Trap Door Theatre Presents THE BALCONY, Now thru 10/12

The Trap Door Theatre presents THE BALCONY, written by Jean Genet and directed by Max Truax, with a cast featuring: Antonio Brunetti, Simina Contras, David A. Holcombe, John Kahara, Meghan Lewis, Michelle Oliver, Thom Pasculli, Alžan Pelesi, Ann Sonneville, David Steiger, Nicole Wiesner, and Carl Wisniewski.

Set in a brothel during a bloody revolution, The Balcony is Genet's examination of the artifice of authority. Madame Irma's brothel specializes in providing fetish scenarios for clients who seek the erotic pleasures of playing government icons without having to bear the burden of their functions. Unexpected consequences arise when the revolution disrupts the sanctity of the brothel's fantasies, and the real figures of the government go missing. Irma and the Chief of Police must work together to devise a grand scenario that will preserve the status quo while immortalizing them both forever.

Jean Genet (playwright) 19 December 1910 - 15 April 1986) was a prominent and controversial French novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, and political activist. Genet's mother was a prostitute who raised him for a year before giving him up for adoption. In and out of prison for much of his early life, he was a vagabond, petty criminal, and prostitute - experiences that informed much of his writing. His major works include the novels Querelle of Brest, The Thief's Journal, and Our Lady of the Flowers, and the plays The Balcony, The Blacks, The Maids and The Screens.

Max Truax(Director) is a Resident Director at Trap Door, where he has directed several productions, including They Are Dying Out, A Couple of Poor Polish-Speaking Romanians, No Darkness Round My Stone, and an operatic interpretation of Hamletmachine. His production of A Couple of Poor Polish-Speaking Romanians performed at the Fun Underground Festival in Arad, Romania and at the Bagatela Theatre in Krakow, Poland. He recently directed A Dream Play at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts for the University of Illinois. Max is also Artistic Director at Oracle Theatre, where he has directed several productions, including The Mother, The Sandman, Woyzeck, The Ghost Sonata, andTermen Vox Machina. Other Chicago directing credits include Brand (Red Tape Theatre) and In the Jungle of Cities (Ka Tet Theatre). Max studied visual art, performance art, and post-modern choreography at Oberlin College and received his MFA in Theatre Directing from California Institute of the Arts.

Asssitant Director Laura Smith / Stage Manager Meg Eaton / Set Designer Joanna Iwanicki / Costume Design Rachel Sypniewski/ Lighting Design Richard Norwood / Sound Design Danny Rockett / Make-Up Design Zsofia Ötvos / Graphic Design Michal Janicki

The show opens tonight, September 5, 2013 at 8PM and runs through Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 8PM, playing Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8PM. Admission: $20, with two for one admission on Thursdays, $25 on Saturdays. All performances play the TRAP DOOR THEATRE 1655 West Cortland Ave. Chicago, IL 60622. For Information/Reservations: 773-384-0494. To purchase online, visit www.trapdoortheatre.com.

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