Photo Flash: Shattered Globe Theatre's HER NAKED SKIN Begins Previews Tonight in Chicago

As part of Shattered Globe Theatre's 20th Anniversary Season, the Stage 773 resident company presents the Midwest premiere of HER NAKED SKIN by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, directed by Artistic Director Roger Smart, beginning previews tonight, May 1 and running through June 3, 2012 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. See photos from the production below!

HER NAKED SKIN features Shattered Globe Ensemble Members Kate LoConti, Alice Pacyga, Linda Reiter, Drew Schad, Angie Shriner, Dan Wilson and Brad Woodard, as well as members of the Shattered Globe Protégé Program, Trina McGee, Kelsey Melvin, Matthew Nerber and Jesse Thurston. The cast also includes Graham Brown, Maya Friedler, Andy Gwyn, Kevin Kenneally, Tim Newell, Shelia O'Connor and Melissa Reimer.

London 1913. Militancy in the Suffragette Movement is at its height. Thousands of women of all classes serve time in Holloway Prison in their fight to win the vote. Amongst them is Lady Celia Cain, who feels trapped by both policies of the day and the shackles of a frustrating marriage. Inside, she meets a young seamstress, Eve Douglas, and her life spirals into an erotic but dangerous chaos.

The creative team for HER NAKED SKIN includes: Andrew Hildner (scenic design), Lindsay Schmeling (costume design), Charles Jolls (lighting design), Christopher Kriz (sound design), Vivian Knouse (props design), Judy Anderson (production manager), Jacob Watson (assistant director), Erin Scheffler (dramaturg), Greg Poljacik (fight choreographer), Lindsay Ricketts (stage manager) and Amanda Rozmiarek (technical director).

The show plays at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Previews are Tuesday, May 1, Wednesday, May 2 and Thursday May 3 at 8 pm. Press performance/Opening is Friday, May 4 at 8 pm. Regular run: Saturday, May 5 - Sunday, June 3, 2012. Curtain Times: Thursdays & Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm & 8 pm, Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets: $18 - 34. Go online at www.stage773.com or www.shatteredglobe.org or call (773) 327-5252.

Performed at The National Theatre in London in 2008, Her Naked Skin was the first play to be performed on the Olivier stage by a living female playwright. Rebecca Lenkiewicz was inspired to write the play after reading the book Shoulder to Shoulder by Midge Mackenzie. The book documents the lives and works of some of Britain's leading suffragettes, including many excerpts from their speeches, diaries, letters and memoirs. Of the book Lenkiewicz said, "from devouring that book came my urge to write about the period and a desire to put those women into the foreground once more; their bravery and brilliance." In addition to The National Theatre, Lenkiewicz has written plays staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Edinburgh Festival, Arcola Theatre and the SoHo Theatre.

Hailing from England, Roger Smart is one of the original members of SGT, performing in the first production of Frozen Assets, before going on to direct and design Talk Radio and a number of other productions for the company. He has directed extensively in Chicago and Southern California. Credits include A Streetcar Named Desire, Saint Joan, The Road to Mecca, The Trial, In a Pig's Valise, Œdipus, Scenes From an Execution, The Life of Galileo, Dylan, The Women; Road, suburbia, Duet For One; A Map of the World, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Julius Caesar and Romeo & Juliet. Roger served as the Director of Education & Training at Court Theatre. He has an MFA in Directing from the University of California, Irvine, and is currently completing PhD research into psychophysical modalities of training actors at the University of London, Goldsmiths College. Roger He is a certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework and has taught directing, acting and voice in theatre programs in England and the States.

Shattered Globe Theatre was born in a storefront space on Halsted Street 20 years ago. Since then, SGT has produced more than 60 plays, including 9 American and World premieres, garnered an impressive 42 Jeff Awards and 97 Jeff Award Nominations as well as the acclaim of critics and audiences alike. Shattered Globe presents an eclectic mix of plays, intimate character driven selections, which speak to the universal aspect of what it means to be a part of the human experience.

For more information on Shattered Globe's 20th anniversary season, visit www.shatteredglobe.org and see photos from HER NAKED SKIN below!

Photo credit: Kevin Viol