The Gift Theatre Announces U.S. Premiere of ABSOLUTE HELL, 3/1-4/29

The Gift Theatre announces the U.S. Premiere of Absolute Hell by Rodney Ackland, directed by ensemble member Sheldon Patinkin and featuring Gift Ensemble Members Brittany Burch, John Connolly, Paul D'Addario, Gabriel Franken, Alexandra Main, Kenny Mihlfried, Lynda Newton, Michael Patrick Thornton and Jay Worthington with guest artists Alexis Atwill, Harter Clingman, Kurt Conroyd, Patrick DeNicola, Joanne Dubach, Marssie Mencotti, Donna McGough, Justine Serino, Amy Speckien, Maria Stephens, Dylan Stuckey, and Adam Welsh.  

London. One month after World War II has ended. An important election on the horizon...Welcome to the members-only club "La Vie En Rose" and its colorful cast of bohemian lovers, losers, soldiers, and dreamers who prepare to repair both country & self. Absolute Hell was nearly lost forever until a rediscovery led to a revival & inclusion in The Royal National Theatre's "Top 100 Plays of The Twentieth Century." The U.S. premiere comes to The Gift in an ensemble-packed production.

Absolute Hell will run March 1-April 29,2012. Tickets ($20-$30) are available immediately. Previews are Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 7:30 PM and a Sunday Matinee at 2:00 PM.  There is no preview on Saturday March 3^rd.  Regular run show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm with Sunday matinees at 2:30. 

For tickets: (773) 283-7071 or www.thegifttheatre.org. 

Lighting and Sound Design by Scott Pilsbury. Set Design by Ian Zywica, Costume Design by Kate Murphy and Dialect Coach is Eva Breneman.

The Gift Theatre is located at 4802 N. Milwaukee in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood—two storefronts north of Lawrence, on the west side of Milwaukee—and is easily accessible by the Kennedy Expressway, the Lawrence and Milwaukee buses, and the CTA Blue Line.

THE GIFT THEATRE is dedicated to telling great stories on stage with honesty and simplicity.  Since its 2002 debut, The Gift has consistently established itself as an actors’ theatre, consistently eschewing directorial cleverness for honest, powerful connections between the actors and the audience.  With the conception of The Lab—an ensemble-only forum dedicated to artistic growth and exploration—The Gift continues to deepen its commitment to the idea of ‘ensemble’ by training together on an ongoing basis.  Previous and future instructors in The Lab include Sheldon Patinkin, Jeff Perry, Susan Messing, and Dr. Eric Forsythe.