Saint Sebastian Players to Close 35th Season with THE WOMAN IN BLACK

The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) conclude their 35th season with Susan Hill's acclaimed ghost story, The Woman in Black. Performances run April 29-May 22 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey (enter on Marshfield), Chicago.

A lawyer, obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the specter of a woman in black, engages a skeptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It all begins innocently enough, but then, as they reach further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds. Stephen Mallatratt's ingenious stage adaptation, a brilliantly successful study in atmosphere, illusion and controlled horror, has been running in London's West End for more than 25 years.

Directing The Woman in Black is SSP company member Jack Dugan Carpenter, whose previous SSP directing credits include Measure for Measure and Figments. He is managing director of The Plagiarists and has directed their productions of These Saints Will Burn, War Song, Matryoshka and Caesura: A Butchery. The cast features Joe Feliciano as the Actor, Ian Maryfield as Kipps and Billie Rye Bryant as The Woman in Black. SSP company members on the production team include Steven Walanka as production manager, Jim Masini as technical director, Emil Zbella as set designer and Nancy Pollock as props designer. Also on staff are Emma Cullimore as costume and props designer, Charles Blunt as lighting designer, Christi Mueller as sound designer, Robert-Eric West as makeup designer and Megan Chaney as stage manager.

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 in 1990, 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. For a complete production history, visit saintsebastianplayers.org/production-history/.

Performances of The Woman in Black take place April 29-May 22, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, at Marshfield just west of Ashland, in Chicago. Free parking is available in two lots. Full-priced single tickets are $20, $15 for students with valid IDs and $10 for seniors. Group rates also are available. All programming is subject to change. For information, call 773-404-7922 or visit saintsebastianplayers.org.

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