The Ruckus Brings a Workshop Staged Reading of SU SESSIZ, 3/13-15

The Ruckus Theater is making some noise with its upcoming workshop staged-reading of Su Sessiz (Calm Water) by Ruckus company member Timo Aker, directed by Katie Canavan. The workshop features a cast of four and continues The Ruckus commitment to the development of new work and emerging playwrights by providing dramaturgical assistance and an audience's perspective on a new play. Su Sessiz (Calm Water) is performed March 13 - 15 at 7:30pm at The Side Project Theatre (1439 W Jarvis Ave). The Ruckus is partially funded by Martin Kettling and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

"This reading just excite the hell out of me," said Artistic Director Allison Shoemaker. "Timo and Katie-along with dramaturg Matthew Test-have already brought this play such a long way in rehearsal; I can't wait to see what the audience contributes. The development of Su Sessiz and plays like it is the reason we of The Ruckus are here in Chicago!"

Playwright Timo Aker first wrote Su Sessiz (Calm Water) as a five-minute solo piece while an Acting Apprentice at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 2006/2007. He also wrote Bear Hunting, a one-man show with musicians about Radiohead frontman, Thom Yorke. His 10-minute play Euphorication was produced in Cleveland by OddyFest in 2009. He has lived in many cities across the US and abroad, and is the Casting Director for The Ruckus. As an actor, his credits include The Ruckus' recent sold-out production of Escape from the Haltsburg Boys Choir.

Director Katie Canavan makes her Ruckus directing debut and is passionate about the development of new work. After graduating from Michigan State University with a BA in Acting & Costume Design, Katie moved to Chicago, where she has been active on stage and off as director, choreographer, actor, designer and musician. Katie has worked with Brain Surgeon Theater, The Process Theater Group, Bare Boned Theater, The Artistic Home, The Feltre School, GreatWorks Theater, Quest Theater Ensemble, Urban Scenez and recently played the accordion for The Ruckus recent Escape from the Haltsburg Boys Choir. Katie is also a textile artist.

Su Sessiz (Calm Water)
A workshop staged-reading by Timo Aker | Directed by Katie Canavan
March 13 - 15, 2011 at 7:30pm (The Side Project Theatre/1439 W Jarvis Ave)

Istanbul, 2006. In a city centuries old, a young man grapples with what it means to be American, and to be other. Su Sessiz (Calm Water) explores the acquisition of a new language as a gateway to understanding, and asks how that can be translated into progress. Have an impact on Timo Aker's budding new play Su Sessiz (Calm Water) by watching, listening and staying for the postshow talkback led by some of Chicago's up-and-coming dramaturgs. This is a work-in-progress--no performance is the same, and there will be rewrites each night. New work and Chicago theater at its best, y'all.

The cast of Su Sessiz (Calm Water) includes Chris Acevedo as Deniz; Behzad Dabud as Teacher, Alie, B and Part; Shannon Huneryager as Wall, C and Suhad and Joe Slepski as Father, Window, A and Teacher 2. The creative team includes Lighting Designer Sarah Mikrut, Dramaturg Matthew Test and Stage Manager Christopher Chapin. Full bio information for the company is available upon request.

Tickets to Su Sessiz (Calm Water) are $5 and can be purchased online at ruckustheater.org or by phone at 773.769.RCKS (7257).

About The Ruckus Theater

Made up of an industrious group of Michigan ex-pats, The Ruckus is composed of actors, directors, playwrights, musicians, casting directors, publicity managers, grant writers, baristas, grad students, poets, computer fixers, appointment-makers and census-takers who aim to create a new kind of company-a casteless theater that blends the lines between playwright and actor, audience and company member. The Ruckus Theater is led by Artistic Director Allison Shoemaker, Associate Artistic Director Joshua Davis and Managing Director Jeffrey Fauver.

We're here to create, to examine, to invent, to explode-to create a ruckus. Our aim is to break down the old models of new work development in order to nurture new forms, great plays and better and smarter artists. We will work together to create vibrant and unexpected new work, spin terrific yarns and build a world in which two things are sacred: the rehearsal room and the audience member. We will be messy; we will be brave; we demand that our theater become both aspect and integral to our community. We will bring the ruckus.

See how we make a ruckus all over the interweb on our blog, iruckus.blogspot.com; like us at facebook.com/theruckustheater; view our photostream at flickr.com/ruckustheater; follow our tweets at twitter.com/ruckustheater; and spend hours at youtube.com/theruckustheater.

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