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Event
The Dionysos Cup Festival of New Plays 2010
Thursday, May 13th @ 7:30pm: What Makes the Buddha Smile
Friday, May 14th @ 7:30pm: Death and Devils
Saturday, May 15th @ 7:30pm: Fertile Lies
Sunday, May 16th @ 2:00pm: Kabulitis
Thursday, May 20th @ 7:30pm: Fertile Lies
Friday, May 21st @ 7:30pm: Kabulitis
Saturday, May 22nd @ 7:30pm: What Makes the Buddha Smile
Sunday, May 23rd @ 2:00pm: Death and Devils
New plays are the lifeblood of American theatre, and Polarity Ensemble Theatre has a growing reputation for developing new work.
2010's Dionysos Cup Festival of New Plays promises to be one of the strongest years yet for the four-year-old festival. Meant as a developmental collaboration between a playwright, a director, and a strong cast of capable actors, each selected script was chosen by a reading committee closely examining dozens of received submissions.
G. Riley Mills' "Death & Devils" is the true story of an early 20th century medical charlatan John R. Brinkley, who made a bid for Kansas State governor and made millions during the Great Depression. Having commonalities with tales such as "All The King's Men" or "Citizen Kane," it's a classic fall-from-grace melodrama starring Kevin Stark, Kaela Altman, Turk Miller, and Ryan Ben and directed by Darren Callahan ( author of "The White Airplane" and "Horror Academy").
Keith Anwar's "Kabulitis" presents a unique perspective on the Afghanistan refugee experience. Mildred Azad--plagued by a past she can't forget and a present she can't remember--resists the ravages of Alzheimer's disease as she struggles with bitter memories of her fight for women's rights in Afghanistan six decades earlier. Facing the last big battle of her life, Mildred decides to unveil the truth. Will it set her free? Laura Sturm (director of Polarity's "The Rivals" and Blanche DuBois in "A Streetcar Named Desire") directs.
"Fertile Lies" by Jaimie-Lee Wise and directed by Brea Hayes is a stylish thriller about the food industry with a taste of X-Files action. Scientist Angelina Pellegrini's "smart-seed" can end world hunger, but only if a bio-technology corporation, a hypnotherapist with delusions of grandeur, the Department of Farmland Security, and a family of farmers on a mission from God, don't steal it first.
Jay Koepke's "What Makes The Buddha Smile" is a document of a spiritual quest that extends beyond death. Directed by Sean Kelly, this touching tale of redemption and understanding and is quite different from the rest of the festival entries, proving the breadth of work being created by Chicago playwrights, as well as the diverse tastes of the Dionysos Cup's festival reading committee.
The four scripts will each be performed twice, over two concurrent weekends.
We model the festival after the City Dionysia, the ancient Greek festival that honored the god Dionysos with new drama. Like the original, this festival will be a competition, with the audience deciding who will receive the Dionysos Cup. Voting will take place after the final performance on Sunday, May 23rd. We will only accept votes from the email address you register with the box office person on the day of performance. Votes from other addresses will not be accepted. You are entitled to one vote if you attend two performances, two votes if you attend three performances or three votes if you attend all four performances. (We will send you a reminder at the end of the festival).
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LocationPolarity Ensemble Theatre
1500 N. Bell
Chicago, IL 60622
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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