The Thugs

THE THUGS is a dark comedy about the mysterious things that are happening on the 9th floor of a big law firm. When a group of temps try to discover the secrets that lurk in the hidden crevices of their workplace, they realize they would rather believe in gossip and rumors than face dangerous realities.

The Profiles production marks the Midwest Premiere of THE THUGS. The play received its critically-acclaimed 2006 world premiere at the Soho Rep in New York, winning an OBIE Award for outstanding playwriting and was named to Time Out New York’s “Top Ten” lists.  The New York Times raved, “THE THUGS is a delightfully paranoid little nightmare that is both more chillingly realistic and pointedly absurd than anything John Grisham ever dreamed up!” Mr. Bock has also won the prestigious American Theater Critics Award, the Glickman Award and the Theater Critics Circle Awards for Best Original Script, among others.

Adam Bock (playwright) won an OBIE for playwriting when THE THUGS premiered at NYC's Soho Rep in 2006 and was named to both of TimeOut NY's Top Ten lists. His most recent play, “The Drunken City” premiered at Playwrights Horizons in March 2008. Other recent works include “The Receptionist” which had its World premiere at Manhattan Theatre Club in October 2007 and “Five Flights” which played Off-Broadway at Rattlestick Theater in 2004, after a five-month sold-out run at San Francisco's Encore Theater in 2002. The play won the Glickman Award, and was nominated for the American Theater Critics Award, the Elizabeth Osborn Award, and two BATCC Awards. Shotgun Players' production of “Swimming in the Shallows” won the 2000 Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Awards for Best Original Script, Best Production, and Best Ensemble. Mr. Bock helped Jack Cummings III develop “The Audience”, nominated for three 2005 Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical. His play “The Shaker Chair”, produced by Actors Theater of Louisville in the Humana Festival in 2005, was nominated for the Kesselring Prize. “The Typographer’s Dream” has been produced in New York City and San Francisco, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and in Berkeley in 2006. Mr. Bock is an artistic associate at Shotgun Players and Encore Theater, and is a resident playwright at New Dramatists.

Profiles Theatre's production of THE THUGS is directed by Profiles Artistic Director, Joe Jahraus. Mr. Jahraus most recently staged Profiles’ highly praised Midwest premieres of “In a Dark Dark House”, “Some Girl(s)” and “Fat Pig” all by Neil LaBute as well as the American premiere of “Apple” by Vern Thiessen and the Midwest Premiere of Profiles’ award-winning hit production of “Blackbird” by Adam Rapp.

The designers are Profiles ensemble member Wayne Karl (set), Jessica Harpenau (lights), Darcy Elora Hofer (costumes), and Kevin O’Donnell (sound). The assistant director is Bradley Bartolo and the stage manager is Nya Watkins.

The cast of THE THUGS features Profiles ensemble member Somer Benson as Diane. Somer was most recently seen in “Coax” as part of Profiles' Midwest premiere of “Things We Said Today” by Neil LaBute. Some of her other favorite productions include “Proof”, “Collected Stories”, and “Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean”. She was also the Assistant Director for Profiles' acclaimed production of “In a Dark Dark House” by Neil LaBute. Profiles’ ensemble member Tyler Gray appears as Joey. Tyler is the newest member of Profiles Theatre. He was seen in "Long Division" as part of Profiles' Midwest premiere of “autobahn” by Neil LaBute, which received an After Dark Award for Outstanding Ensemble. Some of his other credits include “ The Last Exodus of American Men”with Jackalope Theatre, “Pandora” with Blue Moon Studio Theater, “Landscape of the Body” at The Artistic Home and “Hana's Suitcase” with The Chicago Children's Theater.

The cast also features Greta Honold, Caroline Dodge Latta, Jasmine McNeely, Bob Pries, Annie Slivinski, and Tori Ulrich.

"One of the Top Ten plays of the year!"

TimeOut New York

"THE THUGS is a delightfully paranoid little nightmare that is both more chillingly realistic and pointedly absurd than anything John Grisham ever dreamed up!"

New York Times

“Highly Recommended! It's Alfred Hitchcock meets Harold Pinter in the circle of interpersonal hell depicted in THE THUGS, Adam Bock's quirky little play about the fear and loathing and terror found in the contemporary workplace. This tight, tense, drama -- now in its Midwest premiere by Profiles Theatre has been ideally cast and directed by Joe Jahraus!”

Hedy Weiss, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

“Recommended! As a portrait of lowest-level office politics, The Thugs is dead-on. Bock deftly illustrates the ways our personal lives infiltrate even the most aloof work relationships. Jahraus’s tightly choreographed direction allows just the right amount of quirk to seep through the seams. In our information-saturated urban lives, the playwright seems to say, the less we know, the more likely we are to panic!”

Kris Vire, TIMEOUT CHICAGO

“Highly Recommended! THE THUGS is a parable about the destructive effects of deadening labor, allowing the bored and restless temps to indulge in fanciful conspiracy theories. It psychologically explores the insidious impact of gossip on idle minds. Or it could be just what it seems on the surface, nearly an hour of unexplained creepiness. I enjoyed it!”

Dan Zeff, COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

“Highly Recommended! Adam Bock’s THE THUGS captures the tension and fractured relationships in the bleak world of temporary employees and throws in a couple of potential homicides for good measure. The collective paranoia builds to a well-orchestrated fever pitch. The top-notch cast makes the Mametesque dialogue sound as natural as breathing!”

Lisa Buscani, NEWCITY

“THE THUGS is fantastic! It’s 60 riveting minutes of claustrophobic thrills, hilariously dead-on, day-job hell and an octet ensemble of vividly etched characters. With Adam Bock’s marvelously creepy script, the ensemble works together like master musicians in a symphony. Jahraus’ cast has taken scripted words and made them seem as spontaneous, natural and startling as real life!”

Catey Sullivan, EXAMINER

“Highly Recommended! THE THUGS is delicious fun. The whole cast is quite good, especially Caroline Dodge Latta, Bob Pries and Somer Benson. Under Joe Jahraus’ direction the snappy dialog moves rapidly and this show manages to get a good way below the skin of what life is all about: It’s temporary!”

Jack Hafferkamp, EDGE CHICAGO

“I liked this troubling work. The cast did outstanding ensemble acting that brought out each character’s foibles. The staging, lighting and pacing worked to create enough dramatic tension to sustain the suspense!”

Tom Williams, CHICAGOCRITIC.COM

"Director Joe Jahraus has an uncanny knack for illuminating the human frailties that give people reason to both doubt themselves and lean on others for strength. Anyone who has ever spent time on the low end of the office totem pole will easily relate to the politics, favoritism and machinations of this motley crew!”

Ruth Smerling, THEATREWORLD