Share your thoughts on MADAGASCAR
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 1/23/2011 11:10:00 PM
Back in 2008, Next Theatre produced a play called THE OVERWHELMING, which was written by the same talented playwright that wrote our current production. We are so very pleased to produce this play, also directed by the same director who brought THE OVERWHELMING to life, Kimberly Senior.
While the these two plays are completely different, one thing is for sure... MADAGASCAR fits perfectly into our mission of social provocative theatre. Next Theatre has always preferred plays that make you think, and that also start a conversation.
So please, share your thoughts (though remember, some readers may not have seen the play, so don't divulge too much!) and let's chat about the play.
Share your thoughts...
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 10/25/2010 09:07:00 PM
As Next Theatre Company celebrates our 30th Anniversary season, we will be presenting a group of blog and Facebook questions where you can add to the conversation regarding significant questions from each play.
This will continue on a weekly basis, with a different question each week.
To get us started, here is Manny Buckley, who plays Michael in The Piano Teacher. He answers this weeks question: "If you could reach out to one person from your childhood who would it be? And what would you say to them?"
Share your thoughts as a comment below or on our Facebook page and the best answer each week will receive a pair of tickets to the current show!
Jenny Avery appointed full time Artistic Director
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 10/04/2010 04:49:00 PM
Judy Kemp, president of the Next Theatre Company’s Board of Directors and chair of the Artistic Director Search Committee announced today the appointment of Jenny Avery as full time artistic director, effective immediately.
“Jenny, in her time as interim artistic director, has demonstrated that she has the talent and the experience to be a great artistic director at NEXT,” said Kemp, “She has a long history on the Chicago theatre scene in front and behind the curtain and brings those experiences and that rich knowledge to this position.We are pleased that she has accepted the position and we are proud of the direction she has already begun to take Next during our 30th Anniversary Season.”
Avery was hired as Next’s interim artistic director in July 2010, where she has been an artistic associate for more than five years.She has worked with a number of other theaters around Chicago including Strawdog Theatre, Writers Theater, Victory Gardens, American Theater Co., About Face, Collaboraction, The Next and Roadworks. She spent two seasons at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland and trained with Mike Nichols and Paul Sills at The New Actors Workshop. Avery has worked as an arts administrator for Roadworks Productions, Chicago Music and Dance Theater and American Theater Co.
Update from the interim Artistic Director
by Jennifer Avery on 7/29/2010 03:44:00 PM
Dear Next Theatre supporters,
What a month we've had! Since my appointment as Interim Artistic Director on June 30th, I've received a tremendous outpouring of support, warm wishes and great ideas from all of our communities: artists, audience, and donors have all input valuable information that is shaping Next Theatre's future.
I am putting together three wonderful productions, deserving of a place in our 30th Anniversary Season. With so many variables in season planning, each offering an exciting opportunity for Next , these first few weeks have been like putting together a puzzle with all white pieces! It has been overwhelming at times, yet I feel a great responsibility to the audience and to the theater to produce the most exciting work available to us. So I've stayed open to every possibility.
This week, some important pieces have found their place. We are extremely fortunate to bring on board three of Chicago's most exciting female directors, all of whom have an important history with Next. Joanie Schultz returns to Next having joined us as the Associate Director onThe American Dream Songbook. Lisa Portes (Artistic Associate) has helmed some of Next's most adventurous work including Suzan Lori Parks' Chicago debut,In The Blood, as well as Caryl Churchill'sFar Away. Kimberly Senior (Artistic Associate) is the director behindThe Busy World is Hushedand our most successful production in recent history,The Overwhelming. Her collaborative method and incredible energy are sure to thrill us once again.
I have been reading two to three plays a day and attempting to find the best stories possible for Next and for these talented directors. I am looking for plays that are smart, engaging and provocative - the kind of plays that the Next is known for and the kind of plays our audience dives into wholeheartedly. We've narrowed it down to some of the best new scripts around; we will be announcing the season very soon. I can't wait to share the line-up of mainstage offerings as well as a slew of alternative programming that will be offered this year.
As always, my door is open. Please share your thoughts, concerns, ideas and dreams about Next. Stop by our office in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, email me at jenny@nexttheatre.orgor call me at 847-475-1875 x14.
Introducing our new Audience Services Manager
by Jennifer Avery on 7/14/2010 04:04:00 PM
Our Audience Services Manager Kate Holst is moving along her career path and has accepted a new position with our friends over at Writer's Theatre. However, we have some exciting news to share... We've already found her replacement! Please join us in welcoming our new Audience Services Manager, Amy Buckler.
Amy is a recent graduate of Northwestern University and served as an administrative intern here at Next in 2007. She brings a remarkable enthusiasm and a deep commitment to customer service to her new position here at Next Theatre Company. We are really fortunate to have this talented young lady on our full-time staff. "I am very excited to become a member of the staff of Next Theatre Company. The type of work that Next does and the amazing group of supporters makes Next a dream job for me. I look forward to meeting each of you in the coming months as we ramp up for the 2010-11 Season!", said Amy
Kate spent her last few days training Amy and showing her the ropes.
"It was a pleasure to meet you during the past year. Thank you for making me feel like a member of the Next family. I'm sure I'll see you around the theatre!" said Kate.
Amy joined us on July 12 and will now be keeping full-time hours. Feel free to call her at 847-475-1875 Extension 10 or email her at amy@nexttheatre.org The box office is open Monday - Friday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
A message from Interim Artistic Director, Jennifer Avery
by Jennifer Avery on 7/13/2010 03:22:00 PM
I am delighted to introduce myself to you as Next Theatre's newly appointed Interim Artistic Director. We're entering Next's 30th Anniversary Season; it is a time for celebration! I've been an Artistic Associate here for the last five years and I've had the pleasure learning what a savvy and supportive audience you are. Alongside you, I've always looked to Next to take on challenging topics and plays like no other company around, and do it in a smart, sophisticated way. This is why I am committed to leading Next through this transitional time and ensuring this bold company you've supported is around to celebrate for another 30 years.
The Board of Directors here at Next has formed a search committee and begun the process for a new long-term hire in the Artistic Director role. My interim appointment will carry through January of 2011. The committee is aiming to announce our new hire within four months, and allow for a smooth transition between myself and the incoming Artistic Director.
To ensure the success of Next, the Board has also named Jim Davis as Producing Director. Jim has served Next as the Production Manager for the last four seasons, bringing plays to life in our space. We are working together to ensure the financial stability and professional quality of the theater. I encourage you to read more about the extensive and valuable experience Jim brings to this role here.
Our Managing Director Kevin Heckman has recently announced his departure. He voiced his continued support saying, "I have tons of faith that the board, Jenny and Jim will lead Next through these changes and I have offered to help in the transition in any way that I can. Next has been a fantastic place to call home. I look forward to joining them in the future as a patron and an artist."
Our 30th Anniversary Season
With the Board's support, I plan to announce a new line-up of plays for the 30th Anniversary Season. We are a Chicagoland company, and I want to honor that history of engagement with our community in our 30th year. Jim and I are working quickly to identify artists who will help us ring in this important year right for you, our Evanston and Chicagoland audiences. If you have already subscribed, of course your season tickets will be honored for the new line-up. As soon as the plays are squared away, we'll be sharing the compelling titles and playwrights you can expect to experience in our 2010-2011 Season.
