Promethean Theatre Ensemble Presents CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE, Now thru 2/9

Artistic Associate director Ed Rutherford (The Last Unicorn) returns to Promethean Theatre Ensemble to stage Caucasian Chalk Circle, Bertolt Brecht's masterpiece of hope, humanity and justice. Featuring Rutherford's unique story theater approach, the production will include original music from composer Matt Kahler, (The Hypocrites' Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado) and will bridge the gap between an old tale and the modern world with a highly theatrical mix of music, puppetry, physicality and raw emotion.

Caucasian Chalk Circle will be directed by Ed Rutherford, and will feature PTE ensemble members Sara Gorsky, Nicole Hand, and Anne Korajczyk. Guest artist for the production will include Susan V. Adler, Cary Davenport, Brendan Hutt, Theodore Lance, Aaron Lawson, Alex Mauney, Josh Nordmark, Elissa Newcorn, Jennifer Roehm, and Kate Suffern.

Written in 1944, Caucasian Chalk Circle is now considered one of Brecht's most important plays. It is a parable in which a servant girl becomes the less-than-willing guardian to the infant of her wealthy mistress during a revolution, and great consequences hang upon her smallest choices. Brecht spun a tale of a long-ago and faraway land where the Haves lorded it over the Have-nots, and justice seemed reserved only for the rich. The play's heavy undertones expressed Brecht's own anti-Fascist & anti-National Socialist movement sentiments, and it struck a political nerve in Germany on the eve of its publication.

It was not produced in Germany until a full decade after its publication. Caucasian Chalk Circle will run tonight, January 11 through Sunday, February 9, 2012 at City Lit Theater, 1020 West Bryn Mawr with performances taking place Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Opening night will be on Saturday, January 12 at 8 p.m. (the Friday, January 11 performance is a preview) There is also an added performance for the convenience of the press on Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through brownpapertickets.com or by calling 1-800-838-3006.

Since their founding in 2006, Promethean Theatre Ensemble's mission has been to create theatre that fuses simplicity of design with intelligent, passionate storytelling. With the support of its dedicated ensemble, Promethean has gone on to produce over 15 stage productions and 4 original adaptations including Our Country's Good, The Illusion, The Last Unicorn, Spring Awakening, Henry V and their popular Evening of Shakespeare series. The company also collaborates with the Chicago and Evanston Public Libraries to offer theatre education and performance workshops to teens. For more information, visit www.prometheantheatre.org.

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