Victory Gardens to Stage World Premiere of Marcus Gardley's A WONDER IN MY SOUL

Victory Gardens Theater continues its season with the World Premiere of A Wonder In My Soul, written by ensemble playwright Marcus Gardley and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. A Wonder In My Soul runs February 10 - March 12, 2017, with the press performance on Friday, February 17, 2017, at 7:30 pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Longtime hair salon owners, Bell and Birdie grapple with the decision to remain in their beloved Southside neighborhood or relocate under the pressures of gentrification and crime. Told through music, poetry and dance A Wonder in My Soul looks at one neighborhood's evolution through the eyes of two best friends and their lifetime of friendship. From the artistic team that brought you The House That Will Not Stand, The Gospel of Lovingkindness, and An Issue of Blood, director Chay Yew and playwright Marcus Gardley now explore Chicago history, beauty, and friendship.

The cast for A Wonder In My Soul includes Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Donica Lynn, Greta Oglesby, Camille Robinson and Jacqueline Williams. Complete casting and creative team will be announced at a later date.

IF YOU GO:

A Wonder In My Soul

Written by Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley

Directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew

Previews: February 10 - 16, 2017
Press opening: Friday, February 17, 2017 at 7:30pm
Regular run: February 18 - March 12, 2017
Schedule: Tuesdays - Fridays: 7:30 pm; Saturdays: 3:00 pm; 7:30pm; and Sundays: 3:00 pm

Accessible Performances: Word for Word (open caption) performances Friday, February 24 at 7:30pm, Saturday, February 25 at 3:00pm, and Wednesday, March 1 at 2:00pm; Audio Description performances Friday, February 24 at 7:30pm (Touch tour at 6:00pm), Sunday, March 5 at 3:00pm (Touch tour at 1:30pm); ASL Interpreted and Word for Word (open caption) performance Friday, February 24 at 7:30pm.

Victory Gardens Biograph Theater is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood

Tickets: Previews: $15 - $40; Regular run: $15 - $60
The Box Office is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. Call 773.871.3000 or visit www.victorygardens.org.

Marcus Gardley is an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Playwright-In-Residence at Victory Gardens Theater. This work was supported by a Theatre Commissioning and Production Initiative grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew, Victory Gardens is dedicated to artistic excellence while creating a vital, contemporary American Theater that is accessible and relevant to all people through productions of challenging new plays and musicals. Victory Gardens Theater is committed to the development, production and support of new plays that has been the mission of the theater since its founding, set forth by Dennis Za?ek, Marcelle McVay, and the original founders of Victory Gardens Theater.

Victory Gardens Theater is a leader in developing and producing new theater work and cultivating an inclusive Chicago theater community. Victory Gardens' core strengths are nurturing and producing dynamic and inspiring new plays, reflecting the diversity of our city's and nation's culture through engaging diverse communities, and in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, bringing art and culture to our city's active student population.

Since its founding in 1974, the company has produced more world premieres than any other Chicago theater, a commitment recognized nationally when Victory Gardens received the 2001 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater includes the Za?ek-McVay Theater, a state-of-the-art 259-seat mainstage and the 109-seat studio theater on the second floor, named the Richard Christiansen Theater.

Victory Gardens Ensemble Playwrights include Luis Alfaro, Philip Dawkins, Marcus Gardley, Ike Holter, Samuel D. Hunter, Naomi Iizuka, Tanya Saracho and Laura Schellhardt. Each playwright has a seven-year residency at Victory Gardens Theater.

The Playwrights Ensemble Alumni includes Claudia Allen, Lonnie Carter, Steve Carter, Gloria Bond Clunie, Dean Corrin, Nilo Cruz, Joel Drake Johnson, John Logan, Nicholas Patricca, Douglas Post, James Sherman, Charles Smith, Jeffrey Sweet and Kristine Thatcher.

For more information about Victory Gardens, visit www.victorygardens.org. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/victorygardens, Twitter @VictoryGardens and Instagram at instagram.com/victorygardenstheater.