Chicago, IL — Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert open the Company's 57th Season with Spunk, adapted from the short stories of Zora Neale Hurston by George C. Wolfe with music by Chic Street Man and directed by Seret Scott. Spunk will run September 8 — October 9, 2011 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 8 PM.
"I git to the git with some pain n' some spit n' some spunk." The verdant, earthy language of Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God) is animated through the music of the blues in these three tales of love, revenge, and redemption. Adapted by George C. Wolfe (The Colored Museum) and featuring musical narration composed by blues artist Chic Street Man, Spunk breathes new life into these three remarkable short stories from the Harlem Renaissance.
"The simplicity of Spunk's storytelling creates complexity just as its color and texture impart humanity," says director Seret Scott. "The intricate humanity of these stories makes them timeless. However, they resonate particularly in this Modern era when safety nets and certainty are dissolving just as they were for Zora and her characters. This play is perfect for Court Theatre because it presents classic stories that resonate in the present moment."
Spunk features Alexis J. Rogers (Porgy and Bess) as Blues Speak Woman, Chris Boykin, Kenn E. Head, Patrese D. McClain, Kelvyn Bell, and Michael Pogue.
The creative team includes Tom Burch (scenic design), Joshua Horvath (sound design), Janice Pytel(costume design), and Mark Stubblefield (lighting design). Amber Johnson is the Stage Manager and Sara Gammage is the Production Stage Manager. Drew Dir is the Production Dramaturg. Kelvyn Bell is the Music Director.
Seret Scott (Director) is making her Court Theatre debut. Directing credits: Denver Center Theatre Company, Old Globe Theatre (San Diego — Associate Artist), New Victory Theatre and Second Stage Theatre (Off-Broadway), Philadelphia Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and Studio Theatre (DC), American Conservatory Theatre (San Francisco), L.A. Theatre Works and South Coast Repertory (CA), Long Wharf Theatre and Yale Repertory Theatre (New Haven), Two River Theatre Company (NJ), Geva Theatre Center (Rochester, NY), Indiana Repertory Theatre, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre and National Black Theatre (NYC), Alliance Theatre (Atlanta), Alley Theatre (Houston), Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Virginia Stage Company, New Mexico Repertory, and Playmakers Repertory Company (NC). Member of the executive board of Stage Directors and Choreographer's Society. Recipient of a TCG/PEW Residency Grant (Long Wharf Theatre) and Drama Desk Award in acting (My Sister, My Sister). Ms. Scott's play Second Line was produced by Passage Theatre (NJ) and Tribute Productions (DC).
Kelvyn Bell (Music Director, Guitar Man) is a guitarist/composer, the creator of the avant-funk band Kelvynator, and a contributing innovator to The Association for the Advancement of Creative Music, Black Artist Group, m-Base, The Harlem School of the Arts, The St. Louis Jazz Hall of Fame, and The Black Rock Coalition, of which he is a founding member. Kelvyn has toured internationally and recorded with Arthur Blythe, Lester Bowie, Steve Coleman, James Carter, Maceo Parker, Living Colour, and Joseph Bowie & Defunkt, of which he is a founding member. He has been the Resident Composer for The Classical Theatre of Harlem since 2002. His theater credits include Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Black Nativity, Trojan Women,Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet, Ruined, and Archbishop Supreme Tartuffe, for which he won the 2009 Audelco Award for Best Musical Direction.
Chris Boykin (Slang Talk Man, Joe, Ensemble), born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, has been working on camera and on stage for over seven years and is happy to be making his professional Chicago theater debut at Court! He recently graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University with an Master of Fine Arts in Acting and is currently represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.
Kenn E. Head (Sykes, Sweet Back, Ensemble) is proud to be making his Court Theatre debut. A veteran actor, he is a familiar face on many Chicago stages, having appeared in Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), The Lost Boys of Sudan (Victory Gardens Theater), The Overwhelming (Next Theater),Seven Guitars (Congo Square Theatre — Jeff Awards for Best Ensemble and Best Play), as well as productions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, American Theater Company, and Yale Repertory Theatre. His television credits include ER, Early Edition, and various commercials.
