Halcyon Theatre continues the Summer of Hwang with Family Devotions, opening Thursday, August 11
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jenn Adams
Associate Artistic Director, Halcyon Theatre
773.413.0454
press@halcyontheatre.org
halcyontheatre.org
Halcyon Theatre begins its Sixth Season with David Henry Hwang's Family Devotions.
CHICAGO, IL (July 1, 2011) Halcyon Theatre begins its Sixth Season with Family Devotions by David Henry Hwang. Family Devotions will be performed at the Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Set in1982, in sunny California, three generations await their famed great uncle's arrival from communist China. From zealous elderly sisters to their assimilated adult children to Americanized teenage grandchildren, comedy erupts as a family makes surprising discoveries about the people they thought they knew the best. Family Devotions marks the third play Chicago audiences can see as part of the "Summer of David Henry Hwang," in addition to Chinglish at the Goodman (featuring Halcyon Company Member Christine Lin) and Yellow Face at Silk Road.
Director Jennifer Adams says, "When I first read this play, I could see right away how hilarious and tragic it was at the same time. The family is holding on to so many things- The American ideal, China, religion, their children- When you hold on so tightly to something precious, it can slip through your fingers like a caked, hard piece of dirt. There is also a reality and a mysticism that exist at the same time, and that is something the family struggles with as well... And of course it's set in 1982, so there is fun music, ridiculous clothes, all of that adds to the craziness."
Performances will be Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm, from August 11 through September 4, 2011. Tickets are $10-25, and are available through the Greenhouse Theater box office atgreenhousetheater.org (direct link http://greenhousetheater.tix.
Members of the media are invited to attend any performance.
Family Devotions is directed by Halcyon's Associate Artistic director Jennifer Adams. The cast includes: Kaori Aoshima, Gordon Chow, Katelyn Foley, Arvin Jalandoon, Jin Kim, Mia Park, Eliza Shin, Dwight Sora, and company member Helen Young.
About the Writer:
David Henry Hwang is the author of M. Butterfly (1988 Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Awards, Pulitzer finalist), Golden Child (1998 Tony nomination, 1997 OBIE Award), FOB (1981 OBIE Award), The Dance and the Railroad (Drama Desk nomination), Family Devotions (Drama Desk Nomination), Sound and Beauty, and Bondage. His newest play, Yellow Face, which premiered at Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum and New York's Public Theatre, won a 2008 OBIE Award and was a Finalist for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize. He wrote the scripts for the Broadway musicals Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida (co-author), Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song(2002 revival, 2003 Tony nomination), and Disney's Tarzan. His opera libretti include three works for composer Philip Glass, 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, The Voyage (Metropolitan Opera), and The Sound of a Voice; as well as Bright Sheng's The Silver River, Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar (two 2007 Grammy Awards) and Unsuk Chin's Alice In Wonderland (Opernwelt's 2007 "World Premiere of the Year"). Hwang penned the feature films M. Butterfly, Golden Gate, and Possession (co-writer), and also co-wrote the song "Solo" with Prince. A native of Los Angeles, Hwang serves on the Council of the Dramatists Guild. He attended Stanford University and Yale Drama School, and was appointed by President Clinton to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. His plays Chinglish (World Premiere at the Goodman Theatre) and Yellow Face (Chicago Premiere at Silk Road Theatre Project) are also playing in Chicago in the Summer of 2011.
About Halcyon:
Mission- We are fiercely committed to making the stage as diverse as the city of Chicago; presenting new voices from inadequately represented communities, as well as recasting classic works to showcase their contemporary relevance.
About- Halcyon Theatre was formed to connect people, transform our borders and ascend towards a more just union. We strive to make incredible theatre from stories around the world, to help show our world in new ways, and rediscover the individual beauty of people from our global community.
Our artistic philosophy is driven by our continuing belief that at every point of human history where there has been an explosion of artistic creativity, it has happened when different cultures and traditions have intersected and informed each other. If every artist working with an organization looks and thinks the same, it is difficult for them to grow. A homogeneous group produces homogeneous art. Striving for artistic excellence with artists of varied cultural backgrounds and training is at the forefront of everything we do.
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WHAT: Halcyon Theatre begins its Sixth Season with Family Devotions by David Henry Hwang.
WHERE: Family Devotions will be performed at the Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
WHEN: Family Devotions will play Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 3pm.
ADMISSION: $10-25 for single tickets.
BOX OFFICE: Tickets are $10-25, and are available through the Greenhouse Theater box office at greenhousetheater.org (direct link http://greenhousetheater.tix.
WEBSITE: halcyontheatre.org; halcyontheatre.org/
CONTACT: Jenn Adams
Associate Artistic Director, Halcyon Theatre
773.413.0454