Judy Kemp, our Board President, was instrumental in steering the process for the future of our company. She remarked, "A number of committed artists stepped up and voiced their interest in helping Next. I'm so grateful for the conversations I had with each of them. Their show of support has deeply informed this transition and Jenny and Jim's appointments. This has always been a launching ground for forward-thinking Chicago artists, and Jenny has already re-engaged our Artistic Associates and Board to ensure a successful 30th Anniversary Season in that tradition."
Stay in touch
I look forward to talking with you, our audiences, artists and supporters, during this time of transition. I hope you'll once again feel that Next is truly your theater. We are invested in the mission of Next Theatre to bring socially provocative, artistically adventurous works to the stage because we know you want to see them. Please reach out to me with your questions, thoughts, well-wishes, and concerns. Our door is open to you.
the press loves "War with the Newts"
by Lee Keenan on 6/01/2010 09:15:00 PM
"War With the Newts," which you must see, is an exquisitely detailed show and it is clearly dedicated to revealing that Capek (who wrote science fiction before anyone really saw the genre as a separateentity) was one prescient dude.
- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
"unbelievably contemporary. . .underneath the fansiful story is more about basic truths with of our relationship with the environment . . . just like oil beneath the seas this is about the exploitation by humanity of an underwater resource . . . its also about the Walstreet meltdown . . . it remains completely contemporary and urgent, its very intellectually exciting show."
-Dueling Critics, WBEZ
...Loewith's direction of this multifaceted production is compelling...With its talk of ecological disaster, financial meltdown, colonialism, religious fanaticism, social unrest, military buildups and an overall sense of global upheaval, it could have been penned this week.
- Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
"War with the Newts" is a fascinating, gutsy and intensely creative show that precisely evokes the era and style of Kapek’s creation.
What did you think of "Children's Scientology Pageant"?
by Chelsea Keenan on 12/17/2009 07:39:00 PM
Our irreverent holiday musical starring eight of Chicagoland's most talented young performers is now playing through January 3. We've heard lot's of great things about this updated version of the OBIE Award winning hit! And in step with Next, we've heard great questions too. Add your thoughts, comments, review and questions as a comment below. Be a part of the conversation.
"These kids are hysterically funny! The laughs are many and multifarious". - Chicago Tribune
"The success of the show depends upon the absolute sincerity of its performances. Director Kathryn Walsh understands that and, as a result, her guileless production strikes exactly the right tone." -Daily Herald
"Children re-enacting with absolute earnestness the life of L. Ron Hubbard, the modern prophet of Scientology, is a premise with Wildean potential. But Next has pulled its punches and stayed closer to conventional home." - ChicagoTheatreBlog.com
"Any kids' pageant involves some kind of adult ideology -- yes, even the traditional nativity. And to its great credit, this show manages to simultaneously skewer Scientology and showcase the young performers in an upbeat, fun way." - Chicago Tribune
The show was great. The kids all did outstanding work and the story made it clear that Scientology is at best a con and at worst a dangerous cult. But the bottom line is, the show was fun.
This is not a serious play. It is a high school or eighth grade quality performance and not something I would expect from a theater like NEXT. It wasn't particularly funny, the story was silly and thus not a believable critique of the cult of Scientology.
The Pageant was subversively hilarious. On one level, the costumes and scenery were old-school middle school pageants. Back when the kids did all the work. Loved the lamp shape hat for China headwear.
On another level, the enthusiastic presentation of a believe system calls into question other fundamentalist programs of more familiar faiths.
The performance by the young actors was professional but not slick. I believed that they were talented students in a pageant and not professional actors in a play. That made the show charming and engaging.
Well..it's a very clever premise but sort of a one-joke idea. Fifteen minutes would have been long enough. And it was, frankly, kind of mean-spirited. The kids were talented and the costumes were good. Is it a good idea too make fun of these folks? Who's next? Could be us. It's discomfiting.. but not in a good way. And why involve kids in this? They're impressionable as history would tell us.
The show was "cute" - but not of the quality I expect from Next Theater. The hour drive from Arlington Heights was almost not worth the hour spent in the theater. Stick with the type of plays I have come to expect from Next - and leave the school plays in the schools. I honestly cannot say I would recommend it to any of my friends as a "must see" like I have done with other Next productions.
I brought my two boys aged nine and nearly thirteen along with my husband aged 46 1/2 to see the show. My husband was guffawing that it was the best performance by children that he'd ever seen. Even my two cycnical and Christmas theatre jaded kids managed an 'it was OK'... I loved the 'child made' costumes and props. They were hilariously apt for the premise of the show. Loved the exoncomy of the set and action. The casting of the kids was perfect, from the beautiful'angel' girl to the quirky pig tailed girl. The singing voice of the 'actress' who joined the cult brought tears to my eyes as I looked over at my two children and said a silent prayer that they would never join a cult and reject their old ma...Excellently done Next Theatre. A great antidote to the tired old wannabe English Nutcrackers and Christmas Carols out there. A real American classic in the making.
Share your thoughts on End Days
by Chelsea Keenan on 11/11/2009 02:35:00 PM
End Days probes big questions of faith and hope. We've heard lots of interesting feedback already, and now we hope you'll add your thoughts to the conversation.
"...a lighthearted, fresh look into the ideas that make up evangelical religion, physics, the Rapture, and belief in general." (Edge Chicago)
"Absolutely fantastic!!! A definite MUST see. We thoroughly enjoyed this and definitely recommend." (Scott S. via goldstarevents.com)
" Laufer's characters are written too cartoonishly to truly connect; all we hear is the author's voice." (TimeOut Chicago)
"...exceedingly smart, goofily apocalyptic tragicomedy ...provides plenty of food for thought and an array of bittersweet side dishes." (Sun-Times)
Leave us your full review a la the critics, a response to another write-up or just a thumbs up/down; we want to hear what you think!
I really was disappointed with the production given the ticket price and the reputation of Next. The set was lovely but impractical and forced me to miss several moments happening USL (pivitol visual moments). I was disappointed with the lack of depth of the characters and the relationships which only seemed to develop in the second act. I enjoyed the script and hope to see more plays at Next, which I can expect to be held to a higher caliber.
The play was performed beautifully by the cast but I thought it needed tightening since my attention was not captured continuoulsy as it became repetitive. The concept was very good and many one-liners earned well deserved laughter. The meta message of family cohesion could have been delivered without as much time waiting for the Rapture.
It was wonderful! Joe Wycoff as Stephen Hawking was outstanding! I like the way the spiritual and scientific "faith" was presented. It was interesting watching through the play how "Elvis" was really more of a savior than "Jesus" was. Great play! The cast was great!
The show was wonderful. I am so glad that no one was attempting a New York accent. Sometimes I just sit through a bad performance because I have a theater major at NYU and I hope people will do the same for her. I never looked at my watch or even thought of leaving. The play was delightful!
We thought the show was wonderful! Loved the script, loved the set, and each of the actors was top notch. Would see it again and have recommended to our friends. Thank you for a wonderful evening.
The first half put it among the very best plays I have seen in the past 5 years, with Jesus and Steven Hawking -- both played fantastically by Joe Wycoff -- keeping things lively. The second half was good, but not at the really high level of the first.
