What Happens:
Join Theatre Seven for twelve World Premiere short plays written about specific Chicago places. Using distinct locations in zip codes from Rogers Park to the South Side, The Chicago Landmark Project offers twelve diverse snapshots of Chicago life from present-day to the distant past. From famous landmarks like Navy Pier to only-in-Chicago places like the Logan Square Farmers Market and Riverview Amusement Park, The Chicago Landmark Project uses location to create an emotional geography of life by the lake.
Brian Golden Playwright, Director
T7 Credits: Is Chicago, Killing Women, The Sand Castle, Diversey Harbor, Hunting and Gathering, The Water Engine: An American Fable, In the Heart of America, American Storm (Director); Yes This Really Happened to Me, We Live Here, Cooperstown (Writer), Mimesophobia (Man Who Speaks...), Boys & Girls (Frank - Never Swim Alone), The Chicago Landmark Project (Co-Coordinator; Writer - 63rd & Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge; Director - 63rd & Kedzie: Arab American Community Center)
Brian Golden is the Managing Artistic Director and a founding member of Theatre Seven of Chicago. During his leadership, Theatre Seven’s work has been seen by 12,000+ patrons and the company has been nominated for three Jeff Awards, two Black Theatre Alliance Awards, been a three-time finalist and the 2012 winner of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theatre Award, and paid over 200 artists for their work. Brian was the Co-Coordinator of Theatre Seven’s 2011 The Chicago Landmark Project, 12 World Premiere short plays about 12 specific Chicago landmarks. His play Cooperstown was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award, and he was one of eight co-authors of We Live Here, which was nominated for 2 Jeff Awards, including Best New Work. Brian works for Catharsis Productions as the company’s Literary Manager, developing new artistic programs with an emphasis on social justice and violence reduction. Brian is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, a two-time winner of the A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Contest, and recipient of the Leota Diesel Ashton Playwriting Prize and John J. Jutkowitz Award.
updated october 2012
Marisa Wegrzyn Playwright
T7 Credits: Is Chicago: Diversey Harbor, Killing Women, Diversey Harbor, The Chicago Landmark Project: State and Madison- The Grid (Writer)
Marisa is a founding member of Theatre Seven. Her play, The Butcher of Baraboo, was produced in Steppenwolf Theatre's First Look Repertory in 2006, premiered Off-Broadway at Second Stage in 2007, and was published in the Smith & Kraus anthology New Playwrights: The Best Plays of 2008. The play returned to Chicago in a production at A Red Orchid Theatre in 2012. Other Chicago productions include: Hickorydickory and Ten Cent Night at Chicago Dramatists where she is a resident playwright and Psalms of a Questionable Nature at Rivendell Theatre. She has been commissioned by Steppenwolf and Yale Repertory Theatre. Her work has been produced at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Geva Theatre Center, Lucid by Proxy, Washington University in St Louis, HotCity Theatre, Moxie Theatre, Victory Theatre Center, The Road Theatre, kef Productions, CENTERSTAGE Baltimore. Chicago Reader named her Best Playwright in the 2008 "Best of Chicago" issue, and she received the 2009 Wendy Wasserstein Playwriting Prize.
updated september 2012
Yolanda Nieves Playwright
T7: The Chicago Landmark Project (Writer - Division & California: Steel Flags)
Yolanda Nieves was born and raised in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. She is a poet, playwright, director, educator, actress, and Creative Director of The Vida Bella Ensemble. She has been featured on Vocalo, WGN TV News, and NPR. She wrote a nationally-acclaimed play entitled The Brown Girls’ Chronicles. Currently, she is an assistant professor and is working on a new collection of stories and plays. She still lives in Humboldt Park.
updated september 2012
Brett Neveu Playwright
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Writer - Lincoln & Eastwood: Laurie's Planet of Sound)
Brett’s upcoming and recent productions include The Opponent with A Red Orchid Theatre, Red Bud with The Royal Court Theatre, Odradek with The House Theatre, and Do The Hustle with Writers’ Theatre. Recent work includes productions with Writers’ Theatre, The Goodman Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, A Red Orchid Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, and American Theatre Company. He is the recipient of the Ofner Prize for New Work, the Emerging Artist Award from The League of Chicago Theatres, an After Dark Award for Outstanding Musical (Old Town with Strawdog Theatre Company), and has developed plays with companies including The New Group, The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens. He is a resident-alum with Chicago Dramatists. He is also an ensemble member of A Red Orchid Theatre, a member of The Playwrights’ Union and a member of the Center Theatre Group’s Playwrights’ Workshop. Brett has been commissioned by The Royal Court Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Goodman Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, Writers’ Theatre, Strawdog Theatre and has had several plays published through Broadway Play Publishing and Dramatic Publishing. Brett has taught writing at Northwestern University, DePaul University, Second City Training Center. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
updated september 2012
Rob Koon Playwright
T7: The Chicago Landmark Project (Writer - Ohio & the Lake: Navy Pier)
Rob is a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists, where he also serves as the company dramaturg. Chicago Dramatists produced his play St. Colm's Inch and published his play Vintage Red and the Dust of the Road (Joseph Jefferson Award Citation for New Work, American Theatre Critics Steinberg Award nominee) in their anthology New Plays from Chicago. Robert's other work includes Odin's Horse (Joseph Jefferson Award nominee, 2004 national award for ecodrama), The Point of Honor, Changing Attire, Solstice, and Looking West from Fira. His newest play, Menorca, was produced at 16th Street Theatre in the fall of 2010. He is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America. He received his MFA from the University of California at Davis, and currently resides in Chicago with his wife, Jean Marie.
updated september 2012
Jamil Khoury Playwright
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project ( Writer - 63rd & Kedzie: Arab American Community Center)
Khoury is a playwright and Founding Artistic Director of Silk Road Theatre Project (www.srtp.org). In 2010, he received the prestigious 3Arts Artist Award for Playwrighting. Khoury's plays focus on Middle Eastern themes and questions of Diaspora. He is particularly interested in the intersections of culture, national identity, sexuality, and class. Khoury's short play, WASP: White Arab Slovak Pole, has been produced as a video play and will be released in 2011. His play Precious Stones won Gay Chicago Magazine's 2003 After Dark Award for Outstanding New Work and has been performed in ten cities across the U.S. .
updated september 2012
Laura Jacqmin Playwright
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Writer - Logan & Milwaukee: Logan Square Farmer's Market)
Laura was the winner of the 2008 Wasserstein Prize, a $25,000 award to recognize an emerging female playwright. Her plays include Look, We Are Breathing (Sundance Institute Theatre Lab on Governors Island, dir. Mark Brokaw), Two Lakes, Two Rivers (commissioned by the Goodman Theatre, and workshopped through the Royal Court Theatre's 2011 International Residency), and Ski Dubai (Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 5th Annual First Look Repertory of New Work). Other plays include Folk Song, Dental Society Midwinter Meeting, Do-Gooder and And We Awoke There Was Light. Her work has been produced and developed by the Goodman Theatre, Ars Nova, Joe’s Pub, Second Stage, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago Dramatists, The 24 Hour Plays Off-Broadway, the Contemporary American Theatre Festival and more. From 2007 to 2008, she was a contributing writer for The Onion A.V. Club and A.V. Club Chicago. Jacqmin is a member of the 2010-2011 playwrights unit at the Goodman Theatre. She lives in Chicago where she is currently working on commissions from the Goodman Theatre, InterAct Theatre and Ensemble Studio Theatre. Laura received her BA from Yale University and her MFA from Ohio University.
Website: www.laurajacqmin.com
updated september 2012
Lonnie Carter Playwright
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Writer - Devon & Kedzie: Thillens Stadium)
Lonnie’s play The Romance of Magno Rubio, winner of eight Obies in 2003 and part of the Victory Gardens 2004–2005 season, played an extended run in Honolulu at the Kumu Kahua Theatre in 2008. The 2007 production of Magno, by the Ma-Yi Theater Company at the Culture Project in NYC, opened the first National Asian-American Theater Festival. This production was subsequently invited to open the L.A. Latino Theater Festival at the L.A. Theater Center, then traveled to Bucharest and Sibiu, Romania to be part of the Sibiu International Theater Festival in June 2008. Organizing Abraham Lincoln, optioned by the Guthrie Theater and the Playwrights’ Center in 2005, was performed at Temple University as part of a union fund-raising drive for striking Embassy Suites workers in Philadelphia this past spring. He was at the Playwrights' Center (Minneapolis) in December for another workshop of his Alfred P. Sloan-commissioned play Hawking about the last day of Stephen Hawking. Victory Gardens produced his play The Lost Boys (and Girl) of Sudan. A graduate of Marquette University and the Yale School of Drama, he continues to teach in the Dramatic Writing Program at New York University.
Website: www.lonniecarter.com
updated september 2012
Aaron Carter Playwright
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Writer - Belmont & Western: Riverview Amusement Park)
Aaron is a Chicago playwright, originally from Ohio. His paternal grandfather was a black Baptist preacher, his maternal grandparents were white vaudeville performers. The influence of his ancestors is seen in Aaron's work which focuses on race, faith, and obscure performance skills. His play in progress Start Fair In the Common Race will be presented in a workshop production in the What's Next Lab at Next Theater. Aaron is also working on The Book of Astaroth, a commission made possible by the Wallace Foundation. First Words, produced by MPAACT, was nominated for a non-Equity Jeff Award and received a Black Theater Alliance Award. Other productions include Panther Burn (MPAACT), and Swamp Baby (Phase 3 Productions). His play Iowa Akhbar was workshopped as part of Leapfest 5 at Stage Left Theater. Aaron is the Literary Manager at Steppenwolf Theater. He also works as a new play developer and dramaturg for such companies as WordBRIDGE and the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
Website: www.massivedraft.org
updated october 2012
J Nicole Brooks Playwright
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Writer - Garfield & State: Midway Liquors)
Ms. Brooks is author to Black Diamond: The Years The Locusts Have Eaten, Fedra, Kamala: Masterclass and the most inappropriate blog youʼll ever read, www.doctaslick.blogspot.com. She is an ensemble member with Lookingglass Theatre Company and an associate with Collaboraction Theatre Company. An acclaimed actor, she is recipient of the 2009 TCG Fox Fellowship Award in Acting, and 2010 Black Theatre Alliance Ruby Dee Leading Actress in a Play Award.
updated september 2012
Brooke Berman Playwright
T7 Credits: Hunting & Gathering; The Chicago Landmark Project- Honore & Milwaukee: Una Mae's Freak Boutique (Writer)
Brooke has had plays produced and developed across the US at theaters including: Primary Stages, The Second Stage, Steppenwolf, The Play Company, Soho Rep, Williamstown Theater Festival, Naked Angels, MCC, New Dramatists, New Georges, WET, SPF, The Hourglass Group, The Bay Area Playwrights Foundation and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. In the UK, her work has been developed at The Royal Court Theatre, The National Theatre Studio and Pentabus. Her plays are published by Broadway Play Publishing, Playscripts, Backstage Books and Smith & Kraus. Brooke is the recipient of a Berilla Kerr Award, a Helen Merrill Award, two Francesca Primus Awards, two LeCompte du Nuoy awards and a commissioning grant from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture. She recently completed a seven-year residency at New Dramatists, where she served on the Board of Directors and developed countless plays. She has received support for her work from the MacDowell Colony and the Corporation of Yaddo and commissions from Arielle Tepper Productions and Childrens Theatre Company in Minneapolis. Her memoir No Place Like Home was published by Random House in 2010.
