Photo Flash: Greenhouse Theater Center presents MACHINAL
Greenhouse Theater Center is pleased to launch its 2017-18 season with Artistic Director Jacob Harvey and Elizabeth Margolius' bold reimagining of Sophie Treadwell's most celebrated play, MACHINAL. Inspired by the surreal life and trial of famed murderess Ruth Snyder, MACHINAL will play August 11 - September 24, 2017 at The Greenhouse Theater Center (Upstairs Main Stage), 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets and season subscription packages are currently available at greenhousetheater.org, in person at the box office or by calling (773) 404-7336.
The cast of MACHINAL includes Maddie Burke, Heather Chrisler, Maddie DePorter, Sean Gallagher, Cody Proctor, Sarah Rachel Schol, Scott Shimizu, Carin Silkaitis, Paul Michael Thomson and Jonah Winston.
MACHINAL will be presented through an educational partnership with North Central College, allowing students to shadow professional actors as the production's understudy cast. Students will be immersed in every facet of the production, serving not only as understudies but as assistant designers and assisting members of the production team, in a program that serves as an extension of classroom work and a springboard into the Chicago theatre community. The student understudy cast will have two guaranteed performances at the Greenhouse, one for a high school audience and one for the public.
One young woman must break out in this exhilarating reimagining of MACHINAL, the American classic inspired by the sensational, true story of murderess Ruth Snyder. Trapped in an unhappy marriage, the young woman finds a thrill in the arms of a flyby lover. But when reality returns, how far will her fight for freedom take her? And who will pay the ultimate price? How do you escape the machine?
"Our team is thrilled to bring this intimate exploration of one woman's choice between captivity and freedom to our Chicago audience," commented Artistic Director Jacob Harvey. "As we put the show together," added Movement Director Elizabeth Margolius, "I am thrilled to bring this cast's diverse perspectives into focus to illuminate the world of Machinal - a world from our past that still speaks to the struggles facing all of us, especially women."
The production team for MACHINAL includes: Nick Thornton (associate director/movement coordinator), Eleanor Kahn (scenic/props design), Eric Watkins (lighting design), Jeffrey Levin (sound design), Christina Leinicke (costume design), Adrian Shelton (dramaturg), Darek Lane (stage manager), Ron Rude (production manager) and Stephen Kossak (asst. stage manager).
Photos by Evan Hanover.

(back, l to r) Scott Shimizu, Heather Chrisler and Maddie DePorter with (front, l to r) Sarah Rachel Schol, Paul Michael Thomson, Maddie Burke and Jonah Winston in Greenhouse Theater Center’s production of MACHINAL, by Sophie Treadwell, directed Jacob Harvey with movement by Elizabeth Margolius. Photo by Evan Hanover.
(center, l to r) Sean Gallagher and Heather Chrisler with the cast of Greenhouse Theater Center’s production of MACHINAL, by Sophie Treadwell, directed Jacob Harvey with movement by Elizabeth Margolius. Photo by Evan Hanover.
(left to right) Maddie Burke, Heather Chrisler and Scott Shimizu in Greenhouse Theater Center’s production of MACHINAL, by Sophie Treadwell, directed Jacob Harvey with movement by Elizabeth Margolius. Photo by Evan Hanover.
(center, front to back) Heather Chrisler and Sean Gallagher with the cast of Greenhouse Theater Center’s production of MACHINAL, by Sophie Treadwell, directed Jacob Harvey with movement by Elizabeth Margolius. Photo by Evan Hanover.
(left to right) Paul Michael Thomson, Scott Shimizu, Jonah Winston, Heather Chrisler and Sarah Rachel Schol in Greenhouse Theater Center’s production of MACHINAL, by Sophie Treadwell, directed Jacob Harvey with movement by Elizabeth Margolius. Photo by Evan Hanover.
(front) Heather Chrisler with the cast of Greenhouse Theater Center’s production of MACHINAL, by Sophie Treadwell, directed Jacob Harvey with movement by Elizabeth Margolius. Photo by Evan Hanover.
(left to right) Cody Proctor and Heather Chrisler in Greenhouse Theater Center’s production of MACHINAL, by Sophie Treadwell, directed Jacob Harvey with movement by Elizabeth Margolius. Photo by Evan Hanover.
(left to right) Heather Chrisler and Carin Silkaitis with the cast of Greenhouse Theater Center’s production of MACHINAL, by Sophie Treadwell, directed Jacob Harvey with movement by Elizabeth Margolius. Photo by Evan Hanover.
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