I thought this play exposed some timely and sensitive issues about family, fear, science and religion that could get a good conversation started. The cast was particularly good in presenting their individual dilemmas with a combination of seriousness, charm and humor. Another interesting production from the NEXT that held my attention throughout.
We took advantage of an industry comp to see this play. Wow! What a treat..it took us back to the olden days of storefront Chicago theatre. (Yes, Evanston and Chicago share an umbilical cord..Sheridan Road and a Gestalt) We loved it so much we immediately signed up for the rest of the season and I'm sure we'll continue. You can tell the actors love this home..it really shows. Andy Atlass
I saw the first reading and thought the second act needed tightening. I thought it still needed it in the final production, but my friend thought it was fine. I very much like the wacky conceit of the plot and the fact that the evangelical character was not depicted as a nutcase. The message I took from it was that much of science is as much a matter of belief as religious belief. I find that food for thought.
Based on the grim title, I was expecting a heavy storyline. Next Theater instead surprised me with loads of comic moments and an uplifting experience overall. Playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer bravely tackles the fear Americans have wrestled with since 9/11 (but which many felt long before that), then shows ways to beat it. The cast and directing are terrific, but the fine script deserves the greatest accolades. Together they make us laugh at the quirky characters but also love and empathize with them. I did feel the opening segements could be tweaked, in that it took me a little too long to get oriented to the characters and the story. That's a minor criticism of a very significant theatrical achievement. "End Days" grapples with modern American angst and defuses it. Provocative and entertaining.
We thought it was a splendid production. Laura Fisher was splendid, Joeseph Wycoff was perfect, and the young Adam Shalzi was charming--definitely the crazy glue that held the whole thing together. We weren't completely sold on the set, but thought Muray's direction was excellent. Bravo! Light years ahead of Boom!
Opening Night of End Days
by Chelsea Keenan on 11/05/2009 05:34:00 PM
End Days opened on Monday November 2nd to a full house of Next supporters. After the show, Evanston restaurant Va Pensiero sponsored a beautiful reception upstairs in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center. Managing Director Kevin Heckman, Artistic Director Jason Southerland, Board President Judy Kemp
Molly Glynn, Joe Foust, and End Days actor Adam Shalzi
like nearly all NEXT productions, found I was still thinking about it for the next couple days. That's the stimuulation I've come to expect and was certainly not let down. Really enjoyed the evening!
Production Proccess - END DAYS Technical Rehearsals
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 10/24/2009 02:56:00 PM
Greetings from Jim Davis, your friendly neighborhood Production Manager, reporting from the theatre and the first day of technical rehearsals for END DAYS. I am always amazed at how quickly the scenic, prop, lighting, sound and costume elements can change to an entirely new world. We've gone from the basement research lab of BOOM to he living room and kitchen of the Stein family of END DAYS in no less than ten days!
The creative team has been hard at work in planning meetings since last summer, and especially hard over the past few weeks to get all of the elements ready for this very concentrated time known as "technical rehearsals". A simple looking transition can involve several light cues, sound cues, movements of props and costumes. In these days of amazing technology we're now able to make amazingly complicated effects that would have been impossible just 15 years ago, but all of these effects must be programmed into the sound and lighting computers... and that takes LOTS of time. Add that to a stage manager calling the whole thing from the control booth, a sound engineer and light board operator running the cues, and the assistant stage manager making sure that the movements of props, costumes and props all happen with perfectly with the actors, the complicated details can be enough to give you a headache... but without the talented people to do this work, there would be naked actors in the dark on an empty stage!
I've always felt that people who earn their living as technicians, stage managers and designers often get overlooked by audiences who maybe don't realize all the details that go into putting up a professional production. So, below you can meet some of the members of the creative and technical team who are responsible for bringing this play to life:
Production Stage Manager Nancy Staiger, Director Shade Murray and Lighting Designer Lee Fiskness discussing cues on a break.
Sound Designers Marni and Nick Keenan programming a complicated palette of complicated and layered sound effects and music.
Lighting Designer Lee Fiskness adding a few lights during the first technical rehearsal.
While every detail is being worked out on stage, the rest of the creative team is working on elements in their department.
Assistant Scenic Designer Izumi Inaba and Scenic Designer Andre LaSalle making plans for set dressing while the tech rehearsal takes place on stage.
Costume Designer Mellisa Torchia training cast member Carolyn Faye Kramer the correct method for applying her makeup.
Production Assistant Justin Argenio and Properties Master Patrick Fries working on building a lot of fake bibles.
Next Theatre Company is very fortunate to work with some of the most talented and creative theatre artists in the Chicago area, and I know that I'm lucky to be able to spend these long days with these amazingly talented people, sitting in the dark theatre working our way cue by cue, costume by costume, prop by prop, creating the world of the play.
The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later
by Chelsea Keenan on 10/16/2009 12:36:00 PM
In 2001, Next Theatre Company was honored to bring the Chicago-area Premiere of the groundbreaking docu-drama The Laramie Project to life.
On Monday October 12, 2009 Next Theatre collaborated with the theater departments at Northwestern University and Loyola University to be one of 150 companies to share a new, compelling work from Tectonic Theater Project. The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later has been similarly created through company members interviews with the townspeople of Laramie, WY and serves as an epilogue to the existing play. This moving story of Matthew Shepard's murder is not yet over, and the artists of Tectonic have created lasting impact by sharing this work across the globe in simultaneous staged readings this past Monday.
At every venue, a live-stream introduction featuring Greg Reiner (Tectonic's Executive Director), Glenn Close, Judy Shepard (Matthew's mother) and creator Moises Kaufman was broadcast on stage before the reading. Watch the replay of the live simulcast intro.
The full team from Loyola & Northwestern Universities.
After each theater had completed the two-hour reading, they re-connected with the live broadcast from The Lincoln Center in New York with Tectonic Theatre Project for an international Question-and-Answer session. Folks from far and wide participated by sending questions online via twitter.
Moises Kaufman, Artistic Director of Tectonic Theater Project, shared this message with the participants:
150 Theaters. 50 States. 9 Countries.
Congratulations to everyone on making this possible.
It's been inspiring to work with all of you, and follow your individual productions. Thank you all so much for jumping in with both feet on this adventure.
I look forward to being in touch with all of you in the future, and meeting those of you in person who I haven't met!
-Moises
For in-depth information on Tectonic's process, as well as study guides, compelling questions, and interview excerpts, take a look through these 4 audience guides to The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.
Share your thoughts on BOOM
by Chelsea Keenan on 9/29/2009 12:26:00 PM
Peter Sinn Nachtireb's explosive comedy boom is being seen in no less than 13 theaters across the nation this season. (Next's current production is the Chicagoland Premiere!) That's big for a new play, especially one asking us to imagine the fate of humanity.
So we know it's popular among the nation's artistic leaders. Yet, it has elicited a big range of responses! We've got long-time subscribers pulling us aside to tell us how much they loved it, and some critics in town telling us they'd rather watch guppies in a tank at the pet store. New plays are a big risk and as we know at Next, when they bring up big issues like fate vs. free will, they are bound to cause some controversy! So what did you think? Share your thoughts as comments below.
I am not sure about this play...intriguing and provacative but also very esoteric and confusing....I do like experimental theater and this is certainly an experimental piece. I found it absorbing and disturbing so for that purpose, I would recommend seeing it.
