THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

For decades, Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne entertained the most influential artists of their time—from Noel Coward to Sydney Greenstreet— at Ten Chimneys, their legendary Wisconsin retreat. When a young Uta Hagen arrives to rehearse the Lunts' latest production, she sparks an offstage romantic triangle that rivals any onstage drama. Life imitates art in this comically revealing take on the private lives of these very public figures.

"In July of 2009, I took playwright Jeff Hatcher and Arizona Theatre Company Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein to Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne's estate, Ten Chimneys. As we visited the grounds, the spirits of the American theatre surrounded us — whispering their secrets, sharing their stories and inspiring us to call them to life. The likes of Laurence Olivier, Noel Coward, Helen Hayes, show business greatest stars, visited Ten Chimneys, seeking the shelter of the couple's love and sharing their passion for art," comments BJ Jones. "David Ira recalls that I murmured something about Jeff writing a play for us. Jeff's creative wheels started turning. Before we left Ten Chimneys, I decided we would put the then unwritten play Ten Chimneys into our Interplay New Play Development program, thus giving Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne's spirits flight onstage once again."

The cast includes Lance Baker ( Carl ) , Janet Ulrich Brooks ( Louise ) , Sara Griffin ( Uta Hagen ) , V Craig Heidenreich ( Alfred Lunt ) , Lia Mortensen ( Lynn Fontanne ) , Linda Kimbrough ( Hattie ) , Steve Pringle ( Sydney Greenstreet )

Designers include Tom Burch ( Set Design ) , Rachel Laritz ( Costume Design ) , JR Lederle ( Lighting Design ) and Joe Cerqua ( Sound Design )

Jeffrey Hatcher ( Playwright ) Broadway: Never Gonna Dance ( book ) . His work has been produced Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club and others. Plays include: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ( Northlight, 2008 ) , Ella ( Northlight, 2007 ) , Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie ( Northlight, 2003 ) , Three Viewings, A Picasso, Scotland Road, The Turn of the Screw, Murder by Poe, The Spy, Neddy, Fellow Travelers, Louder Faster, Compleat Female Stage Beauty, Mrs. Mannerly, Murderers, Mercy of a Storm, Smash, Armadale, Korczak's Children, To Fool the Eye, The Falls, A Piece of the Rope, All the Way with LBJ, The Government Inspector. His work has been performed in theatres throughout the U.S. and abroad. Film/TV: Stage Beauty, Casanova, The Duchess and episodes of Columbo. Grants/Awards: NEA, TCG, Lila Wallace Fund, Rosenthal New Play Prize, Frankel Award, Charles MacArthur Fellowship Award, Edgerton Grant, McKnight Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and Barrymore Award Best New Play. He is a member and/or alumnus of The Playwrights Center, the Dramatists Guild, the Writers Guild, and New Dramatists.

BJ Jones ( Director ) is in his 14th season as Artistic Director of Northlight Theatre, where he has piloted the world premieres of last season's hit The Outgoing Tide with John Mahoney and Rondi Reed, Craig Wright's Lady, Larry Gelbart and Craig Wright's Better Late, Rounding Third with George Wendt, and Sky Girls. As a producer he guided the world premieres of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, The Gamester, and Studs Terkel's 'The Good War'. Mr. Jones has directed at Steppenwolf, Cherry Lane Theatre NY, Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, The Utah Shakespeare Festival, The Asolo Theatre, Intiman Theatre, TimeLine and Next Theatre in Evanston. Directorial work includes Northlight's Season's Greetings, Grey Gardens, The Lady with All the Answers, The Retreat From Moscow, A Skull in Connemara, The Cripple of Inishmaan, and The Lieutenant of Inishmore, as well as productions of A Number, Twelfth Night, Glengarry Glen Ross ( Suzie Bass Nominee - Best Director ) , Pygmalion, The Price ( Jeff Nomination - Best Director ) , and 100 Saints You Should Know. A two-time Jeff Award winner, he has appeared at Northlight in dozens of productions and has performed at virtually every major theatre in Chicago, including The Guys, House & Garden ( Goodman ) , The Royal Family and Playboy of the Western World ( Steppenwolf ) , and Candide and Comedy of Errors ( Court ) . Film/TV credits include The Fugitive, Body Double, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Early Edition, Cupid and Turks, among others.

