Griffin Theatre’s LONDON WALL – Through February 14, 2016 at The Den Theatre

Following its hit production of Pocatello, Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to continue its 2015-16 season with the Midwest premiere of John Van Druten’s romantic drama LONDON WALL, directed by ensemble member Robin Witt, who helmed Griffin’s 2014 Jeff Award-winning drama Men Should Weep. LONDON WALL will play January 9 – February 14, 2016 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets are available at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (866) 811-4111. 

LONDON WALL features George Booker, Ed Dzialo, Nick Freed, Vanessa Greenway, Ashley Neal, Mary Poole, Amanda Powell, Michael Saguto and Rochelle Therrien.

This “lost” and rarely produced work by the author of I Am a Camera and Bell, Book and Candle explores the lives and love affairs of the women employed as shorthand typists in a busy solicitor’s office in 1930’s London. The play had its premiere in May of 1931 at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London and was acclaimed for its hyper-realistic depiction of office life, as well as its soulful probing of the dreams and desires of its female characters.

LONDON WALL recently received an acclaimed revival at London’s Finborough Theater: “It hasn’t been revived until now, yet comes up fresh as paint,” hailed Charles Spencer of The Telegraph, calling the play “A piece that proves both dramatically engaging and a fascinating theatrical time-capsule.” Time Out London called it “A smart indictment of the meager circumference of a woman’s life as part of the urban workforce of the ’30s, wrapped around a heartfelt romantic drama.” 

The production team for LONDON WALL includes: Jeff Kmiec (scenic design), Rachel Sypniewski (costume designer), Brandon Wardell (lighting design), Stephen Ptacek (sound design), Majel Cuza  (production manager), Carina Abbaticchio (asst. director) and Jon Ravenscroft (stage manager).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: LONDON WALL

Playwright: John Van Druten

Director: ensemble member Robin Witt

Cast: George Booker (Hec), Ed Dzialo (Walker), Nick Freed (Brewer), Vanessa Greenway (Janus), Ashley Neal (Hooper), Mary Poole (Willesden), Amanda Powell (Bufton), Michael Saguto (Birkenshaw) and Rochelle Therrien (Milligan).

Location:  The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Saturday, January 9 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, February 10 at 3 pm, Thursday, January 14 at 7:30 pm, Friday, January 15 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, January 16 at 7:30 pm

Opening: Sunday, January 17 at 7 pm

Regular run: Thursday, January 21 – Sunday, February 14, 2016

Curtain Times:  Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will be an added performance on Saturday, February 13 at 2:30 pm.

Tickets: Previews $28. Regular run $36. Students, seniors and veterans $31 ($23 previews). Group discount: $31 ($23 previews) for groups of ten or more. Single tickets are available at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (866) 811-4111. Season subscriptions are currently available.

About the Playwright

John Van Druten was a British playwright and director who later became a U.S. citizen. He was one of the most successful playwrights of the early 1930s in London with star-studded West End productions including Diversion (1928), After All (1929), London Wall (1931) with Frank Lawton and John Mills, There’s Always Juliet (1931), Somebody Knows (1932), Behold, We Live (1932), The Distaff Side (1933) and Flowers of the Forest (1934). He later emigrated to America where he wrote Leave Her to Heaven (1940), followed by major successes with Old Acquaintance (1940–41) and The Voice of the Turtle (1943), which ran for three seasons in New York and was filmed with Ronald Reagan. His play, Make Way for Lucia (1948), based on the Mapp and Lucia novels of E. F. Benson, was premiered in New York and had its first professional British production in 1995. His 1951 play I Am a Camera, together with Christopher Isherwood’s short stories, Goodbye to Berlin (1939), formed the basis of Joe Masteroff’s book for the Kander and Ebb musical, Cabaret (1966).

About the Director

Robin Witt has directed Ferber and Kaufman’s Stage Door, Terrence Rattigan’s Flare Path and the critically acclaimed 2014 Midwest premiere of Men Should Weep for Griffin Theatre Company, which recently won Jeff Awards for Best Production, Direction and Leading Actress. Her work in Chicago has earned numerous Jeff Award nominations and her productions have been cited as “Best of the Year” by the Chicago Tribune, Time Out Chicago and Chicago Reader. She has worked at a variety of Chicago area theatres including Northlight Theatre, Steep Theatre, A Red Orchid and The Artistic Home. In addition, Robin directed Juliet: A Dialogue About Love for sacred playground theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts (BFA) and Northwestern University (MFA). Robin is an Assistant Professor at UNC Charlotte.

About Griffin Theatre Company

Established in 1988 and celebrating its 28^th season, the mission of the Griffin Theatre Company is to create extraordinary and meaningful theatrical experiences for both children and adults by building bridges of understanding between generations that instill in its audience an appreciation of the performing arts. Through artistic collaboration the Griffin Theatre Company produces literary adaptations, original work and classic plays that challenge and inspire, with wit, style and compassion for the audience.  For additional information, visit www.griffintheatre.com.

 

The Griffin Theatre is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events; and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

The Premiere Production Sponsors are the  Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation & The James P. & Brenda S. Grusecki Foundation

The Griffin Theatre’s 2015-16 season Premiere Sponsor is Jeff Graves Realtor @properties, with additional sponsor support from, The Witt Family, Northside Federal Savings and K’s Dugout.