Dog & Pony Theatre Company to Present THE DINNER PARTY PROJECT and THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING

Dog & Pony Theatre Company announces its two latest works: THE DINNER PARTY PROJECT, a one-night only performance April 17 at Ada Street restaurant that incorporates a three-course meal from celebrated chef Michael Kornick of DMK Burger Bar and Fish Bar; and THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING, a world premiere play with music that offers a look at the Democratic National Convention of 1968 in Chicago May 4-June 9 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater.

THE DINNER PARTY PROJECT

Tucked away between Elston Corridor and the Chicago River, new restaurant Ada Street will play host to a scientist and his food experiment: a dinner party of the psyche, where each dish uncovers a piece of a woman's fragmented past. Participants will be presented a three-course meal from chef Michael Kornick, paired with cocktails from mixologist Tim Lacey, formerly from the Drawing Room, as part of a plan to unlock memory through food.

THE DINNER PARTY PROJECT is Tuesday, April 17 at Ada Street, 1664 N. Ada St. Doors open at 7 p.m. and dinner begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $90 and include three-course meal, drink pairings and gratuity. Tickets must be purchased in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com.

THE DINNER PARTY PROJECT is created by Kieran Kredell, Krissy Vanderwarker, Aaron Weissman, and Dav Yendler and produced by Rebecca Stevens and John Arents. Cast includes Kieran Kredell, Brian Crawford, Caroline Rau, and Julia Miller. Environment is designed by Marybeth Herr with lights by Aaron Weissman and sound design by Nathan Green.

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING

This spring, Dog & Pony presents the world premiere of the devised promenade play with music THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING in the Prince Charitable Trust Events Room upstairs at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. New live music, projections, a live and televised-viewing experience combined with a standing-room performance all result in a look at a piece of Chicago’s history.

The new work features book and lyrics by company members Devon de Mayo and Stephen Ptacek; music by Stephen Ptacek; direction by Devon de Mayo with company member David DieteRich Gray; and musical direction by Dan Mohr.

Preview performances for THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING are May 4, 5 and 11, at 8 p.m. Regular run is May 12 – June 9. Press is invited to attend opening night Saturday, May 12 at 8 p.m. Performances are Wednesdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $25 general admission, $15 for students and seniors. All previews plus Wednesday performances are pay-what-you-can. For tickets, call the box office at 773-871-3000, 773-871-0682 (TTY), 773-634-9874 (groups of 10 or more), or visit either www.dogandponychicago.org or www.victorygardens.org.

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING focuses on the week of the August 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago when there were more than three million people in the city and more than three million stories about what really happened. Through a collage of stories from the viewpoints of police officers, journalists, clergy, workers, demonstrators, students, politicians and Yippies, THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING recalls the implications that the riots had on national politics.

THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING was conceived two years ago by company members Devon de Mayo and Stephen Ptacek. It was performed as a staged reading in May 2011 as part of Dog & Pony’s Ruff Play Reading Series. Its development process also included five weeks of workshops this winter.

Director and co-writer Devon de Mayo is a founder and co-artistic director of Dog & Pony Theatre Company. For Dog & Pony, she directed Roadkill Confidential, co-directed/devised The Twins Would Like to Say at Steppenwolf Theatre; dramaturged Auctioning the Ainsleys; co-directed The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler; devised and co-directed As Told by the Vivian Girls; and directed Clouds. Current projects include: directing the world premiere of An Actor Prepares by Mickle Maher (University of Chicago), and the In the Works Series performances of Guerra: A Clown Play. Other directing credits include: Jumping Beans (San Antonio Luminaria Festival); Wild Nights with Emily, A Matter of Life and Death, Pool (No Water), The World Over, Nights at the Circus (NHSI); Constriction (Collaboraction, Sketchbook); 2nd Story (Serendipity Theatre Collective); 52 (Canal Cafe Theatre, London); Ohio, Impromptu (Studio 7, London); and The Spider (Indonesian Institute for the Arts). She received an MFA in directing from Middlesex University in London and did further studies at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS) in Moscow and the Indonesian Institute for the Arts in Bali. She currently serves as the Director of Arts Education at Northlight Theatre.

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