Photos: The Artistic Home Presents DYING FOR IT By Moira Buffini

The work is freely adapted from Nikolai Erdman's The Suicide – a 1928 satire that was banned by Stalin before it ever took the stage.

The Artistic Home presents Moira Buffini's comedy Dying For It, directed by Monica Payne, playing March 18 - April 23, 2023 at The Den's Bookspan Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets are now on sale at Click Here or by calling (773) 697-3830. The press opening is Thursday, March 23 at 8 pm.

The cast includes ensemble members Kayla Adams*, Reid Coker*, Kristin Collins*, Brookelyn Hébert*, John LaFlamboy*, Kathy Scambiatterra* and Todd Wojcik* with Jared Goudsmit, Daniel Shtivelberg, Mary Spencer, Patrick Thornton and Carolyn Waldee.

Freely adapted from Nikolai Erdman's The Suicide - a 1928 satire that was banned by Stalin before it ever took the stage - Dying for It is a modernized take on the same dark buffoonery and fallacies of post-revolution life. In this tragedy-turned-slapstick, Semyon is a young unemployed man who has an obsessive itch to commit suicide. A ragtag team of early Soviet Russian society consisting of a dissatisfied intellectual, a boisterous romantic, a questionable priest, a controversial writer and a proletarian postman all team up to gain a martyred profit off of Semyon offing himself.

Comments Director Monica Payne, "I am thrilled to be directing this sharp-witted, ensemble-driven satire, which feels as relevant today in Moira Buffini's adaptation Dying For It as it did in Nikolai Erdman's original Russian text, The Suicide. Although ostensibly about a character who's trying to kill himself, the play is actually about LIFE. It poses a vital, simple question: Why live? My hope is that we can bring this question to a modern audience with humor, honesty, and compassion, and look for the answer(s) together."

The production team includes Kevin Hagan+ (Scenic Designer), Rachel Lambert (Costume Designer), Mark Bracken Jr.+ (Lighting Designer), Petter Wahlbäck+ (Sound Designer), Randy Rozler (Props Designer), Jenna Steege Ramey* (Assistant Director), Tom McNelis+ (Technical Director) and Andrew Snyder (Stage Manager).

COVID safety: As the Chicago theatre community continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, The Den Theatre remains committed to the safety of its patrons and staff. For the most up-to-date information on the venue's COVID precautions, please visit Click Here.

*Denotes The Artistic Home ensemble members +Denotes The Artistic Home artistic associates

Photo Credit: Joe Mazza/Brave Lux

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Daniel Shtivelberg, Kayla Adams and Kathy Scambiatterra

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Kayla Adams, Kristin Collins and Todd Wojcik

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Brookelyn Hébert and Daniel Shtivelberg

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Daniel Shtivelberg and the cast of Dying For It.

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Kathy Scambiatterra, Daniel Shtivelberg, Brookelyn Hébert, Patrick Thornton, Carolyn Waldee and Mary Spencer

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Kristin Collins, Kayla Adams, Todd Wojcik and Kathy Scambiatterra

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Kathy Scambiatterra and Patrick Thornton

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
John LaFlamboy and Daniel Shtivelberg

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Daniel Shtivelberg and Kayla Adams

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Daniel Shtivelberg and the cast of Dying For It.

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Kayla Adams, Reid Coker and Todd Wojcik

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Mary Spencer and Carolyn Waldee

Highland Park Players Announces Cast And Production Team For KINKY BOOTS
Kathy Scambiatterra and John LaFlamboy




RELATED STORIES - Chicago

1
City Lit Names Brian Pastor Executive Artistic Director Photo
City Lit Names Brian Pastor Executive Artistic Director

City Lit Board President Daniel Robinson announced that Brian Pastor (they/them), City Lit’s current Resident Director and for nine years its Managing Director, will succeed City Lit’s Producer and Artistic Director Terry McCabe, who will retire on June 30, 2024, following the conclusion of City Lit’s recently announced 43rd season.

2
The Blues on the Fox Festival Returns This Month Photo
The Blues on the Fox Festival Returns This Month

The Blues on the Fox Festival is back, Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17 at downtown Aurora’s RiverEdge Park, where blues legends and rising stars will live on the banks of the beautiful Fox River.

3
Porchlights Free Summer Concert Series, BROADWAY IN YOUR BACKYARD Returns This Month Photo
Porchlight's Free Summer Concert Series, BROADWAY IN YOUR BACKYARD Returns This Month

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the return of its free summer concert series Broadway in your Backyard, now in its third year, June 27 - August 8, as part of Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series.

4
Congo Square Theatre Hosts Annual Free Festival On The Square Events In Three South Side C Photo
Congo Square Theatre Hosts Annual Free Festival On The Square Events In Three South Side Communities

Congo Square Theatre Company continues to prioritize its founding principles of radical generosity and radical community-building with an expanded Festival on the Square (FOTS) this summer.

More Hot Stories For You

and regionstable.regionsid=23 and LOCATE(',', regionsfield) = 0;

Videos


#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Little Shop of Horrors
Memorial Opera House (10/05-10/22)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Las Locas Comedy Presents: Locas y Chingonas - Steppenwolf LookOut Series - 06/10/23
Steppenwolf Theater (6/10-6/10)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Lehman Trilogy
Broadway Playhouse (9/19-10/29)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Hamilton
James M. Nederlander Theatre (9/13-12/03)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Cadillac Palace Theatre (12/19-12/31)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# BOOP! The Musical
CIBC Theatre (11/19-12/31)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# The Illusionists – Magic of the Holidays
Cadillac Palace Theatre (11/21-11/26)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Rhythm World 33
The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (7/16-7/16)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# A Wonderful World
Cadillac Palace Theatre (10/11-10/29)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Kinsey Sicks
Raue Center for the Arts (10/28-10/28)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You