SKOKIE, ILL: Northlight Theatre has announced the lineup for its 2017-18 season, which will include a world premiere, a Chicago premiere, and two Midwest premieres.
“Our 2017-18 season brings back playwrights whose work we have been proud to present over the last few years,” said artistic director B.J. Jones in a statement. “What thrills me the most is how generously our audience has embraced our efforts to discover new voices, new work, and new talents. In the last few years we have surprised audiences with work that has found its way into the canon nationwide. Our audience is our collaborator in creating art, and for that we are most grateful.”
Opening the season will be the world premiere of Sanctions (Sept. 14-Oct. 22), by Bruce Graham, exploring the tug-of-war between college sports and academic responsibilities, and the relationship between an over-eager freshman tutor and his football-playing students. B.J. Jones will direct.
Next will be the Midwest premiere of The Book of Will (Nov. 9-Dec. 17), by Lauren Gunderson, a new play about the birth of Shakespeare’s First Folio. Set in 1623, the play follows Shakespeare’s friends and the trials they faced to assemble and produce the work of the great playwright after his death. Jessica Thebus will direct.
Following will be the Chicago premiere of Skeleton Crew (Jan. 25-March 4, 2018), the third play in Dominique Morisseau’s Detroit trilogy, about the beginnings of the Great Recession and the rumors surrounding the closure of one of the last auto plants in Detroit. It follows the lives of the workers and the choices they must make when their careers come to a halt. Ron O.J. Parson will direct.
Next will be The Beauty Queen of Leenane (March 15-April 22, 2018), by Martin McDonagh, a dark Irish comedy about a middle-aged woman, Maureen, living with her manipulative mother, Mag. When Maureen develops a romantic interest that offers a potential escape from her life, Mag interferes. B.J. Jones will direct.
Closing the season will be the Midwest premiere of The Legend of Georgia McBride (May 10-June 17, 2018), by Matthew Lopez, about an Elvis impersonator who is down on his luck until a drag show comes to town and takes over the bar where he performs. Vanessa Stalling will direct.
Founded in 1974, Northlight Theatre is dedicated to promoting changing perspectives by exploring the humanity of theatre and sharing it with their community and the world.
