The Comrades Announce Casting for Lisa Kron's IN THE WAKE

The Comrades have announced casting for their Summer 2017 production, IN THE WAKE by Lisa Kron and directed by Alex Mallory. IN THE WAKE will play the Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago) from July 27 through August 26, 2017. Press opening is Saturday, July 29 at 8:00pm.

The cast includes Rose Sengenberger (Ellen), Erin O'Brien (Laurie), Adrienne Matzen (Kayla), Kelli Walker (Judy), Samantha Newcomb (Tessa), and company members Alison Plott (Amy) and Mike Newquist (Danny). The stage manager is Kamren Smith and the Dramaturg is Carol Ann Tan. Other production team members include Becca Venable (Sound Designer, Technical Director), Nicholas Coso (Lighting Designer), and Rachel Rauscher (Scenic Designer).

According to press notes, IN THE WAKE takes place during the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election. Ellen insists that her friends and family don't understand how bad the situation really is. But no one-not her loving partner, Danny, nor the passionate Amy, nor the brutally pragmatic and world-weary Judy-can make Ellen see the blind spot at the center of her own politics and emotional life. Kron's funny, passionate, and ultimately searing play illuminates assumptions that lie at the heart of the American character-and the blind spots that mask us from ourselves. IN THE WAKE received Lortel and GLAAD Media Award nominations and was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

Tickets for IN THE WAKE will go on sale at a later date. For additional information, visit www.the-comrades.com.

The Comrades were founded in early 2016. To date, they have produced three full productions and several staged readings. Company members include Derek Bertelsen, Alison Plott, Angela Horn, Mike Newquist, Cydney Moody, David Coupe, Raymond Jacquet, Melanie Kulas, Kate Leslie, Taylor Wisham, Nicholas Coso, and Alex Nolen.

Playwright Lisa Kron has been writing and performing theater since moving to New York from Michigan in 1984. Her work has been widely produced in New York, regionally, and internationally. Her plays include the musical FUN HOME (Tony Award winner); The VER**ZON PLAY, which premiered 2012 Humana Festival; IN THE WAKE (finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize); WELL (Tony Award nomination), 2.5 MINUTE RIDE (OBIE, L.A. Drama-Logue, New York Press, and GLAAD Media Award Winner); 101 HUMILIATING STORIES (Drama Desk Award nomination). Lisa is a founding member of the legendary OBIE and Bessie Award-winning collaborative theater company The Five Lesbian Brothers. She is a member of Actors Equity and serves on the Council of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Director Alex Mallory recently moved to Chicago from NYC, where recent productions include JEZELLE THE GAZELLE (Poetic License), THE REFUGE PROJECT (BEDLAM MadLAB), queer folk/pop duo Anna/Kate's theatrical concert I RUN WITH YOU (Crisis Art Festival), and readings of AJAX IN IRAQ, (LaGuardia Community College), #WHATHAPPENEDTODAVID (Classical Theatre of Harlem), and VERITAS (The Eagle Project and Columbia University). She has also presented work as a freelance director and producer with Lincoln Center, Culture Project's Women Center Stage, The Working Theatre, the Veteran Artist Program, and as Co-Artistic Director of Poetic Theater Productions. Alex received a BA in Drama from Stanford University, where she was the recipient of the Louis Sudler Prize in Creative Arts and the Sherifa Omade Edoga Prize for work involving social issues. She is currently pursuing an MFA in Directing at Northwestern University. Upcoming: Assistant Director for THE MINUTES at Steppenwolf this fall.

Pictured: The cast of IN THE WAKE (from left to right): Alison Plott, Rose Sengenberger, Erin O'Brien, Adrienne Matzen, Kelli Walker, Samantha Newcomb, and Mike Newquist.

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