"Boom" was delightful - well-produced, well acted and surprisingly polished. The concept, surreal but plausible in a fantastic way, was REAL science fiction, not the childish swill being served up to a 13-year-old audience at the local cineplex. Food for thought!!
The theater was great - easy parking, surprisingly comfortable, tons of good food and booze nearby.
Although this was a middling production from Next, I thought the acting of the two principals was very good and their story engaging. Contrary to another review I've read where the reviewer just didn't understand the play, we do know what happens to the characters, not immediately after they exit the stage together(not to give away too much!), but in the evolutionary future. The character of the museum docent shows us that future. Everything else about the docent, however, felt amateurish. Her story was not that interesting, the interpretation of the character too mundane. Direction seemed lacking here. Her costume looked like a cheap Halloween costume, but maybe I've missed the point here. The set, on the other hand, was intersting and clever. Parts of the play were very funny, but the frequent f-bombs probably bothered some older members of the audience for whom the word still holds its original meaning.
I am so sorry to say I thought it was just awful The actors did a great job not their fault I think the problem lies in the essence or thought How to make sense of creation For me it was just a poor effort Actually a most impossible task for a short play Sadly I could not recommend this play to friends
I enjoyed this play a great deal. The story explains itself quite adequately as it goes along, asking us throughout to contemplate (primarily) existence and evolution. It is an engaging, sometimes funny, and thought provoking story with a perfect unexpected twist at the end. I was puzzled about the purpose of the heroine’s constant M-Fing (it seemed pretty superfluous), but otherwise the dialogue maintains interest and keeps it fast paced. The acting was exceptional all around, the direction/production very good, and the set was great (as usual). Highly recommended for anyone looking for something beyond Hollywood fare. Perhaps not among the best that Next has done, but certainly above their average, which is still high praise.
The actors tried hard. The play was poorly conceived and written. The themes were blurred, allegorical meanings subdued. I kept thinking my librarian aunt would say, "Anyone that uses so many vulgar words shows a poverty of vocabulary." It was an effort to sit through to the end, but with no intermission I couldn't leave gracefully. Shame on all of you.
I thought it was a brilliant play in every way. My only qualm (spoiler alert) was that the last time evolution went from fish to humans it took over 300 million years, not 65 million years. Otherwise, high praise to Next for this production, and to the author for everything except what a quasi-paleontologist would notice.
I really enjoyed this play. This was my first time going to this theatre, and I would go back. The set design was terrific, and the narrator was hilarious. I enjoyed the acting of the main characters as well. Nice job!
Some very fine moments in a mediocre show. All three of the actors were solid, and should be commended; most especially the actor who portrayed Barbara impressed as she convincingly delivered the character from staid efficiency through to her escalating weirdness/madness/disintegration. Sadly, the play itself seemed to ‘go off the rails,” leaving me with mixed feelings. Language wise, less would have definitely been more, as the repeated swearing became a distraction rather than a positive contribution to the storytelling. Overall this was like a potentially interesting 2nd or 3rd draft of something that with considerably more fine-tuning could have been much better. I’ll still be back though, because Next has given me many fine experiences through the years, and even the lesser ones leave me with something to think about, as this one does.
I liked the concept of the play very much, and the acting was fine; but, as you know, it just didn't work. I sat in an audience that was deathly quiet, so that my every giggle was heard. If the playwright is going to work on it further, I'd suggest fewer f-bombs and a general toning down of the female character--she was so over-the-top all the time that it became grating. She also spoke so quickly (part of her explosive character) that a lot of "funny" lines were lost. Also, if the curator/narrator character had been a little more serious, professional, I think the story line would have been clearer.
Our first Next Theater experience. We were generally pleased at the quality of this play. It took us a few moments to realize that this was supposed to be a "museum" but after we caught on, it was very funny and thought provoking. We enjoyed the acting which we thought was quite good. We recognized Kelly O'Sullivan from her performance at Northlight Theater where we are regulars. She did the same "mount" in the other performance. :) John Stovis did an excellent job of protraying his character, in fact Shannon Hoag did a very good job as well. The set designer should also be commended in producing a convincing set for this play. We recommend this to anyone with a good sense of humor.
I thoroughly enjoyed Boom. I had the fresh, original quality that I usually get at Next, different than at the other theatres I attend. The Next productions usually stay with me, in my mind, longer than at other theatres and Boom did, too. I asked Jonathan after the show why the Chicago reviewers were down on it...what happened to that show. Maybe it was the state of the moon on opening night..........
Keep up the good season and don't let the critics get you down! The audience appreciates what you all do. Carol Doctor
I want to thank everybody for their passionate comments about "boom." Part of what excites me about theater is the diversity of opinions a play can elicit and, while I'm sorry that the language put some people off of this play, I am thrilled to see how much dialogue came out of the viewing. This 29th season is a diverse offering of plays and I hope you'll all stick around and see the rest... and there are fewer swear words in the remaining four plays put together! We are also looking for folks who would like to participate in a focus group of our audience, so I welcome any volunteers. Please e-mail me at jasonsoutherland@nexttheatre.org.
Don't miss "End Days" by Deborah Zoe Laufer. Previews begin October 29th and it runs through November 29th.
Production Process -- Boom Technical Rehearsals
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 9/05/2009 02:12:00 PM
Greetings from the first technical rehearsal of BOOM. With the actors onstage and the lighting, sound, scenic designers, technicians and stage managers all sitting in the back of the theatre and facing a line of computer control consoles, we've begun the unbelievably complicated and detailed process of programming the lighting and sound cues.
I'd like to introduce to some of these talented individuals that Jason Southerland and I have assembled to do this work:
Production Stage Manager Nancy Staiger and Assistant Stage Manager Katie Eckert discussing cues before the tech began.
Lighting Designer Seth Reinick programming the lighting control console.
Composer/Sound Designer Nathan Leigh creating music and sound effects.
Sound Engineer Hilary Murray running the cues at the sound control computer.
Finally, and most importantly, the cast and crew gathered outside the theatre during our dinner break today for our own holiday weekend barbecue...
It's been a great first day... I'm holding off sharing photos of the show with you... Maybe tomorrow... stay tuned!
Stay tuned for more from the theatre as things develop.
Production Process - BOOM Designer Run Through
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 8/27/2009 10:21:00 PM
Greetings from the rehearsal hall! In just a little over two weeks the Jason Southerland and his cast have made amazing strides. Just yesterday the design team all gathered for the designer run of the show. This is the time that the people responsible for giving the play its world join the cast, stage managers and director in the rehearsal room to get an idea of the work they've done to date getting the show on its feet. The performers are really ready to get into the theatre and we have a bit of work to do before that can happen.
Pictured to the left are Costume Designer Chelsea Warren, Scenic Designer Andre LaSalle, Director Jason Southerlnd and Lighting Designer Seth E. Reinick.
After that Run through, we spent another couple of hours in a very detailed production meeting where we made final plans and decisions about the production elements and talked about the very complicated schedule for the days that the scenery, lighting, props, costumes and sound elements all move into the theatre, making sure that everything we've been planning for the past few months actually happens on-schedule!
Stay tuned for news from our scenery load-in, coming up in just a few days!
