BoHo Theatre to Stage HAUPTMANN, 3/22-4/21

BoHo Theatre presents Hauptmann, an examination of truth and media indictment, by lauded Chicago playwright John Logan. The production runs March 22nd through April 21st at the Heartland Studio in Rogers Park. Hauptmann is directed by Founding Artistic Director Stephen M. Genovese, who directed the critically acclaimed BoHo productions of The Rainmaker, The Glorious Ones, Sideshow, and I Am My Own Wife. The production features Jeremy Trager in the role of Richard Hauptmann. Trager was recently seen in BoHo's productions of The Spitfire Grill and Tartuffe. Hauptmann represents the Bohemian Pillar of Truth in BoHo's 2012/2013 Season.

In 1932, the world was rocked by the kidnapping of Charles Lindberg Jr., one of the most highly publicized crimes of the 20th century. In 1936, German immigrant and ex-convict Bruno Richard Hauptmann was executed for the kidnapping and murder of the Lindbergh baby. But was he really guilty? Or was this the result of an opportunistic media eager to promote "The Crime of the Century," rising anti-German sentiment in America, and the power of money and fame to influence our justice system? BoHo's Hauptmann looks at one of the earliest instances of this phenomenon, a trial that by many modern scholars was full of flimsy and unsubstantiated evidence.

Not simply a court room drama, the production is narrated by Hauptmann himself, a conflicted and withdrawn man whose perspective on the experience may not be entirely reliable. Presenting a story where the line between truth and lies is never clear, BoHo challenges audiences to examine how society arrives at the truth, and whether the public's insatiable demand for sensational stories and scapegoats distorts the search for that truth. This early work by renowned writer John Logan mixes historical facts with theatricality to examine the reality behind the trial and the man accused of the unthinkable.

Logan is best known to audiences for his plays Red, centered around modern artist Mark Rothko, and Never the Sinner, which explores the infamous Leopold and Loeb murder case. His screenwriting credits include such critical and box office successes as Gladiator, Rango, Skyfall, and Martin Scorcese's The Aviator and Hugo. Don't miss this rare chance to catch BoHo's production of one of his early masterpieces.

Hauptmann by John Logan will be directed by Stephen M. Genovese, featuring scenic design by John Zuiker, lighting design by Diane D. Fairchild, costume design by Rachel Parent, dialect coaching by Peter Robel. Produced by Kaela Altman.

The cast features Jeremy Trager as Richard Hauptmann, with Chris Amos, Sasha Kraichnan, Eleanor Katz, Nathan Randall, Nathan Grant, and Derek Van Barham.

The production runs March 22 - April 21, 2013, playing Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Opening Night is Saturday, March 23, at 8:00pm., in The Heartland Studio, 7016 N. Glenwood Ave, Chicago. For tickets, Ovation Tix at 866-811-4111 or visit www.BoHoTheatre.com. Tickets on sale now. Opening weekend (September 14-16) ticket price: $15, Regular run ticket prices: $20.

John Logan (Playwright)
One of Hollywood's most successful screenwriters, John Logan made a name for himself by crafting extensively researched, thoroughly compelling historical epics. His early works in Chicago include Never The Sinner (1986 Jeff Award for Best New Work, New York Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Play), Hauptmann (1987 Jeff Award for Best New Work), Music From A Locked Room , and Riverview. After more than 10 years as a respected playwright in Illinois, Logan began his transition to writing for the screen with the Orson Welles biopic RKO 281 (HBO, 1999) and the Oliver Stone-directed NFL melodrama Any Given Sunday (1999). Having attracted the attention of director- producer Ridley Scott, he was brought on to script the Oscar-winning Roman Empire spectacle Gladiator (2000). Logan further cemented his growing reputation with his lauded work on films like Edward Zwick's The Last Samurai (2003), Martin Scorsese's The Aviator (2004) and Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007).