Website: www.brookeberman.net
updated september 2012
Brian Stojak Director
T7 Credits: Is Chicago (Dennis/Danny), Killing Women (Everybody Else), Boys & Girls (Bill - Never Swim Alone), Election Day (Assistant Director), Diversey Harbor (Dennis), Lies & Liars (Michael), Cooperstown (Director), Mimesophobia (Aaron), The Water Engine: An American Fable (Ensemble/Foley), The Chicago Landmark Project (Director - Ohio & The Lake: Navy Pier)
Brian Stojak is a founding company member of Theatre Seven of Chicago and spent four years as its Director of Marketing. He has worked as an actor and director in Chicago for Theatre Seven of Chicago, Pavement Group, 2nd Story/Serendipity Theatre Collective, Briar Street Productions, the Abbie Hoffman Festival, Columbia College and The Side Project's Children's Theatre.
updated september 2012
Eric Ziegenhagen Director
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Director - Lincoln & Eastwood: Laurie's Planet of Sound)
Eric Ziegenhagen has directed world-premiere productions of plays by Yusef El-Guindi, Brett Neveu, Wendy MacLeod, Barrie Cole, Beau O'Reilly, Jenny Magnus, and others. As a guest director at Northern Illinois University in 2008, he directed Alan Ayckbourn's epic The Revenger's Comedies. He also won first place (doubles) at the Minnesota State Pinball championship and the Audience Choice Award at the Haiku Cut, hosted by the Consulate General of Japan.
Website: www.ericzieg.com
updated september 2012
Vance Smith Director
T7: The Chicago Landmark Project (Director – Belmont & Western: Riverview Amusement Park)
Since fall of 2009, Vance has served as Artistic Director of Stage Left Theatre, where he directed Andrew Hinderaker’s Kingsville and Jayme McGhan’s Mother Bear (part of LeapFest 7). As founding Artistic Director of Black Sheep Productions, he directed Steve Spencer’s Another Day in the Empire and Camp Freedom!, Andy Gershenzon’s The End and produced Will Eno’s The Flu Season. Vance recently appeared onstage in Mary Arrchie's production of The Homecoming and has also worked as an actor with Stage Left, Lifeline, Timeline, Hypocrites, Remy Bumppo, Northlight, Victory Gardens, and many others.
updated september 2012
Megan Shuchman Director
T7 Credits: Shikaakwa: Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them (Director), The Chicago Landmark Project (Director- Honore and Milwaukee: Una Mae's Freak Boutique)
Megan Shuchman currently serves as Education Manager at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. As a freelance director and dramaturg, she has worked for such companies as Goodman Theatre, Northlight Theatre, TimeLine Theatre Company, American Theater Company, 16th Street Theater, Chicago Dramatists, Lifeline Theatre, XIII Pocket, 2nd Story and the side project theatre company. Megan formerly served as Northlight Theatre's Associate Director of Arts Education and acted as Curator of the New Play Reading Series at Around the Coyote Art Gallery from 2006-2009. Before moving to Chicago in 2006, Megan was an executive member of the Prison Creative Arts Project, producing plays in prisons and juvenile detention centers around southeastern Michigan. She remains an active member of PCAP's Associates Board and is a leader of the Chicago chapter. Megan received a BA in Theatre with a focus on directing from the University of Michigan.
Website: www.meganshuchman.com
updated september 2012
Rebekah Scallet Director
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Director – 63rd & Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge).
Other credits include: As You Like It and The Tempest (Illinois Shakespeare Festival); The Weaver’s Tales (Fifth House Ensemble); Lower Debt (LiveWire Chicago Theatre); Orestes and Anne Frank & Me (College of Lake County); Top Girls (Eureka College); The Philadelphia Story, Twelfth Night, One Flea Spare and Oleanna (Illinois State University), where she received her MFA in Directing. As an assistant director, Rebekah has worked at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Northlight Theatre, and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble. She is also an ensemble member with Rivendell, where she co-curated The Trojan Women Project. Rebekah is an adjunct faculty member at the College of Lake County and a teaching artist with Raven Theatre.
updated september 2012
Richard Perez Director
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Director – Logan & Milwaukee: Logan Square Farmers Market)
Richard recently served as the Associate Artistic Director at Chicago Dramatists under the TCG New Generations Grant. Previously he served a seven-year tenure as the Producing Artist Director of the Bloomington Playwrights Project in Indiana. In that time he oversaw the production of over fifty new plays, with at least half of those being world premieres. His direction of new plays includes works by Sarah Treem, Sheila Callaghan, Trista Baldwin, Toni Press-Coffman, Susan Lieberman, Arlene Malinowski and John Green. He has worked nationally at such notable theatres as Orlando Shakespeare, New York Fringe and The Kennedy Center’s New Visions/New Voices Festivals. In Chicago he directed Steve Peterson’s The Invasion of Skokie for Chicago Dramatists and F*cking A with Urban Theatre.
updated september 2012
Elise Lammers Director
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Assistant Director - Lincoln & Webster: Oz Park)
Elise Lammers graduated from DePaul's Theatre School with a BFA in Acting in 2004. Since, she has worked at Babes with Blades, Gorilla Tango Theater, Live Bait Theatre, Piven Theatre, P.O.C., Sanculottes Theatre, Tantalus Theatre Group, Timeline Theatre, and Storybox. She coaches improv at the Beverly Arts Center and teaches drama at Quest Academy in Palatine. There, she made her directorial debut last spring with a student production of Oklahoma.
updated september 2012
Larry Grimm Director
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Director - Lincoln & Webster: Oz Park)
Larry has co-directed A Red Orchid's youth ensemble with founder and director Steve Wilson in Collaboraction’s Sketchbook and various other theatrically-based projects. A founding ensemble member of A Red Orchid Theater, Larry has appeared in countless productions there as an actor. He has worked most recently with Court Theatre, Lookingglass, Steppenwolf, Piven Theater Workshop and will be appearing this coming fall at Victory Gardens. He teaches at Chi-Arts, Chicago’s first public high school for the arts.
updated july 2011
Jonathan L. Green Director
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Director - Garfield & State: Midway Liquors)
Jonathan has directed regionally with Sideshow, Chicago Dramatists, Live Arts, the Earl Hamner, Jr. Theatre, and Theatre Seven. Recent projects include Heddatron, Theories of the Sun, Medea With Child, Everything Freezes: Another Winter's Tale, and Dante Dies!! (and then things get weird). He is the Artistic Director of Sideshow Theatre Company and works at Lookingglass Theatre.
Website: www.jonathanlgreen.com
updated september 2012
Jennifer Green Director
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Director - Madison & State: The Chicago Grid), Shikaakwa: The Devil May Take You (Director)
Jennifer is the Artistic Director of Piven Theatre Workshop. At Piven Theatre, Jennifer's directing credits include: Never in My Lifetime, Burn This, Book of Days, Mad Forest, Our Country’s Good, Great Expectations, Lady Chaplin and her Tramp, Mad Dancers and Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me. Other credits include: For You Were a Stranger (The Hothouse), Pangs of the Messiah (Silk Road Theatre Project), The End of Civilization as We Know It (American Blues Theater -the Ripped Project). She is a Theatre Communications Group's New Generation Fellow, an adjunct faculty member of Northwestern, and is a teaching artist with both Urban Gateways and the Illinois Arts Council.
updated september 2012
Jen Ellison Director
T7 Credits: In On It (Director), The Chicago Landmark Project (Director - Devon & Kedzie: Thillens Stadium), Shikaakwa: In On It (Director)
Jen Ellison has been performing, writing and directing in Chicago for over 15 years. In addition to her work with WNEP, The Mammals, Trap Door Theatre, Collaboraction, The Neo-Futurists, and Theatre Seven, she also directs local sketch groups Kerpatty and Electric Fantasy. Jen currently teaches at DePaul University, Columbia College, and Second City. She is also the creator of the funny-ish/sad-ish web comic The Comique (www.the-comique.blogspot.com).
updated september 2012
Ed Cisneros Director
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Director - Divison & California: Steel Flags)
Ed Cisneros' local directing credits include work at the Side Project, Gorilla Tango, Mind the Gap, American Theater Company, and Victory Gardens Theater. He has also assisted with Goodman Theater’s Latino Theater Festival and as an educator, has worked extensively with Steppenwolf for Young Adults and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Prior to moving to Chicago, Ed served as the Program Manager of Shakespeare Dallas and was a company member of Cara Mia Theater. He holds an MFA in Directing from Ohio University.
updated september 2012
Tracey Kaplan Performer
T7 Credits: Is Chicago (Stephanie - Diversey Harbor, Deborah - Sexual Perversity in Chicago), Killing Women (Gwen), Yes, This Really Happened To Me (Megan & Ensemble), The Sand Castle (Sasha), Diversey Harbor (Stephanie), Cooperstown (Dylan), Hunting and Gathering (Ruth), The Chicago Landmark Project (Irene - State & Madison: The Chicago Grid System), Exit, Pursued by a Bear (Nan)
Website: http://www.traceylaurenkaplan.com
updated september 2012
George Zerante Performer
T7 Credits: Yes, This Really Happened to Me (Ensemble), The Water Engine (Ensemble), The Chicago Landmark Project (Bruck - 63rd & Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge), We Live Here (Ensemble), In the Heart of America (Boxler)
George Zerante is a company member of Theatre Seven of Chicago. He graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Acting, where he acted in numerous productions. He now resides in his home town of Chicago, where he has acted both on stage and on camera. George is a presenter/educator with Catharsis Productions and travels the world performing Sex Signals.
updated september 2012
Joe Zarrow Performer
T7 Credits: Lies & Liars (Ensemble), The Chicago Landmark Project (Edward - State & Madison: The Chicago Grid System)
Joe Zarrow has also performed with Adventure Stage, Collaboraction, Cabaret Vagabond, Pavement Group, and the State. T7’s Cassy Sanders directed Joe’s site-specific farce The Pigeons for Walkabout. Joe has performed his original solo shows Dead White Men in Bed and Hold Me, Drill Me, Kiss Me in Chicago, New York, Washington, Providence, and Winnipeg.
