Back: Andy Gwyn, Barb Stasiw, Liz Stewart
Opened: Sept. 25, 2003 - Closed: Nov. 22, 2003
Profiles Theatre opened its 15th Year Anniversary Season with the Midwest Premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire's award-winning comedy WONDER OF THE WORLD.
WONDER OF THE WORLD is the award-winning comedy, from the writer of "Fuddy Meers", that tells the story of a young wife who dumps her husband and heads to Niagara Falls on a hilarious journey filled with adventure and romance. When Cass Harris discovers that her husband, Kip, is not the man she thought he was, she packs her bags, hops on a bus and sets out to find her true destiny. Armed with a yard-long list of all the things she's always wanted to do, Cass crosses paths with a wild assortment of characters including a would-be suicidal woman with a pickle barrel, a lonely tour-boat captain and a pair of eccentric amateur detectives. While on her quest, Cass discovers the many bizarre coincidences that connect them all and finds that fate may have something else in store for her.
Profiles Theatre celebrates it's 15th Year Anniversary Season by presenting the Midwest Premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire's award-winning comedy WONDER OF THE WORLD. This critically acclaimed follow-up to Lindsay-Abaire's "Fuddy Meers" received rave reviews and played to sold out houses when it premiered Off-Broadway in 2001 at the Manhattan Theatre Club, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. WONDER OF THE WORLD has garnered several Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award Nominations, in addition to a Helen Hayes Award Nomination for Outstanding New Play in its World Premiere at Washington D.C.'s Woolly Mammoth Theatre.
WONDER OF THE WORLD has received overwhelming critical acclaim in it's East and West Coast Premieres. The New York Times raved, "Exceedingly whimsical and playfully wicked...this is a winning and genial comedy packed with hefty laughter!" Variety exclaimed, "Lindsay-Abaire's flair for the absurd combines nicely with an ability to pull laughs out of any situation. Absolutely hysterical!" The Washington Post applauded, "Characters in psychic pain have never agonized so hilariously as in David Lindsay-Abaire's revved-up, joyously zany play!" And the Hollywood Reporter hailed, "'Wonder of the World' is a wonderfully daffy and surreal extravaganza. This hilarious confection further establishes Lindsay-Abaire as a writer with a terrific gift for absurdist humor, leavened with just enough doses of seriousness to provide emotional resonance."
David Lindsay-Abaire has written over 10 plays, including "Fuddy Meers", which premiered at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 1999. It has since received over one hundred productions around the country and abroad, and is currently being developed into a motion picture, produced by Jonathan Weisgal and Sarah Jessica Parker. Mr. Lindsay-Abaire's newest play "Kimberly Akimbo" received it's World Premiere at the South Coast Rep, and is currently being adapted into a screenplay for Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks SKG. Mr. Lindsay-Abaire has won numerous awards including an LA Drama Critics Circle Award for playwriting, three Garland Awards, and the 2001 Kesselring Prize. He recently signed a two-picture deal with Miramax Films, and is currently developing a television show with Conan O'Brien's production company, Conaco. Mr. Lindsay- Abaire is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Juilliard School's Playwriting Program.
Profiles Theatre's production of WONDER OF THE WORLD was directed by Associate Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. Mr. Cox is most often associated with his work onstage having won two Joseph Jefferson Citations for Principal Actor ("Some Voices" in 2002 , and "Eye of God" in 1998), as well as two After Dark Awards for Outstanding Performance ("Popcorn" in 2000, and "Carnal Knowledge" in 1992). In addition, he has received four Joseph Jefferson Citation Nominations for Principal Actor for his performances in Profiles' productions of "Popcorn" (2000), "Stray Dogs" (1999), "The Baby Dance" (1997) and "Carnal Knowledge" (1992). As a director, Mr. Cox has staged several critically acclaimed productions for Profiles over the years including David Mamet's "The Water Engine", Alan Ayckbourn's "How the Other Half Loves", and "The Twilight Zone: The Series". Company Member, Eric Burgher, will Assistant Direct and Stage Manage the production. David Getzin will return to Profiles as Audio Visual and Sound Designer.
The cast of WONDER OF THE WORLD featured Profiles' Company Member Sara Maddox as Cass. Ms. Maddox was most recently seen as Jenifer in Profiles' lauded production of "Snakebit". Prior to that, she was seen as Lisa in Profiles' US Premiere of "Jump to Cow Heaven". Other Profiles' appearances include Laura in "Some Voices", Alex in "Dogs Barking", and Brooke Daniels in Profiles' hit production of "Popcorn". Lisa Rothschiller was featured as Lois. Ms. Rothschiller is the Artistic Director of Defiant Theatre where she has appeared in numerous productions. She has also worked with many esteemed Chicago theatres including: The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Famous Door, Writer's Theatre, Lookingglass, and most recently, Naked Eye.
Profiles' Artistic Director Joe Jahraus was featured as Captain Mike. Mr. Jahraus was most recently seen as Michael in "Snakebit". Prior to that, he appeared as John in Profiles' critically acclaimed production of "Jump to Cow Heaven". Mr. Jahraus received a 1999 Joseph Jefferson Citation Nomination for Ensemble for his performance in "Stray Dogs". Rob Smith was featured as Kip. Most recently he was seen as Winston in Smash Theatre's Midwest Premiere of "The Credeaux Canvas". Mr. Smith is also an improviser who has appeared at the Annoyance, Improv Olympic, WNEP Theater and most recently with the Free Associates as Randalf and Elroy in "Frodo A-Go-Go".
Liz Stewart made her Profiles' debut featured in multiple roles as Barbara, Pilot, 3 Waitresses and Janie. Ms. Stewart is a graduate of the University of Houston and has appeared in Chicago in "BS" with the Free Associates, "Sappho in Love" at the Bailiwick Rep., and "Rocky and Bullwinkle" at the Griffin Theatre. Toby Nicholson was featured in the role of Glen. Mr. Nicholson previously appeared in the Profiles' productions of "The Twilight Zone: The Series" and their long run of "The Water Engine". Mr. Nicholson has also performed with Raven Theatre in "Six Degrees of Separation", "The Lark" with Eclipse Theatre and "The Nutcracker" with Ballet Legere. Barb Stasiw made her Profiles' debut as Karla. Ms. Stasiw was most recently seen in "Our Lady of the Tortilla" at the Attic Playhouse and "Arsenic and Old Lace" with the Bog Theatre at the Metropolis. She has also appeared in "Three Sisters" and "Inherit the Wind" at the Clarence Brown Theatre in Tennessee.
*Won After Dark Award for Outstanding Performance -
Lisa Rothschiller