Pictured (l-r): Janey Bell, Kevin Sparrow, and Hannah Ii-Epstein

Nothing Without a Company, under the leadership of Co-Artistic Directors Anna Rose Ii-Epstein and Hannah Ii-Epstein, recently announced their 17/18 season, “Identity.” The three-production season focuses on characters figuring out their artistic and personal identities, trying to find themselves in larger social structures, and establishing new relationships.

The season kicks off in July, with a New Play Festival at Mary’s Attic featuring works developed from previous 24-Hour Play Festivals. They continue with BOBBY PIN GIRLS in November written by ensemble member Janey Bell and directed by Ben Kaye. In February 2018, Nothing Without a Company will produce CORNERSTONE, a devised piece written by ensemble member Kevin Sparrow and directed by ensemble member Jake Fruend. The season will conclude with NOT ONE BATU written by Hannah Ii-Epstein, directed by Rachel Slavick, and in partnership with cultural specialist Lanialoha Lee and the Aloha Center Chicago.

Nothing Without a Company’s 17/18 Season (from the press release): 

BOBBY PIN GIRLS
By Janey Bell
November 2017

BOBBY PIN GIRLS tells the story of Ana and Bree as they are forced to do some rapid bonding over the course of a wild night. Ana is an uptight actress struggling to convince herself to stick with a show she not-so-secretly despises while navigating mixed signals from her director. Visual artist Bree attempts to boost her new roomie’s self-confidence while dealing with her impulsive and reckless ex-reentering her life. Will the toxic people in their lives bust up this burgeoning friendship or will the girls learn to embrace their evolving identities? This play contains strong language and drug use.

CORNERSTONE
A devised piece by Kevin Sparrow.
February 2018

Cornerstone Lecture Series Project Managers encourage participants to become “the architects of their own lives” through training exercises and group discussion. They espouse a philosophy that “promises to harness your passion and unleash your unbridled potential,” through wildly misappropriated design and architectural terms. The talk begins like any other, but as the Project Manager becomes more ruthless and belligerent, the attendees begin to rebel. What follows is an epic struggle for dominance and power.

NOT ONE BATU
By Hannah Ii-Epstein
June 2018

Meet Honey Girl: a former meth user, now an expert drug dealer. At Hale’iwa beach park one morning, Honey Girl meets with customers and friends, rival dealers, and her addict mother. Amusing, intimate and occasionally disturbing, Not One Batu follows Honey Girl’s struggle to stay clean in a world turned upside down by meth. The play begins with a pre-show gathering to talk story with Honey Girl and her crew and enjoy live entertainment by The Aloha Center Chicago. This play contains strong language and drug use.

For more information on Nothing Without a Company visit nothingwithoutacompany.org.