Chicago, IL, — UrbanTheater Company's ( UTC ) highly anticipated production of "F'king A" by Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Genius Award recipient, Suzan-Lori Parks, will be performed in association with Pegasus Players' new home at 4520 N. Beacon Street ( formerly the historic Hull House ) . Inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, the production will run March 22nd — April 15th, 2012; preview performances from March 20th — March 21st. Tickets are $20, Students/Seniors — $10 & Previews — 2 for 1 — $20/$15 ( for single ticket ) . Group rates available. For tickets call 312-239-8783 or visit: www.UrbanTheaterChicago.org .
"Suzan-Lori Parks is one of the most gifted and exciting playwrights working today." says Director Richard Perez, adding "The combination of working with UrbanTheater Company and the opportunity to direct such an extraordinary play was an offer I couldn't pass up."
Called "mythically powerful and comprehensive," "riveting and provocative" and "full throttle," F'king A was originally produced in Houston, TX before playing at New York's Public Theatre in 2003. Susan-Lori Parks spent 4 years applying her extraordinary theatrical voice to what she calls her first "revenge tragedy." The world revealed in the play is bleak and dystopian; one of naked and sadistic power where its subjects are subject to arbitrary imprisonment and sexuality is discussed in an alternate language.
About the Production:
Set in a post apocalyptic world, Hester, an Abortionist, must take life in order to save the life of her imprisoned son. Inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The Scarlet Letter, "F'king A" explores societal corruption, sexual politics and the enduring love of one mother for her child. Provocative and redemptive, this is a theatrical event not to be missed.
Written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Richard Perez, F'king A stars Kelly Owens, Lyndsay Kane, Kamal Hans, Amrita Dhaliwal, Madrid St. Angelo, Lance Newton, Robert Hope, Greg Wenz, Michael Moran, David Guiden, Joan McGrath, Bert Matias, Courtney Berne, Brandon Holmes and Warren Levon.
Assistant Director is Emmi Hilger, Stage Manager is Lisa Much and Assistant Stage Manager is Kalin J. Gullberg. Set Design by Jacob Watson with Lighting Design by John Kelly, Music Direction and Sound Design by Jeffery Levin, Video Design by Ross Hoppe, Costume Design by Freddie Rocha and Props Design by Amy Couey with Master Electrician Claire Chrzan, Fight Choreographer and Make-Up by Zev Steinberg and Dramaturgy by Mary Siegel.
About the Playwright:
Named one of TIME magazine's "100 Innovators for the Next New Wave," in 2002 Suzan-Lori Parks became the first African American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for her Broadway hit Topdog/Underdog. A MacArthur "Genius" Award recipient, she has also been awarded grants by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
One of America's most prolific and distinctive playwrights, her numerous plays include Father Comes Home From The Wars, The Book of Grace, Topdog/Underdog ( 2002 Pulitzer Prize ) , In the Blood ( 2000 Pulitzer Prize finalist ) , Venus ( 1996 OBIE Award ) , The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, F'king A, Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom ( 1990 OBIE Award for Best New American Play ) , and The America Play. In 2007 her 365 Plays/ 365 Days was produced in over 700 theaters worldwide, creating one of the largest grassroots collaborations in theater history. Her work is the subject of the PBS Film The Topdog Diaries.
About Urban Theatre Company:
From its inception, UrbanTheater Company has produced, promoted and performed plays of under-represented playwrights of color, allowing theatre to thrive in communities appreciative of cultural inclusion and accessibility. UrbanTheater Company ( UTC ) is committed to the creation and exploration of urban-inspired works that convey, illuminate and empathize with the human experience.
"We're proud that our audiences, playwrights and actors have been as ethnically diverse as the city we live in," says UTC Artistic Director, Madrid St. Angelo. UTC Executive Director, Ivan Vega agreed, adding "It is with great excitement that we've been able to secure a partnership with Pegasus Players, allowing UTC to bring Ms. Parks' powerful play to the culturally diverse community of Uptown."
Celebrating its 6th Season and tenth production, the Joseph Jefferson recommended and award winning company has featured a myriad of critically acclaimed Chicago directors including Ron OJ Parson, Cecilie Keenan, Joel Moorman, Marti Lyons and Richard Perez. With eight Midwest Premieres and one World Premiere, UTC has provided tremendous opportunities for actors of color to perform in professional productions.
UTC is proud to partner with Pegasus Players to produce one of the nation's foremost living African American playwrights, Suzan-Lori Parks in the vibrant Uptown neighborhood.
The production will run March 22nd — April 15th, 2012; preview performances from March 20th — March 21st. General Admission — $20, Students/Seniors — $10 & Previews — 2 for 1 — $20/$15 ( for single ticket ) . Group rates available. For tickets call 312-239-8783 or visit: www.UrbanTheaterChicago.org .
For additional information on UTC, visit: www.facebook.com/UrbanTheater or www.twitter.com/UrbanTheater .