Lance Baker ( Carl ) returns to Northlight, where he last appeared in Mauritius. He has also appeared in Craig Wright's Lady at Northlight; He recently received a Jeff nomination for his performance as Charlie in Speed-The-Plow at American Theater Company. Other recent credits include Becky Shaw at A Red Orchid Theatre ( where he is an ensemble member ) , Invisible Man at Court Theatre; Lookingglass Theatre Company's production of Around the World in 80 Days at Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Amadeus at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Film credits include Unsettled, Public Enemies, The Express, and Road to Perdition.

Janet Ulrich Brooks ( Louise ) has performed at Timeline Theatre, Writers' Theatre, Live Bait, City Lit, Pegasus Players, Stage Left, Chicago Jewish Theatre, and is the past artistic/education director for Child's Play Touring Theatre where she taught arts integrated curriculum in local and national venues. She continues as a teaching artist with Writers' Theatre and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She spent years entertaining in Branson, MO, and holds an M.F.A. in acting.

Sara Griffin ( Uta Hagen ) is a recent MFA graduate of the Professional Theatre Training Program of the University of Delaware. Regional credits include Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie, Lady Anne in Richard III, Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, and Lydia Bennett in Pride and Prejudice with the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Alice Fletcher in the World Premiere of Teresa Rebeck's O Beautiful, Emily Webb in Our Town, Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Chris in Dancing at Lughnasa with the Resident Ensemble Players. Other credits include Imogen in Cymbeline, Speed in Two Gentlemen of Verona, and Elma in Bus Stop.

V Craig Heidenreich ( Alfred Lunt ) , originally from Woodstock, IL, was last at the Northlight as Sir John Middleton in Sense and Sensibility. V has directed or appeared throughout the country in more than 160 professional productions including 14 seasons with Actors' Theatre of Louisville, three seasons with the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, three with Shakespeare Santa Cruz and three years as artistic director of the Complete Theatre Alliance and Infinite Space. Representative roles include Macbeth, Hamlet, Richard III, Henry IV, Iago, Jacques, Petruchio, Edgar, Bottom, Malvolio and Caliban. Most recently, V directed and/or performed in productions of Betrayal, Don Juan in Hell, Lion in Winter, Sea Marks, Hedda Gabler, Rough Crossing and Jon Jory's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Lia Mortensen ( Lynn Fontanne ) was recently seen at American Theatre Company in The Big Meal. Other Chicago credits include A Doll's House, Macbeth and The Illusion ( Next Theatre ) ; Rabbit Hole ( Goodman ) ; Fighting Words ( Rivendell ) ; Lady Windermere's Fan, Sky Girls and Talley's Folly ( Northlight ) ; All's Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure ( Chicago Shakespeare Theatre ) ; Closer and Faith Healer ( for which she received a Jeff Nomination and the Sarah Siddons - Actress of the Year Award ) at Steppenwolf; Night and Day ( Remy Bumppo ) ; Aristocrats ( Organic Theatre ) ; Voice of the Turtle ( Classic American Theatre ) ; and Serious Money and Ghosts ( Court Theatre ) . Film credits include Blink. Television credits include Early Edition, Missing Persons, the TV Pilot of Family Practice and Chicago Code.

Linda Kimbrough ( Hattie ) has appeared at Northlight in A Life, Better Late ( both opposite John Mahoney ) , She Stoops to Conquer, Red Herring, Gamester, Hearts and The Old Neighborhood. Most recently, she played Marie in The Gospel According to James at Victory Gardens and Indiana Repertory. Other recent roles: Mrs. Lintott in The History Boys ( Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre ) and Dotty in Noises Off ( Cleveland Play House ) . She has originated roles in four of David Mamet's plays: Edmond, Reunion, The Water Engine, Squirrels, and his adaptation of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. Movies include Spartan, State & Main, Red Belt, Homicide, and the upcoming Phil Specter Story ( starring Al Pacino ) for HBO.

