Opened: Oct. 13, 2004 - Closed: Nov. 13, 2004
"Critic's Pick! NOISE breaks your heart with dark simplicity in Carla Russell's raw, unflinching production of this affecting drama for Chicago's edgy and proficient Profiles Theatre!"
"The visceral and terrifying NOISE, with its throbbing sound design, is a very juicy play for actors and is performed swiftly and admirably by Profiles!"
"Critic's Pick! Profiles continues it's tradition for intimate, raw and intense dramatic works with NOISE. Eric Burgher and Amy Speckien are marvelous!
Profiles Theatre continues its 15th Anniversary Season by presenting the Midwest Premiere of the acclaimed new drama NOISE by Alex Jones from October 13, 2004, through November 13, 2004, at the Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago.
NOISE tells the story of a newlywed teenage couple who move into their first home only to find their new lives disturbed by a next-door neighbor. Becky and Dan, teenage newlyweds and parents-to-be, are about to start their lives together in their new government funded flat. Dan is about to begin his first real job as Becky prepares for the arrival of the baby. But on their first night, they're troubled by nonstop music pounding through the walls from next door. As the strain of sleeplessness increases over several days, their hopes for the future are threatened when they finally come face-to-face with their noisy neighbor Matt.
Profiles Theatre, currently performing their long-running, critically acclaimed production of "Blackbird" by Adam Rapp, will present NOISE off-nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., and late-night on Saturdays at 11:00 p.m. NOISE premiered at London's Soho Theatre in 1999. The Financial Times hailed it, "A great new play written with fury and compassion about those whose voices are seldom heard." NOISE made its US premiere at the Furious Theatre in Los Angeles. The L.A. Times raved, "Critic's Choice! A haunting work with nail-biting intensity!" and L.A. Weekly called it "a shrewd and chilling new play!"
NOISE was written by Alex Jones, a playwright and actor from Birmingham, England. His writing credits include the plays "Micky and Me" for The Birmingham Rep and The Swan Theatre, "News of the World" for the New Birmingham Theatre Company and the award-winning "Deadwood" for the Watermill Theatre. Mr. Jones' films include "Greasy" which won best film in The Birmingham Film Festival and "Faster, Harder, Longer" which was nominated as best British short in the Kino International Film Festival.
Profiles Theatre's production of NOISE is directed by Carla Russell. Ms. Russell recently moved to Chicago from Seattle after directing several acclaimed productions there including "Saved" by Edward Bond and "The Caretaker" by Harold Pinter for the Gemini Theatre, and "Viewing Habits" by Christopher Keane for Grass Roots Theatre Company. The production is Stage Managed by Laura Burgher.
The cast of NOISE features Profiles' Company Member Eric Burgher as Dan. Mr. Burgher served as Assistant Director for several recent Profiles' productions, including "Blackbird" and "Snakebit". He is currently attending Columbia College and has appeared in their productions of "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" and "Prufrock". The role of Matt will be played by Profiles' Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. Mr. Jahraus directed Profiles' current production of "Blackbird" and was most recently seen onstage as Captain Mike in "Wonder of the World" and Michael in "Snakebit". He received a 1999 Joseph Jefferson Citation nomination for Ensemble for his performance in Profiles' lauded production of "Stray Dogs". Mr. Jahraus has appeared in numerous productions at Profiles including the Joseph Jefferson Citation-winning productions of "Some Voices", "Eye of God", "The Baby Dance", and the two year run of Ben Elton's "Popcorn".
Amy Speckien makes her Profiles' debut in the role of Becky. Ms. Speckien was last seen as Lily in "Low Hanging Fruit" at Donny's Skybox and has appeared in "The Vortex" and the "Martin de Maat New Works Festival" with the Boxer Rebellion Ensemble.