Rehearsals underway for 2009-10 Season opener, BOOM
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 8/15/2009 05:10:00 PM
The beginning of rehearsals for the first production of our 2009-10 Season can only mean one thing... summer has come to a close and it's time to get to work.
The creative team, production staff, board members and supporters gathered at our new rehearsal hall this week to get things rolling and to see us off for our production of BOOM by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb. It was an exciting evening... and we're ready to get to work.
The creative team has been hard at work since mid-June bringing this play to life for Jason's Southerland's Chicago directing debut. As a part of this first rehearsal, they presented their designs to the group.
(Click on images to see them full-sized) Scenic designer Andre LaSalle, who is making his Next Theatre Company debut, has created an amazing set, possibly one of the most detailed and intricate sets we've put on stage during my four seasons here at Next, complete with a few surprises (no, I'm not going to tell you what kind of surprises!)
Costume Designer Chelsea Warren (left), also making her Next debut, explained her concept for the clothes that the actors will wear. The creative team also includes Lighting Designer Seth Reinick and Sound Designer Nathan Leigh.
The production staff includes Production Stage Manager Nancy Staiger, Assistant Stage Manager Kathryn Eckert, Technical Director Caleb McAndrew, Properties Master Patrick Fries, Charge Scenic Artist Grant Sabin, Sound Engineer Hilary Murray, Master Electrician Mac Vaughey, and yours truly as your friendly neighborhood Production Manager.
You'll have the opportunity to meet these individuals here in the Blog as we move forward. Also, stay tuned for regular updates from the rehearsal room and as the set and other production elements move into the theatre and as technical rehearsals start.
I'm not recommending this as a "must see" I liked the main characters. Barbara was annoying. This would be a good short story on the level of Kurt Vonnegut. Doesn't work as a play.
Share your thoughts on THE OVERWHELMING
by Chelsea Keenan on 4/30/2009 03:01:00 PM
The Overhwhelming is playing to sold-out houses and we're hearing feedback from many of you about this powerful play.
Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune called this " one of the very best shows in the 28-year history of Nex" and Hedy Weiss of the Sun-Times hailed the show as "a volcanic Chicago premiere" and a "brilliantly realized production."
What did you take away from this production? Share your comments below with us and with each other.
I moved here from Boston after having lived just outside of NYC for several years. Boston was/is a wasteland, but Chicago makes up for my time in the hicksville wilderness after NYC.
NYC may have Boradway, but Chicago has a strong vibrant theater scene.
Nowhere has that been more obvious than in being able to see a play the quality of "The Overwhelming." With great actors, great pacing, great nuanced story, minimliat staging, and a relentness sub-surface tension, it was better than we had a right to expect.
THE OVERWHELMING is the first show I've seen at the Next Theatre. At first my mind was reeling back to 1994, putting the pieces of the inevitable catastrophe in Rwanda back in my head. As the characters were introduced and the panels slid to reveal a new location, I sat there, tense in my seat, knowing this whole landscape was about to explode. I suppose Clinton knew that too.
I thoroughly enjoyed the play. The performances were sharp and the direction and design were truly inspired. That second act comes firing at you almost cinematically. Bravo.
The play is very well done, engaging, and horrifying. A grand reminder of American innocence, naivete, and arrogance. We enjoyed it but did find the noise level to be way too high, especially before the performance and during intermission. That was not necessary to create the effect; it actually caused me pain.
Unfortunately, my party of four was disappointed in the play. The view was that the message was dated and superficial. Perhaps this play has a message for those who are not familiar with the issues described in the play. But we'll be back for others!huffeckprepoksdoszoi
The Overwhelming was captivating, entertaining, and a joy to watch. The sets were great, the actors were outstanding, and the story was complex yet an adrenaline rush. I highly recommend this play to anyone.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, I was hesitant to stay inside and watch a play, but had heard such good things about "The Overwhelming" that I didn't want to miss it. And I'm glad I didn't! The play was phenomenal. The acting, dialogue, direction, everything. I have recommended it to any one who will listen and am still thinking about all the issues and thoughts it brought to mind. Truly a wonderful performance.
We saw the "The Overwhelming" on Saturday night, awesome! What stays with me the most was how emotionally intense the play was from start to finish. The feeling of menace was woven in all of the scenes between the visiting family and the locals. All that stuff going on between the lines. I wanted to scream at the Exleys “Can’t you see what’s going on?!!?” but well then, that is the point. Nobody did.
Political, timely, and just damn good theatre. Bravo to the playwright, actors, director thanks for another great piece!
I thought that the Next Theatre did a brilliant job with the play, but I have to find fault with the playwright for the final scene. In that scene, the Rawanda guys burst in to the Americans' rooms and demand they give up the doctor who is standing there in plain sight. The playwright makes it seem like the Americans betray the doctor by "giving him up" or laying a guilt trip on the Americans. That's silly. The Rawanda men don't even need their weapons to overpower the Americans and just grab the doctor. I suppose the playwright wanted it to be so dramatic, but it doesn't make semse. Better, would be if the doctor was hiding in the house when they burst in, and t hey threatened to shoot the boy if they didn't surrender him. Then, the doctor could have appeared and given himelf up. Still dramatic, but believable -- unless the playwright wanted to throw guilt on the Americans. But he can't have it both ways.
The play was outstanding! The cast was outstanding! The first act sets everything up. The second act brings it all together. It is very intense and when it ends you sit there at a loss for words. Excellent production and it can hold its own against anything that is on Broadway! Congrats to all connected with this amazing play!
I didn't like The Overwhelming as much as I expected to after reading Chris Jones' review. But the fault was with the play, not the production. The American characters were naive to a fault, and we learned little about Rwanda except that we don't understand it. By contrast, Lynn Nottage's play "Ruined" (admittedly set in a different African country under siege) gave insight the lives and motivations of those living through horrors. But I will take away from this production a few compelling performances, especially by the young actor who played Gerard. His scenes with "Geoffrey" were the most exciting, unsettling moments in the play.
A phenomenal show with a stellar ensemble cast... the pacing of the show,the transitions from one scene to another are first-rate. This is adult fare for the serious theater-goer. Not to be missed!!
I responded to the issues tackled. One of the more interesting to me and one that I have thought about before is why do we always have to label "blacks" or "African-Americans." Even the professor's wife couldn't figure out herself.
The acting was wonderful, a great melding of multiple parts.
The ending was disappointing. I thought I would get hammered emotionally, but wound up facing a let down. The other posted comment on this was "right on."
I think some of the other plays NEXT produced this year and recent years were better, but just didn't get the raves. It shows how valuable (unfortunately) the critics are.
The Overwhelming is the first play I've seen at Next in a while, and I'm sorry I stayed away for so long - Next consistently produces interesting works with a very strong social conscience. The Overwhelming was very well-acted and I enjoyed it a lot.
That said, I didn't think it was an incredibly well-written play. Again, the production itself was very good, and I have no doubt the playwrite put huge amounts of research into his writings. But it did feel like a very white, Western perspective trying to pretend it wasn't a very white, Western perspective. That is, having the Americans as sympathetic characters for the (presumably) mostly-American audience makes sense to some extent, but I left with only a superficial idea of what the Rawandans thought of their situation and whether the views they were putting out were truthful or in an attempt to deceive the Americans.
