writing the plot. I want people to walk away saying, 'Wow, I can't believe they let this happen.'"

The Fires of Nero: The Rise of a Dictator runs Aug. 30-Sept. 9, 2018 at the Box Theater of Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.stage773.com/show/firesofnero

The play encompasses the first eight years of the emperor's 14-year reign and ends with the burning of Rome, his most notorious act. Conventional wisdom says that Nero was insane but Woodstein says, "I want audiences to judge for themselves."

Besides the ambitious young emperor, The Fires of Nero characters include his domineering mother, his respected tutor and his exploitative friends. The cast, in alphabetical order, includes: Kamil Borowski, Eliana Campbell, Danny Ferenczi, Sarah Ford, Val Gerard Garcia Jr., Nate Hall, Bryce Saxon, Scott James Smith, Rebecca Sparks and Rachael Wilkinson.

Music is the medium that characters in the play use to present alternatives to Nero. Although history now tells us that Nero did not fiddle while Rome burned (the instrument wasn't invented for another millennium), the emperor did fancy himself as a musician and he often entered contests in Greece. He usually won, but history is divided as to whether talent - or clout - was the reason. Sam Mullooly is composer of The Fires of Nero and Luke McLoughlin is music director.

Theatre historian Seth N. Wilson is the director. Wilson has worked in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and the United Kingdom. He holds a master's degree in theatre history from the University of Illinois and will receive his doctorate from the University of Georgia in August. At UGeorgia's New Play Festival, he recently directed two world premieres, "Alice, Captured," and "Phantom Annilhilators."

A talk-back with playwright/producer Woodstein, director Wilson and Clifford Ando, professor at the University of Chicago whose research includes the history and critique of Roman and neo-Roman political thought, will follow the Sunday, September 2 matinee.

The production team for The Fires of Nero includes Blake Cordell (lighting and sound design), Aaron Harris Woodstein (props design), Matthew Smith, (fight director), Tori Keeling (intimacy design), Melinda "MJ" Deamon, production manager, Haley Schmidt (stage manager).

Phoenix Rising Productions has a mission to highlight rich Midwestern culture and artistry by supporting local playwrights and underrepresented groups. The new theatre company arose from a Kickstarter campaign, from the ashes of companies that mistreated artists, who didn't pay their performers when promised and who eventually closed their doors.