Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. Presents 26th Annual “ABBIE HOFFMAN DIED FOR OUR SINS” THEATER FESTIVAL August 15, 16 & 17, 2014 at Angel Island

8AB0B8DB-EAB4-45FF-AE68-C9FF4AC399A4Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. is pleased to present its 26th annual “Abbie Hoffman Died for Our Sins” Theater Festival, featuring three days of virtually non-stop theatrical entertainment on August 15, 16 & 17, 2014 at Angel Island, 731 W. Sheridan Rd. in Chicago. Abbie Fest, as it’s affectionately called, was originally created to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethesda, NY.  Since then, Mary-Arrchie has concluded its past 25 seasons by inviting any and all theater groups and performers into its performance space for the annual festival.

This year’s festivities begin at 3 pm on Friday, August 15 at Daley Plaza with a peaceful march to Mary-Arrchie’s home at Angel Island followed by opening ceremonies at 7 pm, with Artistic Director Richard Cotovsky’s portrayal of political and social activist Abbie Hoffman to bless the non-stop weekend of entertainment.  Performances will continue through the wee hours of Monday, August 18.

Abbie Fest XXVI will feature 40 – 50 theatre groups and individual performers including comedy, drama, music, stand-up, jugglers, mimes, improvisation and more.  This year’s event will include many of the festival’s mainstays, as well as new participants. Each performance is one-hour or less.

The Abbie Fest XXVI line-up to date includes: The AbbeysBlack ForestChicago Danztheatre EnsembleA Chicken Legs ExperimentClock TheaterCollage ProductionsCommedia BeauregardDaniel Berry (DBK Studios)Dear Abby ProductionsDemocracy BurlesqueDramageddonEileen TullEl BearEli Van SickelThe Factory TheaterFamous In The FutureFull VoiceHard Knock ProductionsJacqueline Sylvie BandKnife and Fork TheatreLittle Howling WolfThe Living CanvasMary-Arrchie Theatre Co., Mischa the Yippie/ZippieMudgeonsoul ProductionsNight Magic DesignsNothing Without a CompanyOn Golden Pond EntertainmentThe PlagiaristsThe Resonant AuthorityThe Right Brain ProjectSense of Urgency TheatreSpanglish ProductionsSpoiled SeedStand On Your Hands and Clap and The Spectapulars!  An up-to-date list of participants can be found at www.maryarrchie.com.

Special events at Abbie Fest XXVI include Mary-Arrchie’s summer production of HELLISH HALF-LIGHTShorter Plays of Samuel Beckett, playing Saturday, August 16 at 8 pm

Tickets for Abbie Fest XXVI are $10 for a one-day pass, which allows patrons to come and go all day and all night and $25 for a weekend pass, which allows patrons to come and go all weekend. Patrons will be provided with a wristband and will be expected to wear it for every entrance.  Passes can be purchased at www.ticketweb.com or in person at the box office.

Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. was established in 1986 and is currently in its 28th full season of theater. We are committed to producing theater as an ensemble including actors, directors, and designers who are intimately involved in the process.  We approach material, published and original, dealing with the fears and passions of the human condition involving characters who are often misunderstood, societal outcasts, and victims of their own exile. We have garnered a reputation for making risky choices by embracing challenging material for both our audience and the artists involved. We are dedicated to bringing light to controversial subjects and presenting alternative viewpoints of these subjects giving our audience different information to consider as they walk away from the theater. For additional information, visit www.maryarrchie.com.