Now, it's entirely possible that this was the whole point - we can't understand another's conflict. But I would have much rather seen something from multiple Rawandan perspectives to get a better idea of how they remember the leadup to genocide.
I had both my wife and a friend from NYC in town and took them to see this play - I'd already seen it.
It was as compelling this time as the first time. Its lack of finality or easy moral answers reinforced its attraction and thoughtfulness.
We live through ongoing episodes of ethnic cleansing and genocide. The world's, not just the US's, generally muted response to genocide beyond hand-wringing should be discomfitting to us all. When we are compelled to act or lobby our nation to act, then we will have made some progress.
Until then, plays such as "The Overwhelming" at least keep the issue front and center.
The play was every bit as good as the reviews suggested. The moral ambiguities and situational complexities were beautifully dramatized. Unfortunately, the night we were there it was so hot in the theater that fighting wooziness was a full-time job. Work on the HVAC---the play's great!
Production Process - Meet the Props Master & Technical Director
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 3/27/2009 05:29:00 PM
Many people ask me what the hardest part of my job is... and I think it has to be assembling just the right people for a specific production team. We've been very fortunate to assemble some of the best theatre professionals in the Chicagoland area.
Over the next few weeks, I'd like to introduce you to some of the people who make it possible for our production values to excel in the challenging space in our home here at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center Theatre.
Meet Props Master, Susana Pelayo:
Susie Pelayo is pictured above painting the market baskets for the show. Susie has over 70 properties in the show from very exact wicker chairs to lots of glassware to these hard to find market baskets. Susana has to be very creative about how to find these difficult items... asking just the right person the right questions at the right time can make all the difference. Susie has been our assistant stage manager for the past two shows and is also the stage manager for our Next Communities Project.
Meet Technical Director, Phil Canzano:
Phil Canzano has been hard at work building the set for the show. His attention to detail has really helped make the difference between a well-constructed set and a very detailed realization of the set designer's drawings. Phil has worked as a carpenter on many of our shows over the past few years and we're lucky that he was able to step into this role, taking complete responsibility for getting the set done WAY ahead of schedule.
We're just over two weeks out from the start of previews, so everyone is really hard at work putting the final touches on the technical elements of the play to be ready to integrate those elements into the production during the crazy five days known as "tech week".
I was really impressed with the production. The acting was wonderful. Everyone took their part/s very well, and the accents were totally believable. A very powerful story. The set was simple and effective. Bravo!
Production Process - First Rehearsal of THE OVERWHELMING
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 3/18/2009 12:46:00 PM
Last evening the cast of gathered on stage for the first rehearsal and read-through of J.T. Rogers' play THE OVERWHELMING.
Si Osborne who plays Jack, Assistant Director Jason Gerace, and cast member Lily Mojekwu listen as director Kimberly Senior, discusses a conversation she had with the playwright.
Dramaturg Becky Perlman discusses all of the interesting research information she's gathered regarding the play with cast members Christoph Abiel, Jamie Vann and Rob Fagin.
The cast, director, dramaturg will spend the next few nights doing "table work" where they dissect the play, bit by bit, before they start blocking (staging) the show on Saturday. It's always exciting to see so many months of pre-production planning come together and see the excitement in everyone's eyes as we start this journey of bringing the play to life.
Coming Next to the Production Process Blog... "How many props does it take to put on a play of this size? A visit with Props Master Susie Pelayo.
Production Process - THE OVERWHELMING designs complete
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 3/12/2009 05:45:00 PM
With the closing of DYING CITY, we've just had our second production meeting for THE OVERWHELMING, and after working out our lots of lists of costumes, props and furniture, sound and music and lighting effects... our designs for THE OVERWHELMING are complete!
Set Model by Tom Burch, scenic designer (click photos to enlarge)
Tom's set features sliding panels which will open and close in different configurations to allow us quick transitions and a creative way to suggest the play's many locations, and keep the pace of the play moving.
Three of 40+ Costume Renderings by Whitney McBride, costume designer
Whitney has her hands full with well over a hundred costume pieces for the show, which she has very carefully researched to suggest the plays very specific location and time period.
Shopping for costumes and props has begun and the technical director and his crew are working on building and installing the new set... so we can ready for rehearsals to begin on the 17th... stay tuned!
Dear Next, We've been subsrcibers for several years. We saw "Overwhelming last night. It certainly was! The acting was superb & the points you made were striking.
Alas, my daughter, her husband & my husband are unanimous in feeling that we have enough trauma & grief in our lives & they don't want to subscribe again next year. I stand alone in feeling that I will miss you & wish I could continue to attend. But I think there is an important message here; in these difficult times we need something less traumatic, more uplifting, more fun. I liked the messages I took away from this, but out of 4 opinions I was alone. Aren't there some light-hearted, thoughtful pieces out there? Something short of that satirical disaster you produced early last year...I've forgotten what it was!...but more like a musical or a comedy? How about "The Importance of Being Earnest"? Your regretful ex-subscriber, Lucia Miller
I certainly hope before you and your family decide to leave the Next family, you will look closely at the season we have lined up for you next year. I agree that with everything going on in the world, we need a lighter approach to our serious issues and I have programmed a season that will do just that!
The opening show, "boom," has received tremendous praise for it's humor and wit, including the following reviews:
"Mr. Nachtrieb has a gift for darkly funny dialogue and an appealing way of approaching big themes sideways." The New York Times
"Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s play flips from pants-around-the-ankles comedy to hipster 'Twilight Zone' takeoff…'boom' is imaginative and easy to like." The New Yorker
"Nachtrieb possesses a sharp wit and has crafted an imaginative piece of social satire." Backstage
In addition, we are offering you a holiday comedy/musical that I developed with frequent collaborator Kyle Jarrow: "A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant." Our February production of "Return to Haifa" tackles some big issues, but is in that vein of uplifting drama about families finding hope together. Finally, "The War With the Newts" is a compelling and funny play that will take you many places, but certainly not dark places.
Thank you for sharing your feelings with us and with your fellow Next supporters. I personally appreciate your point of view and am glad to have the opportunity to let you know that I share your concerns and have programmed next season with them in mind.
So don't give up on us now. I trust you will find the upcoming season uplifting, hopeful and meaningful.
Share your thoughts on DYING CITY
by Chelsea Keenan on 2/19/2009 02:33:00 PM
Our Chicago Premiere of Dying City is really getting audiences talking! As you may know, every Sunday matinee is followed by an in-depth talkback. They are always popular, and for this show, nearly our entire audience stayed to discuss this emotionally riveting production.
It's clear this show gives you a lot to talk about! Some of the most captivating questions we've heard surround the character's motivations. Why does Peter come to Kelly's house on this night? Did he plan to come? Did he plan to read the emails from his twin brother to her?
And still more address the unique backstory surrounding the unusual twin bond. Though Peter and Craig seem worlds apart, how are they bonded as brothers? What about their lifestyles is more alike than different?
Please share your thoughts on these and any other topics you contemplated, discussed and debated after Dying City. If you haven't yet seen the show, join us soon (perhaps at one of our Sunday matinees) and share your thoughts with us and your fellow audience members!
