Profiles Theatre announces its 2010- 2011 Season
Midwest Premieres by Neil LaBute, Michael Weller, Deirdre O’Connor,
and a World Premiere by Will Kern

Profiles, one of Chicago’s longest-running storefront theatres, presents its 22nd season of new and challenging works, beginning with the Midwest premiere of the acclaimed new play JAILBAIT by Deirdre O’Connor.

The Profiles Theatre season also includes the Midwest premiere of Neil LaBute’s Broadway triumph, REASONS TO BE PRETTY, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder; the World premiere of KID SISTER by Will Kern, author of the long-running Chicago hit, "Hellcab"; and the Midwest premiere of FIFTY WORDS by Michael Weller.  Profiles will also host a return engagement of AN EVENING WITH NEIL LABUTE 2011: LIVE AND IN PERSON, a one-night event featuring all new readings and a talk back with the celebrated playwright.

Profiles Theatre is following up its hugely successful 21st season, which featured an extended run of Ellen Fairey’s World premiere “Graceland”, Midwest premieres by Neil LaBute and Annie Baker, as well as their Jeff Award-winning production of KILLER JOE by Tracy Letts. "We are thrilled to announce the four premieres we have lined up for our 22nd season,” says Profiles' Artistic Directors Joe Jahraus and Darrell W. Cox.  “Our friend and collaborator Neil LaBute is back with his most acclaimed play yet, REASONS TO BE PRETTY, his first to be produced on Broadway and the recipient of several Tony nominations including Best Play." 

"We are continuing our quest to add work from the most anticipated, up-and-coming female playwrights in the country, as we have in the past couple of seasons with Ellen Fairey (World Premiere of “Graceland”) and Annie Baker (Midwest Premiere of “Body Awareness”).  This season, Deirdre O’Connor will be the one to watch with her smart, funny and bittersweet new play, JAILBAIT. Will Kern took Chicago by storm back in the 90’s with his smash hit "Hellcab", and we’re very excited to be presenting the World premiere of his new play, KID SISTER. Michael Weller is one of the most respected writers in American theatre, and his new play FIFTY WORDS is a funny, frightening and touching look at modern marriage. All of the plays we’ve chosen for our 22nd Season are fierce, provocative and ultimately controversial – all things audiences have come to expect from Profiles.”

The season will begin with the acclaimed new play JAILBAIT by Dierdre O'Connor, from September 2, 2010 through October 17, 2010 at the Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago.  The production will be directed by Profiles’ Artistic Director, Joe Jahraus and will feature Profiles ensemble member Eric Burgher.

JAILBAIT

MIDWEST PREMIERE

By Deirdre O’Connor
Directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus

Featuring ensemble member Eric Burgher
Previews: August 27- August 31, 2010
Run: September 1 – October 17, 2010

 

Through the course of one dizzying night at a club, JAILBAIT follows the parallel stories of two fifteen-year-old girls, desperate to grow up, and two thirty-something men who are looking to be twenty-one again. High-school sophomores Claire and Emmy make a game of posing as college students in order to meet older men. Brash bachelor Mark thinks a night out with attractive girls will be just what his friend Robert needs to recover from his recent breakup. When this unlikely foursome collides, they discover some surprising and dangerous compatibilities.  Smart, funny, and disturbing, JAILBAIT asks the question: When do you really become an adult?

JAILBAIT was developed by Deirdre O’Connor in 2008 as part of the Cherry Lane Theatre’s Mentor Project, with distinguished playwright Michael Weller serving as her mentor.  In March 2009, it received its World premiere as the inaugural production for their newest venue - the Cherry Pit Theatre.  She is a graduate of Columbia University 's MFA Playwriting program where she received the John Golden Playwriting Award.

 

KID SISTER

WORLD PREMIERE

By Will Kern

Directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus

Featuring ensemble members Eric Burgher, Darrell W. Cox and Allison Torem

Previews: November 2-6, 2010

Run: November 7- December 19, 2010

 

Demi Williams, a sexy 19-year-old single mom and American Idol wannabe, believes only one thing stands between herself and singing superstardom - her stalker, ex-boyfriend, Kendall Fritch.  To get this psycho out of her life forever, she elicits the aid of her brother Cassius, recently returned from a stretch in Florida’s Gainesville Prison. But ex-con Cassius wants more than she’s willing to give - custody of her newborn baby girl.  This “dime novel in two acts” tells the story of a deadly ambitious sister who stops at nothing on her quest for musical stardom as well as her kind-but-cunning brother's desperate shot at redemption.

