CHICAGO — Babes With Blades Theatre Company ( BWBTC ) proudly announces its 19th Season, "Women on the Front Lines," featuring two productions that embrace the glories and heartbreaks of battle, and explore both the personal and the larger impact of war. Opening in July, the world premiere of The Promise of a Rose Garden, by Dustin Spence, is a modern day look at female Marines attempting to pass the Infantry Officer Training Course. Then the season will continue with BWBTC's tradition of an all-female cast Shakespeare production: Henry V opens in February.
All productions will take place at City Lit Theater Company's performance space in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
The Promise of a Rose Garden by Dustin Spence
July 30 — September 10, 2016
Winner of BWBTC's Joining Sword & Pen playwriting competition
Directed by BWBTC Ensemble Member Elyse Dawson
Violence Design by Rachel Flesher
Show Dates:
Previews: Saturday, 7/30 at 8:00pm; Sunday, 7/31 at 3:00pm; Thursday, 8/4 at 8:00pm & Friday, 8/5 at 8:00pm
Press Opening: Saturday, 8/6 at 8:00pm
Closing Night: Saturday, 9/10 at 8:00pm
Run: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00pm, Sundays at 3:00pm
The Promise of a Rose Garden explores the far-reaching effects of war and what it means to be a soldier. Captain Rockford, one of the first 3 women to pass the US Marine Infantry Officer Course, is instructing a new group of women hoping to become infantry officers themselves. She is being visited by angels who speak in riddles. She may be losing her mind….
This world premiere production will feature BWBTC ensemble members Patti Moore, Maureen Yasko, and Kathrynne Wolf, and guest artists Catherine Dvorak, Arti Ishak, Sam Long, Izis Mollinedo, and Aaron Wertheim.
About the Playwright
Dustin Spence is a playwright and activist who has lived and worked in Chicago for nearly a decade, and is rooted in the storefront theatre community. Dustin's other works include The Sound of a Yellow Flower and What Was Mine To Do along with several one act plays. For more information about Dustin please visit playwrightdustinspence.weebly.com .
About the Director
Elyse Dawson is a theatre artist from Dayton, Ohio, where she received her B.F.A. in Acting at Wright State University. As an ensemble member of Babes With Blades Theater Company since 2014, she has performed in L'Imbecile, Titus Andronicus, and Patchwork Drifter. Since moving to Chicago, she has shared the stage with Akvavit Theatre, Wildclaw Theatre, Bare Knuckle Productions and Otherworld Theatre Company. This is her directorial debut.
Henry V by William Shakespeare
February 18 — April 1, 2017
Directed by Hayley Rice
Featuring an all-female cast ( TBA )
Show Dates:
Previews: Saturday, 2/18 at 8:00pm; Sunday 2/19 at 3:00pm; Friday 2/24 at 8:00pm; Saturday 2/25 at 8:00pm; Sunday, 2/26 at 3:00pm
Press Opening: Monday, 2/27 at 8:00pm
Closing Night: Saturday, 4/1 at 8:00pm
Run: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00pm, Sundays at 3:00pm
King Henry V, having ascended the throne of England, chooses to lay claim to areas of France. But his subjects remain skeptical of the once hell-raising boy who now rules over them, plotting attempts on his life and questioning his leadership.
About the Director
Hayley Rice is a Chicago-area director whose work has been seen at such theaters as First Folio Theatre, Focal Point Theatre Company, & Prairie Fire Children's Theatre in Minnesota. As an actor, she's worked with Prologue Theatre, The Chicago Mammals, Circle Theatre, LiveWire Theatre, The Factory Theatre ( Fall, 2016 ) and Illinois Theatre Center. She is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University's School of Theatre Arts and is a proud Artistic Associate of First Folio Theatre.
About Babes With Blades Company
Babes With Blades Theatre Company uses stage combat to place women and their stories center stage. Through performance, script development, training, and outreach, our ensemble creates theatre that explores the wide range of the human experience, and cultivates broader perspectives in the arts community and in society as a whole.
BWBTC History:
1997-2003: BWBTC began as a group of women who decided to create their own opportunities, in the hope of inspiring others to do likewise. The loosely-organized troupe, helmed by Dawn "Sam" Alden, produced a showcase, 5 company-authored sketch-style shows, and, in partnership with R&D Choreography, a combat chess match.
2003-2005: In mid-2003, Alden announced her intention to convert BWBTC to an ensemble, and the group committed to a 2-year hiatus from producing in order to concentrate on building a solid business foundation and obtaining 501( c )( 3 ) status for the new ensemble.
2005-present: In fall 2005, BWBTC returned to producing, with the sketch show Cliffhangers! kicking off the first of their 2-show seasons. The company has been growing and evolving ever since, founding a script development program ( Fighting Words, now in its 12th year ), an international playwriting competition ( Joining Sword & Pen, approaching the end of its 6th cycle ), a related art competition ( Inspiring Sword & Pen, launched in 2010 ), as well as hosting workshops, appearing at innumerable events, and producing 20 shows, 16 of which were world premieres.
The work of Babes With Blades Theatre Company is partially made possible by the kind support of The Donnelley Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council Agency, and The Saints. For more information about BWBTC, please see babeswithblades.org .
