Photo Flash: First Look at Mary-Arrchie Theatre's Remount of SUPERIOR DONUTS

Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. presents the return of its Jeff Award nominated production of SUPERIOR DONUTS by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts, directed by Matt Miller and featuring nearly all of the original Mary-Arrchie cast. SUPERIOR DONUTS will play now through November 25, 2012 at The Royal George Cabaret Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

SUPERIOR DONUTS is the story of Arthur Przybyszewski, an aging anti-war activist and the proprietor of a rundown donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. When Arthur hires Franco Wicks, a fast-talking African-American kid with big dreams and bigger troubles, Arthur’s world is quickly changed—quite possibly for the better.

Returning for the role of Arthur is Mary-Arrchie founding member and Artistic Director, Richard Cotovsky. Mr. Cotovsky has a long history with the play: he was a part of the original development workshops at Steppenwolf, understudied Michael McKean in the 2008 Steppenwolf production, and later went on to play the role at the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C. in 2010. Returning in the role of Franco Wicks is Preston Tate, Jr. Mr. Tate’s work in Superior Donuts earned him a Jeff Award nomination for Best Actor, as well as the Denzel Washington Award for Most Promising Actor at the 2012 Black Theatre Alliance Awards.

Also reprising their roles are Millie Hurley (Randy), Bradford Stevens (James), Paige Smith (Max), Karl Potthoff (Luther) and BRyan Kelly (Kiril). Joanna Maclay and Christopher Borek join the cast in the roles of Lady Boyle and Kevin Magee, respectively.

Mary Arrchie’s original production of SUPERIOR DONUTS was honored with four non-Equity Joseph Jefferson nominations in last season’s awards ceremony, including nominations for Best Fight Design for David Woolley, Best Actor for Preston Tate, Jr., Best Supporting Actor for Susan Monts-Bologna and Best Production.

The production team for SUPERIOR DONUTS includes: Jenniffer Thuysing & Bob Groth (Scenic Design), Stefin Seberl (Costume Design), Matthew Gawryk (Lighting Designer), Joe Court (Sound Designer), Katherine Greenleaf (Props Design), David Woolley (Fight Design), Jim Stevens (Assistant Director), Alison Barnes (Assistant Stage Manager), Jennifer McLendon (Stage Manager) and Carlo Garcia (Producing Director).

Tracy Letts (Playwright) is an ensemble member and associate artist at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. As a playwright, Mr. Letts is also the author of Killer Joe, Bug, Man From Nebraska (Pulitzer finalist) and August: Osage County (Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award for Best Play). He is currently starring in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Broadway. He recently appeared at Yale Repertory Theatre in Will Eno’s The Realistic Joneses. Previous Steppenwolf credits include Penelope, American Buffalo (also the McCarter), Betrayal, The Pillowman, The Pain and the Itch, The Dresser, Homebody/Kabul, The Dazzle, Glengarry Glen Ross (also in Dublin and Toronto), Three Days of Rain, many others. Other Chicago credits include Bouncers, Fun, Nobody (Next Lab), ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (A Red Orchid Theatre) and Conquest of the South Pole (Famous Door), among others. His also appeared in Orson’s Shadow at New York’s Barrow Street Theatre.

Matt Miller (Director) is a Chicago based director and teacher. Recent directing credits include the original Superior Donuts with Mary Arrchie Theatre (4 Jeff Nominations including Best Production), The Weir for Seanachai Theatre Company (two Jeff Nominations), Oblivion and 4000 Miles (staged reading with Tony Winner Deanna Dunagan) both for Steppenwolf’s First Look Repertory, A Girl With Sun in Her Eyes and This Is Our Youth for Pine Box Theatre, Serendipity Theatre’s Chicago and L.A. productions of Girl, 20 (Best Director and Best Ensemble nominations LA Weekly 2008 Theatre Awards) and the world premiere of Graceland for Profiles Theatre (Jeff Citation for New Work, Top 10 Plays of the Year 2009, Chicago Tribune & Sun Times). As an on-camera director, he conceived and directed the web series Teachers with the local sketch group The Katydids.

Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. was established in 1986 and is currently in its 27th full season of theater. We are committed to producing theater as an ensemble including actors, directors, and designers who are intimately involved in the process. We approach material, published and original, dealing with the fears and passions of the human condition involving characters who are often misunderstood, societal outcasts, and victims of their own exile. We have garnered a reputation for making risky choices by embracing challenging material for both our audience and the artists involved. We are dedicated to bringing light to controversial subjects and presenting alternative viewpoints of these subjects giving our audience different information to consider as they walk away from the theater.

Tickets are currently on sale at the Royal George Box Office by calling (312) 988-9000 or in person during business hours (Wednesdays – Saturdays from 12 pm to 6 pm or until curtain on performance days). Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information, visit www.maryarrchie.com.

Photo Credit: Greg Rothman

Preston Tate, Jr. and Richard Cotovsky

Preston Tate, Jr. and Richard Cotovsky

Preston Tate, Jr. and Richard Cotovsky