CHICAGO ( January 31, 2018 ) — The Greenhouse Theater Center is pleased to announce casting for the Chicago premiere of Marc Acito's touching and humorous play BIRDS OF A FEATHER, directed by Artistic Director Jacob Harvey. Based on one of America's most banned books, Acito's hit comedy brings to life the story of the Central Park Zoo's gay penguins to tell a truly hilarious human story.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER will feature Abu Ansari, Aaron Kirby, Marika Mashburn and Paul Michael Thomson.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER will play April 27 — June 10, 2018 at Greenhouse Theater Center ( Upstairs Main Stage ), 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at greenhousetheater.org, in person at the box office or by calling ( 773 ) 404-7336.
It takes two to Tango. Roy and Silo are your typical gay American dads with one noticeable exception: they're penguins! No strangers to the spotlight, these two Central Park Zoo chinstrap penguins have partnered and adopted an egg, but will they be able to raise little Tango together? BIRDS OF A FEATHER is a heartwarming and surprising tale, based on the true story that became one of the most banned books in the U.S.
"Birds of a Feather is a play that at its core explores the most complex, contrary, and difficult animals to predict: human beings," comment director Jacob Harvey. "Actio does something brilliant in this piece as he employs fun and feathers to allow us insight into our own bird-brained existence."
The production team for BIRDS OF A FEATHER includes: Joe Schermoly ( scenic design ), Christina Leinke ( costume design ), Will Coeur ( lighting and video design ), Jeffrey Levin ( sound design ) and Nick Thornton ( dramaturg and movement director ).
PRODUCTION DETAILS:
Title: BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Playwright: Marc Acito
Director: Artistic Director Jacob Harvey
Cast: Abu Ansari ( Birder, Richard Cohen ), Aaron Kirby ( Silo, Lola ), Marika Mashburn ( Zookeeper, Paula Zahn ) and Paul Michael Thomson ( Roy, Pale Male ).
Location Greenhouse Theater Center ( Upstairs Main Stage ), 2257 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago
Dates: Previews: Friday, April 27 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, April 29 at 7:30 pm
Regular run: Wednesday, May 2 — Sunday, June 10, 2018
Curtain times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm. Please note: there will be an added performance on Wednesday, May 2 at 7:30 pm; there will not be performances on Saturday, May 5 at 7:30 pm or Sunday, May 6 at 7:30 pm.
Tickets: Preview: $20. Regular run: $35 - $45. Students and industry: $15. Tickets are currently available at greenhousetheater.org, in person at the box office or by calling ( 773 ) 404-7336. Season Flex Passes are also available.
About The Artists
Marc Acito ( Playwright ) wrote the book of the Broadway musical Allegiance, which New York Newsday recognized for its "well-structured book" and "fully developed characters." Acito's comedy Birds of a Feather won Washington D.C.'s Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play. He won the Ken Kesey award for his novel How I Paid for College, which he adapted as a one-man musical starring Alex Brightman. Other projects include A Room with a View ( Old Globe and 5th Avenue Theaters ), Chasing Rainbows, about the adolescence of Judy Garland ( Goodspeed Musicals ) and It's a Secret, a musical in Mandarin for Broadway Asia in China. This June, he'll direct his rock musical comedy Bastard Jones at the cell theatre in New York. A former commentator on NPR's All Things Considered, Acito now writes regularly for Playbill and teaches Musical Theater History and Story Structure at NYU. He's a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, MENSA and Weight Watchers.
Jacob Harvey ( Director ) is the Artistic Director of Chicago's Greenhouse Theater Center ( GTC ), beginning his tenure by launching the organization's producing arm with the Solo Celebration, a series of 16 solo plays and events over eight months. He also contributed to the series as a director, helming the Chicago premiere of Circumference of a Squirrel, as well as the co-production I Do Today ( The Other Theater Company ). Jacob is also the director of GTC's recent hit production of Machinal, which was award four ( out of four ) stars by Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune and named one of the top ten productions of 2017. Locally, he has taught for American Theatre Company's Bridge Program, and was named one of Newcity's "Players 2017." A freelance director, teaching artist and producer, Harvey was awarded the Bret C. Harte Director/Producer Fellowship for Berkeley Repertory Theatre's 2013/14 Season; served as Associate Producer and Interim Director of Programming for the Drama Desk Award Winning New York Musical Theatre Festival ( NYMF ); and served as the Co-Artistic Director of the Ovation Award-Nominated Mechanicals Theatre Group in Los Angeles. He is also a Producer for Your Theatrics International, a full service entertainment production company, specializing in the production of theatrical events around the world. With a fervent passion for developing new musicals, he was the Co-Producer of Ladyhawks ( NYMF 2013 Best of Fest under the title Volleygirls ) and the Associate Producer of Ryan Scott Oliver's 35MM: A Musical Exhibition. Other regional directing credits include, Mr. Marmalade ( The Theatricians ), The Shape of Things ( Silver Bell Productions ), the world premiere of the new musical The Many Selves of Mia Scott ( Carrie Hamilton Theater ) and assistant director of the world premiere of Marcus Gardley's The House The Will Not Stand ( Berkeley Repertory Theatre ). He is also the creator of the upcoming musical web series currently in development, The Cycle. Jacob attended the BFA program at Marymount Manhattan College and is a graduate of The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.
About the Greenhouse Theater Center
The Greenhouse Theater Center is a producing theater company, performance venue and theatre bookstore located at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Our mission is first and foremost to grow local theatre.
The Greenhouse Theater began its producing life in 2014 with the smash hit Churchill, after which came 2016's much-lauded Solo Celebration!, an eight month, 16 event series highlighting the breadth and depth of the solo play form. This year, the Greenhouse announced a full subscription season, with a mix of multi-character and solo plays. With a focus on our community, the Greenhouse has also launched the Trellis Residency Initiative, an initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of Chicago theatre creators, as well as the MC-10, an ensemble of mid-career playwrights whose works will be included in future Greenhouse programming.
As a performance venue, our complex offers two newly remodeled 190-seat main stage spaces, two 60-seat studio theaters, two high-capacity lobbies and an in-house rehearsal room. We strive to cultivate a fertile environment for local artists, from individual renters to our bevy of resident companies, and to develop and produce their work. In 2016, the Greenhouse announced a new residency program, which offers a reduced rate to local storefront companies while giving the Greenhouse a stake in the resident's success. We house Chicago's only dedicated used theatre bookstore, located on the second floor of our complex.
With new ideas always incubating, the Greenhouse is flourishing. Come grow with us!
