FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2017
Press Contact:
Jason Smith, Three Cat Productions,
Phone: (312) 970-9840,
Email:
Kill Date: June 15, 2018
THREE CAT PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES 2017/18 SEASON
(Chicago, IL) Three Cat Productions is excited to announce its fifth full season, five world premieres of new works by Chicago playwrights, produced in partnership with the Chicago Park District’s Berger Park Cultural Center at 6205 N. Sheridan Road. The 2017/18 season kicks off in October with Blue Fish in a Tall Clear Vase, a play by Fouad Teymour, directed by Jason Paul Smith, Artistic Director, about an artist’s quest to create and the world that lives inside her imagination. Running in repertory with Blue Fish in a Tall Clear Vase, Three Cat Productions presents its first solo MainStage production Avenge Our Blood by David Finney, directed by Bec Willett. Starring Catherine Dildlilian, Avenge Our Bloodis a play about the Bedrosian family caught up in a storm of violence that began in Turkey in 1915 and became known as the Armenian genocide.
For the holidays, five playwrights take us back to Christmas 1942 and a radio variety show set in a U.S. Canteen, in Three Cat's presentation of The Holiday Radio Show. Playwrights include Gabriella Bonamici, Dolores Diaz, Wendy Schmidt, Lisa Scott, and Laura Scruggs. Running in repertory with The Holiday Radio Show, Three Cat presents its second solo MainStage production Christmas Carolyn by Scott Carter Cooper, directed by Pat Henderson. Starring RjW Mays, Christmas Carolynis the story of a woman who loses her granddaughter during the holiday season and finds personal renewal through self forgiveness. The season concludes in spring with the newly musical, Park Bench, exploring gay life for the over 50. Tickets are now on sale at threecatproductions.com.
In addition, Three Cat announces the return of its both the Chicago New Work Festival and the SOLO Chicago Festival. The Chicago New Work Festival helps Chicago area playwrights refine new plays and musicals. The 2018 Chicago New Work Festival will be held Jan. 8 to Feb. 2, 2018. Up to eight invited playwrights will be paired with a director, and the playwright-director team will be assigned one week of the festival to workshop the play, with a staged reading at the end of the week. The 2018 SOLO Chicago Festival helps feature length solo playwrights and storytellers debut their work. The festival runs in two sessions. Session One runs January 9 to 31, 2018 . Session Two runs May 15 to June 16, 2018.
This season also includes two monthly programs, the Cabaret on the Lake series and the Next Draft Series. Cabaret on the Lake is a free, monthly variety show giving singers, storytellers, comedians, performance artists, musicians, dancers, poets, and solo artists of every type a place to develop their work. Cabaret on the Lake is the second Friday of each month at the Berger Park Cultural Center. The Next Draft Series provides staged readings for playwrights with full length plays-in-progress. Each month, we pair playwrights with directors, actors, and space for 4 hours of rehearsal and a staged reading. The reading series is held on the third Monday of each month at the Berger Park Cultural Center first floor. Both monthly events are free to the public.
Three Cat Productions Season:
* Performances at the Berger Park Coach House Theater, 6205 N. Sheridan Road
October 25to November 25, 2017
Opening Performance: Friday, October 27, 2017 at 7:30pm
Blue Fish in a Tall Clear Vase
A World Premiere Playby Fouad Teymour
directed by Jason Paul Smith
While confined in a suffocatingly tight container, Blue Fish ponders about the state of the universe and his quest for freedom, and tries to concoct a plan for escape. Meanwhile, the artist who drew him must meet a deadline to realize her dreams. Can they work together to achieve their aims? (This play is inspired by a painting by Maryam Gaber.)
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October 30toNovember 25, 2017
Opening Performance: Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at 7:30pm
Avenge Our Blood
A World Premiere Play by David Finney
Directed by Bec Willett
Starring Catherine Dildilian
Avenge Our Bloodis a play about the Bedrosian family (fictional) caught up in a storm of violence that began in Turkey in 1915 and became known as the Armenian genocide. The play is based on an historical event: the stand-off between Turkish soldiers and a group of Armenians who fought for their lives on a mountain called Musa Dagh.
November 30 toDecember 30,2017
Opening Performance: Friday, December 1, 2017 at 7:30pm
The Holiday Radio Show
written by Gabriella Bonamici, Dolores Diaz, Wendy Schmidt, Lisa Scott, and Laura Scruggs
directed by Jason Paul Smith
Three Cat Production is celebrating the holidays with an all new Holiday Event. The Holiday Radio Hourtakes us back to Christmas 1942. Featuring radio play adaptations of “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, “The Little Match Girl” by Hans Christian Anderson, “A Kidnapped Santa Claus” by L. Frank Baum, and “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Join us for drama, wacky humor, adorable actors, and some truly transcendent four-part harmony that will chase away your “I Can’t Believe It’s the Holidays Again” blues.
December 4toDecember 30, 2017
Opening Performance: Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 7:30pm
Christmas Carolyn
A World Premiere Play By Scott Carter Cooper
Directed by Pat Henderson
Starring RjW Mays
RjW Mays stars inChristmas Carolyn. Christmas Carolynis the story of a woman who loses her granddaughter during the holiday season and finds personal renewal through self forgiveness.
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May 3toJune 9, 2018
Opening Performance: Saturday, May 5, 2016 at 7:30pm
Park Bench
Music and lyrics by Gary Gimmestad
Directed by Jason Paul Smith
Musical Directed by Roy A Freeman
Once you’re over 50 in the gay community, you become invisible. InPark Bench, we meet Bruce and Jeff, a couple who has been together for 20 years. They struggle with ideas of gay marriage, love, and reinventing yourself for the next chapter in their lives.
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About Jason Paul Smith/Artistic Director, Three Cat Productions:
Jason Paul Smith is a Chicago-based theater artist specializing in new play development and revitalization of classic works. As a freelance director and as artistic director of Three Cat Productions, Smith is committed to fostering the growth of artists of all backgrounds and perspectives. In 2007, Smith founded Three Cat Productions with the mission of fostering artists, initially through storytelling and cabaret and subsequently theater education. A University of Minnesota graduate, Smith has directed theater, cabaret and concerts across the country, including musicals The Stops, Hello Dolly! and Sunday in the Park with George, and well-known plays such as The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. Smith also is an award-winning storyteller and solo performer. He received a Ragdale Residency in 2008.
About Three Cat Productions:
As Chicago’s artist incubator, Three Cat Production’s mission is to nurture artists. We provide opportunities, facilities, experiences, and creative relationships that foster their growth. Three Cat strives to reach diverse artists from as many disciplines as possible, under the umbrella of a producing theater. We believe every artist has a voice and every voice deserves a chance to come into its own, regardless of social connections, experience, education, or income level.