Steve Pringle ( Sydney Greenstreet ) is making his debut with Northlight. Chicago theater credits: The Pitmen Painters ( Timeline ) , Faith Healer ( Buffalo Theater Ensemble ) , Madness of King George, Taming of the Shrew, Richard III ( Chicago Shakespeare ) , Without a Parachute ( Pasta Fazool Players ) ; The Passion of Dracula ( First Folio ) . Regional theater: The Rainmaker ( Guthrie Theater ) ; Arms and the Man, Custer, The Farm ( Actors Theater of St. Paul, founding member ) ; Mousetrap, Pajama Tops ( Old Log Theater ) ; Guys and Dolls, Robber Bridegroom, On Golden Pond ( Chanhassen Dinner Theater ) . Film credits: That Was Then, This Is Now. Television credits: Quincy ( CBS ) ; The Police, ( PBS ) . Recipient of the Edwin Booth Award from the American College Theater Festival, by The Players' Club of New York, 1970.

Tickets for Ten Chimneys, $25-60, are available by phone at 847.673.6300, or online at northlight.org . Young Adult tickets ( 25 and under ) are $10 ( one per person with valid ID ) .

The Box Office is located at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, in Skokie. Box Office hours are Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm, and Saturdays 12:00pm-5:00pm. On performance days, the box office hours are extended through showtime. The Box Office is closed on Sundays, except on performance days when it is open two hours prior to showtime.

Curtain times are: Tuesdays at 1:00pm ( April 3 only ) and 7:30pm ( March 13 and April 3 only ) ; Wednesdays at 1:00pm and 7:30pm ( no show April 11 ) ; Thursday at 7:30pm; Fridays at 8:00pm ( except Opening on March 16, at 7:30pm ) ; Saturdays at 2:30pm ( no show March 10 ) and 8:00pm; and Sundays at 2:30pm ( no show April 8 ) and 7:00pm ( March 11, April 1, and April 15 only ) .

Northlight is continuing its popular special event series in conjunction with each production. All events are free for subscribers and ticket holders.

Salon Series is a series of panel discussions led by local experts for audience members to gain deeper insight into each of the five plays—including historical context, playwright background and influences and much more. Salon Series is held prior to select Sunday matinee performances. The Salon for Ten Chimneys will be held on March 25 at 1:00pm and will feature a historian from The Ten Chimneys Foundation. Reservations are required, or 847.679.9501 x3555 or specialevents@northlight.org .

Backstage with BJ is a mid-day discussion with Artistic Director BJ Jones, featuring special guest artists, actors, directors and designers, offering behind-the-scenes insight into each production while it is still in rehearsal. Backstage with BJ for Ten Chimneys will be held on March 9 at 12:00pm and will last approximately one hour. Reservations are required, 847.679.9501 x3555 or specialevents@northlight.org .

Northlight's production of Ten Chimneys is sponsored in part by The Pauls Foundation.

Northlight Theatre aspires to promote change of perspective and encourage compassion by exploring the depth of our humanity across a bold spectrum of theatrical experiences, reflecting our community to the world and the world to our community.

Now in its 37th season, the organization has mounted nearly 190 productions, including over 40 world premieres. Northlight has earned 151 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and 28 Awards. As one of the area's premier theatre companies, Northlight is a regional magnet for critical and professional acclaim, as well as talent of the highest quality.

