(L to R) Lauren Katz, Stephanie Mattos, Hayley Rice, Amy Tofte, and Maureen Yasko

Babes With Blades Theatre Company has announced its 22nd season, entitled “Take Control. Take Action. Make History.” In the coming year, the company will present two full productions, along with three developing scripts as part of the Fighting Words Festival.

The BWBTC season begins in August with the Chicago premiere of Amy Tofte’s “Women of 4G,” directed by Lauren Katz, with assistant director Stephanie Mattos. An all-female crew and their male captain depart on what appears to be a routine mission to Mars until the captain is murdered and the real mission comes to light. April brings a new adaptation of John Webster’s Jacobean revenge tragedy “The Duchess of Malfi,” in which a duchess marries below her class and her brothers seek revenge. Babes With Blades’ version is adapted and directed by Artistic Director Hayley Rice.

“Both plays explore stories of women who dare to decide what their future holds for them, whether in renaissance Europe or the far-flung-future, and how they grapple with a society that tries to prevent them from taking charge of their destiny,” said Rice.

For more information, visit BabesWithBlades.org.

Babes With Blades Theatre Company’s 22nd Season:

“Women of 4G”
August 1 – September 14
Written by Amy Tofte
Director Lauren Katz
Assistant Director Stephanie Mattos
Fight Director BWBTC Ensemble Member Maureen Yasko
The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Previews: Thursday, Aug. 1 and 8, Friday, Aug. 2 and Saturday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 4 at 3 p.m.
Press Opening: Friday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m.
Regular run: Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Tickets: Previews $10; student and senior tickets are $15 and general admission are $28. Every show has limited tickets for Industry for $10, must present proof of theatre industry affiliation.

Seventy-five years in the future, an all-female crew and their male captain depart on what appears to be a routine mission to Mars until the captain is murdered and the real mission comes to light. Part murder mystery, part space thriller, Women of 4G uses a science fiction world to ask questions about women in power as well as their leadership, responsibility and, ultimately, sacrifice.

“The Duchess of Malfi”
April 16 – May 30, 2020
Written by John Webster
Adaptor and Director BWBTC Artistic Director Hayley Rice
The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago
Previews: Thursday, April 16 and 23, Friday, April 17 and 24 and Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m.
Press Opening: Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m.
Regular run: Thursdays – Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets: Previews $10.00; student and senior tickets are $15 and general admission are $28. Every show has limited tickets for Industry for $10, must present proof of theatre industry affiliation.