THE GIFT THEATRE ANNOUNCES ITS 2014 SEASON
The Gift Theatre artistic director and co-founder Michael Patrick Thornton proudly announces its 2014 season featuring two Chicago premieres and the theater’s first staging of Shakespeare. The season includes Bethany, reuniting the writer and director of the 2013 Gift Theatre hit Mine. Bethanypremiered Off-Broadway in January to raves with America Ferrara in the title role. The Gift Season Subscriptions, starting at $75, offer theatergoers the opportunity to be part of the exciting revolution of The Gift and Chicago’s Northwest Side; Jefferson Park was recently recognized by the Chicago Sun-Times and Nadig Press as “Chicago’s newest theater district.”
“2014 is a season dedicated to Ensemble,” says Thornton. “Through our offstage training together in the LAB, The Gift’s onstage work involves families backed into corners on the geographic, socioeconomic and militaristic fringes, unmoored, raw, fighting for their lives and starving for love.”
January begins with TEN, The Gift’s annual kickoff celebration of ten-minute plays curated by Thornton and associate artistic director Paul D’Addario. In the spring, the season kicks off with the Chicago premiere of Melissa Ross’s dysfunctional family comedy-drama Thinner Than Water, directed by Gift Ensemble member John Gawlik (2013 Jeff Award-winner for When the Rain Stops Falling at Circle Theatre), March 27-May 25.Director Jonathan Berry (Dirty) returns for The Gift’s first Shakespeare production together; Othello runs July 10-August 31 and is dramaturged by Shakespeare scholar Michael Petersen, PhD. The season closes with the Chicago premiere of Laura Marks’ new shocker Bethany, directed by Marti Lyons, September 25-November 23. Subscriptions for the entire 2014 season, which includes two Chicago premieres, are available for as little as $75. The Gift subscribers (“Gifters”) receive admission to three shows, free parking at Gale Street Inn, free admission to all Wednesday night “Natural Gas” improv shows and invitations to special subscriber-only special events.
The Gift offers a Thursday night dinner theater subscription series that includes three dinners at the neighboring Gale Street Inn (tax included) and three Gift shows for $170. New for 2014 is a three-show/three-meal Sunday dinner theater subscription series with The Portage Restaurant for $190.
“We are thrilled to partner with The Gift Theatre,” says The Portage proprietor Quay Tao. “The Gift is an absolute gem in the Chicago theater scene.”
Subscribe at http://thegifttheatre.org/ or call 773-283-7071. Single tickets for all shows will be $35.
TEN
January 9-19
Our annual season kickoff celebration returns with world premiere ten-minute pieces by The Gift and guests.
THINNER THAN WATER
Chicago premiere by Melissa Ross
Directed by ensemble member John Gawlik
Previews: March 27-30
Run: April 3 – May 25
Press Preview: Monday, March 31
Three estranged half-siblings reunite upon their father’s illness in this blood-raw and wicked comedy-drama about fighting through the thick-and-thin of family.
OTHELLO
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Jonathan Berry
Dramaturgy by Dr. Michael Petersen
Previews: July 10-13
Run: July 17 – August 31
Press Preview: Monday, July 14
Shakespeare’s timeless and timely tragedy comes to The Gift in a landmark production where very little is simply black and white.
BETHANY
Chicago premiere by Laura Marks
Directed by Marti Lyons
Previews: September 25 – 28
Run: October 2 – November 23
Press Preview: Monday, September 29
Caught in the middle of the Great Recession, cash-strapped Crystal navigates the worlds of motivational speaking, survivalism and a Saturn dealership to make a home in this shocking drama which re-teams the playwright and director of last season’s Mine.
The 2014 season will also include a year-long development process of co-founder William Nedved’s (Northwest Highway) new play Body & Blood, set for a 2015 premiere. Details of Body & Blood will be revealed as they are confirmed.
The Gift Theatre is conveniently located at 4802 N. Milwaukee, in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood, and is easily accessible by the CTA Blue Line, the Lawrence and Milwaukee Avenue buses and the Kennedy Expressway. For more information about The Gift Theatre’s productions and programs, visitwww.thegifttheatre.org.