Website: www.joezarrow.com
updated september 2012
Greg Williams Performer
T7 Credits: Shikaakwa: Milk Like Sugar (Malik), The Chicago Landmark Project (Milton – Logan & Milwaukee: Logan Square Farmer’s Market)
Greg Williams is elated to be a recurring performer with Theatre Seven. The Waukegan native received his BFA from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. He has also worked with Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, and Remy Bumppo Theatre.
updated september 2012
Kevin Woodrow Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Lonnie – Devon & Kedzie: Thillens Stadium)
Kevin started acting at the age of 10 but his extended family can tell you that he has loved the stage since he was three years old. In the past three years, he has enjoyed participating in several roles through the Northlight Theater Academy, as well as in the Wilmette Junior High School's theater productions. In winter 2010, he was cast in the children’s ensemble for the production of A Civil War Christmas at Northlight Theater in Skokie. Kevin is also an avid Shakespeare fan.
updated september 2012
Jessica Thigpen Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Kristin- Honore & Milwaukee), Mimesophobia (Woman Who Speaks), The Water Engine (Ensemble)
Jessica Thigpen's recent Chicago credits include Orpheus Descending (Shattered Globe), Gray Girl (Factory Theatre), the acclaimed Chicago premiere of Frost/Nixon (TimeLine Theatre), Theatre Uncut (Reclaim and MP Productions), as well as projects with Redmoon Theatre, and GreatWorks. Jessica is a member of Gray Talent and a graduate of The Conservatory at Act One.
updated september 2012
Destin Teamer Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Billy – Devon & Kedzie: Thillens Stadium); American Storm (Martin)
Destin is an eighth grader at North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka. Theatre credits include Tad in Tad in 5th City (MPAACT-Jeff Rec.), The Little Prince (Bowen Park Theatre) and the T7 production The Chicago Landmark Project (Thillens Stadium). He has recorded voice-overs for Media Rich Learning Productions and studied with Piven Theatre Workshop. Destin is looking forward to expanding his theatre experience as he explores the work of Rudyard Kipling for his 2013 performance as Mowgli in an adaptation of The Jungle Book, Diller Street Theatre.
updated november 2012
Alina Taber Performer
Alina Taber is a Theatre Seven Artistic Associate. She has appeared in The Chicago Landmark Project, and is a proud member of the Red Orchid Theatre Youth Ensemble. Her first production with Theatre Seven was The Water Engine: An American Fable. She participates in many school productions and play readings. She is thrilled to be a part of the Theatre Seven family.
T7 Credits: Shikaakwa: The Devil May Take You (Girl); The Chicago Landmark Project (Ensemble - Lincoln &Webster: Oz Park); The Water Engine (Ensemble)
updated october 2012
Eden Strong Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Ensemble- Lincoln & Webster: Oz Park)
Eden Strong recently completed the 5th grade where she plays the alto saxophone and is a budding gymnast. Previous credits include The Iliad at A Red Orchid Theatre, The Miracle Worker, Annie, Seussical, Peter Pan the Ballet, Life in School Times with Gorilla Tango Theatre.
updated september 2012
Arthur Soria Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Alvaro - Belmont & Western: Riverview Amusement Park)
Arthur Soria received his BFA in Acting from The Theatre School of DePaul University in 2009. Credits include: Fucking Men (Bailiwick Chicago), Scorched (Silk Road Theatre Project's), Forever Flamenco (Soul & Duende Dance Company), and Sonnets for an Old Century (Urban Theatre Company's Sonnets). He has also worked with the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Dramatists and Chicago Playworks. He is a founding member of 7C's Theatre Collective.
updated october 2012
Adrian Snow Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (SoCal Hipster- Garfield & State: Midway Liquors)
Adrian Snow is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University. Her credits include The Crucible with Infamous Commonwealth Theatre, In Darfur with Timeline Theatre, and Man from Nebraska at Redtwist Theatre. She is represented by Gray Talent.
updated october 2012
Elenna Sindler Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Ensemble - Lincoln and Webster: Oz Park)
Elenna Sindler is a proud founding member of A Red Orchid Theatre’s Youth Ensemble, appearing in two seasons of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant and the all-girl production of The Iliad (Patroclus). As part of the U. S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Teen Committee on Conscience, Elenna travels to area schools to perform The Raining Season, a play that brings to life the words of five genocide survivors.
updated september 2012
Amira Sabbagh Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Hanan - 63rd & Kedzie: Arab American Community Center)
Amira Sabbagh worked with Silk Road Theatre Project in two of its critically- acclaimed productions: Precious Stones and Merchant On Venice. Amira has worked with Erasing the distance, Silk Road Theatre Project, Court Theatre, Piccolo Theatre, Vitalist Theatre, Corn Productions, and the Free Associates. Amira grew up studying several forms of dance and music and has a degree in Modern Dance from the University of Arizona.
updated october 2012
Kara Ryan Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Kara - Lincoln & Webster: Oz Park)
Kara Ryan is currently attending the Chicago High School for the Arts. She has appeared in The Iliad as well as two productions of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant at A Red Orchid Theatre and is a proud member of their youth ensemble. She is espcially interested in Oz Park after performing in an original musical based on the second Oz book at the Beverly Arts Center.
updated september 2012
Andrew Raia Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Hunter - Belmont & Western: Riverview Amusement Park)
Andrew Raia has trained at the Acting Studio Chicago, Second City, and attended the Cherubs Program at Northwestern University. He is a member of the Steppenwolf Young Adult Council and interned at TimeLine Theatre. He has been seen in The Diary of Anne Frank (Metropolis Theatre), Kingsville (Stage Left Theatre), Lost in Yonkers (Village Players), and has been involved in staged readings at American Theatre Company and Chicago Dramatists. He is currently living in New York attending New York University.
updated october 2012
Damariz Posadas Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Sonia - Division & California: Steel Flags)
Damariz Posadas loves acting. She started when she was 9 years old. So far, she has appeared in five theatrical works, two short films, two modeling sessions and one commercial. She won three awards as a contestant in the Miss Teen Illinois Pageant. She is an Honor Roll Student.
updated september 2012
Paloma Nozicka Performer
T7 Credits: Shikaakwa: Milk Like Sugar (Her Friend), The Chicago Landmark Project (Actor - Garfield & State: Midway Liquors)
Paloma is a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she majored in Journalism and in Theatre. Her most recent Chicago performance was in Sonnets for an Old Century, performed with the Steppenwolf Garage Rep. Favorite theatre credits include Blood Wedding, HAIR, and Sight Unseen.
updated september 2012
Cameron Miller Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Maraud - Garfield & State: Midway Liquors)
Cameron Miller, a native of the North Carolina mountains, grew up a man of the arts. He spent his time doing stand-up comedy, writing, and performing for the stage. He received his B.A. in Film Studies from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Cameron is grateful to be exploring the immense possibilities Chicago has to offer him on the stage, behind and in front of the camera, and with his true love - Comedy.
updated september 2012
Ryan Hallahan Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Foster - 63rd & Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge), Exit, Pursued by a Bear (Kyle)
Ryan's other Chicago credits include Brody in The Real Thing and The Young Collector in A Streetcar Named Desire, both at Writers' Theatre, and Clifford in Sideman at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center. He is a graduate of the School of Theater at Illinois State University.
updated september 2012
Desmond Gray Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Elijah - Belmont & Western: Riverview Amusement Park), We Live Here (Scott, Ensemble)
Desmond Gray's Chicago credits include: Aida (Bailiwick Chicago) as an ensemble member and In Darfur (Timeline Theatre) as an understudy. Desmond is a recent graduate of Southeast Missouri State (BFA Acting/Directing '10).
updated september 2012
Katie Genualdi Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Janey- 63rd & Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge)
Katie graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a BFA in Theatre Arts & has since worked with Signal, Raven, New Leaf, Collaboraction, Metropolis CPA, and The Gift Theatre Company. She is also an ensemble member of Erasing the Distance, an organization that seeks to shed light on mental illness through theatre.
updated september 2012
Kroydell Galima Performer
T7 Credits: Shikaakwa: Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them (Kenny), The Chicago Landmark Project (Aaron - 63rd & Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge)
Kroydell was born in the Philippines and raised right here in Chicago, where he also attended the Theatre School at DePaul University and holds a B.F.A in Acting. He recently worked with Emerald City Theatre Company in this year’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Mike Teavee. Professional credits include Edith Can Shoot Things And Hit Them (Victory Gardens Ignition Festival) and Ghosts of Treasure Island (Adventure Stage Chicago).
updated september 2012
Leslie Frame Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Heidi - 63rd & Kedzie: Arab American Community Center)
Leslie is a Chicago girl born and raised. She was most recently seen in Cherrywood at Mary Archie, and as Ruth in The House Theatre’s Wilson Wants It All. She’s a proud graduate of The School at Steppenwolf, and has worked with the Steppenwolf Theatre, Dream Engine, Point of Contention, The Lyric Opera of Chicago and Rogue Theater.
updated september 2012
Jaiden Fallo Sauter Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Ensemble- Lincoln & Webster: Oz Park)
Jaiden is a founding member of The Red Orchid Youth Ensemble. She was seen most recently as Achilles in The Iliad (A Red Orchid Theater). She has also appeared at The Goodman, Right Brain Project, Redmoon Theater, The Side Project Theater, The People's Theater and others theaters around town. Jaiden is 13 years old.
updated september 2012
Elita Ernsteen Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Ensemble -Lincoln & Webster: Oz Park)
Elita Ernsteen is a professional actress who lives in North Suburban Chicago but is willing to travel anywhere in the world for work or training as she did for her first job The Sound of Music Asian tour. Elita was lucky enough to travel to China to play both Marta and Gretl Von Trapp when she was only 8 years old. Since returning from China, Elita made her on-screen debut in the award winning independent film Hannah Free starring Sharon Gless. Elita was also cast in the pilot for the television show Good Times Kids. Elita is a proud member of Chicago’s A Red Orchid Theatre’s Jr. Ensemble, which she was invited to join after performing with the very talented cast in A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant. Elita is also a member of the Young Ensemble at the Citadel Theatre and was thrilled to perform in their production of Jake’s Women.
