Photo Flash: First Look at Profiles Theatre's THE CRYPTOGRAM

Profiles Theatre announces the next show of its 26th Season with the 20th Anniversary production of The Cryptogram by David Mamet, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. The production runs through November 16, 2014 at Profiles Theatre's The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Mamet's rarely produced masterpiece, The Cryptogram, celebrates its 20th Anniversary at Profiles Theatre. Mamet combines mercurial intelligence with genuinely Hitchcockian menace as this gripping play journeys back into childhood and the moment of its vanishing - when the sheltering world suddenly reveals itself as a place full of dangers. One late evening in 1959, a young boy sits waiting up for his father in anticipation of their camping trip. While his mother urges him to go to sleep, a family friend tries to entertain them or perhaps distract them. Mamet re-creates a child's terrifying discovery that the grownups speak in code - a code that may never be breakable.

The Cryptogram received its world premiere in July 1994 at the Ambassadors Theatre in London, followed by US productions at the American Repertory Theater in February 1995 and Off-Broadway at the Westside Theater Upstairs in April 1995. Directed by Mamet, the play won the Obie Award for Best Play and Best Actress for Felicity Huffman. Arguably one of the most prolific and influential playwrights of the latter-20th century, David Mamet amassed an acclaimed, award-winning body of work including American Buffalo, Glengarry Glen Ross, Speed-the-Plow and Oleanna for the stage alongside his screenplays for The Untouchables, The Verdict and House of Games among many others.

The cast of The Cryptogram features ensemble member Darrell W. Cox as Del along with guest artists Abigail Boucher as Donny and Aaron Lamm as John. The designers are Thad Hallstein (set), Michael T. May (lights), Jeffrey Levin (sound and original music), and Raquel Adorno (costumes). Danica Jenelle Horton is the assistant director and Patrick Murphy serves as stage manager.

Tickets for The Cryptogram are $35 for Thursdays, $40 for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available by phone, (773) 549-1815, or online, www.profilestheatre.org. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 and 8:00 pm, Sundays at 7:00 p.m.

Photos by Michael Brosilow