Displaying items by tag: Rivendell Theatre Ensemble

Raven Theatre, under the director of Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Berry, announces its 44^th season, to include Michael R. Jackson's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Strange Loop, directed by Mikael Burke in a co-production with About Face Theatre; Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, directed by Raven Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Berry; and Sharyn Rothstein's Tell Me I'm Not Crazy, directed by Georgette Verdin in a co-production with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble.

"With this season, we take what has always been essential about The Raven – plays that reach both back and forward to connect us to our cultural landscape – and expand it to include more voices, to take more risks, to be more in conversation with our current moment and to connect with our community, comments Jonathan Berry. "In Michael Jackson's boundary pushing, Pulitzer Prize winning musical A Strange Loop a young, black, queer playwright takes a perilous, ultimately beautiful journey of self- discovery. A poet returns to his family and a heartrending moment of decision in Tennessee William's stunning memory play, The Glass Menagerie. Tell Me I'm Not Crazy is Sharyn Rothstein's poignant, comedy about how one family struggles to feel in control during chaotically divisive times."

Subscriptions to the three-play season start at $120 are currently on sale at raventheatre.com. Subscribers receive priority season, and save up to $50 off regular tickets prices, plus discounts on      tickets for family and friends, 10% off concessions, and 20% off tickets to Raven Theatre's Resident Company The Story Theatre

The 2026-2027 season is:

The 2022 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical
and the 2020 Pulitzer Prize Winner
A STRANGE LOOP
by Michael R. Jackson
directed by Mikael Burke
in a co-production with About Face Theatre
October 8-November 8, 2026
Opening: October 14, 2026

Usher is a Black, queer playwright who spends his days working as an usher on Broadway. He spends his nights struggling to write an original musical about a Black, queer playwright who spends his days working as an usher on Broadway. Lines blur, thoughts intrude, and soon he finds himself wrestling to break free from a very strange creative loop.

This blistering, groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize winning musical explores identity, race and sexuality through the lens of a young artist at war with a chorus of his own demons and inner voices on a journey towards understanding and self love.

Tennessee Williams' memory play directed by Raven's new Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Berry
THE GLASS MENAGERIE
by Tennessee Williams
directed by Jonathan Berry
February 11-March 21, 2027
Opening: February 17, 2027

As America struggles through the Great Depression and the world stands on the brink of a second World War, a young man tries to dream of a future beyond the stifling confines of his day to day existence.

Tom Wingfield dreams of adventure while his mother Amanda desperately yearns for a secure future for her two children. Sister Laura retreats into the fragile confines of her glass menagerie. A long hoped for arrival of a gentleman caller sends the family hurtling towards either salvation or despair.

After 30 years, Tennessee Willams groundbreaking, autobiographical masterpiece returns to the Raven Stage in a bold new production.

From the playwright of Raven's hit production Right to be Forgotten
TELL ME I'M NOT CRAZY
by Sharyn Rothstein
directed by Georgette Verdin
in a co-production with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
April 30-June 13, 2027
Opening: May 12, 2027

Life can be overwhelming at any stage – kids to raise, in-laws to deal with, work-life to balance. In an age of shifting gender dynamics and rising cost of living, it can be a struggle to feel in control. But for recent retiree Sol Koening, a neighborhood crime wave proves to be the final straw. He buys a gun, joins a shooting range and sends his loving family running for cover.

As barbed jokes fly and tempers flare, the once-close family threatens to break apart in this hilarious comedy about two generations struggling to find common ground in an America at odds with itself.

This production is a Chicago premiere from the playwright of Raven's smash hit Right to be Forgotten.

ABOUT RAVEN THEATRE COMPANY

Raven Theatre tells stories of today and the past that connect us to our cultural landscape. Raven's commitment to modern drama in all of its forms, as well as its first-class education programming, have helped it remain a cultural cornerstone on the north side of Chicago for 40 years and counting.

For 44 years, Raven Theatre has been the home to revivals of modern dramas and thought-provoking new works to the Northside Chicago community, as well as theatrical education to the children and schools in the surrounding neighborhoods. Founded in 1983, Raven moved into its current home in 2002 with its 85-seat Johnson Stage and its 56-seat Schwartz Stage.

Subscription Series – Raven offers three productions in its subscription series, all in the East Stage, focusing on revivals of works primarily from the late 19th century to the present and including both Chicago and World Premieres.

Educational Programming – Raven provides teaching artists to neighborhood schools for in-school theatrical residencies, a field trip program for elementary school students, and a robust children's theatrical summer camp program.

With efforts in the community, in neighborhood schools, and on the stage, Raven plays an important part in the city's cultural landscape.

Raven Theatre Company is funded in part by The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, JCCC Foundation, Paul M. Angell Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, S&C Electric Company Fund, and The Shubert Foundation. This project is partially supported by a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. This programming is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. For more information visit www.raventheatre.com.

Something Clean, directed by Lauren Shouse, gives us a compelling story, very well acted, and with that touch of magic that comes from a great chemistry in the performers.

The script (by Selina Fillinger) is notable for the way it depicts real human beings who develop and change in the course of the action. Fillinger is an actor, and it shows in the dynamic, truly living characters she places onstage.

It is a story for our times, and tells of three people whose lives have been impacted by a sexual assault. One, whom we meet later in the action, is Joey (Patrick Agada), a tall, strapping, charming, perpetually upbeat counselor at a downtown assault crisis center. 

But first we meet Charlotte (Mary Cross) and Doug (Guy Massey) whose 19-year-old son Kai was involved in an assault. Gradually we learn that he was not a victim (we never meet him), but was the perpetrator. Until Kai was convicted and imprisoned, his parents lived humdrum lives, pretty much on autopilot socially and domestically. Now, they visit their son in jail each week, and their angst festers and threatens their relationship. They are unsuccessful finding couples counseling, with Doug rejecting therapists weekly after a single visit.

As we get to know these two, we sense they are estranged from each other, physically aloof, and alienated from their social circle by the shame of their son’s crime. Charlotte cleans compulsively, and Doug buries himself in his work.

Eventually, Charlotte volunteers at the sexual assault crisis center – and her process of healing commences when she meets Joey. Agada’s performance is deft, and striking. His effusive personality (he is Joey with a "Y" because "I like to end my name with a smile!") makes these two seem an unlikely pair, but they develop a completely convincing bond that seems to draw energy from their work together as actors – informing their portrayals as emotionally connected workers at the center. This relationship and performances are what sustains Something Clean. It is hard to imagine it working without this level of excellence in the roles of Charlotte and Joey. 

Under Joey's nurturance, Charlotte emerges from her protective shell to become a sweet, charming and vulnerable woman. Charlotte’s emotional recovery contributes to Doug’s healing as well – something we see in real life when one person’s therapy ends up addressing their partner’s problems, too. The neutral gray set (Arnel Sanciano) is noteworthy, as is one of the props (which are byJonathan Berg-Einhorn): a book by Jennifer Weiner, I think it was Who Do You Love, a tale that mirrors the emotional dynamics of this show. 

I have to admit I sometimes approach Rivendell Theatre Ensemble’s productions with trepidation that I will end up being more edified than entertained. Something Clean does both, and in no small part because of Mary Cross ‘s great performance – she has her craft nailed, and watching her crawl out of her shell is a delight. Produced in partnership with Sideshow Theatre, (it received funding from The Eliabeth Cheney Foundation) which commissioned the work, Something Clean played to acclaim after premiering at New York’s Roundabout Theatre last month. It runs through July 21 at Victory Gardens Theater (the old Biograph Theater building).