SiNNERMAN

Photo by nk Mooneyham

“We choose to work on projects that both scare and ignite us. In this way, we give ensemble members constant opportunities to learn, grown, indulge their passions and uphold their artistic integrity. As for our audience—we don’t want to make them feel, we want to allow them to feel. We want to reinforce the idea that there is no right way to respond to theatre. We want to excite people, to entertain them, and to illuminate life in front of them, inviting them to experience the full spectrum of humanity with us.” - from The SiNNERMAN Way

SiNNERMAN has been busy at work on our next show, Days of Late. Gathering of the design team and finalizing the cast is almost finished, next we will be doing script workshops (shaping new plays is one of our truest loves), finding rehearsal space, and as always, fund raising!

Braden LuBell is the playwright and director of Days of Late, a play that, with comedy, eroticism and harrowing drama, finds eight twenty and thirty somethings stumbling through the hardest times of their lives. Eight inhabitants of an American metropolis attempt to navigate the mine fields of love, sex and professional aspirations. The play explores the situation of our generation: we have so many new things to deal with in the way of looking for love, including growing up in a world with sexual liberation, anonymous sex, craigslist, and the growing acceptance of bisexuality and homosexuality. Our generation is spending their twenties and thirties differently than the traditions of our parents and grandparents: we’re pursuing careers, living far away from our families, being completely independent and thus struggling not to live frantic and isolated lives. As they pass the ages when their parents were settled with children, these characters are commonly bonded in the need to believe that it’s not too late to find their own type of happiness.

Days of Late is shaping up to be a hybrid of raw, naturalistic, fast-paced dialogue and slower, more poetic sections of ensemble movement. We are aiming to create an overwhelming experience that leaves an enormous, arresting and lasting impression on the audience and allows them to consider their own situation, beliefs and choices.

Exciting, huh?  We think so, too.  Happy New Year to all of our fans, and see you soon!

Photo by nk Mooneyham

Posted by: Sue Redman

Hope to see you there!

Alright, people.  Dust off your funniest, sexiest and most politically current costumes.  It’s time.  Everyone’s been asking about our Halloween Bash which has continuously proved to be one of the most raucous parties of the year.  Don’t miss it, friends!  We’d love to see you there (even if we won’t remember it the next day).

And why not come see the show on Halloween night?  You can get in for $15 with code word: HALLOWEEN.  Plus, if you see the show that night, you can get $5 off the cover to the party!  Sweet deal, right?  See you soon…

Posted by: Sue Redman

“These two-and-a-half hours are about all you need to understand why Chekhov, theatre and life matter.” –Justin Hayford, Chicago

Ensemble members Jeremy Fisher, Sue Redman and Anna Carini (photo by nk Mooneyham)

“…A riveting exploration of the tragic and farcical flounderings of the human heart.  The inquisitive, passionate, disarmingly young cast are so in tune with Chekhov’s nuanced style…” –Justin Hayford, Chicago Reader

Ensemble members Ryan Martin and Jeremy Fisher (photo by nk Mooneyham)

“Inspired… That tightrope between low despair and high comedy is traversed here with neat aplomb.” –Kerry Reid

Ensemble members Jeremy Fisher and Cyd Blakewell (photo by nk Mooneyham)

Check out the rest of our amazing reviews on the PRESS page!

If you haven’t seen the show yet, get your tickets soon before they sell out!  Call 773-296-6024.

Ivanov runs until November 7th

at The Viaduct Theatre (3111 N Western)

Thursdays - Saturdays @ 7:30pm, Sundays @ 5pm

Tickets are $20 ($15 Student/Industry tickets are available at the box office with ID)

This weekend, you can catch a show and contribute to a cause, all in one night.  October 15th -October 18th is Charity Weekend.  25% of our ticket sales will go to the Center for Economic Progress.

Supporting local charities is an important part of SiNNERMAN’s mission.  Every play we stage is partnered with a deserving charity that is relevant to the story we are telling.  With this act, we hope to strengthen the community in a small but significant way.

The Center for Economic Progress helps hard-working, low-income families move from financial uncertainty to financial security.  To find out more about this incredible organization, check out our SUPPORT page.

Posted by: Sue Redman

Greetings friends!

Our hugely anticipated show, IVANOV, adapted and directed by Chicago’s own Sheldon Patinkin, is about to open!  This week we move into The Viaduct Theatre, build the set, hang the lights, try on the costumes and make the magic happen.  We open on October 1st… get your tickets now!

