A New Year is Upon Us!!!!!!!

In the middle of what I affectionately refer to as Holiday Chaos, I also had the task of casting a show, devising a schedule, planning production meetings and numerous other duties…needless to say it has been a very hectic month.
On the plus side, I have a great cast and crew and have a rehearsal schedule (almost) nailed down. Continue to check out The Living Newspaper for more information, but for now, here we go:

Cast
Benny Bennet ---Matt Lozano
Phil Bennet ---Cole Simon
Louise Goldman--- Anna Schutz
D.W. Dewitt ---Robert Kaercher
Narrator ---Gary Murphy
Extra 1---Matt Allis
Extra 2 ---Bryan Breau
Extra 3---Liz Hoffman
Extra 4 ---Tommy Culhane

Crew
Director-Ron Popp
Stage Manager -Anna McKiee
Fight Choreographer - Beau Forbes
Lighting Designer - Lauren Masi
Sound Designer- Zena Yeatman
Props Designer- .Sarah Franke
Costume Designer- Liz Hoffman
Video Supervisor- Michael Rashid

Auditions on Saturday for Epic Proportions

Mounting a show is hard.

Most audience members generally see the final product, which is how it should be. Most actors vie for an audition slot, sweat over condensing all they have to offer into 2 minute monologue form and then (hopefully) get to show more at callbacks. They are then (if cast) with the show from the first rehearsal till closing night.

Producers, directors and designers live a show longer than most people realize.

For example, Project 891 Theatre Company has auditions for our upcoming show Epic Proportions this Saturday with Callbacks on Monday the 14th. Our slots have been filled for a month now and we are still getting submissions. If all goes well we will have a cast within a week.

However, the producers and company members have been hard at work on this show for a year now. First, there was the search for a script that everyone enjoyed. Then we had to find a director, design team, fight choreographer, performance space, obtain the rights, book rehearsal space, book audition space, raise money...the list goes on and on.

Luckily we have a brilliant design team, rights, space....all of that has fallen into place.

I'm just very excited to add the next piece of the puzzle. A great cast.

Ron Popp

Need a little Christmas this Saturday????

Join Project 891 Theatre Company, Santa Claus and the Grinch for a fun filled evening of raffle prizes, Cabaret performances by Meredith Freyre, Kathleen Dennis, Matt Lozano, Michael Rashid, pictures with Santa and more!!!!

All the Whos down in Whoville will be there!

$10.00 at the door gets you all this plus drink and food specials.

All proceeds benefit Project 891 Theatre Company

6-9 PM

Ginger's Ale House
3801 N Ashland
Chicago, IL

Company Mmeber Matthew Lozano

Name: Matthew Lozano

Age: 30

Hometown: East Bay Area, California

Favorite Book: The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

Favorite Movie: Cool Hand Luke

Favorite Play: The Drawer Boy

Favorite Quote: "What we have here is failure to communicate."

First Theatrical Experience: I was in a high school production of Cabaret. After the opening number we got a huge round of applause, and I knew right away I wanted to continue acting.

Company Member Anna McKie

Name: Anna McKie

Age:28

Hometown: Portland, OR

Favorite Book: The Da Vinci Code

Favorite Movie: American Beauty

Favorite Play: Othello

Favorite Quote: "Nobody becomes an artist unless they have to." Janet Fitch

First Theatrical Experience: age 4, ballet recital. I was a candy cane.

Artistic Associate Michael Rashid

Name: Michael Rashid

Age: Defying Gravity

Hometown: Shelby Township, Michigan

Favorite Book: "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Favorite Movie: Tim Burton's "Ed Wood"

Favorite Play: "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller. Goodman's production was the most powerful piece of theatre I've ever experienced.

Favorite Quote: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars" -- Oscar Wilde

First Theatrical Experience: In 2nd grade, I played a boy named Louis (Spanish pronunciation) who turns into a donkey. Some would debate if I ever switched back . . .
First theatre I remember seeing was tagging along with my sister's Brownie troupe to "A Christmas Carol." The ghosts were scary, but no more so than the Brownies.

Managing Director Liz Hoffman

Name: Liz Hoffman

Age: 29

Hometown: Grand Blanc, MI

Favorite Book: Hmmm, hard to choose, but The Sound and the Fury is still one of the most interesting books I've ever read. I think the whole 'story from 4 different perspectives' thing is brilliant.

Favorite Movie: Have to go Star Wars: A New Hope on this one.

Favorite Play: I honestly don't know. Since plays are meant to be performed, I have favorite productions more than a favorite play.

Favorite Quote: "Life's a banquet, and most poor bastards are starving." Auntie Mame

First Theatrical Experience: When I was 8 or 9, my parents put me in a summer youth theater camp to give me something to do during the summer. Some of classmates were doing it too, so my folks thought it would be a good socializing experience. Little did they know that they were altering the course of my life. Deep huh? Anyway, I was pretty much sold on the whole acting thing after that.