STONES IN HIS POCKETS to Play Northlight Theatre, 3/8-4/14

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2012-2013 season with Marie Jones's Stones in His Pockets, directed by J.R. Sullivan, featuring Brian Vaughn and David Ivers. The production will run at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from March 8 - April 14, 2013. The Press Opening is Friday, March 15, at 7:30 pm.

A couple of small town Irishmen hope to hit it big when hired as extras for an epic American movie filming in their scenic County Kerry village. Two actors portray a colorful cast of dozens in this rollicking tale that pits harsh reality against Hollywood endings.

Stones in His Pockets is presented in association with the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

BJ Jones comments, "One of the greatest pleasures in my job is the opportunity to bring old friends and colleagues to Chicago. Northlight veteran director J.R. Sullivan, with whom I worked first in 1976, returns to direct Stones in His Pockets with Brian Vaughn and David Ivers-two versatile actors who will play 15 roles in a play that is both hilarious and heartbreaking. David and Brian are the Artistic Directors of the Utah Shakespeare Festival and J.R. is the Artistic Director of the Pearl Theatre in New York. With all this artistic firepower on display I am sure you will be as delighted as I am to welcome them to Northlight."

The designers are Scott Davis (Set Design/Props), David Kay Mickelsen (Costume Design), Casey Diers (Lighting Design) and Lindsay Jones (Sound Design). The stage manager is Christine D. Freeburg and the dramaturg is Kristin Leahey.

J.R. Sullivan (Director) previously directed Northlight's Benefactors and The Last Survivor. He has been the artistic director of The Pearl Theatre Company in New York City since 2009, directing six shows for the company's three-season residency at New York City Center, including Moon for the Misbegotten, Richard II, Wittenberg, and Hard Times. For seven seasons, Sullivan served as associate artistic director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, directing productions there of Henry V, Hamlet, King Lear, Gaslight, 'Art,' and Stones in His Pockets among others. J.R. Sullivan's work has also been seen at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, American Players, The Arden in Philadelphia, The Studio Theatre in Washington DC, and Delaware Theatre Company, among many others. His 1995 production of Faith Healer was a great success for the Turnaround Theatre Company located at Halsted and Belmont, garnering critical acclaim and later continuing in an extended run at Steppenwolf.
Marie Jones (Playwright) has written shows that have been produced around the world. Her play Stones in His Pockets was produced on Broadway in 2001. She founded the Charabanc Theater Company in 1983 and later co-founded DubbleJoint in 1990. Other Credits: A Night in November; Convictions; Don't Look Down; Eddie Bottom's Dream; Gold in the Streets; Hang All the Harpers; Hiring Days; It's a Waste of Time Tracey; Now You're Talkin'; Oul Delf and False Teeth; Ruby; Somewhere over the Balcony; The Blind Fiddler of Glenadauch; The Cow, the Ship and the Indian; The Girls in the Big Picture; The Hamster Wheel; The Terrible Twins' Crazy Christmas; Under Napoleon's Nose; Weddin's Wee'ins and Wakes; Women on the Verge of HRT; Yours, Truly; book for the musical The Chosen Room. Awards: TMA Award, Glasgow Mayfest Award, Irish Times/ESB Award, three Tony Award nominations for Stones in His Pockets, John Hewitt Award, Special Judges Award, Belfast Arts Award in 2000, the Order of the British Empire in 2002 Brian Vaughn is currently the Artistic Director for Utah Shakespeare Festival; as an actor for the Festival, his title roles include Hamlet, Henry V, and Cyrano de Bergerac; Leontes, The Winter's Tale, Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice; Richard Hannay, The 39 Steps; Benedick, Much Ado about Nothing; Prince Hal and Hotspur, Henry IV Part One; Charlie,Stones in his Pockets; Victor Flemming, Moonlight and Magnolias; King Arthur, Camelot; others. Festival directing credits include Greater Tuna, 2010, Dial M for Murder, 2011. Brian is also a resident company member at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, roles there include Amadeus, Bach at Leipzig, Doubt, The Glass Menagerie, Proof, The Voysey Inheritance. He has also performed at Arizona Theatre Company; Chicago Shakespeare Theatre; Milwaukee Chamber Theatre; PCPA Theatrefest; RenaissanceTheatreworks; Skylight Opera.