Special Event
"Out at Raven" event: Friday, Oct. 21
CHICAGO — Raven Theatre opens the 2011-2012 season with Bus Stop, directed by Raven Theatre Co-Artistic Director, JoAnn Montemurro. Opening is Sunday, October 16 at 7 p.m. at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, with a reception following in Raven's lobby. Tickets and information are available at www.raventheatre.com or 773-338-2177.
Trapped by a blustery winter storm, wayward travelers converge at a rural Kansas City diner. Forced to stay the night, the weary group turns the cold into heat as they discover new relationships. Through their unexpected encounters, these forlorn souls seek and find all forms of love in one of William Inge's best known works.
Director, JoAnn Montemurro, states, "Raven's mission is to present plays that illuminate the American experience and you can't get more American than cowboys and a showgirl stranded in Kansas. I'm drawn to the romantic elements and overall positivity of this piece, and to witness two characters falling in love."
William Inge, often referred to as the "Playwright of the Midwest", frequently depicted characters and relationships in the context of small town life in the Midwest. In his later works, he became one of the first playwrights to directly address homosexuality. Inge won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1953 for his play Picnic. Other plays include Come Back, Little Sheba, and The Dark at the Top of the Stairs.
Director JoAnn Montemurro is a co-founding member and Co-Artistic Director of Raven Theatre where she has directed productions of The Long Goodbye, Lord Byron's Love Letter and Grace & Glorie. She has also appeared as an actress in many roles. Along with co-artistic director Michael Menendian, JoAnn received a special Jeff Award for outstanding contribution to Chicago theatre in 2008.
The cast of Bus Stop includes: Dean La Prairie (Carl) who was last seen on the Raven stage in Laughter on the 23rd Floor; Sophia Menendian (Elma) who was last seen in Raven's production of The Cherry Orchard; Mark Pracht (Virgil) who makes his Raven debut and has worked with Trap Door, Lifeline, The Side Project and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble; Jen Short (Cherie) who makes her Raven theatre acting debut and has worked with Janus Theatre; Michael Stegall (Bo) who also makes his Raven debut and has worked with Artist's Ensemble in Rockford, IL; Jon Steinhagen (Dr. Lyman) who was last seen on the Raven stage in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Antoine Pierre Whitfield (Will) who was last seen in Raven's production of Radio Golf; Kristen Williams (Grace) who was seen in Raven's production of The Night of the Iguana.
The Bus Stop staff includes: Ray Toler (Set Designer), Diane D. Fairchild (Lighting Designer), Joelle Beranek (Costume Designer), Andrei Onegin (Technical Director), Melissa Schlesinger (Sound Designer), Mary O'Dowd (Properties Designer), Amanda Rozmiarek (Scenic Artist), and Justin Castellano (Master Electrician). Cathy Bowren serves as stage manager.
About "Out at Raven"
Raven Theatre continues to reach out to the LGBTQ community through their event series, "Out at Raven". Now in its second year, this series shows Raven's appreciation of and commitment to the LGBTQ community, providing an opportunity to mingle and network during one Friday night performance of each mainstage show. Tickets for each "Out at Raven" performance include a post-show wine and appetizer reception and discussion with the cast and director.
Raven Theatre
Founded in 1983, Raven Theatre is dedicated to breathing new life into American classics and exploring other works that illuminate the American experience, with occasional forays into world classics. In addition to its regular season, Raven produces a Workshop Series of new and experimental productions, as well as Take Flight, an Educational Outreach program, including teaching partnerships with various Chicago Public Schools, summer youth classes and original children's shows performed at Raven Theatre.
Raven Theatre Company is funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, Polk Bros. Foundation, Yates-Feldman Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Alphawood Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Saints, S & C Electric Company, City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Gould & Ratner LLP, and The Kinder Morgan Foundation.
