Trapped in the claustrophobic community of Belfast’s most notorious housing estate, three brothers face an unthinkable choice when one of them is accused of an unspeakable crime. Lauded Northern Irish playwright Gary Mitchell weaves a suspenseful tale of loyalism and loyalty, making its Midwest premiere at ITC.
Directed By: Jeri Fredrickson
Lighting Design: Smooch Medina
Set Design: Merje Veski
A family birthday party on a lovely summer day is interrupted when a feeble old man shows up, unannounced and uninvited, seeking forgiveness for something the 68-year-old hostess has worked a lifetime to forget. Dorothy Mae Walker is the unshakeable matriarch at the center of this world premiere production written by Columbia College Chicago recent graduate Michael Allen Harris. A retired English teacher living in a contemporary urban world, Dorothy Mae will not be defeated by disappointments and unexpected set-backs, managing her fate and family with grace, strength and humor, snatching moments of joy where she can, sharing love where she may.
Jean and Henry Farrell, after years of unsuccessfully attempting to have a baby of their own, decide to adopt. Emma, the birth mother, approves of the couple. Now a new waiting game begins: awaiting the birth of their child. To help Jean through, her best friend Franny comes for a visit, but brings more baggage than a normal traveler as she is separating from her husband, Sam. When the time arrives it is not a happy occasion however, as the baby, Robin, is born hydrocephalic, and will not live long. It was agreed that Jean and Henry would only accept a healthy infant, but Jean's investment in the waiting game was too intense and she falls for this child. The attention she pays to Robin not only threatens to tear her marriage apart—sending Henry away on a camping trip with the estranged Sam in a male bonding scene not to be missed—but causes trouble at the hospital as well: Jean has no parental rights, even though Emma has disappeared, and the administrators (despite what the nursing staff have to say) are wary. Eventually, after making some progress, Robin succumbs to his condition, leaving Jean and Henry, not only having to repair their marriage, but right back where they started—interviewing with a new birth mother.
Mae lives with Lloyd whom her father brought home as an abandoned child and raised with Mae. Mae and Lloyd live in considerable rural poverty but Mae attends literacy classes and is committed to learning to read, and to becoming numerate. Whilst Lloyd takes care of their pig, Betsy, Mae works hard cleaning, cooking, and ironing. She attempts to deal with Lloyd's ill health and invites an older man, Henry, to read to them a health pamphlet. She then invites him to join them for a modest meal and when Henry recites grace Mae is deeply affected. Her mind's hunger for knowledge and self-improvement accelerates. Henry moves in to complete the trio, replacing Lloyd in Mae’s bed, but when an accident disables Henry, Mae feels that both men are holding her back. She leaves them, but is pursued by a desperate Lloyd who shoots her and carries her back on stage. A dying Mae speaks of the light she has died to pursue.
Expect some of the businesses to be Boarded Up, trash everywhere, burning tires, some of the left over cars may be damaged and overturned, as well as ZOMBIES being caged up. Do no fear! Everything will be in order and your safety is guaranteed by Military presence and several of our ZDI staff members. Some of the businesses will be open for you to get food, shelter (YWCA Warming Station), medical treatment (Ambulance will be there with doctors on hand), and several more food and drink stations throughout the safe zone.
As with all groups of people (or things) some have a kind heart to them and will feel bad for the undead. I would assume that there will be protestors there fighting for ZOMBIE RIGHTS and several ZOMBIE MARCHES may occur.
This may be your last shot at survival, so we at ZDI will make sure that every Human has a good time with 2 stages of entertainment, bands, food, booze (plenty of booze), vendors, food vendors, lazer tag, live graffiti artists, and guests like SVENGOOLIE.
Sweater Weather is a movement based performance event that exposes the Chicago community to a number of emerging movement artists.Engaging numerous local performers, Sweater Weather is both a commentary on the challenges of young, self-producing artists, and a confrontation with these perceived barriers. The performance is comprised of four complementary original works that explore a variety of concepts, weaving together images of nostalgia and homesickness, memory's impact on the present, and the politics of living as a self producing artist.
Started in 1994, Tarana Dance Academy is the oldest and largest kathak dance school in the chicagoland area. Today, it offers various forms of dance training to aspiring youths and adults. It emphasizes on self-discipline, confidence, physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
For kathak students, Tarana Dance Academy has a structured 7 year curriculum. This curriculum and training is based on the course structure taught at Ghandharva Vidyalaya,Bombay,India.
In order to graduate,students are required to pass examination at the end of each year. After successful completion of seven year training, students qualify to graduate with Rangmanch Visharad.
Tarana Dance Academy had its first Rangmanch Kathak Visharad (Graduation) in 2005. It was also first Rangmanch Visharad in the Chicagoland area.
Workshops for the enrichment of students are regularly conducted by expert choreoghraphers from India and United States, in the areas of Kathak, Folk dance, Bollywood dancing and other popular forms.