SSP Hosts Reading of BOYS IN THE VALLEY

The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) and Subtext Theater Company (STC) are joining forces to look back on the summer of 1968 and imagine a meeting between two of the country's most powerful politicians. A staged reading of Leigh Johnson's Boys in the Valley, a fundraiser for the two companies, takes placeSaturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12 at SSP's theater space at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey(enter on Marshfield), Chicago.

In 1968, the Democratic National Convention came to Chicago in the midst of one of the most tumultuous years in American history. The ensuing discord and violence that was the result of opposition to the war in Vietnam is still a topic of discussion to this day-how Mayor Richard Daley unleashed his police force against (mostly) peaceful protesters in a manner that was later described as a "police riot." And yet, 50 years later, historians have grown to accept a stubborn, ironic truth: the man whose police force viciously attacked the protesters was himself very much opposed to the war in Vietnam.

In light of the anniversary of this watershed event in Chicago history, SSP and STC are coproducing a staged reading of Boys in the Valley, which depicts a fictional meeting between Mayor Daley and President Lyndon Johnson in January 1968, exploring the relationship between these two powerful political figures and the late mayor's opposition to the war in Vietnam.

Playwright Leigh Johnson, associate member of SSP and co-artistic director of STC, has had his work produced by both companies: SSP produced Lefties in 2013 and Lotto Fever in the Sucker State in 2014, and the company will produce the world premiere of Little Stones in 2019; STC produced Brother's Keeper in 2015 and A Prayer for the Sandinistas in 2017 and plans to produce Four for 4 in spring 2019. Directing Boys in the Valley is STC Co-Artistic Director Jonathan "Rocky" Hagloch, who directed the premiere of Sandinistas for STC and many productions for SSP, including Lotto Fever. The cast includes SSP company members George J. Manisco as Daley and Todd Parkhurst as Johnson. In addition to Johnson and Hagloch, the production team includes SSP company member and STC Co-Artistic Director John Oster and SSP board members Jim Masini and Jill Chukerman Test.

Boys in the Valley by Leigh Johnson, a staged reading fundraiser, takes placeSaturday, August 11 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, August 12 at 2 p.m.
at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, at Marshfield just west of Ashland, in Chicago.
A discussion follows each reading. Free parking is available in two lots.
Tickets are $25 and available at saintsebastianplayers.org or subtextnfp.org.
All programming is subject to change.

Saint Sebastian Players
SSP began producing theatre in 1982 at its original home, the St. Sebastian parish, located at the corner of Halsted Street and Wellington Avenue on Chicago's North Side. When the parish closed, SSP relocated to its current home, St. Bonaventure, at 1625 W. Diversey. During its history, the company has produced original and previously produced dramas, comedies and musicals; original audience-participation mysteries for special events; and the Monologue Matchup Competition, as well as provided support for smaller Sebastian Studio Projects produced by company members. SSP recently announced its 38th season: The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes October 26-November 18, 2018; Little Stones, a world premiere by Leigh Johnson, February 15-March 10, 2019; and Love, Loss, and What I Wore by Delia Ephron and Nora Ephron, April 26-May 19. Subscriptions and information are available atsaintsebastianplayers.org.

Subtext Theater Company
STC, founded by Rocky Hagloch, John Oster and Leigh Johnson in 2015, is dedicated to bringing powerful stories to the stage through an exploration of the meanings found inside, under and between the author's words. STC is a professional theatre company that aims to provide a home for Chicago actors, designers and writers to produce their best work in an atmosphere of support, collaboration and trust. The company plans to premiere Leigh Johnson's Four for 4, which examines the life of baseball great Lou Gehrig in four short works, in spring 2019

To post a comment, you must register and login.