Website: www.elitaernsteen.com
updated september 2012
Tim Curtis Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Father- Ohio & The Lake: Navy Pier)
Tim's most recent Chicago acting credits include: Thieves Like Us (House Theatre); Uncle Vanya (Strawdog Theatre); Creditors (Rendition Theatre); Parlour Song (Steep Theatre); Our Town (Hypocrites); Machinal (a reading) with Timeline, Grand Hysterie (Chicago Dramatists) and Perfect Mendacity in Steppenwolf’s 2008 First Look series. Other highlights include work with Chicago Shakespeare (Shakespeare Rep), Famous Door, Strawdog Theatre, Next Theatre, Steppenwolf, and the Journeymen. Tim teaches at Act One Studios.
updated september 2012
Carmen Cenko Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Grandmother - Division & California: Steel Flags)
Carmen was born in Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico. She studied Acting and Drama at The Loop College (now Harold Washington). She has been featured in several independent films, including: Buscando a Leti; Drive By, Israel en Exile, The Merry Gentlemen, On the Down Low, and Silent Shame. Her television experience includes commercials in English and Spanish, and appearances in: ER, Amor Brujo, and Chicago. Stage appearances include: The House of Bernarda Alba, No hay ladron que por bien no venga (Teatro Agujon), Frozen Stars (Strawdog Theater); and several other companies. Carmen is presently a board member for PanAmerica Performance Works (formerly Latino Chicago Theater Company).
updated september 2012
Jasmin Cardenas Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Mother - Divison & California: Steel Flags)
As a writer, performer, and producer Jasmin Cardenas created and toured Niña Buena? a one woman show that explores her Colombian roots and first-generation American status. As an actress, choreographer, and teaching artist she has had the good fortune of working with The Goodman, Lifeline, Adventure Stage Chicago, Silk Road Theater Project, Pegasus Players, Aguijon, Teatro Luna, Chicago Childrens Theatre, Teatro Vista, and Collaboraction (where she is an Artistic Associate). Jasmin is a member of the Chicago Storytelling Guild and a board member of the Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed, a nonprofit organization that promotes critical thinking and social justice.
updated september 2012
Baize Buzan Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Daughter - Ohio & The Lake: Navy Pier)
Baize Buzan was recently in Walk Two Moons (Adventure Stage Chicago). Other Chicago projects include: Woyczek (Oracle Production). An East Coast native, Baize studied drama at Vassar College, where her credits include Blood Wedding (Bride), Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses (Aphrodite/Eurydice), and Cloud 9 (Edward/Betty). In the fall of 2008, she studied with the Moscow Art Theater School, portraying Nina in The Seagull.
updated october 2012
Victoria Blade Performer
T7: The Chicago Landmark Project (Lizzie - Logan & Milwaukee: Logan Square Farmer's Market)
Victoria graduated from Western Michigan University in the spring of 2010 where she studied acting. In addition to performing in many plays at WMU, she worked under the tutelage of members from the Tectonic Theater Project in collaboration on an original play, was nominated for the Irene Ryan Award and competed multiple times at The American College Theater Festival. She is enjoying life as a newlywed and as a newcomer to the Chicago acting biz. She attended the School at Steppenwolf the summer of 2011.
updated september 2012
Dana Black Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Carmen - Honore & Milwaukee: Una Mae's Freak Boutique)
Dana Black's theatre credits include: Wreckage (Caffeine Theatre), Bordello (Chicago Dramatists), Dental Society Midwinter Meeting (At Play Productions/Chicago Dramatists); Baal (TUTA); Wild Nights with Emily (Caffeine Theatre) directed by Meghan Beals McCarthy; Two by Pinter: The Lover and The Collection (Piven Theatre); Pangs of the Messiah (Silk Road Theatre); Beauty on the Vine (BackStage Theatre); Dona Rosita (Caffeine Theatre); This Happy Breed (Timeline). Dana has understudied at Steppenwolf, The Goodman and Victory Gardens and is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf. Dana is also a voiceover artist with Naked Voices, Inc.
updated september 2012
Jonathan Baude Performer
Jonathan is from Bloomington, Indiana and holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis. He is a proud Artistic Associate at Theatre Seven and also a member of Theatre Seven's 7P Literary Circle.
T7 Credits: Yes, This Really Happened to Me (ASM), The Chicago Landmark Project (Bradford - Lincoln & Eastwood: Laurie's Planet of Sound), Shikaakwa: Harbor (Kevin), Shikaakwa: In On It (Stage Directions)
updated september 2012
Samantha Bailey Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Karen- Belmont & Western).
Sam Bailey is a native to Chicago and a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf ('10). She has worked with Victory Gardens, Pavement Group, FreeStreet Theatre as well as Theatre Seven. She likes doing new works. She also likes Theatre Seven Parties. Which is why she keeps coming back. That is all.
updated september 2012
Marcel Asilis Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Cookie - Division & California: Steel Flags)
Marcel is 12 yrs old and started performing at age 6. She loves to read and take acting and dance lessons. She previously played a Villager in Fiddler on the Roof (Dominican University). She aspires to be an actress and a fashion stylist when she grows up.
updated september 2012
Katy Albert Performer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Monica - Lincoln & Eastwood: Laurie's Planet of Sound)
Katy was the craft designer for Sonnets for an Old Century (Urban Theater Company). She was last seen in the Right Brain Project's Hesperia (Daisy) and Pretty Penny (Victoria). Recently she has been in the NPA readings of Framed and Bootleg at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and Never Swim Alone with Balls Deep Theatre Theater. Katy holds a BA in Theatre from Western Washington University.
updated september 2012
Brandon Wardell Scenic Designer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Set Designer)
Brandon Wardell has been a freelance lighting and scenic designer in Chicago for the last ten years. Recent Scenic Designs include Baal (TUTA), Three Days of Rain (BSTC), In Arabia We’d All Be Kings (Steep), and Dracula (Building Stage). Recent Lighting Designs include The Moonstone (Lifeline), Harper Regan and Helen of Troy (Steep), Aunt Dan and Lemon (BSTC), and Ghosts of Treasure Island (ASC). He an Ensemble Member at Adventure Stage Chicago and Backstage Theatre Co., as well as an Artistic Associate with Steep Theatre Co. He earned his MFA from Northwestern University and teaches at several schools in the region.
Website: www.brandonwardelldesign.com
updated october 2012
Justin Wardell Lighting Designer
T7 Credits: American Storm, ls Chicago, Killing Women, Cooperstown, Boys & Girls, Diversey Harbor, Lies and Liars, The Water Engine: An American Fable, The Chicago Landmark Project (Lighting Design); Yes, This Really Happened to Me, Election Day, The Sand Castle (Lighting Design & Technical Director)
Justin Wardell is a company member at Theatre Seven and is a member of 7P, Theatre Seven's Literary Circle. Justin has been designing lighting for theatre, dance, and special events for over 10 years. He has had the opportunity to work in many Chicago Landmarks, including the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Union Station, and many more. Justin was an early addition to Theatre Seven of Chicago, and has been the resident lighting designer since its inception. In his role as an Account Executive for Intelligent Lighting Creations, Justin now has the opportunity to design lighting for trade shows, galas, corporate events, and permanent installations. In addition to design work, Justin has had the honor of guest-lecturing on lighting design and lighting technology for several colleges, universities, and professional organizations. Other theatrical credits include work at the Springfield Municipal Opera, the Building Stage, Flamenco Sin Limites, Porchlight Music Theatre, and many other talented companies.
updated september 2012
Brenda Winstead Costume Designer
T7 Credits: BlackTop Sky, American Storm, Killing Women, The Water Engine, Boys & Girls, The Sand Castle, Diversey Harbor, Cooperstown, Hunting & Gathering, We Live Here, In the Heart of America, Exit, Pursued by a Bear (Costume Designer), The Chicago Landmark Project (Supervising Costume Designer)
Brenda Winstead loves Theatre Seven! She is a company member with T7 and has designed numerous shows there. Other Chicago area design credits include Making God Laugh, Guys and Dolls, The Wiz, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Man of La Mancha, Crazy for You, Leading Ladies, The Producers, Hello Dolly and Fiddler on the Roof (Theatre at the Center); Ragtime (Drury Lane); It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play (Noble Fool); Kingsville (Stage Left); and The Price (Shattered Globe). Regional Credits include Born Yesterday, Rumors and Mousetrap (Peninsula Players); All Shook Up, High School Musical (Forestburgh Playhouse). Brenda holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut.
updated october 2012
Julia Zayas-Melendez Costume Designer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Costume Designer)
Julia Zayas-Melendez is originally from Boston, but has called Chicago home for nearly a decade. A graduate of Emerson College, Julia studied theatrical design and stage management, and primarily makes her living stage managing throughout Chicagoland. In the last few years, she's been honing her design skills working at Theatre at the Center's costume shop, and constructing costume clothing with her new company, Crafty Broads.
updated september 2012
Joe Court Sound Designer
T7 Credits: Hunting & Gathering, The Chicago Landmark Project (Sound Designer)
Joe serves as sound engineer for the Chicago production of the Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet. He is also a company member with Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company. Recent credits include: The Homecoming (Mary-Arrchie), That Was Then (Seanachai), and Arnie the Doughnut (Lifeline). His work has also been heard with A Red Orchid (Jeff Nomination, The Unseen), Emerald City, The Gift, The Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and The Clarence Brown Theatre (Knoxville, TN.).
