Theatre Seven of Chicago Premieres Lewis's AMERICAN STORM, Now thru 12/16

Theatre Seven of Chicago, recipient of the 2012 Emerging Theater Award, is pleased to kick off its 2012/13 Season with the professional world premiere of AMERICAN STORM, by Carter Lewis, directed by Artistic Director Brian Golden, playing tonight, November 16 – December 16, 2012 at the Greenhouse Theater Center Upstairs Studio, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

The production features Lucy Carapetyan, Anthony DiNicola, Charles Harris, Donna McHough, Jim Poole, Andre Teamer, Destin Teamer and Hilary Williams (additional casting to be announced). Subscriptions and single tickets for the 2012/13 Season are currently on sale at www.theatreseven.org. The press opening is Monday, November 19 at 7:30 pm.

In the summer of 1962, a small Ohio town discovers a prize thoroughbred in the stables of the local track. With big business promising to take WelDon Downs corporate, the track workers learn soon enough that not even hope comes for free. AMERICAN STORM is a story of the working class fighting for survival when corporate interests change a small town forever.

The production team for AMERICAN STORM includes: Joe Schermoly (scenic design), Theatre Seven company member Brenda Winstead (costume design), Theatre Seven Company member Justin Wardell (lighting design), Jeff Kelley (sound design), Kerith Parashak (props design), Adam Goldstein (dialect coach) and Nick Ward (production manager).

Previews are tonight, November 16th at 7:30 pm, Saturday, November 17th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 18 at 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm. The Press performance is on Monday, November 19 at 7:30 pm. The Regular run is from November 22 to December 16, 2012 with curtain times on Thursdays at 7:30 pm; Friday at 7:30 pm; Saturday at 7:30 pm; and Sundays at 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm.

Tickets for Previews are $15; for the Regular run: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Students, Seniors & Industry tickets are $17.50. Subscriptions and single tickets for the 2012/13 Season are currently on sale at www.theatreseven.org. Group discounts are also available.

Carter Lewis's works have been presented at theaters across the U.S. and include Art Control, A Geometric Digression of the Species, Soft Click Of A Switch, An Asian Jockey In Our Midst, The One-Eyed Man Is King, Golf With Alan Shepard, Picasso Does My Maps, Longevity Abbreviated For Those Who Don't Have Time, Women Who Steal, Men on the Take, Kid Peculiar, Ordinary Nation and Civil DisobediencE. Lewis is currently serving as Playwright-in-Residence at Washington University.

Brian Golden is the Managing Artistic Director and a founding member of Theatre Seven of Chicago. During his leadership, Theatre Seven's work has been seen by 12,000+ patrons and the company has been nominated for three Jeff Awards, two Black Theatre Alliance Awards, been a three-time finalist and the 2012 winner of Broadway in Chicago's Emerging Theatre Award, and paid over 200 artists for their work. Brian was the Co-Coordinator of Theatre Seven's 2011 The Chicago Landmark Project, 12 World Premiere short plays about 12 specific Chicago landmarks. For T7, Brian has directed In the Heart of America, The Water Engine: An American Fable, Hunting and Gathering, Diversey Harbor, The Sand Castle, Killing Women and Is Chicago. His play Cooperstown was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award, and he was one of eight co-authors of We Live Here, which was nominated for 2 Jeff Awards, including Best New Work. Brian works for Catharsis Productions as the company's Literary Manager, developing new artistic programs with an emphasis on social justice and violence reduction. Brian is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, a two-time winner of the A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Contest, and recipient of the Leota Diesel Ashton Playwriting Prize and John J. Jutkowitz Award.

Theatre Seven of Chicago produces new and original work that explores the diverse Chicago experience. Since 2007, the company has produced sixteen standout offerings, greeted 12,000 audience members, paid 200+ artists for their contributions, earned nominations for three Jeff Awards and two Black Theatre Alliance Awards and won the 2012 League of Chicago Theatres' Emerging Theater Award. The company's noted world premieres include The Chicago Landmark Project, We Live Here, Diversey Harbor, Yes, This Really Happened To Me and Cooperstown. The company also hosts a robust menu of auxiliary programming, including a monthly reading series, Shikaakwa, featuring new-to-Chicago plays and one of the best post-show discussions in town. Learn more about Theatre Seven of Chicago at www.theatreseven.org.

More Articles by This Author...