chicago premiere. written BY jessica swale.
sEPTEMBER- OCTOBER 2019 @ PROMETHEAN THEATRE, CHICAGO
“RECOMMENDED! Spenser Davis’s incendiary never-mind-reading-this-get-a-ticket-now-caliber Promethean production...”
In 1896, the first female students admitted to Cambridge University fight for their right to graduate. Written by award-winning English playwright Jessica Swale (Evening Standard Most Promising Playwright nominee), the author of Nell Gwynn, seen last year at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, this high-energy historical dramedy illustrates what happens when a group of women are pushed to the sidelines by an institution… and by refusing to stay there might just change the course of history.
Nominated for 3 Joseph Jefferson Awards
including Best Director and Best Ensemble
“RECOMMENDED! A show worth your attention... [with] an extremely talented cast...”
“Davis handles both intimate, tender moments and more crowded scenes well, keeping the play tight and propelling it forward... [an] impressive, engaging, and important play...”
“Davis’s direction... challenges the boundaries of the space while never losing sight of where he has staged this story... [he even] manages to make one of the heroines riding a bicycle on stage work...”
“★★★ 1/2 Under Spenser Davis’s direction, a cast of seasoned storefront-circuit regulars concentrate on the issues under scrutiny, while still attacking their roles with disciplined gusto and not a trace of caricature...”
“A significant work... very well directed and produced by Spenser Davis for Promethean...”
“HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! An impassioned night out at the theatre...”
CAST:
Tess | HEATHER SMITH
Celia | JULIA ROWLEY
Carolyn | E.M. DAVIS
Maeve / Lady | IMANI LYVETTE
Banks | PATRICK BLASHILL
Welsh | JAMIE BRAGG
Blake | CAMERON FEAGIN
Will | MARTIN DIAZ-VALDES
Maudsley / Radleigh | JARED DENNIS
Ms Bott / Lindley | ANNE LENTINO
Minnie | MEGHANN TABOR
Lloyd / Billy | VIJAY SARATHI
Edwards / Waiter | REVON YOUSIF
Holmes / Anderson | JOSH SERVANTEZ
Ralph / Mr Peck / Collins | KEVIN SHEEHAN
Banks u/s | JOHN BLICK
Lloyd / Ralph / Billy u/s | MICHAEL BRIGANCE
CREATIVE TEAM:
JESSICA SWALE | Playwright
SPENSER DAVIS | Director
ALEXA BERKOWITZ | Stage Manager
ANGELA FORSHEE | Assistant Director
DEVON GREEN | Props Designer
CARRIE HARDIN | Dialect Coach
TONY INGRAM | Sound Designer
THERESE RITCHIE | Scenic Designer
CLAIRE SANGSTER | Lighting Designer
RACHEL SYPNIEWSKI | Costume Designer
MAUREEN YASKO | Fight Choreographer
TOM McGRATH | Photography