updated september 2012
Angela Campos Props Designer
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project; We Live Here (Props Designer)
Angela's previous Chicago credits include Lovers (City Lit), Theories of the Sun and Heddatron (Sideshow Theatre Company), Long Day's Journey Into Night (Polarity Ensemble), and Memory and Three Days of Rain (BackStage Theatre Company).
updated october 2012
Sarah Burnham Props Designer
T7 Credits: Mimesophobia (Props Designer), Hunting & Gathering (Set & Props Designer), The Chicago Landmark Project (Props Designer)
Sarah's most recent work includes properties design for Rantoul and Die (American Blues Theater), Lakeboat (Steep Theater), and State(s) of America: Regina Taylor Project (Northwestern University). She is an ensemble member at American Blues Theater, where she is also on staff as their production manager. She began working at ABT as the technical director for their acclaimed It’s a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph! She recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma summa cum laude with a BFA in acting and scenic design. Since moving to Chicago, Sarah has designed properties and sets for companies such as Theater Seven of Chicago, SiNNERMAN Ensemble and Steep Theater Company. When not at the theatre Sarah is an avid reader and enjoys spending time playing with her puppy, Piper.
updated september 2012
Jeri Frederickson Stage Manager
T7 Credits: The Water Engine: An American Fable, The Chicago Landmark Project (Stage Manager)
Jeri Frederickson is a Stage Manager and Production Manager in and around the Chicago area. She has worked with Lookingglass Theatre, First Folio, Barrington Stage Company, Theatre Seven of Chicago and she is one of the newest company members at Seanachai Theatre Company.
updated september 2012
Taylor Fenderbosch Stage Manager
T7 Credits: BlackTop Sky (Stage Manager), Lies & Liars (Assistant Stage Manager), Mimesophobia (Stage Manager), The Chicago Landmark Project (Production Stage Manager - Program B), We Live Here (Stage Manager).
Taylor is a company member of Theatre Seven. She has worked on five T7 productions since she first fell in love with the company in '09. She has also been seen stage managing and assistant stage managing elsewhere in the Second City; recent productions include: Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (The Neo-Futurists), MilkMilkLemonade (Pavement Group) and Madagascar (Next Theatre).
updated december 2012
Nick Ward Production Manager
T7 Credits: Yes, This Really Happened to Me (Ensemble), Lies & Liars (Ensemble), The Chicago Landmark Project (Casting Coordinator, Production Manager), We Live Here (Writer), In the Heart of America (Production Manager).
Nick Ward is a proud company member with Theatre Seven of Chicago, whose previous productions with the company include Yes, This Really Happened to Me, Lies and Liars, The Chicago Landmark Project and We Live Here. He is a producer and storyteller for the local storytelling series 2nd Story. He works at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, where he is the Casting and School at Steppenwolf Associate.
updated september 2012
Becky Blomgren Production Manager
T7 Credits: The Chicago Landmark Project (Red Orchid Youth Ensemble Production Manager)
Becky Blomgren grew up in a little town called Normal (seriously), got her degree in theatre from Illinois State, and worked her fair share of odd jobs (shoe shining, sweater folding). Several years of arts administration work followed (in both film and theatre) mostly in casting (Stage Left, CNGM Picutres, freelance)--but anything that involved spreadsheets or schedules got her type-A mind humming. Ever since seeing Yes, This Really Happened to Me she’s been a huge Theatre Seven fan. She’s recently made her way joyously back to acting, working with Proud Kate Theatre, Pride Films & Plays and Suitcase Shakespeare Company.
Website: http://beckyblomgren.weebly.com/
updated september 2012
Mike Smallwood Technical Director
T7 Credits: Cooperstown, Mimesophobia, Hunting and Gathering, The Water Engine: An American Fable, The Chicago Landmark Project (Technical Director).
updated september 2012
"I was knocked out by the quality and polish of most of the plays"
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"…a delightful little suite of a dozen short Chicago plays…"
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"This is the evening out our new mayor should put on his summer calendar.”"
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"these stories resonate more strongly because we know these tangible pieces of our city inspired these writers, just as it inspires us"
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"the perfect staycation…you complete the entire excursion in one evening without having to leave your seat"
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"Theatre Seven has successfully illuminated the diversity of Chicago’s history and people in a thoughtful and entertaining way"
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I love my city. Chicago is a scrappy rough and tumble kind of town, and if the natives embrace you-you’re in like Flynn. Theatre Seven of Chicago presents the psyche and environs of Chicago with The Landmark Project. Through twelve vignettes written in collaboration with numerous artists and performers, Theatre Seven has successfully illuminated the diversity of Chicago’s history and people in a thoughtful and entertaining way.
The short plays go through a good representation of the diversity and quirks that are unique to Chicago. This is a neighborhood town. All of the glitz and hipster attitude is a recent occurrence. It used to be that when you met someone from another neighborhood, the first question was, "what parish do you belong to?" That sensibility still exists in spite of gentrification and all of the polishing that the investment class seems to think is needed for a ‘world class city.
The cast is a big one, but the feeling of community glows from the stage. The Red Orchid Youth Ensemble were part of one of my favorite sections of the show. They represent a city kid’s eye view of "Lincoln and Webster" which is Oz Park. The ensemble hearkened back to the days of "Zoom" on PBS. I’m talking the 70′s version of the show with the secret language of Ubi Dubi and joy in being a kid. These kids were amazing. They were jubilant, wise, innocent, and quite funny.
“State & Madison: The Chicago Grid,” written by Marisa Wegrzyn, goes back to the origins of how Chicago got the grid street system. Tracy Kaplan and Joe Zarrow manage to convey the dirt street ruins from which arose this city as Irene and Edward Brennan in 1901.
The nod to the intelligentsia vibe of Hyde Park is given a sardonic and funny treatment in "63rd and Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge", written by Brian Golden. It’s the land of University of Chicago and academic competitiveness. A man is faced with his past and a secret life that isn’t so secret. The dialogue is laced with the wry jostling of academia and an authentic bourgeois tilt that has always been Hyde Park.
Chicago has a complicated history with race and ethnicity. The story of "63rd and Kedzie: Arab American Community Center” turns the spotlight on a neighborhood that has been in flux for the last 40 plus years. It is known as the Marquette Park and Gage Park neighborhood. When I was in high school, it was the brewing ground for the neo-Nazi movement in Chicago; where Dr. King was hit in the head with a brick for protesting the virulent segregation policies. The story of "63rd and Kedzie" continues today with the Arab American community being the latest ethnic group under the microscope. This story is written by Jamil Khoury and the conflict is subtle yet powerful. The sense memory of that neighborhood back in 1975 comes to a fresh simmer. The dialogue is honest and there is no holding back on the confusion and anger of both sides. Peace and understanding can begin with one person. That is a lesson that still needs to be heard in some parts of Chicago.
"Division and California: Steel Flags" features a wonderful story of youthful awakening and the power of keeping secrets. A young Puerto Rican girl disappears and her sister keeps the secret that she ran away with a boy. The family is alarmed, putting up flyers, and agonizing over what could be a horrible fate. It is a finely paced story of the Puerto Rican community and the female bonds that are common in any ethnicity. This story features Marcel Asilis and Damariz Posadas as Cookie and Sonia whose bond is tested by a secret and defiance. There are some hilarious moments when the grandmother gets after Cookie with a shoe. She can sense that the truth is either a relief or the beginning of a long row to hoe.
Another favorite features two boys playing catch circa 1948 in "Devon and Kedzie: Thillens Stadium". This lovely story took me back to the days when baseball was not just the national pastime but the neighborhood pastime. The boys, played by Destin Teamer and Kevin Woodrow are tuned into the complexities of the game of baseball and barely notice that they are Black and White. They discuss which is the greatest Negro League player and who they pretend to be. The White boy says that the families are getting together for a picnic and it is only for a moment that the Black boy hesitates. This is his baseball buddy and not the enemy that they would be in some other part of the city. It should be noted that the Thillens Stadium is still going strong, proving the bonding power of sports.
All of the stories in The Chicago Landmark Project are authentic renditions of the feel and history of the respective neighborhoods. For the most part, all of the places remain more or less as they are portrayed. However, the final story is called "Belmont and Western: Riverview Amusement Park". This is the story of a haunting where there now stands a police station, grocery store, and toy mega-mart. My grandpa would take me to Riverview, at the time the nation’s largest amusement park, almost every weekend. I remember the thrill of seeing the eyes of Aladdin’s Castle moving from side to side and knowing that it would soon be cotton candy and kiddie rides galore. Riverview closed in 1967 before I was tall enough to ride The Comet or the Bobs roller coasters. When we drove by after it closed without warning, it seemed haunted and lonely to me.
In the segment, three teenagers come to where Riverview once stood. Sam Bailey is brilliant in the role of Karen. She projects intelligence and maturity while in the company of two confused teenage boys. Andrew Raia plays Hunter and his character has a not so secret crush on Karen. Arthur Soria is hysterical as the hip hop spouting Alvaro who loves to razz on Hunter and then pull the ‘I’m a person of color and therefore hipper than thou’ card. Suddenly lights start to flash and amusement park noises are heard. A man appears from nowhere, holding a teddy bear which he gives to Karen. This is to the chagrin of both Hunter and Alvaro. Desmond Gray plays Elijah, a swain and apparent apparition. Elijah proceeds to school the trio on the darker history of Riverview – there was a dunking tank called ‘Dunk the Nigger’ at Riverview – and the full gamut of ethnic stereotypes. Yet everyone loved to go to Riverview. The amusement park is all about illusion and fantasy and the theory goes that there is something for everyone. (I recall hearing that in a Riverview commercial during the old ‘Family Classics’ show.) Elijah asks Karen to accompany him and Hunter’s real feelings come out. Who will Karen choose? The fantasy man or the boy next door? Check out The Chicago Landmark Project to find out!