Six of us were privileged to see Dying City last week. The 85 year old active writer in our group was extremely impressed on the way Christopher Shinn was able to slice and dice the unfolding of the story in such a complicated but ultimately coherent manner. It works ultimately due to Jason Loewith's capable direction of two outstanding actors, Nicole Wiesner and Coburn Goss! I saw the inital reading by the two and never before did I see such professional preparation prior to the first go-around. They are real pros! Another couple in our group was taken by the wide swathe that war cuts, beyond those in the military, to those who live and die from afar and in some ways more difficult place. At least a soldier feels he might have a modicum of control and understanding of his plight. Our group hopes this tremendous theatre at such a difficult time fills every seat for the remainder of the run!
Inside the Production Process - THE OVERWHELMING first production meeting
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 2/18/2009 11:54:00 AM
Fresh on the heels of getting DYING CITY up and running, we've started production meetings for THE OVERWHELMING. Director Kimberly Senior and her team have been meeting for the past 6 weeks creating the ideas and deciding what the world of the play should look and feel like. Last Friday was our first opportunity to assemble as a group and share ideas for all to see. It was also the deadline for preliminary drawings so that the process of bidding the show with our scene shop and the other individuals that make the show happen.
Director Kimberly Senior, Sound Designer Tamara Roberts, Scenic Designer Tom Burch, Costume Designer Whitney McBride, Properties Master Susie Pelayo and Production Stage Manager Erin Diener discuss the research images presented by Tom Burch. Photo by Jim Davis.
It's my plan to continue to update you as the production process continues for this final show of the 08-09 season. Feel free to comment and let me know what parts of the process you're curious about. See you soon!
We thought this was a poor play filled with gratuitous smut irrelevant to the plot, a lack of character development and basically pointless. On the other hand, the acting was superb.
The acting was excellent. I found Peter and Craig both to be self absorbed users who weren't interested in commitment. The biggest mystery to me was why Kelly thought she loved Craig. She also was nicer to Peter than he deserved. Maybe he came to hurt her because he had been hurt by the comment that was made to him during his play that day. I found him to be nosy and not caring of her. She was too passive in both relationships.
I thought the acting was really good. But I thought the play really needed work - too many undeveloped angles - throwaway line from brother about wantign her to have his baby (say what?) Was that why she hated him and wanted to avoid him? Why was she so distraught about her jerk of a husband having sexual encounters in army if he already said he didnt love her (what an SOB the way he handled it). I dont know but I was sort of annoyed by all the characters (especially the men) and thought they didnt deserve Kelly at all. Pretty contrived entances and exits for brother change too. Sorry.
DYING CITY Technical rehearsals
by Jim Davis - Managing Director on 2/03/2009 09:27:00 PM
Greetings from Technical Rehearsals of DYING CITY. It takes a lot of talented theatre professionals to put up a show here at The Next and we're so very fortunate to work with some of the best in the Chicagoland area.
This amazing team of designers and technicians have been hard at work over the past few days putting the final touches on the technical elements for the play and we've certainly come a long way since we started pre-production in early December. From design meetings where we decided as a creative team what we wanted the world of the play to look and feel like, to scheduling the load-in of lighting and scenery to making sure that the costumes, sound and props departments all stay within their budgets... there are thousands of details to work out and it's my job to coordinate the minutiae of all of it.
We're very lucky to work with the likes of Lighting Designer Keith Parham and Costume Designer Kristine Knanishu (both back in town from their amazing work on the Off-Broadway production of THE ADDING MACHINE) as well as Sound Designer Nathan Leigh who joins us for the first time from Boston. As Production Manager I'm enjoying serving double-duty as Scenic Designer to work with this amazing creative team, led by our old friend (and new Washington DC resident) Jason Loewith, who is directing the show.
Properties Master Michael Groth and Assistant Scenic Designer Diane Fairchild at work re-upholstering the show's sofa.
It always amazes me what a wonderful and talented team of resident technicians I was able to assemble to work with us on our shows. Erin Diener is now in her second show with us as Production Stage Manager and she's assisted again by Susie Pelayo. Our Master Electrician Mac Vaughey has been with us since my first show here two seasons ago and Matt Hallock, our Sound Engineer is doing his fourth show with us. Grant Sabin is back again as our charge Scenic Artist who painted the show to very careful specifications and Properties Master Michael Groth has done amazing work rigging our onstage kitchen to do some pretty cool things. My Associate Production Manager Patrick Fries and Assistant Scenic Designer Diane Fairchild have both been hard at work to make sure that I keep my sanity while serving double duty.
For now, I should get back to work... there's still much to do to make sure that we're ready for our first preview.... in 45 and a half hours!
I thought this play was excellent and the acting superb. The brothers, I felt, had an unsatisfactory and unhealthy relationship - though they each clearly wanted more. The wife was truly victimized by both of them. I did feel as though I was left hanging - that the play was a work in progress. I couldn't help feeling I wanted more answers.
Our group of four viewers found much to discuss in this play. I personally was too aware of all the facial and arm gestures of the wife: I almost never felt that I was unaware of the acting. That was disappointing. None of us felt that the comparison to Bagdad or any other city was clear and stand-alone. I was not clear whether the flashbacks were intended to be what the widow remembered as opposed to what actually happened; grief could alter the widow's perception of reality greatly. We wondered if the warrior twin was a closet homosexual. It also was not clear whether Peter's motivation was his hope that he might be able to father a nephew as a link to his twin. These ambiguities did not strengthen the play in my mind.
Next Communities 2009
by Julie Ganey on 2/02/2009 02:57:00 PM
It's that time of year again. In a few weeks, Next Communities will bring a small group of community members together on the coldest Saturday mornings of the year, to share their views and passion about an issue, with the goal of creating an original play. This year we'll be focusing on youth and education issues in Evanston, a topic that seems every bit as timely as last year's discussion of race, and the previous year's exploration of gentrification.
Let's face it -- it ain't easy to be a kid these days, much less a young adult, facing challenges that are truly rattling the rest of us. How are we in Evanston preparing and engaging our youth so they can become effective members of our community?Maybe more to the point, what are we, as a community, willing to do to insure that all of our children succeed?
For years EvanstonTownshipHigh School has doggedly attempted to raise the performance of all students and close the minority achievement gap, with minimal results. Now ETHS has embraced a new model, de-tracking many of the humanities classes, and creating mixed-level honors classes, designed to increase the rigor and academic achievement among lower-achieving students. This move has brought to the surface some very tough questions: What effect do race and privilege have on student achievement? Are our teachers effectively differentiating their instruction to meet the needs of all students? Here in Evanston, our school districts face the same challenges that any diverse, urban community's schools face. If these challenges cannot be resolved with the resources, intellectual capital, and strong commitment present in our community,how will they ever be addressed in communities nation-wide?
On January 24th, our community ensemble made up of youth services providers, parents, teachers, students from ETHS, and Evanston born playwright Marsha Estell will start questioning and listening to each other. We'll talk it out and argue it out. We might even hug it out. In March, we'll take a break while Marsha writes a play in response to our conversations, and then in April we'll come back to rehearse what she's created. We'll keep you posted, and hope you'll add your voices to our conversation at the Next Communities performances May 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
DYING CITY First Rehearsal
by Chelsea Keenan on 1/07/2009 12:21:00 PM
After staff's various vacations East, West, South and abroad, Next Theatre is back in full swing! Last night we dove head first into our next production, Christopher Shinn's remarkable drama, Dying City. Jason Loewith is back in Chicagoland to direct the two-hander, which features Coburn Goss and Nicole Wiesner.
