Great Falls

GREAT FALLS follows a stepfather and teenage stepdaughter on a road trip across the American West. Mr. Blessing reveals the strained nature of their relationship as they attempt to make sense of who they are to one another now. The realities of their shattered connection unfold in this acclaimed new play.

Profiles production will be the Midwest premiere of GREAT FALLS. It received its World premiere at the 2008 Humana Festival of New American Plays and was a festival favorite. Profiles’ production marks only the second production of this new play from one of the most accomplished writers in modern American Theatre.

“We’re thrilled to be producing our first play by such a highly praised and prolific playwright as Lee Blessing,” says Profiles Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. “GREAT FALLS is so touching, funny and beautifully written, it’s quickly become my favorite work by Mr. Blessing. And after the wonderful chemistry they created for ‘In a Dark Dark House’, I can’t imagine a better pairing for this story than Darrell W. Cox and Allison Torem.”

This is the third production of Profiles Theatre’s 20th Anniversary Season following their acclaimed productions of “Men of Tortuga” by Jason Wells and “The Thugs” by Adam Bock. The next production will be the U.S. premiere of “The Wonderful World of Dissocia” by Anthony Neilson.

Lee Blessing (playwright) is best known for his acclaimed play “A Walk in the Woods”, which has been seen on Broadway, London’s West End and Moscow. Some of his other highly regarded plays include “Going to St. Ives” at Primary Stages, “Thief River” at Signature Theatre; “Cobb” at the Lucille Lortel Theater (and at The Old Globe in 1990); “Chesapeake” at Second Stage Theatre; “Down The Road” at Weissberger Theater Group at Atlantic Theater Company; and “Eleemosynary” at Manhattan Theatre Club. The Signature Theatre’s 1992-93 season included “Fortinbras”, “Lake Street Extension”, “Two Rooms” and the World Premiere of “Patient A”. He has had regional and World Premieres at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, La Jolla Playhouse, Yale Repertory Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Arena Stage, The Old Globe and Alliance Theatre among others, as well as numerous plays produced in England, France, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and elsewhere worldwide. Additional plays include “Oldtimers Game”, “Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music”, “Independence”, “Riches”, “Black Sheep”, “Whores” and “Great Falls”. His recent and upcoming world and regional premieres include “Flag Day” at Contemporary American Theater Festival, “The Scottish Play” at La Jolla Playhouse and “The Winning Streak” at George Street Playhouse. For television he wrote “Cooperstown” on TNT. Blessing’s awards include Tony and Olivier nominations, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, the American Theatre Critics Association Award for “A Walk in the Woods”; a Lucille Lortel Award nomination and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Play for “Going to St. Ives”; a Drama Desk nomination for Best Play for “Thief River”; a Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble for “Cobb”; a Great American Play Award for “Independence”, the Humanitas Award for “Cooperstown” and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Guggenheim, Bush, McKnight and Jerome Foundations. Blessing is the Head of the Graduate Playwriting Program at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University.

Profiles’ Artistic Director Joe Jahraus is the director for GREAT FALLS. Recently, Mr. Jahraus directed Profiles’ highly praised Midwest premiere of “The Thugs” by Adam Bock. Joe directed many of Profiles’ critically acclaimed Neil LaBute plays including “In a Dark Dark House”, “Some Girl(s)”, and “Fat Pig”. He also directed their 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 Chelsea Meyers (set), Jessica Harpenau (lights), Darcy Elora Hofer (costumes), and Kevin O’Donnell (sound). The assistant director is Profiles company member Somer Benson and the stage manager is Nya Watkins.

The cast of GREAT FALLS features Profiles ensemble member Darrell W. Cox as the stepfather. Darrell was most recently seen at Profiles in “Men of Tortuga”, “In a Dark Dark House” and “Some Girl(s)”. He was also recently seen in the Chicago Premiere of Leigh Fondakowski's “The People’s Temple” at American Theatre Company as Jim Jones and Stephan Jones. Darrell has been seen at Steppenwolf in the Midwest Premiere of “Orange Flower Water” (which traveled to the Galway Arts Festival), and the World Premiere of “Wendall Greene”. He has also appeared at the Goodman in “The Shawl” and “Home” as part of the David Mamet Festival and the World Premiere of “Martin Furey’s Shot” at TimeLine Theatre, among others. He has received three Jeff Awards for Principal Actor for his performances in Profiles’ productions of “Blackbird”, “Some Voices” and “Eye of God”. In addition, he has received two After Dark Awards for Outstanding Performance for his work in Profiles’ “Popcorn” and “Carnal Knowledge”. Other recent performances at Profiles include “Apple”, “Fat Pig” and “The Glory of Living”.

Allison Torem returns to Profiles as the stepdaughter. Last season, Allison made her professional debut with Mr. Cox in Profiles’ Midwest premiere of “In a Dark Dark House” by Neil LaBute. She attends Whitney Young Magnet High School as a senior and most recently performed as Muriel in her school's production of “Ah, Wilderness”. She was in a short film at Columbia College and took classes at Prologue Theater and also The Entertainment Project, where she performed in “Grease” and “Peter Pan”.

"Highly Recommended! GREAT FALLS is an appealing, Chicago-style show. You'll find this a moving piece that really sticks with you. It's Darrell W. Cox's best acting and he really gets his guy here. Co-star Allison Torem is an honest, empathetic and grounded actress. It's Profiles all the way, keeping things real!"

Chris Jones, CHICAGO TRIBUNE

 

"Recommended! GREAT FALLS features an astonishing performance by Allison Torem, an actress of dazzling skill, fierce emotional honesty and breathtaking sophistication. Joe Jahraus' expert direction is subtly enhanced by Chelsea Meyers' minimalist set and by Kevin O'Donnell's inspired sound design!"

Hedy Weiss, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

 

"Highly Recommended! Lee Blessing's depiction of their journey is both incisive and devastating, and the same can be said of Jahraus' production. Darrell W. Cox finds both sorrow and snake oil in the stepfather and the excellent Allison Torem, a high-school senior, carefully peels away the girl's sulky exterior until she's a raw wound!"

Zac Thompson, TIMEOUT CHICAGO

 

"Highly Recommended! Joe Jahraus's stark Midwest Premiere for Profiles Theatre is superb. Darrell W. Cox's self-conscious nonchalance is a perfect fit for the stepdad, a complex mix of compassion and self-absorption, good intentions and habitual detachment. And high school senior Allison Torem is unerring and devastating as the damaged girl, furious and fragile!"

Laura Molzahn, CHICAGO READER

 

"Highly Recommended! A funny, harrowing and ultimately bittersweet drama. Directed with keen insight by Profiles Theatre's rock solid Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, GREAT FALLS is a shining example of what the 20-year-old company does so well, so consistently: Peel past the surfaces of seemingly unremarkable people and - with generous, often jarring amounts of dark, dark humor - expose the raw, damaged emotional core that pretty much defines the human condition!"

Catey Sullivan, EXAMINER

"Lee Blessing's writing is honest and the play is filled with humor and emotional insight. Allison Torem is impressive as the disaffected 17-year old and Cox elevates the play to genuine dramatic heights. Joe Jahraus directs with appropriate understatement, letting this story unfold with unforced realism!"

Dan Zeff, COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

"GREAT FALLS looks at the complex dynamics of broken families and broken lives. This psychological drama vividly presents how strained relationships make communication so difficult!"

Tom Williams, CHICAGOCRITIC.COM