Pride Films and Plays has announced the cast and design team for the Chicago premiere of CASA VALENTINA, by Harvey Fierstein,

Directed by Artistic Associate Michael D. Graham, the production will feature Patrick Byrnes as George/Valentina and Nicholia Q. Aguirre as George’s wife Rita, the proprietors of Casa Valentina. Danne W. Taylor will be Charlotte. Also in the cast are Kingsley Day as Theodore/Terry, Michael Hagedorn as Albert/Bessie, Robert Koon as Judge/Amy, Micah Kronlokken as Jonathan/Miranda, Josh Marshall as Michael/Gloria, and BethAnn Smukowski as Eleanor. Jessica Goforth and Casey Coppess will understudy.

The production team currently includes Evan Frank (Set Designer), Shelbi Arndt (Lighting Designer), Ricki Pettinato (Lighting Assistant), Aaron Harris Woodstein (Sound Designer), Michael Starcher (Stage Manager), Claire Hart Proepper (Assistant Director and Movement Coordinator), Jeffrey Geddes (Dramaturg),  and Justin Petty (Intern).

Set in 1962 and based on real-life events, CASA VALENTINA takes place in an inconspicuous bungalow colony in New York’s Catskill Mountains that caters to a very special clientele: cis-gender straight men who delight in dressing and acting as women while away on vacation. These white-collar professionals discreetly escape their regular routines to spend certain weekends safely inhabiting their chosen female alter-egos. But given the opportunity to share their secret lives with the world, the members of this hidden society must decide whether the freedom gained by openness is worth the risk of personal ruin.

CASA VALENTINA runs August 22 – September 29th. For more information visit pridefilmsandplays.com.