THE HISTORY BOYS Extends Run Through 8/2 At TimeLine Theatre

In response to extraordinary ticket demand and with the initial 9-week run already essentially sold out, TimeLine Theatre Company announces a 6-week extension of its critically acclaimed Chicago premiere of The History Boys by Alan Bennett, directed by Nick Bowling. The play, originally scheduled to close on June 21, will now continue through August 2, 2009, at TimeLine Theatre,
615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago.

Tickets for the extension are available online at timelinetheatre.com or via phone by calling the TimeLine Theatre Box Office at 773.281.TIME (8463).

NOTE: Starting with the May 9 performance during initial run dates (through June 21), Saturday evening performances of The History Boys will begin at 8:30 p.m. (previously announced as 8 p.m.).

The performance schedule for the extension weeks (June 24 - August 2) is Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Sunday, August 2, 2009. Note that there will be no performances on Saturday, June 27 at 3 p.m.; Sunday, June 28; and Saturday, July 4 at 3 p.m.

The History Boys runs approximately 3 hours, including one intermission.

Tickets for extension performances are $32 (Wednesday - Friday) or $42 (Saturday & Sunday). Student tickets for extension performances are $10 off regular price, with valid ID. Group rates for groups of 10 or more are available. Advance purchase is strongly recommended as performances are likely to sell out. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 773.281.TIME (8463) or visit timelinetheatre.com.

The recipient of more than 30 major awards, including Tony and Olivier awards for Best New Play, The History Boys follows a rambunctious group of clever young men as they pursue higher learning, games, sexual identity and a place at university under the guidance of three wildly different teachers and a headmaster obsessed with results. Set during the 1980s in northern England, it is a hilarious and provocative play about the anarchy of adolescence and the purpose of education - specifically, how history should be taught. After its premiere, the Daily Telegraph reviewer raved that The History Boys is "a play that strikes me as one of the finest Bennett has ever written, packed with superb one-liners. A play of depth as well as dazzle, intensely moving as well as thought-provoking and funny."

The History Boys premiered in London at the National Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre in May 2004; The cast of 12 featured Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Dominic Cooper and Samuel Barnett. It played to sell-out audiences for an extended run before touring to Hong Kong, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia in 2006. With its original cast still intact, the play premiered on Broadway in April 2006 and received six Tony Awards. It also was adapted into a feature film, again featuring the original cast, which premiered in the United States in November 2006.

The cast of TimeLine Theatre's production of The History Boys features Will Allan (Scripps), Donald Brearley (Hector), Brad Bukauskas (Timms), Andrew Carter (Irwin), Behzad Dabu (Akthar), Rob Fenton (Lockwood), Joel Gross (Dakin), Terry Hamilton (Headmaster), Govind Kumar (Crowther), Michael Peters (Rudge), Ann Wakefield (Mrs. Lintott) and Alex Weisman (Posner).

The production staff for The History Boys includes Brian Sidney Bembridge (Scenic Design), Lindsey Pate (Costume Design), Keith Parham (Lighting Design), Andrew Hansen (Sound Design & Original Music), Mike Tutaj (Projections Design), Julia Eberhardt (Properties Design), Maren Robinson (Dramaturg), Jo Ann Flores (Stage Manager), James Ogden (Production Manager/Technical Director), Mac Vaughey (Master Electrician), Bridget Dehl (Assistant Director), Cheney Tardio (Assistant Stage Manager), Kristin Eaves (Wardrobe Supervisor), Robert Coleman and James Keister (Graphic Design), Lara Goetsch (Director of Marketing and Communications), PJ Powers (Artistic Director) and Elizabeth K. Auman (Managing Director).

TimeLine Theatre is located at 615 W. Wellington Ave., inside the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ building, near the corner of Wellington and Broadway in Chicago's Lakeview East neighborhood. CTA El stops at Diversey (Brown/Purple lines) and Belmont (Red/Brown/Purple lines) are nearby. CTA busses #36-Broadway, #76-Diversey, #77-Belmont, #22-Clark and #8-Halsted stop nearby. There is limited street parking, but several paid parking facilities are located nearby. Visit timelinetheatre.com for complete directions and parking information. There are two flights of stairs totaling 18 steps between the street and the theater space, with no elevator.

Founded in April 1997, TimeLine Theatre Company's mission is to present stories inspired by history that connect with today's social and political issues. TimeLine has presented 38 previoUs Productions, including six world premieres and 10 Chicago premieres. Praised as "a must-see company" (Chicago Sun-Times) and a "fast-rising Chicago company" (The New York Times) and recipient of the 2006 Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the 2008 Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 37 Non-Equity Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production in six of the past eight seasons. TimeLine's 2008-09 season is presented under contract with Actors Equity Association.

Company members are Nick Bowling, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Lara Goetsch, Juliet Hart, David Parkes, PJ Powers and Benjamin Thiem. TimeLine is a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, Theatre Communications Group and the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.