Photo Flash: First Look at Circle Theatre's FIRST LADY SUITE by Michael John LaChiusa

CIRCLE THEATRE's production of Michael John LaChiusa's First Lady Suite opens next week, just days before the 2016 Election Tuesday. The chamber musical opens Saturday, November 5th, 2016 and will officially run through Sunday, November 27th, 2016. Shows are Tuesdays and Thursday through Saturdays at 8:00pm (no show on Thanksgiving, November 24th), Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm (no Saturday matinee on November 5th) with a special performance at 8:00pm on Sunday, November 6th at The Heartland Studio in Rogers Park, 7016 N. Glenwood Ave. Further information on performance dates and times can be found at www.circletheatrechicago.org. A sneak peek of the cast's portrayal of these monumental historical characters can be found below!

Michael John LaChiusa's poignant First Lady Suite explores the fascinating lives of the women behind some of the most powerful men in history. Through the eyes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Mamie Eisenhower, and Jackie Kennedy, the audience gets a close look into their lifestyles, perspectives and relationships.

The cast includes Neala Barron (Now Here This, Brown Paper Box Co.; Adding Machine, The Hypocrites), Hannah Dawe (The Little Mermaid, Drury Lane Theatre; Ordinary Days, Boho Theatre, Jeff Nomination - Actress in a Supporting Role), Emily Grayson (Melancholy Play, Piven Theatre Company; Titanic, Griffin Theatre Company), Nicole Michelle Haskins (MUTT, Stage Left with Red Tape Theatre; Rent, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre), Courtney Jones (Rent, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre; Ordinary Days, Boho Theatre, Jeff Nomination - Actress in a Supporting Role), Pavi Proczko (A Midsummer Night's Dream,Muse of Fire Theatre Company; How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients, Trap Door Theatre) and Tiffany Tatreau (Bat Boy, Griffin Theatre; Ride the Cyclone, Chicago Shakespeare Theater); with understudies, Erin Renee Baumrucker* (Oliver, Citadel Theatre; Opus 1861: The Civil War in Symphony, City Lit Theater) and Jessica Vann (The Story of a Story (The Untold Story), Underscore Theatre Company; Hair, Big Noise Theatre).

The production team includes Nicholas Reinhart* (Director/Choreographer), Nick Graffagna (Music Director; Ordinary Days, Boho Theatre, Jeff Nomination - Actor in a Supporting Role), Landree Fleming (Assistant Director, Reefer Madness, Circle Theatre, Jeff Nomination - Actress in a Leading Role), Paul Di Ciccio (Stage Manager), Adam Conway (Dramaturgy), Marissa Druzbanski* (Props Designer), Maya Michele Fein (Lighting Designer), Jimmy Jagos* (Set Designer, BroadwayWorldChicago.com nomination for Triassic Parq), Matt Reich (Sound Designer), Alexa Weinzierl (Costume Designer), and Bobby Arnold* (Producer), with John Cockerill (Keys 2).

*Denotes Circle Theatre company member

All photos by Cody Jolly Photography

Courtney Jones as Jacqueline Kennedy

Pavi Proczko as Ike Eisenhower

Tiffany Tatreau as Mary Gallagher

Nicole Michelle Haskins as Marian Anderson

Neala Barron as Lorena Hickock

Hannah Dawe as Mamie Eisenhower

Emily Grayson as Eleanor Roosevelt

Courtney Jones as Jacqueline Kennedy