Photo Flash: Inside The Gift Theatre's WOLF PLAY

The Gift Theatre continues its 2019 Season with the Chicago premiere of Hansol Jung'sWOLF PLAY, a messy, funny and disturbing theatrical experience grappling with a wolf, a puppet, and a very prickly problem: What is a family? What do we need from them, today? Is it very different from the things humans have needed from families before?

Directed by guest artist Jess McLeod, WOLF PLAY will play July 11 - August 18, 2019 at The Gift's home at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood. Single tickets and two-show subscriptions are currently available at www.thegifttheatre.org or by calling (773) 283-7071. The press opening is Monday, July 15 at 7:30 pm.

WOLF PLAY features ensemble member Jennifer Glasse* with Isa Arciniegas, Dan Lin, Tim Martin and Al'Jaleel McGhee.

In a world where people struggle to have children, one American couple decides to 'un-adopt' their young Korean son because they have a newborn at home. After an internet chat room search for the right family, the father 're-homes' the boy with a lesbian couple, where one half is desperate for a child and the other half is fighting for her career. As the boy - who thinks he's a wolf, but is really a puppet - adjusts to his new life, he forms bonds with the unlikeliest of culprits while the rest of the adults squabble about what is 'best for the child.'

Comment The Gift Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton and Associate Artistic Director Emjoy Gavino, "Wolf Play sharply and devastatingly explores the ideas of home, family and identity through characters we don't often see onstage and a gorgeous sense of theatricality that will only be enhanced in the intimate space of The Gift. We cannot wait for our audiences to meet the beautiful, flawed creatures that Hansol Jung so lovingly created. Every moment challenges whose side we should be on; a truly charged piece that breaks and heals both storytellers and audience. We're so excited to welcome back director Jess McLeod and absolutely honored to welcome Hansol Jung - and the Chicago premiere of her play - to The Gift."

The production team for WOLF PLAY includes Arnel Sancianco (scenic design), Stephanie Cluggish (costume design), Mike Durst(lighting design), Eric Backus (sound design), Stephanie Diaz (puppetry design), Emjoy Gavino (casting director), Sarah Luse(production manager), Lucy Schuh (assistant production manager), David Preis (technical director), Conchita Avitia (master electrician) and Colleen Layton (stage manager).

Photo Credit: Claire Demos

Isa Arciniegas and Dan Lin
Dan Lin
Jennifer Glasse, Ala€™Jaleel McGhee, Dan Lin and Isa Arciniegas
Isa Arciniegas and Dan Lin
Jennifer Glasse and Isa Arciniegas
Dan Lin and Tim Martin
Ala€™Jaleel McGhee, Isa Arciniegas, Tim Martin, Dan Lin and Jennifer Glasse
Jennifer Glasse and Dan Lin
Dan Lin
Jennifer Glasse and Ala€™Jaleel McGhee