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For Immediate Release

Stage Left Theatre Company ● 3408 N. Sheffield, Chicago IL 60657
773.883.8830 phone ● 773.472.1336 fax ● www.stagelefttheatre.com
Press Contact: Laura Blegen, 773.883.8830 ext.2, laura@stagelefttheatre.com

Stage Left Theatre Announces
Season 27: Rise Up

— Chicago Premiere of After Ashley by Gina Gionfriddo —
— World Premiere of The Day of Knowledge by Ensemble Member David Alan Moore —
— LeapFest Returns for a Sixth Year—
— DrekFest 3 Features Country’s Worst Ten-Minute Plays —

Chicago , July 8, 2008 –Stage Left Theatre (SLT) announces the company’s 27th season, entitled Season 27:Rise Up. Stage Left is Chicago’s leading off-Loop generator of new plays focused on raising debate and challenging perspectives on the issues of today. The company has received eight Jeff Nominations for Best New Work in this decade alone and continues its prolific creation of new plays with the Downstage Left program and the LeapFest new work festival. Season 27 features the Chicago premiere of the biting, satirical comedy, After Ashley, the world premiere of the magical and powerful new play, The Day of Knowledge, the return of Chicago’s annual festival of new, socio-political plays, LeapFest 6, and the third installment of the worst night of theatre in the country, DrekFest 3.

The season opens with After Ashley, playing October 9 – November 15, 2008 at Stage Left’s Wrigleyville home. Gina Gionfriddo’s After Ashley is a bitterly funny and strangely affecting comedy of a young boy thrust unwillingly into the national spotlight. When domestic tragedy strikes the Hammond family, Justin must find a way to grieve despite a continuing flurry of talk shows, books and ill-conceived tributes. The one bright spot is a girl who could prove to be either a victim-groupie or his strongest ally. Ms. Gionfriddo is an award-winning playwright and accomplished television writer for shows such as Law & Order and Cold Case. After Ashley premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Humana Festival, and won two Obie Awards in its New York production.

The season continues in February with yet another home-grown work from the Stage Left ensemble. A graduate of Downstage Left and LeapFest 4, The Day of Knowledge plays February 14 – March 28, 2009. From Jeff Award-winning ensemble playwright David Alan Moore, The Day of Knowledge is a daring, magical and powerful story of a community’s return to hope and renewal. One month ago, extremist gunmen occupied the local school, and many children, teachers and parents were killed after a three-day standoff erupted in violence. Now a fiery angel stalks the town, unseen to all but one, and a mute child holds either the hope for reconciliation or the spark of renewed bloodshed. An exciting new voice in Chicago theatre, Mr. Moore received a Jeff Award for Best New Work for Stage Left’s 2006 production of In Times of War.

The early spring will feature the third installment of the hilarious theatrical spoof, DrekFest 3. DrekFest is Stage Left’s national contest for the worst ten minute play. Playwrights from across the country are asked to write intentionally terrible ten minute plays, and the four finalists are presented in an evening of theatrical satire. After the performances, the plays are “critiqued” by top industry professionals; last year’s judges were theatre critic Jonathan Abarbanel, ComedySportz Artistic Director Matthew Elwell, and Steppenwolf General Manager and SLT Ensemble Member David M. Schmitz. The audience in attendance votes for the Grand Loser, who is awarded a cash prize. Amazingly, and despite a blind submission policy, both years have produced the same winner, Rob Kozlowski, whose play The Frenzied Beating of the Jungle Tom-Tom’s, Once More, Once More drew the enthusiastic ire of DrekFest 2’s audience, sending him home as the country’s worst playwright for the second year running. Details for DrekFest 3 will be announced later in the season.

The season wraps up with LeapFest 6, the sixth edition of Stage Left’s prolific new play festival bringing audiences what’s next in Chicago theatre. LeapFest 6 will include five new socio-political plays in rotating repertory May 12 – May 30, 2009. The plays will be announced in early 2009. The festival’s first five years have so far graduated ten plays to world premiere productions in Chicago and beyond, with three of these receiving the Jeff Award for Best New Work. The festival’s name stems from the Downstage Left logo which features a frog, and encourages playwrights to “take the leap” towards production. Patrons may buy tickets to individual shows for $12, or purchase a LeapPASS for $25, granting admission to every performance in the festival.

Season 27 Details at a Glance

• After Ashley ( Chicago Premiere)
  by Gina Gionfriddo
  directed by Greg Werstler
  Gina Gionfriddo’s After Ashley is a bitterly funny and strangely affecting comedy of a young boy thrust unwillingly into the national spotlight. When domestic tragedy strikes the Hammond family, Justin must find a way to grieve despite a continuing flurry of talk shows, books and ill-conceived tributes. The one bright spot is a girl who could prove to be either a victim-groupie or his strongest ally. Ms. Gionfriddo is an award-winning playwright and accomplished television writer whose shows include Law & Order and Cold Case. After Ashley premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Humana Festival and won two Obie Awards in its New York production.
  
