Displaying items by tag: Theatre of the Absurd

In an era that often defies reason, Chopin Theatre and Gwydion Theatre launch the first annual Theatre of the Absurd Festival, bringing together eight works of absurdist theater May 2-May 25, 2025.

The Theatre of the Absurd traces its roots to post-war/Cold War disillusions in Europe.  The name was coined by critic Martin Esslin in his essay of the same name. It describes European playwrights in the 1950s and 60s whose work was "an exploration of existential disarray, dark comedy, and the absurdity of human existence" or  'seeks to represent the absurdity of human existence in a meaningless universe by bizarre or fantastic means" or "life has no meaning".
 
Chopin's Zygmunt Dyrkacz, reflecting on today's similarities to his youth, shared the idea of the festival with Gwydion Theater who became enthusiastic partners.  They present four ensemble directed plays during the first two weeks, followed by Chopin Theatre's collaborations with Columbia College Chicago and Northern Illinois University.
 
Zoo Story by Edward Albee (Dir. Tommy Thams) – Two men meet on a park bench; one has a plan, the other has a
    book, and neither will leave unchanged.
Action by Sam Shepard (Dir. Grayson Kennedy) – Everyday life: coffee, chores, paranoia, existential collapse.
Line by Israel Horovitz (Dir. Ellie Thomson) – Five strangers queue up for something that may not exist, proving
    that order is just chaos in a straight line.
The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter (Dir. Jason Pavlovich) – Two hitmen in a basement receive mysterious
    instructions, questioning authority and reality itself.
Catastrophe - Samuel Beckett's dedication to Vaclav Havel. Mistake - response by Havel years later. 
    Muzzled - Reza Shirmarz response to both.  (Dir. Prof. Michael Brown, Columbia College). The compilation is
    a beautiful conversation on the dynamics of power and oppression. Together 40 mins.
The Police by Slawomir Mrozek (Dir. Prof. Kay Martinovich, NIU Dekalb).  The comic masterpiece of
    the last political dissident declaring obedience and leaving the police jobless. Premiere of new translation.
    (Dr. Joanna Trzeciak Huss, Kent State. Translator of Nobel Laureate W. Szymborska).
 
Fridays & Saturdays – 3 rotating plays. Sundays – 2 plays + lecture + complimentary food. 
Tickets: All day $45. Single show $25.   GwydionTheatre.org and ChopinTheatre.com
 

SCHEDULE
 
Friday, May 2
7p Action by Sam Shephard (Dir. Grayson Kennedy)
8p Zoo Story by Edward Albee (Dir. Tommy Thams)
915p Line by Israel Horovitz (Dir. Ellie Thomson)

Saturday, May 3
7p The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter (Dir. Jason Pavlovich)
8p Zoo Story
915p Action

Sunday, May 4
4p Action
445p Lecture by artist, director and Prof. Yasen Peyankov
530p Line

Friday, May 9
7p The Dumb Waiter
8p Zoo Story
915p Line

Saturday, May 10 
7p Action
8p Zoo Story
915p The Dumb Waiter

Sunday, May 11
4p The Dumb Waiter
5p Lecture - TBD
545p Zoo Story

Friday, May 16
7p Action
8p Line
9p The Dumb Waiter   
                                                                                       
Saturday, May 17
7p Catastrophe by Samuel Beckett, Mistake by Vaclav Havel, Muzzled by Reza Shirmarz (Dir. Prof Michael Brown)
8p Line
9p The Police by Slawomir Mrozek (Dir. Prof. Kay Martinovich)

Sunday, May 18
4p The Police
5p Lecture - dir. K. Martinovich
545p The Dumb Waiter         
                      
Friday, May 23
7p The Dumb Waiter
8p Catastrophe; Mistake; and Muzzled
9p Action

Saturday, May 24
7p Zoo Story
8p The Police
915p Catastrophe; Mistake; and Muzzled

Sunday, May 25
4p Catastrophe; Mistake; and Muzzled
5p Lecture by director and Prof. Michael Brown
545p The Police

 

CAST

Zoo Story by Edward Albee
Grayson Kennedy (Jerry); Bob Webb (Peter)

Action by Sam Shepard
Tommy Thams (Jeep); Ellie Thomson (Lupe); Maddie Hillock (Liza); Caleb Petre (Shooter)

Line by Israel Horovitz
Grayson Kennedy (Stephen); Caleb Petre (Dolan); Annalie Ciolino (Molly); Jason Pavlovich (Arnall); Derek Ray (Fleming)

The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter
Caleb Petre (Ben); Kason Chesky (Gus)

Catastrophe by Samuel Beckett
Mistake by Vaclav Havel
Muzzled by Reza Shirmarz
Cast: To Be Announced
 
The Police by Slawomir Mrozek
Chris Anthony (Chief of Police);  Paige Larkowski (Prisoner); Avery Bowne (Police Sergeant, Provocateur); Jamaque Newberry (The General); Ellen Campbell (Sergeant's Wife, Policewoman)
 
DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, LECTURERS

• Grayson Kennedy (Artistic Director, Gwydion Theatre) – Grayson is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Gwydion Theatre Company. He has previously appeared on stage with Gwydion Theatre as Dennis in This Is Our Youth and as Jerry in their flagship production of Zoo Story. Grayson's directing credits with Gwydion include Ascension Day and Waiting for Lefty.
• Tommy Thams (Managing Director, Gwydion Theatre) – Tommy is thrilled to be collaborating with Chopin Theatre to produce the first Theater of the Absurd Festival. Along with acting, he is also the Cofounder and Managing Director of Gwydion Theatre Company. His recent credits include Oswald in Ghosts (Gwydion Theatre Company), Tommy Devito in Jersey Boys (Emerald Coast Theater Company), and Slim in Shane (Cincinatti Playhouse in the Park). He would like to thank the incredible ensemble of Gwydion for stepping up to the plate and pulling off this massive task.
• Ellie Thomson (Ensemble, Gwydion Theatre) – Ellie is a founding ensemble member of Gwydion Theatre Company. She performed in their debut season in Chicago as Margherita in Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (Greenhouse Theater). Recent credits include Regina in Gwydion's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts (Greenhouse Theater). She is very excited to be working with the Chopin Theatre on the Theater of Absurd Festival, making her directorial debut with Israel Horvovitz's Line. Other credits include Marie in Translations (AADA) and Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Royal & Derngate).
• Jason Pavlovich (Ensemble, Gwydion Theatre) – actor/writer/director that has worked across the Midwest. Born in New Orleans and raised in Cincinnati, where he received his BFA in acting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Recent acting credits: Paris in Romeo & Juliet (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Conrad/Messenger in Much Ado About Nothing (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company), Luigi in Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (Gwydion Theatre Company). Directing credits: Treefall (Ego Death Theatre Collective). Protégé in Shattered Globe Theatre's 2023 Protégé Program and ensemble member with Gwydion Theatre.

• Prof. Michael Brown (Assoc Prof. & Director European Devised Performance, Columbia College Chicago) – directed numerous productions in the US, UK, and China. Recent credits: Invitation to a Beheading, Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival, Cicada Summer for Rough House Theatre, and an adaptation of Jason and the Argonauts for AFTEC theatre company in Hong Kong, China. Michael has also performed on stages across the US and the UK, in feature films including Dark Shadows and World War Z and has served as a movement artist and trainer for the international phenomenon War Horse and for the feature film Gravity. Currently on the theatre faculty at Columbia College Chicago
• Dr. Kay Martinovich (Head of BFA Acting, Northern Illinois University) – is a professional theater director based in Chicago, where she has directed for Remy Bumppo Theatre, Trap Door Theatre, City Lit, Lifeline Theatre, and Irish Repertory of Chicago, among others. Kay is Associate Professor of Acting at Northern Illinois University. She is a proud member of SDC, the Stage Directors and Choreographers union.
• Dr. Joanna Trzeciak Huss (Translator, Kent State University)  - is professor of translation studies at Kent State University specializing in 20^th and 21^st century Polish and Russian literature and translation theory.  Associate editor of The Polish Review.  Her translations have appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Harpers, The Atlantic, Paris Review, The Hopkins Review, among others. Her books of poetry translation include Miracle Fair: Selected Poems of Wisława Szymborska (W.W. Norton) and Sobbing Superpower: Selected Poems of Tadeusz Różewicz (W.W. Norton). Her poetry translations were included in Best Literary Translations for 2024 and 2025 (Deep Vellum).
• Eleanor Kahn (Visual & Scenic Consultant) - Eleanor Kahn has worked extensively as an international theatrical designer, as well as an experiential, immersive, event and community-focused artist and designer. Her portfolio can be viewed at www.eleanorkahn.com
• Samuel Bessler (Lighting Design) - Sam is the Resident Lighting Designer at Gwydion Theatre Company and current student at Northwestern University. His portfolio can be viewed at https://sjblights.com/
• Tommy Thams (Sound Design)
• Yasen Peykanov (Head of Theatre & Music, University Illinois Chicago) – Yasen is an ensemble member with Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Head of Theatre and Music at University of Illinois Chicago

ORGANIZERS

Gwydion Theatre Company serves as a platform for today's generation of theater artists, embracing Chicago's rich ensemble traditions and the experimental ethos of Grotowski's "Poor Theater." Their work confronts uncomfortable truths, pushes theatrical boundaries, and provokes critical discourse.
 
Chopin Theatre Productions is a non-profit arts presenter and producer, operating out of the historic Chopin Theatre.   Since 1990, Chopin Theatre has hosted over 2,100 presentations as well as its own productions , ranging from theater and dance to music and literary events. It is known for showcasing international works and has been instrumental in fostering a vibrant arts community within Chicago, The theater's mission is to  promote enlightened civic discourse through a diverse range of artistic programming.