The Chicago Landmark Project is comprised of twelve short plays. They are divided in half as Part A and Part B. I recommend that you see both to get the full flavor of this wonderful project put together from the Chicago theater community. It is worth the time and the tickets to see the great young talent and the veterans portray Chicago. I came away feeling the grit of Chicago under my nails. Yes. it’s metaphorical but that is Chicago in a nutshell. It’s poetic, funny, solemn, hard working, and the city of big shoulders with just the right hint of danger.
I love my city. Chicago is a scrappy rough and tumble kind of town, and if the natives embrace you-you’re in like Flynn. Theatre Seven of Chicago presents the psyche and environs of Chicago with The Landmark Project. Through twelve vignettes written in collaboration with numerous artists and performers, Theatre Seven has successfully illuminated the diversity of Chicago’s history and people in a thoughtful and entertaining way.
The short plays go through a good representation of the diversity and quirks that are unique to Chicago. This is a neighborhood town. All of the glitz and hipster attitude is a recent occurrence. It used to be that when you met someone from another neighborhood, the first question was, "what parish do you belong to?" That sensibility still exists in spite of gentrification and all of the polishing that the investment class seems to think is needed for a ‘world class city.
The cast is a big one, but the feeling of community glows from the stage. The Red Orchid Youth Ensemble were part of one of my favorite sections of the show. They represent a city kid’s eye view of "Lincoln and Webster" which is Oz Park. The ensemble hearkened back to the days of "Zoom" on PBS. I’m talking the 70′s version of the show with the secret language of Ubi Dubi and joy in being a kid. These kids were amazing. They were jubilant, wise, innocent, and quite funny.
“State & Madison: The Chicago Grid,” written by Marisa Wegrzyn, goes back to the origins of how Chicago got the grid street system. Tracy Kaplan and Joe Zarrow manage to convey the dirt street ruins from which arose this city as Irene and Edward Brennan in 1901.
The nod to the intelligentsia vibe of Hyde Park is given a sardonic and funny treatment in "63rd and Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge", written by Brian Golden. It’s the land of University of Chicago and academic competitiveness. A man is faced with his past and a secret life that isn’t so secret. The dialogue is laced with the wry jostling of academia and an authentic bourgeois tilt that has always been Hyde Park.
Chicago has a complicated history with race and ethnicity. The story of "63rd and Kedzie: Arab American Community Center” turns the spotlight on a neighborhood that has been in flux for the last 40 plus years. It is known as the Marquette Park and Gage Park neighborhood. When I was in high school, it was the brewing ground for the neo-Nazi movement in Chicago; where Dr. King was hit in the head with a brick for protesting the virulent segregation policies. The story of "63rd and Kedzie" continues today with the Arab American community being the latest ethnic group under the microscope. This story is written by Jamil Khoury and the conflict is subtle yet powerful. The sense memory of that neighborhood back in 1975 comes to a fresh simmer. The dialogue is honest and there is no holding back on the confusion and anger of both sides. Peace and understanding can begin with one person. That is a lesson that still needs to be heard in some parts of Chicago.
"Division and California: Steel Flags" features a wonderful story of youthful awakening and the power of keeping secrets. A young Puerto Rican girl disappears and her sister keeps the secret that she ran away with a boy. The family is alarmed, putting up flyers, and agonizing over what could be a horrible fate. It is a finely paced story of the Puerto Rican community and the female bonds that are common in any ethnicity. This story features Marcel Asilis and Damariz Posadas as Cookie and Sonia whose bond is tested by a secret and defiance. There are some hilarious moments when the grandmother gets after Cookie with a shoe. She can sense that the truth is either a relief or the beginning of a long row to hoe.
Another favorite features two boys playing catch circa 1948 in "Devon and Kedzie: Thillens Stadium". This lovely story took me back to the days when baseball was not just the national pastime but the neighborhood pastime. The boys, played by Destin Teamer and Kevin Woodrow are tuned into the complexities of the game of baseball and barely notice that they are Black and White. They discuss which is the greatest Negro League player and who they pretend to be. The White boy says that the families are getting together for a picnic and it is only for a moment that the Black boy hesitates. This is his baseball buddy and not the enemy that they would be in some other part of the city. It should be noted that the Thillens Stadium is still going strong, proving the bonding power of sports.
All of the stories in The Chicago Landmark Project are authentic renditions of the feel and history of the respective neighborhoods. For the most part, all of the places remain more or less as they are portrayed. However, the final story is called "Belmont and Western: Riverview Amusement Park". This is the story of a haunting where there now stands a police station, grocery store, and toy mega-mart. My grandpa would take me to Riverview, at the time the nation’s largest amusement park, almost every weekend. I remember the thrill of seeing the eyes of Aladdin’s Castle moving from side to side and knowing that it would soon be cotton candy and kiddie rides galore. Riverview closed in 1967 before I was tall enough to ride The Comet or the Bobs roller coasters. When we drove by after it closed without warning, it seemed haunted and lonely to me.
In the segment, three teenagers come to where Riverview once stood. Sam Bailey is brilliant in the role of Karen. She projects intelligence and maturity while in the company of two confused teenage boys. Andrew Raia plays Hunter and his character has a not so secret crush on Karen. Arthur Soria is hysterical as the hip hop spouting Alvaro who loves to razz on Hunter and then pull the ‘I’m a person of color and therefore hipper than thou’ card. Suddenly lights start to flash and amusement park noises are heard. A man appears from nowhere, holding a teddy bear which he gives to Karen. This is to the chagrin of both Hunter and Alvaro. Desmond Gray plays Elijah, a swain and apparent apparition. Elijah proceeds to school the trio on the darker history of Riverview – there was a dunking tank called ‘Dunk the Nigger’ at Riverview – and the full gamut of ethnic stereotypes. Yet everyone loved to go to Riverview. The amusement park is all about illusion and fantasy and the theory goes that there is something for everyone. (I recall hearing that in a Riverview commercial during the old ‘Family Classics’ show.) Elijah asks Karen to accompany him and Hunter’s real feelings come out. Who will Karen choose? The fantasy man or the boy next door? Check out The Chicago Landmark Project to find out!
The Chicago Landmark Project is comprised of twelve short plays. They are divided in half as Part A and Part B. I recommend that you see both to get the full flavor of this wonderful project put together from the Chicago theater community. It is worth the time and the tickets to see the great young talent and the veterans portray Chicago. I came away feeling the grit of Chicago under my nails. Yes. it’s metaphorical but that is Chicago in a nutshell. It’s poetic, funny, solemn, hard working, and the city of big shoulders with just the right hint of danger.
I love my city. Chicago is a scrappy rough and tumble kind of town, and if the natives embrace you-you’re in like Flynn. Theatre Seven of Chicago presents the psyche and environs of Chicago with The Landmark Project. Through twelve vignettes written in collaboration with numerous artists and performers, Theatre Seven has successfully illuminated the diversity of Chicago’s history and people in a thoughtful and entertaining way.
The short plays go through a good representation of the diversity and quirks that are unique to Chicago. This is a neighborhood town. All of the glitz and hipster attitude is a recent occurrence. It used to be that when you met someone from another neighborhood, the first question was, "what parish do you belong to?" That sensibility still exists in spite of gentrification and all of the polishing that the investment class seems to think is needed for a ‘world class city.
The cast is a big one, but the feeling of community glows from the stage. The Red Orchid Youth Ensemble were part of one of my favorite sections of the show. They represent a city kid’s eye view of "Lincoln and Webster" which is Oz Park. The ensemble hearkened back to the days of "Zoom" on PBS. I’m talking the 70′s version of the show with the secret language of Ubi Dubi and joy in being a kid. These kids were amazing. They were jubilant, wise, innocent, and quite funny.
“State & Madison: The Chicago Grid,” written by Marisa Wegrzyn, goes back to the origins of how Chicago got the grid street system. Tracy Kaplan and Joe Zarrow manage to convey the dirt street ruins from which arose this city as Irene and Edward Brennan in 1901.
The nod to the intelligentsia vibe of Hyde Park is given a sardonic and funny treatment in "63rd and Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge", written by Brian Golden. It’s the land of University of Chicago and academic competitiveness. A man is faced with his past and a secret life that isn’t so secret. The dialogue is laced with the wry jostling of academia and an authentic bourgeois tilt that has always been Hyde Park.
Chicago has a complicated history with race and ethnicity. The story of "63rd and Kedzie: Arab American Community Center” turns the spotlight on a neighborhood that has been in flux for the last 40 plus years. It is known as the Marquette Park and Gage Park neighborhood. When I was in high school, it was the brewing ground for the neo-Nazi movement in Chicago; where Dr. King was hit in the head with a brick for protesting the virulent segregation policies. The story of "63rd and Kedzie" continues today with the Arab American community being the latest ethnic group under the microscope. This story is written by Jamil Khoury and the conflict is subtle yet powerful. The sense memory of that neighborhood back in 1975 comes to a fresh simmer. The dialogue is honest and there is no holding back on the confusion and anger of both sides. Peace and understanding can begin with one person. That is a lesson that still needs to be heard in some parts of Chicago.
"Division and California: Steel Flags" features a wonderful story of youthful awakening and the power of keeping secrets. A young Puerto Rican girl disappears and her sister keeps the secret that she ran away with a boy. The family is alarmed, putting up flyers, and agonizing over what could be a horrible fate. It is a finely paced story of the Puerto Rican community and the female bonds that are common in any ethnicity. This story features Marcel Asilis and Damariz Posadas as Cookie and Sonia whose bond is tested by a secret and defiance. There are some hilarious moments when the grandmother gets after Cookie with a shoe. She can sense that the truth is either a relief or the beginning of a long row to hoe.
Another favorite features two boys playing catch circa 1948 in "Devon and Kedzie: Thillens Stadium". This lovely story took me back to the days when baseball was not just the national pastime but the neighborhood pastime. The boys, played by Destin Teamer and Kevin Woodrow are tuned into the complexities of the game of baseball and barely notice that they are Black and White. They discuss which is the greatest Negro League player and who they pretend to be. The White boy says that the families are getting together for a picnic and it is only for a moment that the Black boy hesitates. This is his baseball buddy and not the enemy that they would be in some other part of the city. It should be noted that the Thillens Stadium is still going strong, proving the bonding power of sports.