(L to R): Artistic Director Jason Southerland, Coburn Goss, Nicole Wiesner (foreground), and Jason Loewith check out the set model for Dying City.
Greetings from Tel Aviv
by Anonymous on 12/05/2008 08:23:00 AM
My dearest Next Theatre Company friends,
I know it's only been three weeks since I took the helm of the company, but I am already traveling on behalf of Next. I was invited to attend IsraDrama, a week-long intensive immersion in Israeli theater that is sponsored (and paid for) by the Tel Aviv and Israeli governments. The purpose of the program is to introduce artists from around the world to Israeli theater and to promote partnerships that will bring this work to our countries.
I have an additional agenda for Next Theatre Company. I would like to see the company build some international partnerships that will allow us to work across borders to share the work we do at Next as well as bring work in from these other places. This type of cross-cultural exchange will bring new ideas to Next and will take our unique brand of theater and promote it around the globe. It is my hope that we can further enrich Evanston and Chicagoland culture with these partnerships.
So here is a round-up of my first few days and some observations:
Day 1: Madrid
I had a very long stopover in Madrid and took the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture there. Conveniently I have a friend who is a stage manager for Spanish theater (although he works on shows like Phantom, Beauty and the Beast and the like). He was able to show me around, get me some backstage tours and introduce me to a few theater professionals on the level of Next Theatre Company. In addition I was able to attend a dress rehearsal for a major revival/rethinking of La Vida es Sueño (Life is a Dream) by Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca. I was struck by the way the play transformed language and time. It was written in very antiquated spanish in 1636 and yet this production felt compelling and relevant today. It reminded me why I am so committed to using the classics to reach contemporary audiences.
Day 2: Tel Aviv
We hit the ground running with two plays, Hanoch Levin's classic adaptation of 3 Chekhov short stories. This stunning work had been presented every year at the National Theatre of Tel Aviv (The Cameri) since he wrote it in 1998. It has played over 400 performances in the repertory and continues to sell out every night. I was struck by how many young people were in the audience... at least 1/2 the 700 seat house was under 25. This play is a modern "ritual" for young Israelis, a must-see on their cultural development. It was a powerful experience.
The second play we saw was a brand new piece called Return to Haifa, about a Palestinian couple who returns to the home they abandoned in the 1948 Israeli War of Independence. The home and the baby they left behind was given to a Jewish couple from Poland who had lost everything, including their child. Now, with the father dead and the son fully grown and serving in the Israeli army, the Palestinian couple return in the post Six Day War calm to reclaim their house and their son. What started out as a very experience-specific play is gently and powerfully transformed into a play about home, property and identity. The dramatic journey these characters go on reminds me very much of a play that Next Theatre Company would produce. Stay tuned!
Day 3: Tel Aviv
Not the most exciting of days, honestly. We began by meeting with the artistic leadership of the two major companies in town, The Cameri and the Habima National Theatre. Both receive tremendous government support and have incredible performance complexes much like the Goodman and Steppenwolf (although larger). The economy and the reduction of government support is as much on the minds of the Israeli theater community as it is on the United States and, more specifically, Chicagoland. What did strike me was their complaint that they would have to reduce their rehearsal time from 3 months to 2 months in most cases. And we're lucky if we get to rehearse 4 weeks. So it's a quite different culture here to create new work.
We then saw 4 plays back to back. The first and the third were very different riffs on the famous play The Dybbuk. One was really stale and unimaginative, while the other pushed so many envelopes and tried so many new things that it was a bit incomprehensible. It was, however, my first taste of more avante garde theater in Tel Aviv. The third play we saw, Nutcase, was by a tiny fringe company and the acting undermined what the play was trying to accomplish. It reminded me how lucky we are at Next Theatre Company to have such amazingly talented actors and other artists willing to work in the intimate environment that Next offers. I must remember to thank our actors again the next time I see them. We are very fortunate. Finally we saw a play that could be describes as Wendy Wasserstein meets Stockard Channing. It was a solid, clean, well produced, well acted and ultimately "by the numbers" play. It's nice to see that there is a mainstream playwright and an audience for her work. But ultimately this is the type of play you will never see at Next. So I am signing off after day three with hope for the session tomorrow morning about Political Drama in Israeli Theatre and with some excitement to be going to a theater where they speak Hebrew and Arab in the same play and take on issues that are germane to both cultures.s
Share your thoughts on WELL
by Chelsea Keenan on 11/24/2008 06:57:00 PM
The Chicago Area premiere of WELL has begun performances. The show is Jeff Recommended and has received many praises from local press. Now, share your own thoughts, questions and reviews here!
"Kron's deconstruction is well-served by Kiely's intelligent production. [Mary Ann] Thebus glows with the maternal energy that can make parents objects of adoration and frustration." - Kris Vire, TimeOut Chicago
"HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Exceptionally fine production.. Kiely's direction is spot-on... cleverly structured, emotionally complex...Well deftly mixes pathos and laugh-out-loud moments. " - Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times Read the full review
"The talented cast is infectious. Lia D. Mortensen, playing Lisa Kron, delivers some of the most connective, engaging and funny narrative directly to the audience that I have ever experienced. The enthusiastic ensemble is delightful and Mary Ann Thebus is nothing short of brilliant as Ann Kron, Lisa's mother." - Venus Zarris, Chicago Stage Review
"Well has much of value to say about illnesses that are difficult to define and understand. And Kron's connective tissue between individual and community health is unusually deep and wise." - Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
This play has so many facets and ingredients that it is sure to stimulate interest in any theater attendee. For me personally, the relationship of mother and daughter struck home. A difficult relationship that is a work in progress as it moves slowly toward a reconciliation of sorts. A winner of a play that should only get better with repeated viewings as the many layers of meaning, comedy and relationship are more closely examined.
The show is a fascinating exploration of who is sick and who is "well", heightened by the delicate relationship between mother and daughter and set against the question of what is real and what is performance.
What a coincidence that I saw this show. Back in 1972 through 1974 I worked in the dietary dept at Henrotin Hosp. The memories of serving the food on the trays to the allergic patients flooded back .
What a wonderful show! I laughed out loud and cried. The relationships are real and the ideas of hope and racial harmony certainly ring true today! Not to be missed!!!!!
How courageous of you to put on such an innovative play. Loved every moment of it except the times when someone opened the rear door and it made such a loud noise. Keep up the great work.
We loved the play. The cast was perfect. Please do something about the exit door--it was so distracting to hear it opening and closing during the performance.
JAMES RANK WINS JEFF AWARD
by Chelsea Keenan on 10/21/2008 12:54:00 PM
Congratulations to James Rank, winner of the 2008 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor in a Revue for his extraordinary work in our production of The American Dream Songbook last February. In the two-part revue, Jim first tackled the role of Sam in Leonard Bernstein's challenging one-act Trouble in Tahiti. In the second act, we presented five World Premiere songs on the topic of the American Dream. Jim's beautiful baritone was heard in new pieces ranging from the clever morality tale Betty the Clam Girl to the rollicking New Orleans-style jazz number, This Little American Dream.
See a full list of nominees and winners on the Jeff Awards site!