Patrese D. McClain (Delia, Girl, Missie May, Ensemble) is honored to be making her Court Theatre debut. She was last seen in Ruined (St. Louis Black Repertory Company) and ABC's Detroit 1-8-7. Chicago credits include Goodman Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and CollaborAction Theatre, where she is a proud member. Regional credits include Two Trains Running (Geva Theatre Center, Rochester, NY) and a Kevin Kline-nominated performance in Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Mustard Seed Theatre, St. Louis). She received her B.F.A. from Howard University and her M.F.A. from Pennsylvania State University. Patrese is also the Executive Director of Pure ART, a non-profit organization that offers arts education outreach to inner city youth and produces events to showcase local artists.
Michael Pogue (Jelly, Boy, Ensemble) is elated to make his Court Theatre debut. His credits include Venusand Carter's Way (Steppenwolf Theatre), Radio Golf (Raven Theatre), Lobby Hero (Redtwist Theatre), Night and Day (Remy Bumppo Theatre), and Six Degrees of Separation (Eclipse Theatre). He deeply thanks his family, dear friends, colleagues, and Chicago Blues folks for their support. Later this season, he will return to Court and appear in Angels in America.
Alexis J. Rogers (Blues Speak Woman) returns to Court Theatre after just closing a nationally acclaimedPorgy and Bess as 'Bess'. Other Chicago credits include The Wiz (Theatre at the Center), The Old Settler(Writers' Theatre), The Piano Lesson (Court Theatre), Seven Guitars and Black Nativity (Congo Square Theatre Company), If All the World Were Paper (Chicago Children's Theatre), Ain't Misbehavin' (Goodman Theatre), and Ragtime (Porchlight Theatre Company). Regional credits include Black Nativity (Kennedy Center, DC), Merchant of Venice (The Shakespeare Theatre Company, DC) and Civil War and Big River (Barn Theatre, MI). Alexis is a proud member of Congo Square Theatre Company, AEA, and AFTRA.
Previews are September 8 - 16, 2011. The opening press performance is on Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. Curtain times are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. with Saturday matinees at 3 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Ticket prices are $30 to $40 for preview performances; $40 to $60 for regular run performances. Tickets are available at the Box Office, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or online at www.CourtTheatre.org .Student and senior discounts available. Groups of 10 or more may purchase tickets by calling Kate Vangeloff at (773) 834-3243.
Spunk is sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Now in its 57th season, Court Theatre is guided by its mission to discover the power of classic theatre. Court endeavors to make a lasting contribution to American theatre by expanding the canon of translations, adaptations, and classic texts. Court revives lost masterpieces, illuminates familiar texts, and distinguishes fresh, modern classics. Court engages and inspires its audience by providing artistically distinguished productions, audience enrichment activities, and student educational experiences.
Court Theatre is the professional theatre in residence at the University of Chicago continuing to discover the power of classic theatre. Court Theatre operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. Productions are made possible, in part, by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; a City Arts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; and the Cultural Outreach Program of the City of Chicago. Court Theatre is a constituent of Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for the American Theatre; the League of Resident Theatres; the Illinois Humanities Council; Arts Alliance Illinois; and the League of Chicago Theatres.
Title: Spunk
Directed by: Seret Scott
Adapted by: George C. Wolfe
Dates: Previews: September 8 — September 16, 2011
Press opening: Saturday, September 17, 2011 at 8 PM
Regular run: September 18 — October 9, 2011
Schedule: Wed & Thurs: 7:30 PM
Fridays: 8:00 PM
Saturdays: 3:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Sundays: 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Location: Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.
Tickets: $30-$40 previews
$40-$60 regular run
Box Office: Located at 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago; (773) 753-4472 or onlinewww.CourtTheatre.org
Notes of Interest:
Alexis J. Rogers was last seen at Court Theatre in Artistic Director Charles Newell's smash-hit production of Porgy and Bess.
Spunk was adapted from the short works of Harlem Renaissance author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston by George C. Wolfe in 1990.
Seret Scott was a stage, film, and TV actress before she turned to directing. She co-starred with Brooke Shields in Louis Malle's Pretty Baby and appeared in such television series as Miami Vice, The Equalizer, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, and Cosby.
Spunk marks Seret Scott's Chicago directorial debut. Scott first directed Spunk in 1996 at Baltimore's Centre Stage.