Will Kern is best know for his play, "Hellcab", one of the longest running shows in the Chicago’s history.  Originally produced by Famous Door Theater Company in 1992, it ran for over nine years.  Performed coast-to-coast and worldwide, "Hellcab" won numerous awards, including a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival. His newest play, "Mothers and Tigers: True Stories of Korean Women", received its World premiere from the Chaimoo Theater Company in Seoul, South Korea, where he teaches Communications at the Sookmyung Women’s University.

KID SISTER marks the first un-solicited script to receive a full production in Profiles’ twenty-two year history.

 

AN EVENING WITH NEIL LABUTE 2011: LIVE AND IN PERSON

January 8, 2011

 

Profiles will present a special return engagement of An Evening With Neil Labute 2011: Live and in Person, on January 8, 2011.  This one night only event will feature a pre-show reception, selected readings of LaBute’s work and a post-show audience talkback with Mr. LaBute.  This is a rare opportunity for audiences in Chicago to see and hear up close and personal, one of most unique and prolific writers of our generation.  Profiles presented their first highly successful evening of LaBute readings and talkback in January 2009.

 

REASONS TO BE PRETTY

By Neil LaBute

MIDWEST PREMIERE

Directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder

Featuring Profiles ensemble members Somer Benson and Darrell W. Cox

Previews: January 21- 26, 2011

Run: January 27- March 13, 2011

 

In REASONS TO BE PRETTY, Greg’s tight-knit social circle is thrown into turmoil when his offhand remarks about a female coworker’s pretty face and his own girlfriend Steph’s lack thereof get back to Steph. But that’s just the beginning. Greg’s best buddy, Kent, and Kent’s wife, Carly, also enter into the picture, and the emotional equation becomes exponentially more complicated. As their relationships crumble, the four friends are forced to confront a sea of deceit, infidelity, and betrayed trust in their journey to answer that oh-so-American question: How much is pretty worth?

REASONS TO BE PRETTY, produced by MCC Theater and directed by Terry Kinney, premiered off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theater in June 2008.  It received three Drama Desk Award nominations including Outstanding Play.  REASONS TO BE PRETTY became Neil LaBute's first play ever to be staged on Broadway when it opened in March 2009 at the Lyceum Theatre.  The comedy-drama was nominated for three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Play and received the 2009 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite New Off-Broadway Play.

This marks Profiles Theatre’s eighth Midwest premiere of LaBute’s work following their acclaimed productions of THE MERCY SEAT, IN A DARK DARK HOUSE and FAT PIG.

 

 

FIFTY WORDS

MIDWEST PREMIERE

By Michael Weller

Directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus

Featuring ensemble member Darrell W. Cox

Previews April 15-20, 2011

Runs April 21- June 5, 2011

While their nine-year-old son Greg is away for the night on his first sleepover, Adam and Jan have an evening alone together, the first in years.  Adam's attempt to seduce his wife before he leaves on business the next day begins a suspenseful nightlong roller-coaster ride of revelation, rancor, passion and humor that explores a modern-day marriage on the verge of either a breakup or deepening love and understanding.

FIFTY WORDSreceived its lauded World premiere at the MCC Theater in September 2008 where it was nominated for several Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Play.  Academy Award-nominee Michael Weller shot to stardom with his powerful anti-war drama, "Moonchildren" in 1971.  Weller’s unique voice, at once moving and revelatory, garnered acclaim throughout three decades of productions at distinguished theaters such as Steppenwolf Theatre Company and New York’s Circle-in-the-Square.

Profiles is once again offering its popular FLEX PASS to offer big savings on these four exciting new shows for the 2010-2011 Season:  JAILBAIT, KID SISTER, REASONS TO BE PRETTY and FIFTY WORDS. Get a 4 Ticket Pass for $100 or get an 8 Ticket Pass for $180. Save up to $100 off the price at the door and the passes are good for any performance!  Tickets can be used in any combination of quantity and date throughout the season with advance reservations.  Hurry, the new FLEX PASSES will only be available through August 31, 2010.