Profiles Theatre announces its 20th Anniversary Season

 
Artistic Directors Joe Jahraus and Darrell W. Cox announce Profiles Theatre's 20th Anniversary Season, to include five new plays—two by acclaimed Chicago playwrights Jason Wells and Ellen Fairey. Profiles' 2008-2009 Season is the most ambitious offering in its distinguished twenty-year history and includes a world premiere, a U.S. premiere and two Midwest premieres.
 
Profiles Theatre will present the first full Chicago production of Jason Wells' Men of Tortuga (developed as part of Steppenwolf's New Plays Initiative), the Midwest premiere of The Thugs by Adam Bock, the Midwest premiere of Great Falls by Lee Blessing (the first production since its World Premiere at the Humana Festival this year), the US Premiere of The Wonderful World of Dissocia by Anthony Neilson, and the world premiere of Ellen Fairey's Graceland.
 
Profiles Theatre is following up its celebrated, sold-out "Season of LaBute," which featured four premieres by Neil LaBute, with these five highly-anticipated new plays. "Last season was a milestone for us as it was the first time we spent a full season exploring the works and language of one renowned playwright. This season, we are thrilled to be presenting these unique new plays by five writers with their own very distinct voices," says Profiles' Artistic Director Joe Jahraus.

Profiles' Associate Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox adds, "Profiles has a 20-year history of presenting new and challenging works that explore the multifaceted nature of the human condition. The occasional everyday heroic acts of undying, unadulterated love for another human being intermingled with the weakest most self-serving acts imaginable.  In doing so, we frequently push the envelope, dissatisfied with settling for the palatable at the expense of the truth. For our 20th Anniversary Season we continue this tradition as one of Chicago's longest-running storefront theatres."

 
The Profiles 20th Anniversary Season includes:
 
MEN OF TORTUGA
By Jason Wells
Directed by Rick Snyder
Featuring ensemble members Darrell W. Cox and Eric Burgher
with Jack McCabe and Fred Wellisch
Previews: October 3- October 8, 2008
Press opening: Thursday, October 9, 2008
Run: October 10- December 7, 2008
 
In an undisclosed location, three men scheme with a weapons specialist to eliminate the opposition in Jason Wells' dark comedy of negotiation, conspiracy and assassination.
 
Men of Tortuga was developed through the New Plays Initiative by Steppenwolf Theatre and was presented as part of the "First Look Repertory of New Work" in 2005.  The show received rave reviews, enjoyed a popular run and was eventually nominated for the Steinberg New Play Award in November 2005. The Profiles production, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder, will feature Profiles ensemble members, Darrell W. Cox (to play the role he originated) and Eric Burgher.
 
Following the Steppenwolf production, Men of Tortuga received its world premiere production in November 2006 at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida. Mr. Well's most recent play Perfect Mendacity, directed by David Cromer, is currently being produced as part of Steppenwolf's First Look Repertory.
 
 
THE THUGS
MIDWEST PREMIERE
By Adam Bock
Directed by ensemble member Joe Jahraus
Featuring ensemble members Somer Benson and Tyler Gray
Previews: October 25- 28, 2008
Press Opening: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Run: October 30- December 14, 2008
 
A dark comedy about the mysterious things that are happening on the 9th floor of a big law firm. When a group of temps try to discover the secrets that lurk in the hidden crevices of their workplace, they realize they would rather believe in gossip and rumors than face dangerous realities.
 
The Thugs received its critically acclaimed 2006 world premiere at the Soho Rep in New York, winning an OBIE Award for outstanding playwriting and was named to both of Time Out New York's Top Ten lists. Mr. Bock has also won the prestigious American Theater Critics Award, the Glickman Award and the Theater Critics Circle Awards for Best Original Script, among others.
 
 
GREAT FALLS
MIDWEST PREMIERE
By Lee Blessing
Directed by ensemble member Joe Jahraus
Featuring ensemble member Darrell W. Cox with Allison Torem
Previews: January 9- 14, 2009
Press Opening: Thursday, January 15, 2009
Run: January 16- March 1, 2009
 
Great Falls follows a stepfather and teenage stepdaughter on a road trip across the American West. Mr. Blessing reveals the strained nature of their relationship as they attempt to make sense of who they are to one another now. The realities of their shattered connection unfold in this acclaimed new play.
 
Great Falls received its world premiere at this year's Humana Festival of New American Plays and was a festival favorite. Profiles' Midwest premiere marks only the second production of this new play from one of the most accomplished writers in Modern American Theatre.
 
 
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA
US PREMIERE
By Anthony Neilson
Directed by ensemble member Darrell W. Cox
Assistant Directed by ensemble member Tyler Gray
Featuring ensemble members Eric Burgher, Joe Jahraus and Somer Benson
Previews: March 20-25, 2009
Press Opening: March 26, 2009
Run: March 27- May 10, 2009
 
This colorful and exciting off-kilter trip follows Lisa Jones in search of one lost hour that has tipped the balance of her life. The inhabitants of the wonderful world— Dissocia— in which she finds herself are a curious blend of the funny, the friendly and the brutal.  This is a hugely original play, both magical and moving, that confirmed Anthony Neilson as one of the major voices in contemporary British theatre.

The Wonderful World of Dissocia received its lauded world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival and went on to win every major category at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland including Best New Play and Best Production.  Mr. Neilson's award-winning play subsequently played to sold-out houses and wowed audiences and critics alike at The National Theatre of Scotland and at the Royal Court in London.
 
GRACELAND
WORLD PREMIERE
By Ellen Fairey
Directed by Matt Miller
Previews: May 22- 27, 2009
Press Opening: Thursday, May 28, 2009
Run: May 29- June 28, 2009
 
In the world premiere of this comedy/drama by Chicago playwright Ellen Fairey, everybody is self- destructing in this Chicago tale of loss, longing and high-speed fighter jets.

Ms. Fairey's first full length play, GIRL, 20, was named one of the "Top Ten Most Promising Plays of 2006" by the Chicago Tribune in its World Premiere production by Serendipity Theatre. The production subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where it received rave reviews and was nominated for two 2007-2008 LA Weekly Theatre Awards for Best Director (Matt Miller) and Best Ensemble.

All productions are held at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago. Parking is available for $6 - $10 at 4100 N. Clarendon (one block east of the theatre at the corner of Clarendon and Belle Plaine).  Performances are Thursdays-Sundays. The Thugs and Men of Tortuga will play in repertory Wednesdays through Sundays.
 
FLEX PASSES offer discounts on the season and are now available at www.profilestheatre.org or (773) 549-1815. A Four Ticket Pass is $80; Eight Ticket Passes are available for $150 (a savings of over $100) and includes 2 free bonus tickets to Graceland when ordered before August  31, 2008. Tickets can be used in any combination of quantity and date throughout the season with advance reservations.
 
Profiles Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre company founded in 1988 by five Eastern Illinois University alumni and has since been continually producing plays. Profiles brings new works to Chicago that illuminate the determination and resiliency of the human spirit. The company produces World, US and Midwest Premieres by new playwrights, as well as established writers whose work has been seen across the country and around the world. Profiles is particularly drawn to playwrights with a unique narrative style and use of language and the company takes pride in carefully selecting scripts that combine integrity with risk. Profiles Theatre is committed to producing plays that tell a story in a captivating way with productions that complement the ensemble and speak to its audience.
 
For more information about Profiles and its 20th Anniversary Season, visit www.profilestheatre.org.

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