GENESIS THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS The CHICAGO PREMIERE of DOWN RANGE by JEFFREY SKINNER A Play about Life in the Military

Genesis Theatrical Productions will present the Chicago premiere of DOWN RANGE by Jeffrey Skinner opening Thursday, August 7, 2014 and running through August 31.

DOWN RANGE offers a rare glimpse into the complexities of military life focusing on the struggles of career soldiers when they return from multiple deployments. Unique to the play is an attention to the wives and families left at home who must also deal with issues of loneliness, frustration, and grief. The year is 2009 and two veteran soldiers come back from Iraq following an IED attack on their vehicle. A non-linear narrative spanning many years, DOWN RANGEdepicts the soldiers’ inability to ever completely leave the war behind, and the ripple effects this has on their families, and ultimately on an entire community.

Army Lieutenant Colonel Christian Kubik, a high-ranking officer who saw many deployments down range himself attended the premiere of the play in New York. Afterwards Kubik contacted the playwright writing that the play convincingly captures the “soldier [who] finds himself getting sucked deeper and deeper into the Army ‘family’ and not being able to figure out that it happened” while the play also “speaks to the real challenges Army wives face.”

Acclaimed director Kay Martinovich, who has recently returned to Chicago, directs DOWN RANGE. The production opens Thursday August 7 at the National Pastime Theater in the Preston Bradley Center, 941 W. Lawrence (Lawrence and Sheridan) in Chicago. The run is Thursday through Sunday at 7:30pm through August 31.

The cast includes Carl Herzog as FRANK RISPOLI, David Lawrence Hamilton as CURTIS “DOC” PETTIBONE, Carey Lee Burton as BETH RISPOLI, Whitney Morse as EVA PETTIBONE, and Lucas Thatcher as the CASUALTY ASSISTANCE OFFICER. The Stage Manager is Josh Raether.

The design team includes Ashley Woods, Set Design, Brandon Wardell, Lighting Design, JJ Porterfield, Sound Design, and Stefanie Johnsen, Costume Design.

Regular tickets are $45. Current and retired members of the military pay only $22.50 with ID and groups of 10 or more pay $20.  For more information on group rates, call Elayne at 773-724-1554. Military discount tickets available on Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/587994 and enter the password USMILITARY. Discounted tickets also available on Goldstar.

Genesis Theatrical Productions at The National Pastime Theater is located within the rediscovered historic Preston Bradley Center at 941 W Lawrence Avenue, 4th Floor in Chicago. The theatre is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible.  We can be reached via the Red Line Lawrence train stop and bus routes 36, 81, 145 and 151 are all within three blocks. On-street parking is available or $5 parking in Weiss hospital parking at 4650 N. Clarendon. Voucher at the box office.

For more information on Genesis Theatrical Productions, please go to our web page at www.genesistheatricals.com.

Playwright Jeffrey Skinner, a recent recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and Director Kay Martinovich are available for interviews.  To arrange an interview, please contact Elayne LeTraunik at virtualelayne@gmail.com or 773-724-1554.