Ensemble members Calliope Porter, Anna Carini, Sue Redman, Jeremy Fisher, Cyd Blakewell and Ryan Martin.

Featuring eight ensemble members, this passion-filled production of a classic tale swings wildly from comedy to tragedy. In a community obsessed with gossip and greed, the brilliant Ivanov has fallen out of love with his wife and his friends and bankrupted his land, only to be dangerously attracted to the beautiful young daughter of his creditor. Chekhov’s most accessible play asks the burning question “How do you live without hope?”

IVANOV

Adapted and Directed by Sheldon Patinkin

Running at The Viaduct Theatre

3111 N Western Ave (Parking lot across the street, and right of the Belmont and Western Buses)

October 2nd through November 7th: Thursday-Saturday @ 7:30pm, Sundays @ 5:00pm

$20 General admission

For tickets go to www.viaducttheatre.com or call 773-296-6024.

***Saturday, October 3rd is our Wine, Cheese and Chat Night!  A $30 ticket includes the show, as well as complimentary wine and cheese during our post-show talk-back with the actors and director.  Come out and chat with us!  We’re a good time.

A special thanks to everyone who came out to our wildly successful SiNFEST, and those who donated despite their absence.  We’re so glad to have you on our team.  None of this would be possible without you, friends.  Hope to see you at the show!

Photos by nk Mooneyham

Posted by: Sue Redman

Go ahead.  Sin a little.  We won’t tell.

SiNNERMAN’s 2nd Annual SiNFEST is here at last!

Friends, you may have noticed: Summer is rapidly coming to a close.
Celebrate the last few days by getting in your last few sins: Sunday,
September 6th, the night before Labor Day. What better night to do a
little Sinning?

Don’t worry.  Monday’s a holiday.  It’s not a school night.

A $20 donation gets you delicious food, delicious booze, delicious tunes
and the company of delicious folks. Fun times guaranteed.  PLUS some sinful surprises.  AND a chance to win incredible raffle prizes. Do you like massages?  Hotel rooms?  Fancy dinners?  So do we. But we’re giving’em away.

When: Sunday, September 6th, 7pm — Midnight
Where: Studio Be — 3110 N Sheffield (Just around the corner from the Belmont L Stop!)
What: An evening of good times and bad behavior
Why: Because the SiNNERS have much more fun
How Much: A mere 20 dollars

All proceeds go towards SiNNERMAN Ensemble’s 2009/2010 Season, our  first
ever multiple-show season, which begins on October 1st with the rarely done Chekhov play, Ivanov, adapted and directed by Sheldon Patinkin.

Stop by!  Say hello! We’ll be the ones who are up to no good.

Can’t make it to SiNFEST?  Still want to help?

Donating to SiNNERMAN has never been easier.  Check out the SUPPORT section on our website!  We are entering into our first ever three-show season.  This is groundbreaking for us.  And for our bank account.

A donation of any size is enormously appreciated.

Your support makes what we do possible.

We thank you, from the bottom of our sinful hearts!

Friends!

The SiNNERs have been hard at work and play this summer.  Since last we spoke, we’ve cast Ivanov (which features EIGHT ensemble members and TEN guest artists!), we’ve traipsed around Chicago in our conspicuous 1890’s costumes, turning heads and taking photos (of which there is evidence below), we’ve completed a 4 week Voice/Shakespeare workshop (with the phenomenal Gigi Buffington), we’ve begun planning our annual parties– SiNFEST and our Halloween Bash (September 6th, and October 31st, respectively) and up next we’re doing a workshop reading of our Spring ‘10 play, Days of Late by Braden LuBell.  Huzzah!  There is much to look forward to, dear ones!

All of that great news aside, we are especially happy to announce the addition of two new SiNNERS to the gang!  We’d like to introduce you to Ryan Martin and Stefin Steberl!  They’re good ones.  You’ll see.  More to come on that.

Individually, we’ve been busy having babies (both Dominica and Ryan have welcomed precious little ones into the world since April!), writing plays and screenplays (Anna and Sue respectively), and working with other theatre companies around town (Jeremy with Steep, Ebony with Eclipse, Stefin with Boho and both Cyd and Calliope with Theatre Seven of Chicago).  Levi’s been holding down the fort on the West Coast, Marisa’s been holding down the fort on the East Coast, and Johnny’s getting ready to return to us in the Middle Coast!  Our lives are full of good stuff and we’ve ever-so-happy, friends.  And it’s about to get even better, to the tune of one epic Chekhov play which director Sheldon Patinkin describes as, “A hilarious comedy… until suddenly it’s not.”

