Walkabout Theatre Announces Jeremy Sher in CROW, for 5/20-6/17

Walkabout Theater has announced the world premiere of CROW, created and performed by theater artist Jeremy Sher and directed by Scott Bradley. Performances take place at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., from May 30 – June 17. The opening is Friday, June 1st at 8:00 p.m.

In 1969, most of the world is focused on the race to reach the moon, but far below at sea, an ambitious man has set out to attempt a record-breaking solo race around the globe. Just when victory seems to be in his grasp, he mysteriously disappears. Months later, all that is found is his empty vessel ghosting through the North Atlantic with his logbook, revealing puzzling coordinates, posturing heroics, and lunatic ramblings about mercy, hope and family.

Inspired by true events, Crow combines intensive movement, layered text, and 1200 ft of rope, to tell a tale of glorious adventure and crushing heartbreak. Crow asks the questions: What separates hope from delusion? And what is the transformative power of ambition?

This production signals the start of a new era for Walkabout. Company member Emma Stanton (War Garden, The Pigeons, Follow Me to the Sea) recently stepped into the role of Artistic Director and is thrilled to begin her term with the production of Crow. "We're very excited about reinvigorating Walkabout's tradition of theatrical production with Crow," says Stanton. "I was first introduced to Crow three years ago in a workshop, directed by company member Seth Bockley. I was intrigued by Jeremy's innovation of using rope as the central image and storyteller. As I came into conversation with him about the piece, he explained that he considered Crow as an ensemble piece for one actor working in tandem with rope, lights, sound, and video, which is exciting to me as a theater artist. Jeremy is a multi-talented artist telling a new story in a new way that we believe can engage new audiences."

Additional collaborators for the development of Crow include Seth Bockley (Walkabout Theater Company), Adrian Danzig (500 Clown), and Meghann Wilkinson (Lucky Plush Productions).

Jeremy Sher (Writer, Performer) is a professional actor living in Chicago. He has co-founded several performance ensembles over the past 20 years, including El Trupo (Barcelona), Elastic Picnic Improv (Seattle), InterNational Theatre Collective (Montana) and Ardeo Theatre Project (France). He has performed and trained in disciplines from classical theatre to Japanese dance, often with multi-national casts. His passion lies in devising -- a process of creating original works on one's feet in the studio. In Chicago, he has performed with Writers' Theatre (Jeff Nominated: Outstanding Ensemble Travels with My Aunt), The Neo-Futurists (Strange Interlude at The Goodman), Next Theatre, Stage Left, Redmoon Theater (After Dark Award: Outstanding Performance Hunchback), The Building Stage (After Dark Award: Outstanding Production Dustbowl Gothic). Regionally, he's performed at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Shakespeare Theatre D.C., HotCity Theatre (St. Louis) and Annex Theatre (Seattle), among others. Off-Broadway: New Victory Theatre. In Paris he worked with Brigitte Dumez Dance Company and Projet Brûlé, creating original devised theatre and experimental works for international audiences. In 2004-2005, he devised, wrote and directed the original work Saltwater, which toured to St. Louis, Montana, Seattle and the Canadian Fringe Festival, to critical acclaim. He has trained in Suzuki and Viewpoints with Anne Bogart and Siti Company in New York and Chicago, and has led many Suzuki training groups: Seattle, St. Louis, Paris, Vancouver, and Chicago. He has also taught devising, improvisation and movement workshops at several universities across the country and currently teaches movement at ChiArts, Chicago's High School for the Arts.

Scott Bradley (Director) is co-founder of Chicago-based performance company The Scooty & JoJo Show, for which he has developed and directed the critically-acclaimed, multi-disciplinary productions Alien Queen, Carpenters Halloween, Mollywood, Tran: The Atari Musical, The Scooty & JoJo Variety Hour, and Diva Brunch. He directed the 2011 SIUE Experimental Theatre Festival premiere of Jeremy Sher's Crow, and has directed new performance works for Chicago's Hell In A Handbag Productions (The Birds, Caged Dames), Washington DC's Washington Shakespeare Company, Seattle's Open Circle Theater and Bald Faced Lie, and at New York's HERE and CBGB's Galleria. As a performer, he has worked with Chicago's About Face Theatre (The Homosexuals), The Hypocrites (Angels in America), DC's Arena Stage, The Shakespeare Theatre, NY's adobe theater company, Next Stage Theatre, Seattle's Open Circle Theater, and AHA! Theatre. He is a founding member and former Artistic Director of Seattle's Open Circle Theater and served as Associate Artistic Director to Bonnie Metzgar at BACA Downtown, Brooklyn, NY. He is also creative producer with Jonny Stax Presents, a creative development company, an Artistic Associate with Chicago's About Face Theatre Company, and a member of Actors' Equity Association.

Crow production staff includes Mac Vaughey (Lighting Designer, Walkabout company member), Elsa Hiltner (Costume Designer), Liviu Pasare (Video Designer), and Jeremy Sher (Sound Designer). Emily Wall serves as Stage Manager.

Opening is Friday, June 1st, at 8:00 p.m. at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.

Previews: Wednesday, May 30th and Thursday, May 31st at 8:00 p.m.

Performances continue through June 17, 2012: Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Admission is $28, Students $10

Tickets/Information: www.walkabouttheater.org or www.victorygardens.org

Photo Credit: Joe Nuelle.

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