Profiles Theatre Opens 25h Anniversary Season with IN GOD'S HAT, Now thru 10/13

Profiles Theatre opens its 25th Anniversary Season with the Midwest premiere of In God's Hat by Rhett Rossi, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. The production runs tonight, August 23 - October 13, 2013 at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway.

In God's Hat examines the extremes of humanity and the love of family as well the contempt for it. For nearly a decade, estranged brothers Roy and Mitch found themselves kept apart by prison bars and a nefarious history. On the day of Mitch's release, he is shocked to see Roy waiting for him, unsure of his intentions. Together they travel down a desolate road stopping at the only lodging around--a fleabag motel where confrontation and tension manifest themselves through darkly comical situations. In the end, the brothers must confront both the past and present, as some secrets are revealed and new ones must be kept.

Produced off-Broadway by the Apothecary Theatre Company, Rhett Rossi's criticall- acclaimed play In God's Hat received its world premiere in July 2010. His other plays include the one-man show Burnt, first performed by the Present Company Theatorium and From Red to Black, which received a reading at South Coast Rep and was runner up for the Laurents/Hatcher PrizE. Rossi recently developed a pilot for HBO about minor league hockey.

Directed by Profiles Co-Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, the cast of In God's Hat features Co-Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox as Roy and Larry Neumann, Jr. as Mitch. Also featured are guest artists John Victor Allen and Bruce Cronander.

"In God's Hat explores familial bonds, crisis of faith and our interwoven destinies through it's tough, hard-edged dialogue and dark humor," says Jahraus. "Rossi's play is the perfect way to kick off our 25th year of bringing exciting, visceral new works to Chicago."

The designers for In God's Hat are Shaun Renfro (set), Mike Durst (lights), Jeffrey Levin (sound and original live music), and Raquel Adorno (costumes). Profiles ensemble member Eric Burgher is the assistant director.

Profiles Theatre plans six productions for the 25th Anniversary Season alternating between its two venues, The Main Stage at 4139 N. Broadway and The Alley Stage at 4147 N. Broadway. Following In God's Hat, the Midwest premiere of Wrecks by Neil LaBute debuts at The Alley Stage on October 3, 2013 featuring John Judd as Edward Carr. Also scheduled are Midwest premieres of the award-winning plays c*ckby Mike Bartlett, Gidion's Knot by Johnna Adams and Hunter Gatherers by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb along with Profiles' acclaimed production of Hellcab by Will Kern, returning for the holiday season.

Tickets for In God's Hat are $35 for Thursdays, $40 for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available by phone, (773) 549-1815, or online,www.profilestheatre.org. Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 and 8:00 pm, Sundays at 7:00 p.m.