Photo Flash: Victory Gardens Theater Presents THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY 9/25 Thru 11/1
Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago's #1 producer of new plays, is planning a bold launch for its 2009-2010 season with Ignition, the company's first-ever national festival of new plays by America's top emerging writers of color under 40 years old.
Victory Gardens' most daring new play development projects in 36 years, Ignition boasts overlapping world premieres of a pair of fresh new plays by two of America's fastest rising playwrights: Year Zero by Michael Golamco, and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz. Ignition actually began in spring 2008, when 120 writers of color under 40 answered Victory Gardens' nationwide call to submit new scripts for the first phase of the festival. The top six plays were selected, workshopped, and presented as staged readings in an incredibly well received, weeklong festival last summer, curated by Victory Gardens Associate Artistic Director Sandy Shinner.Ignition truly catches on fire this fall, first with Michael Golamco's Year Zero, an intimate family drama about a Cambodian family in modern-day California, September 11-October 18, 2009. Fueling even more excitement for Ignition, Year Zero has the added distinction of being the debut show in Victory Gardens new, 120-seat Studio Theater, now in the final phase of construction on the second floor of the Biograph. Press opening for Year Zero is Monday, September 21 at 7:30 pm.Just two weeks later, previews of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity begin firing up the Biograph mainstage. Kristoffer Diaz' smart, comic, hip hop infused look at professional wrestling, geopolitics and refrigerator crispers, runs September 25-November 1, 2009. Press opening is Monday, October 5, 7:30 pm. The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity is presented in association with Teatro Vista.
Related new play readings, industry panels, the late night Spark Plug party on October 9, and the opportunity to invite producing theaters to visit Chicago for a wider viewing of the playwrights' work promise to make Ignition Chicago's hottest theater ticket next fall, and the culmination of a new play festival of national acclaim. The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Single tickets for both Ignition world premieres are on sale now, for $30-$48. Five-play subscriptions to Victory Gardens' 2009-2010 season start at only $80, and can include one or both Ignition plays. To inquire about tickets or subscriptions, call the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater box office, 773.871.3000 or visit victorygardens.org. The Ignition Festival is sponsored in part by the Chicago Community Trust.THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY is by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Eddie Torres, presented in association with Teatro Vista. It runs from September 25 - November 1, 2009.
Macedonio Guerra is a middle-rank pro wrestler who may have discovered his ticket to the big time: an impossibly charismatic, hip-hop-influenced Indian kid from Brooklyn. Their boss has the perfect concept: team them in the ring as terrorists.
Diaz' smart, comic look at pro wrestling, geopolitics, and refrigerator crispers is a theatrical smackdown of dazzling hip-hop language, presented with a fresh, funny, high-octane flair. Set in the world of professional wrestling, Chad also raises pertinent questions about racial identity and pop culture in our society.Previews of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity are September 25-October 4: Tuesday through Thursday at 7:3 pm; Friday and Saturday at 8 pm; Sunday at 3 pm. Previews are $30 - $37. Press opening is Monday, October 5 at 7:30 pm. Regular performances are October 7-November 1: Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 pm; Friday at 8 pm; Saturday at 5 pm and 8:30 pm; Sunday at 3 pm. Performances are $37-$48. Added matinees are Wednesday, 21 and 28 at 2 pm. No evening performance Tuesday, October 6 or October 13. Ask the box office about student, senior, Access, rush and "$20 Ringside Seats" discount offers.
Photo Credit: Brett Neiman
Usman Ally and Desmin Borges
Desmin Borges and Usman Ally
Desmin Borges
Usman Ally and Desmin Borges
Desmin Borges
Usman Ally
Desmin Borges and Usman Ally
Desmin Borges and Usman Ally
Usman Ally and Desmin Borges
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