Photo Flash: Rivendell Theatre Ensemble Presents the Midwest Premiere of CAL IN CAMO

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core, announces the Midwest premiere of Cal in Camo by RTE member William Francis Hoffman and directed by RTE member Hallie Gordon. Cal in Camo runs January 5 - February 17, 2018, at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago. The press opening is Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 7:00pm.

Marooned in a sinking starter home in rural Illinois, Cal struggles to bond with her newborn daughter as her beer salesman husband struggles in vain to land accounts in unpromising new territory. Playwright William Francis Hoffman's new play explores the intricacies of family ties with equal doses of penetrating humor and scorching revelation.

Artistic Director Tara Mallen comments, "I am especially delighted to kick off our 2018 season with Cal in Camo, written by former ensemble member Billy Hoffman. So many of us are conditioned to believe that the moment we hold our new babies, a switch suddenly flips and, suddenly, we intuit all there is to know about parenting and creating family. Like so many new parents, Cal is adrift in what can be an incredibly isolating moment in time. My own personal flailings as a new mom comes into sharp focus as I watch Cal struggle over and over to do the right thing. She came into motherhood as we all do-expecting the child to be born and for everything to just fall perfectly into place--but for so, so many of us, it just doesn't play out that way."

The cast of Cal in Camo includes RTE members Ashley Neal (Cal), Keith Kupferer (Flynt) and Eric Slater (Tim). At select performances, a Chicago luminary guest star will play a cameo role of Bar Owner.

The creative team includes RTE members Joanna Iwanicka (Scenic Design), Janice Pytel (Costume Design) and Victoria Deiorio (Original Composition and Sound Designer), as well as Charles Cooper (Lighting Design), and Blake Burke (Properties Design). The stage manager is Jenniffer Thusing.

Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow