The House Theatre of Chicago Opens WILSON WANTS IT ALL

The House Theatre of Chicago is thrilled to announce the world premiere of WILSON WANTS IT ALL, opening Sunday, February 7, at the Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division St.), with preview performances February 4-6. Developed in partnership with Michael Rohd, the founding artistic director of Portland's Sojurn Theatre, WILSON WANTS IT ALL takes place 30 years in the future, with America on the brink of another civil war. Director Rohd co-wrote the show with House company member Phillip C. Klapperich. The show will play through Saturday, March 27, 2010.

In 2040, the future of a divided nation is in the hands of a single man as he manipulates the fate of twin daughters, heirs to an American political dynasty. Separated at birth, they now find themselves caught on opposite sides of an escalating U.S. conflict. Following in the footsteps of the speculative fiction of Ray Bradbury and Philip K. Dick, WILSON WANTS IT ALL draws inspiration from the narrative core of A Tale of Two Cities, the 1993 feature film Dave, and the mythology of the Kennedy Camelot era.

During the workshop process, the cast and creative team spent many hours imaging what the United States of the future might look like in order to create a political landscape that would allow for mandatory sterilization as a form of population control. That world is projected not just in the storyline, costumes and set design (which consists, predominantly, of video screens), but also in a series of video projections, designed by Lucas Merino, that predict what advertising and media might look like -- and how people might interact with it -- 30 years into the future. Followers of the House's blog have also been asked to contribute their ideas to the fictionAl Wilson timeline by leaving comments.

WILSON WANTS IT ALL features House company members Carolyn Defrin, Maria McCullough, Mike Smith and Joey Steakley. The cast also includes Abu Ansari, Kevin Crowley, Elana Elyce, Leslie Frame, Emjoy Gavino, John Henry Roberts, Edgar Miguel Sanchez and Rebekah Ward-Hays.
WILSON WANTS IT ALL is co-written by Michael Rohd and Phillip C. Klapperich and directed by Michael Rohd. Original score is composed by Kevin O'Donnell with choreography and movement by Tommy Rapley. Scenic and props design by Collette Pollard, lighting design by Sarah Hughey, costume design by Ana Kuzmanic, sound design by Michael Griggs and video design by Lucas Merino.

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m.

WILSON WANTS IT ALL plays at the Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division St., Chicago). Tickets are $25 - $29 for regular performances and $15 for previews on February 4, 5 and 6. Students always receive a $10 discount off regular performance prices. Tickets may be purchased by calling (773) 251-2195 or online at www.TheHouseTheatre.com.

For more information on The House Theatre of Chicago visit www.TheHouseTheatre.com.