Victory Gardens Announces Season Casting

Victory Gardens Announces Season Casting

Victory Gardens Theater, under the direction of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels, has announced complete casting for its upcoming productions of FUN HOME, FADE, a co-production with Teatro Vista, BREACH: A manifesto on race in america through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate, and DOING IT. Casting for Yaël Farber’s MIES JULIE, directed by Dexter Bullard, will be announced at a later date.

FUN HOME
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron
Directed by Gary Griffin
Based on the Graphic Novel by Alison Bechdel
September 19 – November 12, 2017

FUN HOME features McKinley Carter (Helen Bechdel), Preetish Chakraborty (John Bechdel), Danielle Davis (Joan), Leo Gonzalez (Christian Bechdel), Sage Elliott Harper (Small Alison), Stella Rose Hoyt (Small Alison), Rob Lindley (Bruce Bechdel), Joe Lino (Roy/Mark/Pete/Bobby Jeremy), Danni Smith (Alison) and Hannah Starr (Medium Alison).

Hailed as one of Broadway’s most original musicals and the winner of 5 Tony Awards, Fun Home is a groundbreaking story inspired by Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir. In this intimate musical, Alison sets out to unravel the many mysteries of her childhood through a series of memories and conversations – from her coming out to her moving journey to acceptance. Gary Griffin (Hand to God, Never the Sinner) directs this emotionally charged family drama that The New York Times calls “extraordinary,” and “a rare beauty.”

FADE
By Victory Gardens Theater Ensemble Playwright Tanya Saracho
Directed by Teatro Vista Ensemble Member Sandra Marquez
A Co-Production with Teatro Vista (In Partnership with CLATA)
November 4 – December 23, 2017

FADE features Eddie Martinez (Abel) and Sari Sanchez (Lucia).

In this witty behind-the-scenes drama, Mexican-born Lucia is hired to write for a ruthless Hollywood TV series. She soon discovers that the Mexican American custodian, Abel, has a windfall of plot ideas. As their friendship grows, his stories start to blur with hers with unexpected consequences. Fade, directed by Sandra Marquez, is an acclaimed new play from Tanya Saracho (How to Get Away with Murder, Looking, Girls) whose writing “lands in that sweet spot between comedy and drama” (Chicago Tribune).

BREACH: A manifesto on race in America through the eyes of  a black girl recovering from self-hate
By Antoinette Nwandu
Directed by Lisa Portes
February 9 – March 11, 2018

The cast of BREACH includes Keith D. Gallagher (Nate), Linda Bright Clay (Sylvia), Caren Blackmore (Margaret), Julian Parker (Rasheed) and Karen Rodriguez (Carolina).

What happens when a woman trapped in a dead-end job and a fizzling relationship accidentally gets pregnant by a man that she’s not dating? A coming-of-age story about race, class and motherhood, BREACH by Antoinette Nwandu and directed by Lisa Portes, examines how hard it is to love others when it’s you that you loathe most of all.

DOING IT
By Boo Killebrew
Directed by Chay Yew
April 6 – May 6, 2018

DOING IT includes Charin Alvarez (Minny), Matt Farabee (River), Krystal Ortiz (Layla), Caroline Neff (Lettie), Kirsten Fitzgerald (Carly), and Ryan Kitley (Frank).

After serving seven years in prison, Lettie is released and struggles to make a fresh start. Her children, who have been cared for by her half-sister, want little to do with her. Her re-entry job is anything but gentle as she takes on the dark, harsh world of welding. Trying again and again to create a non-criminal life, Lettie is confronted by her past and must make impossible choices to protect her future. Doing It, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew (A Wonder In My Soul, The House That Will Not Stand) marks playwright Boo Killebrew’s Victory Gardens Theater debut.

For more information visit victorygardens.org.

About author

PerformInk

PerformInk is Chicago's entertainment industry trade publication.