Stay tuned for more info on SiNFEST, Ivanov and our brand new ensemble members!

Posted by: Sue Redman

Another SiNNERMAN show has come and gone.  Once again we find ourselves a little lost, a little relieved, a little nostaglic (for moments that passed mere days and weeks ago) and a little anxious to move onto the next project.  The theatre is a bittersweet business of flux.  We constantly find ourselves fully committing to the world of a play, and then mourning the loss of it.  And then fully committing to the next world of the next play, and then mourning the loss of that.

It will take time to unpack the lessons we’ve gathered over the last few months, but one thing has been clear to us all along:  What we have as a company is unique.  Not every company is so lucky to have a solid, loving, creative and supportive environment to call home.  Not every company has the guts required take big risks and the heart required to create a joyful atmosphere.  Not every company puts so much care into assembling such kind, intelligent, humble and hard-working guest artists to come and play.  We do it because we can’t imagine not doing it.  And it turns out we’ve created something really special.

And so with that knowledge, we continue to do what we’ve been doing.  We kiss B-Sides goodbye, we celebrate, and then we move on to what’s next.

Closing Night Party for Bible B-Sides with the much-adored cast and crew.

Up next: something completely different. Chekhov’s Ivanov , directed by Sheldon Patinkin. Rehearsals begin in early August.  And we’re on the edge of our proverbial seats.

Posted by Sue Redman

Friends!  Quick!  Get your tickets before they sell out!  B-SIDES will officially close its doors on Saturday, April 25th.

This is your last chance to see this exciting, completely original production!

Call 773-296-6024 for tickets!

Greetings friends!

Just a quick note to say that if you haven’t come to see B-SIDES yet, this is the weekend to do it!  Passover is upon us, Spring is here and we have a show on Easter Sunday (which is a great day to see a bible play)!  This Sunday, April 12th, give the special code, “Holiday” at the box office and get a $10 ticket.  What a fantastic way to celebrate!

And if you can’t make it out to see the show, but would still like to support SiNNERMAN, go to our Support page to learn how you can help!

BIBLE B-SIDES runs until Saturday, April 25th

The Viaduct (3111 N Western Ave.)

Thursday - Saturday @ 8PM; Sundays @ 5PM

Tickets are $20 ($15 Industry tickets are available on Thursdays and Sundays)

Call 773-296-6024 or purchase tickets at the theatre.

The full cast of BIBLE B-SIDES on Opening Night

We hope to see you there!

Hey folks!

B-SIDES is going really well so far!  Blurbs from our reviews can be found on our Press page, but here’s a tasty morsel:

“They get my admiration for attempting to put forward difficult subject matter with creative staging.  I pray that they continue to take such risks.” -J. Scott Hill, Chicago Stage Review

Ensemble members Anna Carini, Calliope Porter and Sue Redman.

Four more weeks left to check it out!

In other news: As you may know, part of SiNNERMAN’s mission is to partner with a local charity for each production.  We pick an organization that is somehow connected to one of the themes in our show, in the hopes that we can make our theatre more relevant.  For our current production, BIBLE B-SIDES, we’ve chosen to partner with Deborah’s Place, an organization that provides homeless women with housing, support, health care and opportunities for change.

While BIBLE B-SIDES is made up of ten different stories, one of the most common threads we found is that women were often mistreated, misunderstood and powerless.  Though these stories were written thousands of years ago, many women all over the world still find themselves in that position.  By teaming up with Deborah’s Place, we hope to raise money, awareness and respect for this issue.  You can go to our Support page for more information on Deborah’s Place (as well as the charities we’ve worked with in the past), OR you can come see BIBLE B-SIDES and make a donation at the theater!

***This coming weekend, April 2nd - April 5th, is our special Charity Weekend.  Thursday through Saturday night, bring a women’s toiletry item to donate and get $5 off your ticket price.  And Sunday night, $5 from every ticket will go directly to Deborah’s Place.  The Sunday night show (which starts at 5PM) will be followed by an opportunity to grab a drink at the bar and chat with the cast of the show, as well as a representative from Deborah’s Place.

(If you don’t make it to see the show this weekend, you can still make donations to this incredible organization at every show from now until April 25th!)

BIBLE B-SIDES runs until April 25th at The Viaduct Theatre (3111 N Western Ave.)

Thursday - Saturday @ 8PM; Sundays @ 5PM

Call 773-296-6024 for tickets! (Or purchase at the door for special discounts.)

Posted by Sue Redman