All of the stories in The Chicago Landmark Project are authentic renditions of the feel and history of the respective neighborhoods. For the most part, all of the places remain more or less as they are portrayed. However, the final story is called "Belmont and Western: Riverview Amusement Park". This is the story of a haunting where there now stands a police station, grocery store, and toy mega-mart. My grandpa would take me to Riverview, at the time the nation’s largest amusement park, almost every weekend. I remember the thrill of seeing the eyes of Aladdin’s Castle moving from side to side and knowing that it would soon be cotton candy and kiddie rides galore. Riverview closed in 1967 before I was tall enough to ride The Comet or the Bobs roller coasters. When we drove by after it closed without warning, it seemed haunted and lonely to me.
In the segment, three teenagers come to where Riverview once stood. Sam Bailey is brilliant in the role of Karen. She projects intelligence and maturity while in the company of two confused teenage boys. Andrew Raia plays Hunter and his character has a not so secret crush on Karen. Arthur Soria is hysterical as the hip hop spouting Alvaro who loves to razz on Hunter and then pull the ‘I’m a person of color and therefore hipper than thou’ card. Suddenly lights start to flash and amusement park noises are heard. A man appears from nowhere, holding a teddy bear which he gives to Karen. This is to the chagrin of both Hunter and Alvaro. Desmond Gray plays Elijah, a swain and apparent apparition. Elijah proceeds to school the trio on the darker history of Riverview – there was a dunking tank called ‘Dunk the Nigger’ at Riverview – and the full gamut of ethnic stereotypes. Yet everyone loved to go to Riverview. The amusement park is all about illusion and fantasy and the theory goes that there is something for everyone. (I recall hearing that in a Riverview commercial during the old ‘Family Classics’ show.) Elijah asks Karen to accompany him and Hunter’s real feelings come out. Who will Karen choose? The fantasy man or the boy next door? Check out The Chicago Landmark Project to find out!
The Chicago Landmark Project is comprised of twelve short plays. They are divided in half as Part A and Part B. I recommend that you see both to get the full flavor of this wonderful project put together from the Chicago theater community. It is worth the time and the tickets to see the great young talent and the veterans portray Chicago. I came away feeling the grit of Chicago under my nails. Yes. it’s metaphorical but that is Chicago in a nutshell. It’s poetic, funny, solemn, hard working, and the city of big shoulders with just the right hint of danger.
I love my city. Chicago is a scrappy rough and tumble kind of town, and if the natives embrace you-you’re in like Flynn. Theatre Seven of Chicago presents the psyche and environs of Chicago with The Landmark Project. Through twelve vignettes written in collaboration with numerous artists and performers, Theatre Seven has successfully illuminated the diversity of Chicago’s history and people in a thoughtful and entertaining way.
The short plays go through a good representation of the diversity and quirks that are unique to Chicago. This is a neighborhood town. All of the glitz and hipster attitude is a recent occurrence. It used to be that when you met someone from another neighborhood, the first question was, "what parish do you belong to?" That sensibility still exists in spite of gentrification and all of the polishing that the investment class seems to think is needed for a ‘world class city.
The cast is a big one, but the feeling of community glows from the stage. The Red Orchid Youth Ensemble were part of one of my favorite sections of the show. They represent a city kid’s eye view of "Lincoln and Webster" which is Oz Park. The ensemble hearkened back to the days of "Zoom" on PBS. I’m talking the 70′s version of the show with the secret language of Ubi Dubi and joy in being a kid. These kids were amazing. They were jubilant, wise, innocent, and quite funny.
“State & Madison: The Chicago Grid,” written by Marisa Wegrzyn, goes back to the origins of how Chicago got the grid street system. Tracy Kaplan and Joe Zarrow manage to convey the dirt street ruins from which arose this city as Irene and Edward Brennan in 1901.
The nod to the intelligentsia vibe of Hyde Park is given a sardonic and funny treatment in "63rd and Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge", written by Brian Golden. It’s the land of University of Chicago and academic competitiveness. A man is faced with his past and a secret life that isn’t so secret. The dialogue is laced with the wry jostling of academia and an authentic bourgeois tilt that has always been Hyde Park.
Chicago has a complicated history with race and ethnicity. The story of "63rd and Kedzie: Arab American Community Center” turns the spotlight on a neighborhood that has been in flux for the last 40 plus years. It is known as the Marquette Park and Gage Park neighborhood. When I was in high school, it was the brewing ground for the neo-Nazi movement in Chicago; where Dr. King was hit in the head with a brick for protesting the virulent segregation policies. The story of "63rd and Kedzie" continues today with the Arab American community being the latest ethnic group under the microscope. This story is written by Jamil Khoury and the conflict is subtle yet powerful. The sense memory of that neighborhood back in 1975 comes to a fresh simmer. The dialogue is honest and there is no holding back on the confusion and anger of both sides. Peace and understanding can begin with one person. That is a lesson that still needs to be heard in some parts of Chicago.
"Division and California: Steel Flags" features a wonderful story of youthful awakening and the power of keeping secrets. A young Puerto Rican girl disappears and her sister keeps the secret that she ran away with a boy. The family is alarmed, putting up flyers, and agonizing over what could be a horrible fate. It is a finely paced story of the Puerto Rican community and the female bonds that are common in any ethnicity. This story features Marcel Asilis and Damariz Posadas as Cookie and Sonia whose bond is tested by a secret and defiance. There are some hilarious moments when the grandmother gets after Cookie with a shoe. She can sense that the truth is either a relief or the beginning of a long row to hoe.
Another favorite features two boys playing catch circa 1948 in "Devon and Kedzie: Thillens Stadium". This lovely story took me back to the days when baseball was not just the national pastime but the neighborhood pastime. The boys, played by Destin Teamer and Kevin Woodrow are tuned into the complexities of the game of baseball and barely notice that they are Black and White. They discuss which is the greatest Negro League player and who they pretend to be. The White boy says that the families are getting together for a picnic and it is only for a moment that the Black boy hesitates. This is his baseball buddy and not the enemy that they would be in some other part of the city. It should be noted that the Thillens Stadium is still going strong, proving the bonding power of sports.
All of the stories in The Chicago Landmark Project are authentic renditions of the feel and history of the respective neighborhoods. For the most part, all of the places remain more or less as they are portrayed. However, the final story is called "Belmont and Western: Riverview Amusement Park". This is the story of a haunting where there now stands a police station, grocery store, and toy mega-mart. My grandpa would take me to Riverview, at the time the nation’s largest amusement park, almost every weekend. I remember the thrill of seeing the eyes of Aladdin’s Castle moving from side to side and knowing that it would soon be cotton candy and kiddie rides galore. Riverview closed in 1967 before I was tall enough to ride The Comet or the Bobs roller coasters. When we drove by after it closed without warning, it seemed haunted and lonely to me.
In the segment, three teenagers come to where Riverview once stood. Sam Bailey is brilliant in the role of Karen. She projects intelligence and maturity while in the company of two confused teenage boys. Andrew Raia plays Hunter and his character has a not so secret crush on Karen. Arthur Soria is hysterical as the hip hop spouting Alvaro who loves to razz on Hunter and then pull the ‘I’m a person of color and therefore hipper than thou’ card. Suddenly lights start to flash and amusement park noises are heard. A man appears from nowhere, holding a teddy bear which he gives to Karen. This is to the chagrin of both Hunter and Alvaro. Desmond Gray plays Elijah, a swain and apparent apparition. Elijah proceeds to school the trio on the darker history of Riverview – there was a dunking tank called ‘Dunk the Nigger’ at Riverview – and the full gamut of ethnic stereotypes. Yet everyone loved to go to Riverview. The amusement park is all about illusion and fantasy and the theory goes that there is something for everyone. (I recall hearing that in a Riverview commercial during the old ‘Family Classics’ show.) Elijah asks Karen to accompany him and Hunter’s real feelings come out. Who will Karen choose? The fantasy man or the boy next door? Check out The Chicago Landmark Project to find out!
The Chicago Landmark Project is comprised of twelve short plays. They are divided in half as Part A and Part B. I recommend that you see both to get the full flavor of this wonderful project put together from the Chicago theater community. It is worth the time and the tickets to see the great young talent and the veterans portray Chicago. I came away feeling the grit of Chicago under my nails. Yes. it’s metaphorical but that is Chicago in a nutshell. It’s poetic, funny, solemn, hard working, and the city of big shoulders with just the right hint of danger.
I love my city. Chicago is a scrappy rough and tumble kind of town, and if the natives embrace you-you’re in like Flynn. Theatre Seven of Chicago presents the psyche and environs of Chicago with The Landmark Project. Through twelve vignettes written in collaboration with numerous artists and performers, Theatre Seven has successfully illuminated the diversity of Chicago’s history and people in a thoughtful and entertaining way.
The short plays go through a good representation of the diversity and quirks that are unique to Chicago. This is a neighborhood town. All of the glitz and hipster attitude is a recent occurrence. It used to be that when you met someone from another neighborhood, the first question was, "what parish do you belong to?" That sensibility still exists in spite of gentrification and all of the polishing that the investment class seems to think is needed for a ‘world class city.
The cast is a big one, but the feeling of community glows from the stage. The Red Orchid Youth Ensemble were part of one of my favorite sections of the show. They represent a city kid’s eye view of "Lincoln and Webster" which is Oz Park. The ensemble hearkened back to the days of "Zoom" on PBS. I’m talking the 70′s version of the show with the secret language of Ubi Dubi and joy in being a kid. These kids were amazing. They were jubilant, wise, innocent, and quite funny.
“State & Madison: The Chicago Grid,” written by Marisa Wegrzyn, goes back to the origins of how Chicago got the grid street system. Tracy Kaplan and Joe Zarrow manage to convey the dirt street ruins from which arose this city as Irene and Edward Brennan in 1901.
The nod to the intelligentsia vibe of Hyde Park is given a sardonic and funny treatment in "63rd and Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge", written by Brian Golden. It’s the land of University of Chicago and academic competitiveness. A man is faced with his past and a secret life that isn’t so secret. The dialogue is laced with the wry jostling of academia and an authentic bourgeois tilt that has always been Hyde Park.
