THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE Opens At Chopin Theatre 3/13

Signal Ensemble Theatre continues its sixth season with the Scottish drama "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" by Jay Presson Allen, based on the novel by Muriel Spark, directed by Co-Artistic Director Ronan Marra. Jean Brodie is in the business of putting old heads on young shoulders, and all of her pupils are the crème de le crème.

The Brodie Set, as her students at the Marcia Blaine School for Girls are famously known, hang on Miss Brodie's every word as she - with reckless abandon - dismisses the standard curriculum in favor of lessons in subjects as wide-ranging as Giotto to Hitler to her own romances. When Miss Brodie begins an affair with one teacher to distract from her affair with another, and a false love letter falls into the wrong hands, the headmistress puts Brodie under review. Her considerable bombast is the only thing that saves her job, until a fatal error in guidance, and the betrayal of her favorite student become more than Miss Jean Brodie can overcome - even in her prime. The show runs about two hours with one intermission.

Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division Ave., Chicago, IL 60622-3337
Street parking; Division Blue Line Division stop; #9, #70, and #56 busses
Free parking available at Holy Trinity Church (Division and Noble)

Opens Monday, April 13, 2009, 7 p.m.
Closes May 16, 2009
Runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Previews on April 11 and 12 at 8 p.m.
Thursday, April 23, $5 from each ticket sold will benefit ChicagoAcademyfortheArts.org
Saturday, May 9, all show proceeds will benefit Will Schutz, a treasured actor friend of
Signal who is battling cancer without insurance.

Publish this number: 773-347-1350; www.signalensemble.com
$15 on Thursdays and Sundays
$20 on Fridays and Saturdays
$10 for both previews and for industry members at all shows with resume/headshot/card
$10 tickets for moms on Mothers Day, Sunday, May 10, 3 p.m.
Student and senior (with ID) discounts available; also for groups of 15 or more

Ensemble Members Ronan Marra (Production Director, Co-Artistic Director), Stephanie Ehemann (Stage Manager, Managing Director) and Anthony Ingram (Sound Design, Production Manager), and Artistic Associates Melania Lancy (Scenic Design), Julie E. Ballard (Lighting Design) and Bries Vannon (Assistant Director), with guest artists Elise Kauzlaric (Dialect Coach), Tiffani Sarver (Costume Design) and Sarah Elizabeth Miller (Properties Design).

Ensemble Members Simone Roos (Sandy), AaRon Snook (Lowther), and Joseph Stearns
(Lloyd), with guest artists Patricia Austin (Jean Brodie), Jessica Bennett (Monica), Cynthia Blakewell (Mary), Annie DiMaria (student), Brigitte Ditmars (Mackay), Kasia Januszewski (student), Rachael Jenison (Jenny), Erin Myers (Sister Helena/Miss Campbell), Danielle O'Farrell (student), Eric Smith (Mr. Perry), and Angela Steffens (student).

"The Ballad of the Sad Café" by Edward Albee, summer 2009.

Productions Plus is the exclusive sponsor of Signal Ensemble Theatre's 2008-2009 season.

Signal Ensemble was nominated for seven 2007-2008 non-Equity Jeff Awards - five
for their production of "1776" - Production-Musical, Outstanding Director Ronan Marra, Costume Design Laura M. Dana - in addition to Philip Winston (Actor in a Principal Role Musical), and Vincent Lonergan (Actor in a Supporting Role Musical). Both Lonergan and Shawn Pfautsch were nominated as Actor in a Principal Role Play for "Old Wicked Songs" as well. They received the award for Production-Musical.

Founded in 2003 by Ronan Marra, Christopher Prentice and Joseph Stearns, Signal Ensemble Theatre is known for its ensemble acting and producing a diverse slate of plays that range from classics to new works. Signal uses the actor as the focal point to clearly execute the playwright's vision.