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***U.
S. Premiere***
Seating is
limited for this very special event. Make your
reservations today by calling 773-728-PLAY
(7529)
or reserve for the dinner and show by clicking
this preformatted email link |
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Special Event
Pre-show Dinner/Discussion
featuring
dinner conversations with Playwright James Walker and
Professor of Muslim Studies,
Scott Alexander
before the 8 p.m. performance
of
Proving
Mr. Jennings
by James Walker
Directed by G. J. Cederquist
Meet other supporters and associates of the AWT starting at 6:15 p.m.
Dinner
at 6:30 p.m.
includes a 3 course meal with
coffee and tea and cash bar
at the
Edgewater Beach Cafe
5545 N.
Sheridan
in the
historic Edgewater Beach Hotel,
the pink building just 1 block
east of the theatre
Parking available for
$3 on lower level
Dinner tickets only $20
Your host: Vaughn
J. Fayle, Ph.D. |
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Enjoy a
delicious meal while engaging in timely and lively discussion
concerning playwriting, terrorism,
civil liberties, and artistic
expression.
Meet the AWT
staff including the newest members, as well as
other supporters of the theatre. This one-time event is a highlight of
the AWT season and a not-to-miss opportunity.
Reserve your place at the table
today.
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Proving
Mr. Jennings is the U.S. premiere of a politically
incorrect
satire on the nature of terrorism and our response to it. In this dark
and wicked comedy, a dull, middle-class man goes into the hospital for
a heart transplant, but wakes up to find himself accused of attempting
to detonate a suicide bomb, an act which he did not commit. Eventually,
he is convinced by government bureaucrats, military leaders and
anti-terrorist intelligence agents that he is, in fact, responsible for
the attack. In this post-modern age of high anxiety, how could it be
any other way? He must be guilty, he has to be guilty, and who are we
to say he’s not guilty. AWT is thrilled to present the American
premiere of this terrific play, and to be working with one of Chicago’s
most exciting young talents, George Cederquist, who takes the reins as
director.
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 James Walker,
a long-time friend of the director, is traveling to Chicago for this
special event and U.S premiere of his award-winning play. He
graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 2001. His theatre credits
include Near Miss (BATS New
Writing Award, 2000), Born to be
Wilde (BBC World Service Radio, 2000), Proving Mr Jennings (King’s Cross
New Writing Award, 2004), Gemini
and On the Breast of a Woman.
In 2002 he was short-listed for the London Writers’ Award. He is
presently working on a commission for the National Theatre, London.
Short film credits include One Small
Leap (Best UK Short, Raindance Film Festival 2003;
Cocotte-Minute Award, Brest 2003; HTV Award, Brief Encounters 2002) and
Into Swans.
He is developing a feature film script with his production
company, Magma Pictures.
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Since September 11, Prof. Scott Alexander
has become one of the most erudite and vibrant voices in addressing the
religious, psychological and social implications of living under "the
war of terrorism." As one of the most recognized young Muslim
scholars in Chicago and beyond he has reached out to communities,
synagogues and Mosques helping communities understand the insidious
implications of stigmatizing classes, religions and groups we
perceive as different and therefore suspect. A
graduate of Harvard and Columbia Universities, Dr. Alexander holds the
chair on Muslim Christian relations at Catholic Theological Union, the
largest catholic graduate school for theology in the US, located in
Hyde Park.
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G. J. Cederquist
is an ensemble member of Steep Theatre Company, where he most recently
directed The Night Heron.
Theatre includes: Moby-Dick: Rehearsed (Theatre-Hikes), 1Acts (Citadel), Catch-22, Dealer’s Choice, Pvt. Wars
(Steep), The Merchant of Venice
(Strawdog), The Last Game of the
Season (Collaboraction/Sketchbook), 24 Hours are Not a Day, Bits & Scraps,
Information for Foreigners (Disposable). Opera includes: Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail
(Assistant Director, Chicago Opera Theater). Training: Yale College. He
will begin the M.F.A. directing program at Northwestern this autumn.
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The host for
the evening is Vaughn Fayle Ph.D. Director of
Development and Donor Relations for Actors Workshop Theater and adjunct
professor of philosophy at Catholic Theological Union.
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Space is limited • Credit cards
accepted by phone
Pre-show Dinner/Discussion Tickets: $20
Performance Tickets $25, Students, Seniors $20
Call 773/728-PLAY (7529)
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