For Immediate Release
Stage Left Theatre Company ● 1541 W Belmont, Chicago, IL 60657
773.883.883 ● stagelefttheatre.com
Press Contact: Vance Smith, 773-883-8830, [email protected]
Stage Left Theatre presents
All’s Well That Ends Well
by William Shakespeare
April 18 –May 24, 2015
Chicago, February 26th, 2015 – Stage Left Theatre announces their upcoming production of All’s Well
That Ends Well written by William Shakespeare and directed by ensemble member Drew Martin. All’s Well
That Ends Well is the third and final production of Stage Left’s 33rd season. Press opening is Thursday,
April 23rd at 7:30 PM at Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont. The show runs through May 24th.
THE PLAY
When you’re an orphaned woman in a man’s world, there aren’t too many options. But Helena won’t be
held back by expectations, and her beloved won’t know what hit him. This mafia-set production of one of
Shakespeare’s prickliest comedies asks the question: how far is too far to get what we want?
This production will be set in the world of the American mafia in the late 1950s. Director Drew Martin says,
“All’s Well is all about power, dominance and gender dynamics – who’s in charge, who’s on top – and what
happens when that turns upside down. It struck me that envisioning the characters as mobsters would
immediately make those power structures clear – and exciting – for our audience. Setting it in the late fifties
is a natural fit for shifting sex-power relations, while also being a perfect setting for the battle between old
and young generations that also underscores the story.” Artistic Director Vance Smith says, “I am always
wary of gimmicky settings for Shakespeare, but reading this play with Drew’s vision in mind, I felt that the
mafia setting not only illuminates the script, but clarifies some of the infamous ‘problem’ elements.”
THE DEBATE
In line with our mission to raise social and political debate, Stage Left offers patrons a Symposium Series
for every production. Immediately following each Sunday matinee, we will invite the audience to stay for a
discussion centered on questions raised by the performance. Admission to the Symposium Series is free,
but it is recommended that attendees have seen the production in order to fully appreciate and participate
in the discussion. All’s Well That Ends Well raises debate about gender parity, and the consequences of
male pride.
1541 West Belmont • Chicago, IL 60657 • 773.883.8830
[email protected]
stagelefttheatre.com
TICKETS, DATES & INFORMATION
All’s Well That Ends Well runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 3:00pm through
5/24/15. Tickets are $20-30 and will be available through the Theater Wit box office either online at
www.theaterwit.org or by calling 773-975-8150. Press Opening is Thursday, April 23rd at 7:30pm. Previews
are Saturday, April 18th at 7:30pm; Sunday, April 19th at 7:00pm; Tuesday, April 21st at 7:30pm; and
Wednesday, April 22nd at 7:30pm. Preview tickets are $20. All’s Well That Ends Well will be performed at
Theater Wit at 1229 W. Belmont in Chicago. The theater is handicapped and CTA accessible via the
Belmont El (Red & Brown).
Media comps, photos, videos and interviews are available by contacting Vance Smith at 773.883.8830
(office) or [email protected]. Hi-res photos, this release and archived releases and photos are
available at stagelefttheatre.com/press.html.
THE PEOPLE
Drew Martin (Director), known mostly for directing new plays, has never kicked the love of Shakespeare
first seduced him into theatre. Drew’s training at Dartmouth and with the Royal Shakespeare Company has
brought an exciting balance of language-clarity and fun to Julius Caesar (Stage Left), A Midsummer Night’s
Dream (Talisman Theatre) and Twelfth Night (Northeastern Illinois University). Eleven shows he directed
have been nominated and six honored with Jeff Awards, including a Directing Jeff (Leander Stillwell) and
Jeff nomination (Police Deaf Near Far). Other credits include The Fisherman, The Day of Knowledge, One
Fine Day, Prairie Lights, Sing For Your Supper, Dapples and Grays, Out Of Spite: Tales of Survival in
Sarajevo, Escape From Happiness, and In White America. Drew has worked for over 25 years in Chicago
theatre as a director, producer, manager, designer, technician and educator. He is an Ensemble Member
and Casting Director for Stage Left, was Artistic Director in the 1990s, and Interim Co-Artistic Director
2008-9. Drew produces/directs corporate events nationwide through his company, Polaris Productions.
The cast features Stage Left ensemble member Melanie Derleth (Helena), artistic associates Sandy Elias
(Lafew), Kimberly Logan (Widow), and Sean Sinitski (Lavatch), with guest artists Luke Daigle (Bertram),
Jeremy Trager (Parolles), Susie Griffith (Countess), Rich Logan (King), Matt Pierce (First Lord), Nick
Mikula (Second Lord), Heather Chrisler (Diana), Michael Reyes (Duke), Rinska Carrasco (Rinalda/
Marianna), and Madison Niederhauser (First Soldier).
The staff includes SLT company members Jason Crutchfield (stage manager), Emmaline Keddy Hector
(production management), Theresa Ham, (costume designer), Joe Schermoly (technical director),
1541 West Belmont • Chicago, IL 60657 • 773.883.8830
[email protected]
stagelefttheatre.com
Annaliese McSweeney (dramaturg), and Jason A. Fleece (dialect coach), with guest artists Alan Donahue
(scenic designer), Maya Michele Fein (lighting designer), Jeffrey Levin, (sound designer), Scott Dickens
(properties master), Tom Wells (vocal coach), Conner Wilson (assistant director), Krista Mickelson
(associate production manager), Adam Greye (stage management intern), and Jesse Itskowitz (assistant
lighting designer).
ABOUT STAGE LEFT
Founded in 1982, Stage Left Theatre is committed to developing and producing plays that raise debate and
challenge perspectives on political and social issues. Through a full subscription season and our new play
development program Downstage Left, Stage Left strives to ask provocative social and political questions
by producing a mix of new works, regional premieres and timeless classics.
UPCOMING
LeapFest XII– See what’s next in Chicago theatre – LeapFest’s first eleven years have so far graduated
twenty plays to world premiere productions in Chicago and beyond, with three of these receiving the Jeff
Award for Best New Work. Join us for a 12th smash year, when four new plays “take the leap” in development
in this three week festival of politically-minded new work.
Run dates: July, 2015
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1541 West Belmont • Chicago, IL 60657 • 773.883.8830
[email protected]
stagelefttheatre.com