Northlight is supported in part by generous contributions from The Allyn Foundation; Blackman Kallick Bartelstein, LLP; BMO Harris Bank; the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; ComEd, An Exelon Company; Edgerton Foundation for New American Plays Award; Ernst & Young; Evanston Community Foundation; Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; The Irving Harris Foundation; The Joyce Foundation; Kirkland & Ellis Foundation; The Lehman Family American Experience Series; The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; MetLife Foundation; McKinsey & Company; Modestus Bauer Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; North Shore Center for the Performing Arts Foundation; Nuveen Investments; The Offield Family Foundation; The Pauls Foundation; Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation; Sanborn Family Foundation; Dr. Scholl Foundation; Shubert Foundation; Sullivan Family Foundation; and the Theatre Communications Group.

FACTS

For decades, Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne entertained the most influential artists of their time—from Noel Coward to Sydney Greenstreet— at Ten Chimneys, their legendary Wisconsin retreat. In this new play, the arrival of a young Uta Hagen for an onstage rehearsal sparks an offstage romantic triangle. The result is a comically revealing look at the private lives of these very public figures.

Title: Ten Chimneys

Directed by: BJ Jones

Featuring: Lance Baker ( Carl ) , Janet Ulrich Brooks ( Louise ) , Sara Griffin ( Uta Hagen ) , V Craig Heidenreich ( Alfred Lunt ) , Lia Mortensen ( Lynn Fontanne ) , Linda Kimbrough ( Hattie ) , Steve Pringle ( Sydney Greenstreet )

Designers: Tom Burch ( Set Design ) , Rachel Laritz ( Costume Design ) , JR Lederle ( Lighting Design ) and Joe Cerqua ( Sound Design )

Dates: Previews: March 9 — March 15, 2012

Press opening: Friday, March 16, 2012

Regular run: March 17 — April 15, 2012

Schedule: Tuesdays: 1:00 ( April 3 only ) and 7:30pm ( Performances March 13 and April 3 only )

Wednesdays: 1:00pm and 7:30pm ( no show April 11 )

Thursdays: 7:30pm

Fridays: 8:00pm ( except Opening on March 16, at 7:30pm )

Saturdays: 2:30pm ( no show March 10 ) and 8:00pm

Sundays: 2:30pm ( no show April 8 ) and 7:00pm ( March 11, April 1 & April 15 only )

Location: Northlight Theatre is located at the North Shore Center for

the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie.

Tickets: Previews: $25-$40

Regular run: $25-$60

Tickets for those 25 and under are $10, any performance, ( subject to availability )

Box Office: The Box Office is located at 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie.

847.673.6300; northlight.org

NOTES OF INTEREST:

Ten Chimneys, the estate lovingly created by theatre legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, is located in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin and open to the public as a world-class house museum and national resource for theatre, arts, and arts education.

Ten Chimneys was featured in Northlight's 2009-10 Interplay series, prior to its January 2011 world premiere at Arizona Theatre Company in Tucson.

The idea for Ten Chimneys began when BJ Jones visited Ten Chimneys with Jeffrey Hatcher and David Ira Goldstein, Artistic Director of Arizona Theater Company. BJ Jones comments, "It's gratifying to bring the fruit of our Interplay program to our stage and to have Jeffrey Hatcher's work return to where it began. My thanks to David Ira, who directed those early readings and commissioned Jeff."

The elegant main house at Ten Chimneys consists of eighteen rooms spread out over three stories. There are dozens of gifts and trinkets with personal connections that function as remarkable snapshots of theatrical landscape of America at the time: scores of first-edition books with affectionate inscriptions from the authors, handmade gifts from Helen Hayes and Noel Coward, letters from protégé Laurence Olivier and photos of the Lunts with Charlie Chaplin and the Queen Mother.

BJ Jones and the production designers took a trip to Ten Chimneys in October 2011 at the beginning of the production design process, where they were given an "all-access tour" granted to Northlight by the Ten Chimneys Foundation in preparation for the production. The entire cast will be travelling to Ten Chimneys with BJ on the second day of rehearsal, for a private tour and to do a read-through on the grounds of the estate.

Northlight has made arrangements with the Ten Chimneys for patrons to receive a special discount for estate tours, if they choose to arrange a visit after seeing the production.