  October 9 – November 15, 2008
  Previews: October 9, 10, 11 and 13 at 8pm
  Press Opening: Tuesday, October 14th at 7:30pm
  RegularRun: Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3 PM
  
  
• The Day of Knowledge (World Premiere)
  by SLT ensemble member David Alan Moore
  From award-winning ensemble member David Alan Moore, The Day of Knowledge is a daring, magical and powerful story of a community’s return to hope and renewal. One month ago, extremist gunmen occupied the local school, and many children, teachers and parents were killed after a three-day standoff erupted in violence. Now a fiery angel stalks the town, unseen to all but one, and a mute child holds either the hope for reconciliation or the spark of renewed bloodshed. An exciting new voice in Chicago theatre, Mr. Moore received a Jeff Award for Stage Left’s 2006 production of In Times of War.
  
  February 14 – March 28, 2009
  Previews: February 14, 19, 20, 21 and 23 at 8 PM, and February 15 at 3 PM
  Press Opening: Tuesday, February 24th at 7:30pm
  RegularRun: Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3 PM
  

• LeapFest 6 – See WHAT’S NEXT in Chicago theatre
  The sixth edition of Stage Left’s prolific new play festival brings audiences what’s next in Chicago theatre. LeapFest 6 will include five new, socio-political plays in rotating repertory. The plays will be announced in early 2009. The festival’s first five years have so far graduated ten plays to world premiere productions in Chicago and beyond, with three of these receiving the Jeff Award for Best New Work.
  
  Runs: May 12 – May 30, 2009
  First Night: Tuesday, May 12 at 7:30 PM
  

Tickets and Subscriptions

Ticket prices for After Ashley and The Day of Knowledge are $20 on Thursdays, $22 on Fridays and Sundays, and $25 on Saturdays. Ticket prices for LeapFest 6 are $12 for individual shows, or $25 for a LeapPASS which grants admission to all performances of the festival. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773-883-8830, online at www.stagelefttheatre.com, or at the box office immediately prior to the show.

Subscriptions are now on sale for Season 27 and include admission to After Ashley, The Day of Knowledge, LeapFest 6, and all Downstage Left new play readings. (DrekFest 3 not included.) The Early Bird rate is now in effect, and patrons may purchase subscriptions for just $40 through September 16 th. After September 16 th subscriptions will be $50. Subscriber benefits include flexible dates, guaranteed seating up to 48 hours in advance, reserved seating, free ticket exchanges, free and discounted tickets for friends and family, and subscriber appreciation events. Subscriptions may be purchased by calling the box office at 773-883-8830 or online at www.stagelefttheatre.com.

About Stage Left Theatre

Stage Left was founded in 1982 by a group of Goodman School of Drama Graduates (now the Theatre School at DePaul). A non-profit charitable corporation, Stage Left Theatre is an ensemble of actors, directors, writers, and designers committed to producing and developing plays that raise debate and challenge perspectives on social and political issues, seeking to activate audiences to discuss and act on issues raised in the plays, and inspiring playwrights to address political and social themes through the Downstage Left new work development program. In addition to the subscription series, Stage Left produces Downstage Left, an innovative program for developing new plays by artists within and outside the ensemble. Stage Left is also committed to maintaining a permanent, well-equipped, affordable facility that serves other arts organizations.

Over the past 26 years, Stage Left has received 16 Citations and 37 nominations for excellence from the Joseph Jefferson Awards committee, as well as four After Dark Awards from Gay Chicago Magazine. Representative critically acclaimed and award-winning shows from the past 26 years produced by Stage Left include David Alan Moore’s In Times of War (Jeff Citation – New Work, 2007) about a German detainee in an American prison during World War II; Margaret Lewis’ Fellow Travellers (Jeff Citation – New Work, 2006) about young, avant-garde artists in 1930’s Berlin; Mia McCullough’s Echoes of Another Man, about the ethical and personal implications of the first brain transplant; David Rush's deaf drama Police Deaf Near Far (Jeff Citation – New Work, 2000); Margaret Lewis’ Burying the Bones (Jeff Award Nomination – New Work, 2004) a drama set in post-apartheid South Africa; Mia McCullough’s death penalty exploration Chagrin Falls (Jeff Citation – New Work; Jeff Citation Nomination – Best Production, 2002); and the holiday musical Prairie Lights (Jeff Award Nomination – New Work, 2003).

The Stage Left Artistic Ensemble includes: Cat Dean, Liz Dunker, Christine Gatto, Kevin Heckman, John Kohn III, Cory Krebsbach, Margaret Lewis, Drew Martin, David Alan Moore, Brian Plocharczyk, David Rush, John Sanders, David M. Schmitz, Don Tieri, LaRonika Thomas and Chelsey Wagemaker.

The Stage Left Board of Directors includes: Chris Chandler (President), Scott Vogel (Vice President), Laurence M. Saviers (Secretary), Matt Groch (Treasurer), Doug Aburano, Mary Bedke, Carolyn Chandler, Wendy Istvanick, Christina Jensen, David Kahn, Kevin Heckman, Robert Meinig, Gretchen Peters, John Sanders, David M. Schmitz, Mark Suchomel and Jay Tarshis.

The Stage Left Theatre Staff includes Kevin Heckman (Producing Artistic Director), John Sanders (Director of New Play Development), Liz Dunker (Company Manager) and Laura Blegen (Literary Associate).

Stage Left is supported in part by funding from the Chicago Community Trust; the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; the Alphawood Foundation; a CityArts Program 1 grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; as well as the annual support of businesses and individuals.

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