Step Up Productions Opens 2015-16 Season with BAREFOOT IN THE PARK

Step Up Productions is pleased to open its 2015-16 season with Neil Simon’s Tony Award-winning romantic comedy BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, directed by Michael Driscoll, playing October 2 – November 1, 2015 at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago. Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently on sale at www.stepupproductions.org or by calling The Athenaeum Box Office at (773) 935-6875. 

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK will feature Alex Fisher, Randolph Johnson, Sara Minton, Michael Pacas and Colin Sphar.

Paul and Corie Bratter are newlyweds just back from their honeymoon – he’s a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer and she’s an impulsive romantic always looking for the latest kick. When Corie’s loopy, widowed mother drops in for a surprise visit, the couple decides to play matchmaker during a dinner with their upstairs neighbor, Victor. During the meal, everything that can go wrong – does.

Partial proceeds from BAREFOOT IN THE PARK will benefit a soon-to-be-announced partner charity. As part of its mission, Step Up Productions donates a portion of its proceeds to organizations in and around Chicago that support issues often highlighted in its productions.

The production team for BAREFOOT IN THE PARK includes: William Boles (scenic design), Raquel Adorno (costume design), Michael Standfill (lighting design), Jeffrey Levin (sound design), Angela Campos (props design), Sammi Grant (dialect coach), Dorthea Walstrom (make-up design), Alex Rhyan (technical director), Amy Szerlong (asst. director), Garth Moritz (stage manager) and Catherine Allen (production manager).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: BAREFOOT IN THE PARK

Playwright: Neil Simon

Director: Michael Driscoll

Cast: Alex Fisher (Corie Bratter), Randolph Johnson (Telephone Repair Man), Sara Minton (Ethel Banks), Michael Pacas (Victor Velasco) and Colin Sphar (Paul Bratter).

Location: The Athenaeum Theatre (Studio One), 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.

Dates:  Previews: Friday, October 2 at 8 pm, Saturday, October 3 at 2 pm and Monday, October 5 at 8 pm.

Press performance: Tuesday, October 6 at 8 pm

Regular run:  Thursday, October 8 – Sunday, November 1, 2015

Curtain Times:  Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 2 pm

Tickets: Previews: $12. Regular run: $24. $17 seniors/students (with current ID), $20 rush tickets (one hour before curtain). Single tickets and season subscriptions are currently available at www.stepupproductions.org or by calling The Athenaeum Box Office at (773) 935-6875.

About the Director:

Michael Driscoll directed the Jeff nominated production of Carrie: The Musical (Bailiwick Chicago), Desperate Dolls (Strawdog Theatre), Blithe Spirit (GoodLuck Macbeth Theatre Company), Up For It and For Another (American Theater Company’s Big Shoulders Festival), A Plank In Reason (Prologue Theatre), The Last Five Years (Illinois State University) and the staged reading of Penumbra (Three Cat Productions). He assistant directed the Jeff Award–winning production of The Original Grease and Rent (American Theater Company), Oh Coward! (Writers’ Theatre), See What I Wanna See (Bailiwick Chicago/Steppenwolf Garage Rep), Detective Partner Hero Villain (Strawdog Theatre), Sunday in the Park with George (Porchlight Music Theatre) and The Complete Works… (Abridged) (Illinois Shakespeare Festival). Michael is also the Director of Education at Bailiwick Chicago, the Manager of After School Programs at Changing Worlds and a teaching artist. He has taught with American Theater Company, Northlight, Bailiwick Chicago, StageCoach Theatre Arts School, and CCAP. He has presented his work, discussing theatre education’s impact on urban school environments, at the National Convention of Teachers of English, Chicago Arts Educators Forum, and the regional Illinois Theatre in Our Schools conference. Michael is a graduate of the Teaching Artist Development Studio in Chicago, a professional development program designed to refine the skills of the teaching artist. He is a graduate of Illinois State University where he studied theatre education and directing.

About Step Up Productions

Step Up Productions is a non-profit theater company with a mission to communicate stories authentically, inspiring audiences to identify and embrace their own personal truths.

Step Up became a non-profit, in part, to better serve other non-profit organizations in and around Chicago that are committed to helping others become self-sufficient. Step Up donates a portion of its proceeds to organizations that support issues often highlighted in its productions.

For additional information, visit www.stepupproductions.org.