Chicago has a complicated history with race and ethnicity. The story of "63rd and Kedzie: Arab American Community Center” turns the spotlight on a neighborhood that has been in flux for the last 40 plus years. It is known as the Marquette Park and Gage Park neighborhood. When I was in high school, it was the brewing ground for the neo-Nazi movement in Chicago; where Dr. King was hit in the head with a brick for protesting the virulent segregation policies. The story of "63rd and Kedzie" continues today with the Arab American community being the latest ethnic group under the microscope. This story is written by Jamil Khoury and the conflict is subtle yet powerful. The sense memory of that neighborhood back in 1975 comes to a fresh simmer. The dialogue is honest and there is no holding back on the confusion and anger of both sides. Peace and understanding can begin with one person. That is a lesson that still needs to be heard in some parts of Chicago.
"Division and California: Steel Flags" features a wonderful story of youthful awakening and the power of keeping secrets. A young Puerto Rican girl disappears and her sister keeps the secret that she ran away with a boy. The family is alarmed, putting up flyers, and agonizing over what could be a horrible fate. It is a finely paced story of the Puerto Rican community and the female bonds that are common in any ethnicity. This story features Marcel Asilis and Damariz Posadas as Cookie and Sonia whose bond is tested by a secret and defiance. There are some hilarious moments when the grandmother gets after Cookie with a shoe. She can sense that the truth is either a relief or the beginning of a long row to hoe.
Another favorite features two boys playing catch circa 1948 in "Devon and Kedzie: Thillens Stadium". This lovely story took me back to the days when baseball was not just the national pastime but the neighborhood pastime. The boys, played by Destin Teamer and Kevin Woodrow are tuned into the complexities of the game of baseball and barely notice that they are Black and White. They discuss which is the greatest Negro League player and who they pretend to be. The White boy says that the families are getting together for a picnic and it is only for a moment that the Black boy hesitates. This is his baseball buddy and not the enemy that they would be in some other part of the city. It should be noted that the Thillens Stadium is still going strong, proving the bonding power of sports.
All of the stories in The Chicago Landmark Project are authentic renditions of the feel and history of the respective neighborhoods. For the most part, all of the places remain more or less as they are portrayed. However, the final story is called "Belmont and Western: Riverview Amusement Park". This is the story of a haunting where there now stands a police station, grocery store, and toy mega-mart. My grandpa would take me to Riverview, at the time the nation’s largest amusement park, almost every weekend. I remember the thrill of seeing the eyes of Aladdin’s Castle moving from side to side and knowing that it would soon be cotton candy and kiddie rides galore. Riverview closed in 1967 before I was tall enough to ride The Comet or the Bobs roller coasters. When we drove by after it closed without warning, it seemed haunted and lonely to me.
In the segment, three teenagers come to where Riverview once stood. Sam Bailey is brilliant in the role of Karen. She projects intelligence and maturity while in the company of two confused teenage boys. Andrew Raia plays Hunter and his character has a not so secret crush on Karen. Arthur Soria is hysterical as the hip hop spouting Alvaro who loves to razz on Hunter and then pull the ‘I’m a person of color and therefore hipper than thou’ card. Suddenly lights start to flash and amusement park noises are heard. A man appears from nowhere, holding a teddy bear which he gives to Karen. This is to the chagrin of both Hunter and Alvaro. Desmond Gray plays Elijah, a swain and apparent apparition. Elijah proceeds to school the trio on the darker history of Riverview – there was a dunking tank called ‘Dunk the Nigger’ at Riverview – and the full gamut of ethnic stereotypes. Yet everyone loved to go to Riverview. The amusement park is all about illusion and fantasy and the theory goes that there is something for everyone. (I recall hearing that in a Riverview commercial during the old ‘Family Classics’ show.) Elijah asks Karen to accompany him and Hunter’s real feelings come out. Who will Karen choose? The fantasy man or the boy next door? Check out The Chicago Landmark Project to find out!
The Chicago Landmark Project is comprised of twelve short plays. They are divided in half as Part A and Part B. I recommend that you see both to get the full flavor of this wonderful project put together from the Chicago theater community. It is worth the time and the tickets to see the great young talent and the veterans portray Chicago. I came away feeling the grit of Chicago under my nails. Yes. it’s metaphorical but that is Chicago in a nutshell. It’s poetic, funny, solemn, hard working, and the city of big shoulders with just the right hint of danger.
I love my city. Chicago is a scrappy rough and tumble kind of town, and if the natives embrace you-you’re in like Flynn. Theatre Seven of Chicago presents the psyche and environs of Chicago with The Landmark Project. Through twelve vignettes written in collaboration with numerous artists and performers, Theatre Seven has successfully illuminated the diversity of Chicago’s history and people in a thoughtful and entertaining way.
The short plays go through a good representation of the diversity and quirks that are unique to Chicago. This is a neighborhood town. All of the glitz and hipster attitude is a recent occurrence. It used to be that when you met someone from another neighborhood, the first question was, "what parish do you belong to?" That sensibility still exists in spite of gentrification and all of the polishing that the investment class seems to think is needed for a ‘world class city.
The cast is a big one, but the feeling of community glows from the stage. The Red Orchid Youth Ensemble were part of one of my favorite sections of the show. They represent a city kid’s eye view of "Lincoln and Webster" which is Oz Park. The ensemble hearkened back to the days of "Zoom" on PBS. I’m talking the 70′s version of the show with the secret language of Ubi Dubi and joy in being a kid. These kids were amazing. They were jubilant, wise, innocent, and quite funny.
“State & Madison: The Chicago Grid,” written by Marisa Wegrzyn, goes back to the origins of how Chicago got the grid street system. Tracy Kaplan and Joe Zarrow manage to convey the dirt street ruins from which arose this city as Irene and Edward Brennan in 1901.
The nod to the intelligentsia vibe of Hyde Park is given a sardonic and funny treatment in "63rd and Woodlawn: Robust Coffee Lounge", written by Brian Golden. It’s the land of University of Chicago and academic competitiveness. A man is faced with his past and a secret life that isn’t so secret. The dialogue is laced with the wry jostling of academia and an authentic bourgeois tilt that has always been Hyde Park.
Chicago has a complicated history with race and ethnicity. The story of "63rd and Kedzie: Arab American Community Center” turns the spotlight on a neighborhood that has been in flux for the last 40 plus years. It is known as the Marquette Park and Gage Park neighborhood. When I was in high school, it was the brewing ground for the neo-Nazi movement in Chicago; where Dr. King was hit in the head with a brick for protesting the virulent segregation policies. The story of "63rd and Kedzie" continues today with the Arab American community being the latest ethnic group under the microscope. This story is written by Jamil Khoury and the conflict is subtle yet powerful. The sense memory of that neighborhood back in 1975 comes to a fresh simmer. The dialogue is honest and there is no holding back on the confusion and anger of both sides. Peace and understanding can begin with one person. That is a lesson that still needs to be heard in some parts of Chicago.
"Division and California: Steel Flags" features a wonderful story of youthful awakening and the power of keeping secrets. A young Puerto Rican girl disappears and her sister keeps the secret that she ran away with a boy. The family is alarmed, putting up flyers, and agonizing over what could be a horrible fate. It is a finely paced story of the Puerto Rican community and the female bonds that are common in any ethnicity. This story features Marcel Asilis and Damariz Posadas as Cookie and Sonia whose bond is tested by a secret and defiance. There are some hilarious moments when the grandmother gets after Cookie with a shoe. She can sense that the truth is either a relief or the beginning of a long row to hoe.
Another favorite features two boys playing catch circa 1948 in "Devon and Kedzie: Thillens Stadium". This lovely story took me back to the days when baseball was not just the national pastime but the neighborhood pastime. The boys, played by Destin Teamer and Kevin Woodrow are tuned into the complexities of the game of baseball and barely notice that they are Black and White. They discuss which is the greatest Negro League player and who they pretend to be. The White boy says that the families are getting together for a picnic and it is only for a moment that the Black boy hesitates. This is his baseball buddy and not the enemy that they would be in some other part of the city. It should be noted that the Thillens Stadium is still going strong, proving the bonding power of sports.
All of the stories in The Chicago Landmark Project are authentic renditions of the feel and history of the respective neighborhoods. For the most part, all of the places remain more or less as they are portrayed. However, the final story is called "Belmont and Western: Riverview Amusement Park". This is the story of a haunting where there now stands a police station, grocery store, and toy mega-mart. My grandpa would take me to Riverview, at the time the nation’s largest amusement park, almost every weekend. I remember the thrill of seeing the eyes of Aladdin’s Castle moving from side to side and knowing that it would soon be cotton candy and kiddie rides galore. Riverview closed in 1967 before I was tall enough to ride The Comet or the Bobs roller coasters. When we drove by after it closed without warning, it seemed haunted and lonely to me.
In the segment, three teenagers come to where Riverview once stood. Sam Bailey is brilliant in the role of Karen. She projects intelligence and maturity while in the company of two confused teenage boys. Andrew Raia plays Hunter and his character has a not so secret crush on Karen. Arthur Soria is hysterical as the hip hop spouting Alvaro who loves to razz on Hunter and then pull the ‘I’m a person of color and therefore hipper than thou’ card. Suddenly lights start to flash and amusement park noises are heard. A man appears from nowhere, holding a teddy bear which he gives to Karen. This is to the chagrin of both Hunter and Alvaro. Desmond Gray plays Elijah, a swain and apparent apparition. Elijah proceeds to school the trio on the darker history of Riverview – there was a dunking tank called ‘Dunk the Nigger’ at Riverview – and the full gamut of ethnic stereotypes. Yet everyone loved to go to Riverview. The amusement park is all about illusion and fantasy and the theory goes that there is something for everyone. (I recall hearing that in a Riverview commercial during the old ‘Family Classics’ show.) Elijah asks Karen to accompany him and Hunter’s real feelings come out. Who will Karen choose? The fantasy man or the boy next door? Check out The Chicago Landmark Project to find out!
The Chicago Landmark Project is comprised of twelve short plays. They are divided in half as Part A and Part B. I recommend that you see both to get the full flavor of this wonderful project put together from the Chicago theater community. It is worth the time and the tickets to see the great young talent and the veterans portray Chicago. I came away feeling the grit of Chicago under my nails. Yes. it’s metaphorical but that is Chicago in a nutshell. It’s poetic, funny, solemn, hard working, and the city of big shoulders with just the right hint of danger.