Writers' Theatre Presents Travels With My Aunt 11/9-3/27/2011

Writers' Theatre continues its 2010/11 Season with Travels With My Aunt by Graham Greene, adapted for the stage by Giles Havergal, directed by Associate Artistic Director Stuart Carden. The production runs November 9, 2010 - March 27, 2011 at Writers' Theatre, 664 Vernon Avenue in Glencoe.

Henry Pulling, a mild-mannered retired banker, leads a quiet life tending his beloved dahlias and never strays too far from his Southwood, England home. But when his eccentric and outrageous Aunt Augusta suddenly appears in his life with mysterious information about his past, Henry is drawn from the safety of his flower beds into an exotic international adventure. Henry, Aunt Augusta and more than 25 characters are brilliantly and inventively portrayed by just four actors who switch identities, nationalities, ages and genders in this exciting theatrical escapade. Adapted from the celebrated novel by Graham Greene, Travels With My Aunt takes you on an irreverent, often hilarious and absolutely unforgettable journey.

"Travels With My Aunt has strong foundations in the Writers' Theatre tradition of literary adaptation, and the vitality of the subject matter, the innovation of the adaptation, the skill and intelligence of the director opens up a world of new possibilities," says Artistic Director Michael Halberstam. "Stuart Carden has truly energized Writers' Theatre with the integrity of his insight and the freshness of his perspective. I am excited that our audiences will now have the pleasure of experiencing his vision for themselves."

The cast features LaShawn Banks, Sean Fortunato, John Hoogenakker and Jeremy Sher.

The designers are Brian Sidney Bembridge (scenic), Jesse Klug (lighting), Jacqueline Firkins (costumes), Mikhail Fiksel (sound) and Nick Heggestad (properties). The stage manager is Rebecca Pechter.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Stuart Carden (Director) makes his Writers' Theatre directing debut in his second season as the company's associate artistic director. A new play specialist, Carden leads Writers' Literary Development Initiative and through the course of his career has helped develop over 20 new works, directing 12 in their World Premiere productions. Before joining Writers' Theatre he was the associate artistic director of Pittsburgh's City Theatre Company where he produced The Momentum Festival of New American Plays. Recent regional theatre directing projects include Crime and Punishment by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus and The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (where he will return this season to direct Sarah Ruhl's In the Next Room (Or the Vibrator Play), Blackbird by David Harrower, Mary's Wedding by Stephen Massicotte and A Picasso by Jeffrey Hatcher at City Theatre and The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh, Martin Crimp's adaptation of Jean Marivaux's The False Servant and Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones at Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre. In Chicago with Silk Road Theatre Project he directed the widely acclaimed world premiere of Shishir Kurup's The Merchant on Venice (a South Asian-American and Bollywood inspired adaptation of Shakespeare's original), the world and regional premieres of Yussef el Guindi's 10 Acrobats In An Amazing Leap of Faith and Back of the Throat, as well as the Chicago premiere of David Henry Hwang's The Golden Child. Other directing projects include Spring Awakening, The Game of Love and Chance, Miss Julie, A Streetcar Named Desire and his own adaptation of Nikolai Gogol's The Diary of a Madman. Carden is a proud alum of Carnegie Mellon University.

LaShawn Banks (Henry Pulling, Taxi Driver, Wordsworth, Det. Sgt. Sparrow, Hatty, Mr. Visconti, Col. Hakim, Miss Paterson and Spanish Gentleman) returns for a sixth season at Writers' Theatre where he has performed in Old Glory, The Turn of the Screw, Othello, The Duchess of Malfi and To the Green Fields Beyond. Chicago credits include The Island (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company), Edward II (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Execution of Justice (About Face Theatre), A Year with Frog and Toad (Chicago Children's Theatre) and five seasons of A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre). Regional credits include productions with Indiana Repertory Theatre, Milwaukee Shakespeare Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, American Players Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Trustus Theatre and The Cleveland Playhouse.

Sean Fortunato (Henry Pulling and Aunt Augusta) returns to Writers' Theatre after appearing as Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, The Chosen, Rough Crossing, A Phoenix too Frequent (for which he won an After Dark Award), Spite for Spite, Incident at Vichy and Richard II. Chicago credits include Detective Cioffi in Curtains (Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace), the title role in Willy Wonka, Taming of the Shrew, Comedy Of Errors, Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, Measure For Measure (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Rose Rage (Chicago Shakespeare Theater and The Duke on 42nd, New York), Brigadoon (Jeff Nomination), Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire), Franz in The Producers, Max in Lend Me A Tenor (Theatre at the Center), Max in The Real Thing (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company), Oedipus Complex, As You Like It, A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre), Lady Windermere's Fan, At Wit's End (Northlight Theatre) Scapin (Court Theatre), Private Eyes (Old Globe, CA), A Little Night Music, Doubt and Cabaret (Peninsula Players). Film credits include the role of Ted in The Merry Gentleman directed by Michael Keaton.

