Photo Flash: First Look at Theatre Seven's UNWILLING AND HOSTILE INSTRUMENTS

Theatre Seven of Chicago brings together nine talented Chicago's playwrights to commemorate the 100th anniversary of suffrage in Illinois with the world premiere of UNWILLING AND HOSTILE INSTRUMENTS: 100 Years of Extraordinary Chicago Women. Woven together into one full-length work are the incredible stories of Jane Addams, Myra Bradwell, Ann Landers, Mavis Staples, Cora Strayer, Maurine Watkins and Ida B. Wells, directed by Elly Green. UNWILLING AND HOSTILE INSTRUMENTS plays now through October 27, 2013 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

UNWILLING AND HOSTILE INSTRUMENTS is written by Seth Bockley (Maurine Watkins), Brian Golden* (various), Ike Holter (Jane Addams, 2013), Elaine Romero (Jane Addams, 1889) Emily Schwartz (Cora Strayer), Carla Stillwell (Ida B. Wells), Nick Ward* (Myra Bradwell), Travis Williams* (Mavis Staples) and Lauren Yee (Ann Landers).

The production features Echaka Agba, Adithi Chandrashekar, Marsha Harman, Jaclyn Hennell, Tracey Kaplan*, Jessica London-Shields, Jake Szczepaniak, BrittneyLove Smith and Joe Zarrow.

UNWILLING AND HOSTILE INSTRUMENTS brings together nine Chicago playwrights to pen a play that combines eight stories about extraordinary women from Chicago's last hundred years to commemorate the 100th anniversary of suffrage in Illinois. In 1913, a vocal opponent of the suffrage movement called women "nothing more than the unwilling and hostile instruments of creation." This project turns that ignorant quote on its head, celebrating the accomplishments of Chicago's greatest historical women and also asking relevant contemporary questions about gender and social equality.

"We begin our season with a production that celebrates Illinois' leadership in the suffrage movement by telling dynamic stories about our city's most extraordinary women," comments Artistic Director Brian Golden. "But we're also digging a little deeper. In telling the story of ten Chicago actors trying to put on these new plays, we're using history and theatre to investigate the challenges and realities of race, gender and equality in Chicago today," adds Golden.

The production team for UNWILLING AND HOSTILE INSTRUMENTS includes: Kerith Parashak (scenic design), Brenda Winstead* (costume design), Mac Vaughey (lighting design), Joe Court (sound design), Joshua Hurley (props design) Isabel Ellison, Sarah Grant, Neal Ryan Shaw and Zev Valancy (dramaturgs) and Emmaline Keddy-Hector (stage manager).

Founded in 2007, Theatre Seven of Chicago's mission is to transform the way Chicagoans engage with their city and to become the premiere center for the creation, development and showcase of theatrically-based Chicago stories. The company has earned nominations for four Jeff Awards and won the 2012 League of Chicago Theatres' Emerging Theatre Award. The company's noted world premieres include The Chicago Landmark Project, We Live Here and Diversey Harbor. Theatre Seven company also hosts a robust menu of auxiliary programming, including a free monthly reading series, Shikaakwa, featuring new looks at Chicago plays and one of the best post-show discussions in town.

The show runs at the American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago. Regular run: Friday, October 4 - Sunday, October 27, 2013. Curtain Times: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets: Previews: $10; Regular run: $20. Students, seniors and industry $16. Single tickets for the 2013-14 season are available at www.theatreseven.org. *Denotes Theatre Seven Company Members.

Photo Credit: Emily Schwartz

Joe Zarrow, Echaka Agba, BrittneyLove Smith, Jaclyn Hennell and Tracey Kaplan (as Cora Strayer)

Adithi Chandrashekar (as Myra Bradwell) with BrittneyLove Smith

Jessica London-Shields (back, as Maurine Watkins, younger) with Marsha Harman (front, as Maurine Watkins, older)

Jessica London-Shields, Jaclyn Hennell and Marsha Harman (as Jane Addams)