'The Scarlet Ibis' begins July 24

16th Street Theatre is pleased to announce its production of acclaimed poet Susan Hahn's The Scarlet Ibis as part of this season's WORDS IN MOTION festival. The Scarlet Ibis will run July 24 – August 2, 2008 at the Berwyn Cultural Center.

16th Street Artistic Director stages Susan Hahn's 2007 volume of poetry The Scarlet Ibis in its entirety for WORDS IN MOTION. In this dramatic sequence of poems, the Ibis and the Lady are the disappearing objects of the Magician's tricks. As the three vie to control one another, all illusions fall away, forcing them to deal with their assigned roles in time and their own caged mortality.

Filmer states: "The Lady searches deep within the crypt for the trick that will bring her mother back. Clinging to beauty and poetry, the Lady captures the Bird in the hopes it will answer all her questions of 'WHY?' The poetry and images are powerful. And the performance is part theater, part dance, part magic. I find this project incredibly unique and inspiring."

Directed by Ann Filmer, The Scarlet Ibis was shown as a staged reading at Estrogen Fest 2007 and at Rhino Fest. It is performed by Amy Dunlap, Kathleen Powers, Matt Olson (July 24-26) and Ed Dzialo (July 31 – August 2).

Scenic design by Katie Schweiger. Light design by Mac Vaughey. Original music by Barry Bennett. Video design by Kristin Reeves.

Susan Hahn is the author of eight volumes of poetry including Holiday (2001), Mother In Summer (2002), Self/Pity (2005), The Scarlet Ibis (2007) and The Note She Left (2008). She is the recipient of numerous awards for her poems, including several Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards and Fellowships, The Society of Midland Authors Award in Poetry, two Pushcart Prizes and a 2003 Guggenheim Fellowship.

The Chicago Tribune named her fourth book, Holiday, and her fifth book, Mother in Summer, among the best books of 2002. Her first play, Golf, directed by Ann Filmer, premiered in 2005 at Circle Theatre in Forest Park and her seventh book of poetry, The Scarlet Ibis, was directed by Ann as a verse play in 2007.

Ms. Hahn is the Editor of Northwestern University's award-winning literary magazine, TriQuarterly. Currently she is working on a new play and her first novel, from which five chapters have been, or are about to be, published. Her writings have appeared in such places as The Atlantic Monthly, The Kenyon Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Poetry, and Virginia Quarterly Review. Susan lives in Winnetka with her husband, Fred.

WORDS IN MOTION is part of 16th Street Theater's Season One at the Berwyn Cultural Center, following Will Dunne's The Ascension of Carlotta and Teatro Luna's highly recommended hit MACHOS. Curated by Artistic Director Ann Filmer, the WORDS IN MOTION festival runs July 11 – August 16, 2008 and includes solo performer Arlene Malinowski's Aiming for Sainthood, and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg's adaptation of her novel The Pull of the Moon. Please visit www.16thstreettheater.org for further information.

"We are honored these three award-winning authors are bringing their words to 16th Street. Here they will collaborate with theater artists to stage their imagined worlds and become WORDS IN MOTION," says 16th Street Theater Artistic Director Ann Filmer. "It's about the movement of the language, heightening the audience's imagination, and bringing out the beauty and strength of these female authors' words."

THE SCARLET IBIS
By Susan Hahn, acclaimed poet
Directed by Ann Filmer
 
WHEN:
July 24 – August 2, 2008
Thursdays & Fridays @ 7:30 PM, Saturdays @ 5:00 PM & 8:00 PM
 
WHERE:
Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th Street, Berwyn
 
TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
Tickets now available.
Online – www.16thstreettheater.org
In Person – at North Berwyn Park District, 1619 Wesley Ave., Berwyn
Ticket and Information Hotline – (708) 795-6704
 
HOW MUCH?:
General Admission: $16, Groups of 8+: $14
-  Please visit www.16thstreettheater.org  -

16th STREET THEATER is Berwyn's professional equity theater under the artistic direction of Ann Filmer. 2008 marks its first season.  

The BERWYN CULTURAL CENTER, a North Berwyn Park District managed facility, is dedicated to providing the highest quality and range of cultural arts programs, classes, workshops, events, and exhibitions providing opportunities for Berwyn residents and area artists.  The center will provide year-round programs engaging participants of all ages in visual, performing, literary, martial and media arts and 16th Street Theater's professional productions. The BCC also will serve as an incubator for emerging artists, artisans, writers, performers and musicians to develop and present new works.  The center is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and sustainability of our local communities by advancing appreciation for the beauty of cultural diversity.

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