John Hoogenakker (Henry Pulling, Richard Pulling, Vicar, Miss Keene, Uncle Jo, Tooley, Sgt. Saprrow's Colleague, Italian Girl, Frau General Schmidt, O'Toole and Yolanda) returns to Writers' Theatre where he last appeared in Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead. Chicago credits include The Good Negro (Goodman Theatre), Wait Until Dark (Court Theatre), 100 Saints You Should Know (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), The Retreat From Moscow (Northlight Theatre), Othello (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Killer Joe (The Theatre at 2851 Halsted), The Bomb-Itty Of Errors (The Royal George Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theater) and Stones In His Pockets (Apple Tree Theatre). Regional credits include Translations (Milwaukee Repertory Theater), the title role of Hamlet directed by Michael Halberstam (Illinois Shakespeare Festival) and Work Song: Three Views of Frank Lloyd Wright (Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Arizona Theatre Company). Film credits include Flags of Our Fathers, The Lucky Ones, Public Enemies, and the forthcoming A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas and Contagion. Television credits include ER, The Beast and Gifted Hands. His voice-over work includes campaigns for McDonald's, Sears and OnStar.

Jeremy Sher (Henry Pulling, Girl in Jodhpurs, Policeman, Wolfhound, Hotel Receptionist and Bodyguard) is making his Writers' Theatre debut. Other Chicago credits include Hunchback (Redmoon Theatre), Strange Interlude, (Neo-Futurists at Goodman Theatre), Dustbowl Gothic (The Building), The Long Christmas Ride Home (Next Theatre), In Times of War (Stage Left) and others. Regional credits include The Crucible (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), Mister Roberts (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis). Off-Broadway credits include Hunchback (New Victory Theatre). Sher has worked in France and Spain and has created original works that have toured the U.S. and Canadian Fringe Festivals. His forthcoming solo show, Crow, will debut in 2011.

TICKET INFORMATION

Performances are November 9, 2010-March 27, 2011. The press performances are on Wednesday and Thursday, November 17 and 18, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. Curtain times are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. There will be no 6:00 p.m. performances on January 30, March 6 and 27, 2011. Wednesday matinees will be performed at 2:00 p.m. on November 24, December 22 and 29, 2010, January 26, March 2 and 23, 2011 only. There will be no performances on November 25, December 24, 25, 31, 2010 and January 1, 2011.

Tickets are $45-$60 and are available at the Box Office, 376 Park Avenue, Glencoe; 847-242-6000 or online at www.writerstheatre.org.

MEMBERSHIPS
Writers' Theatre Memberships provide the best value, a host of benefits and guarantee access to all of Writers' highly-anticipated productions in the 2010/11 Season. The Writers' Theatre Membership is $185 and provides ultimate flexibility to select performance dates throughout the season.

Members receive exclusive benefits including free ticket exchanges by phone, mail and fax, show reminders by email before each scheduled performance, a one-year subscription to The Brief Chronicle newsmagazine and more. For a complete list of benefits visit writerstheatre.org.

Memberships are available at the Box Office, 376 Park Avenue, Glencoe,
847-242-6000 and writerstheatre.org.

Writers' Wednesdays
Post-show discussions will be held every other Wednesday evening starting December 1, 2010 as part of the Audience Enrichment Program. Join the artistic staff and actors from the production after the performance for an in-depth conversation. For more information, visit writerstheatre.org/enrichment.

TWEET SEATS
Follow Writers' Theatre on Twitter (Twitter.com/WritersTheatre) and everyday by 3pm, Writers' will Tweet a code that can be used to purchase remaining seats for that day's performance at a discount. Tweet Seats are available for purchase only through the Writers' Theatre website at writerstheatre.org.

WRITERS' PARTNERS

Writers' Theatre is delighted to welcome NES Rentals back as Production Sponsor for Travels With My Aunt. This marks NES Rentals fourth consecutive year collaborating with Writers' Theatre, following successful partnerships on our critically acclaimed productions of Oh Coward!, Picnic and A Lion in Winter.

The Writers' Theatre season is underwritten, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Writers' Theatre welcomes back 2010/11 Season Restaurant Partner, Winnetka's award-winning Restaurant Michael. Featuring impeccably crafted cuisine of the freshest local and organic ingredients, Restaurant Michael prepares classic, haute cuisine, in a unique and contemporary presentation with French country flair. Writers' Theatre patrons receive 10% off their guest check when they present their ticket stub when ordering. Just 10 minutes from the theater at 64 Green Bay Road, Restaurant Michael is the perfect fit for any dining occasion. Call 847-441-3100 to make your reservation.

For more information about Writers' 2010/11 Season Restaurant Partner and offer restrictions visit writerstheatre.org/visitus.

ABOUT WRITERS' THEATRE
Writers' Theatre is a professional company focusing on the Word and the Artist. Remaining true to the intention of the playwright and nurturing the artist stand at the center of the mission. Now in its 19th season, the company both revives classic scripts and cultivates new works and adaptations while invigorating them with fresh energy in the intimacy of its venues. Founded in 1992, Writers' Theatre performed exclusively at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue for the first 12 years. In the fall of 2003, the organization opened a new 108 seat performance venue at 325 Tudor Court. Today, Writers' Theatre continues to produce in both spaces, maintaining an intimate theatrical experience for audiences. Since 2000, the subscriber base has grown almost 250%, from 1,500 to more than 5,600 today. With an operating budget of $3.3 million, Writers' Theatre is supported by a staff of 18 full-time employees and a 31-member Board of Trustees.

You can find Writers' Theatre on Facebook or follow Writers' Theatre on Twitter at Twitter.com/WritersTheatre. For more information, visit www.writerstheatre.org.

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