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After 10 years, 16 venues, 6 Jeff Award recommendations, 2 Performer in a Leading Role nominations, and hundreds of actors, collaborators, designers, staff members, donors, volunteers, audience members, & friends, Brown Paper Box Co. is proud to share the bittersweet announcement of their 10th and final season. “After heavy deliberation before the on-going developments surrounding Covid-19 and Illinois’ shelter-in-place order, Brown Paper Box Co.’s Executive Team and Board of Directors decided that 2020’s 10th anniversary season would be our last,” says artistic director Kristi Szczepanek. “With staff departures and others on the team wanting to move forward with new projects, we felt a celebratory 10th and final season would be the best option for us. And with the company dissolving on our terms, BPBCo. gets to end its fantastic run on a high note, featuring a world premiere play from one of our founders and a celebratory cabaret highlighting 10 years of stories & song.” “We were proud to go out on our own terms after 10 wonderful seasons as BPBCo. remains extremely mindful of the safety and well-being of our audience members, actors, and creative staff regarding shelter-in-place and large gatherings,” adds company co-founder M. William Panek. “So while we know plans might change & dates may alter, Prodigy and One More Time are the two celebratory events we plan to bring to Chicago when it’s safe & smart to do so.” Brown Paper Box Co.’s 10th season begins with Prodigy: A Modern Family Portrait by Managing Director and company co-founder Anna Schutz and featuring Artistic Director Kristi Szczepanek. This world premiere play will run July 23-August 23, 2020 at the Athenaeum Theatre’s Studio Two. And in October, BPBCo. concludes its run with One Last Time: A Celebratory Cabaret, a 2-night cabaret event at Stage 773. Hosted by Marketing Director and company co-founder M. William Panek, One Last Time: A Celebratory Cabaret comes to Lakeview on October 9 and 10, 2020 to celebrate 10 years of dedication, talent, heart, and music. Additional information including cast, staff, designer, and on-sale date announcements coming soon. World Premiere Play PRODIGY: A MODERN FAMILY PORTRAIT by Anna Schutz* Directed by Christina Casano July 23-August 23, 2020 at the Athenaeum, Studio 2 Danielle and Emily's 4-year-old daughter, Macie, shows a promising artistic gift, but when gallery owner Rebecca convinces the couple to start displaying and selling Macie's paintings, playtime starts to get serious. Is Macie a prodigy, or just a kid who likes to paint? Can Danielle and Emily's marriage weather Macie's newfound fame? Mothers & partners grapple with these and other complicated questions as they traverse former loves, private elementary schools, and modern art in this world premiere play by BPBCo. co-founder & Managing Director Anna Schutz*. Prodigy: A Modern Family Portrait’s production staff includes Christina Casano (Director), Michelle Benda (Lighting Designer), Grace Burns (Assistant Director/Dramaturg), Blake Cordell (Electrician), Nicholas Reinhart (Production Manager), Jeanine Fry (Costume Designer), Kaitlyn Guerrieri* (Front of House Manager), and Gin To* (Visual Artist & Casting Directing), and features Kristi Szczepanek (Emily). 2-Night Cabaret One Last Time: A Celebratory Cabaret October 9 and 10, 2020 – Stage 773, The Cab This is it, folks! 10 years of showcasing some of the finest talent in Chicago, Brown Paper Box Co. is finishing its tenure with a 2-night celebration of stories and song. Old friends and new will take to Stage 773’s Cab stage exactly 10 years after our inaugural run of Reefer Madness! the Musical back in 2010. We’re going out on a high … note! Bring the tissues – One More Time is going to be a 2-night celebratory roller coaster down memory lane with the likes of Mary Jane, Mr. Bungee, Jo March, and more! Featuring performances from [title of show], Little Women, Reefer Madness!, Godspell, A New Brain, and more, One Last Time will celebrate 10 years of music, dedication, passion, and heart. Directed by BPBCo. co-founder M. William Panek*.
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 Following our first dual Jeff Recommended season (EVERYBODY and Little Women the Musical), Brown Paper Box Co. is excited to announce our 2019/2020 season. The season begins in May with Holding On, a 2-night community-focused cabaret at Under the Gun Theater, coordinated by company Artistic Director Kristi Szczepanek and Artistic Associate Samm Gatwood. In summer 2019, BPBCo. presents the Midwest premiere of L M Feldman’s Grace, or the Art of Climbing directed by Artistic Associate Erin Shea Brady at Stage 773. With music direction by Kimi Arquines and co-hosted by BPB co-founder M. William Panek, Come Rain or Come Shine: A Judy Garland Cabaret comes to Andersonville this fall to celebrate 50 years of rainbows and classic melodies. 2019/2020 wraps up with a Winter musical to be announced soon! “We've been reflecting on the power and support of community here at BPBCo., so we're leaning into and celebrating community’s ins and outs this season,” says Artistic Director Kristi Szczepanek. “Whether it’s in Lakeview, Andersonville, or any neighborhood in between, our ninth season focuses on telling stories about the many ways one can lean on - and be lifted up by - individual communities.” Additional information including performance on-sale dates can be found by visiting www.BrownPaperBox.org. HOLDING ON: A COMMUNITY CABARET Sunday, May 5 & Monday, May 6, 2019 at 7:30pm Presented at Under the Gun Theater Art, like life, is "a solo sport... with partners.” Inspired by the first play of the season, Grace, or the Art of Climbing by L M Feldman, Brown Paper Box Co. invites you to enjoy a night of songs, stories, and laughter performed by company members and friends. Join our community of artists side-by-side as they perform in duos and groups as we continue to hold on & support one another when times feel tough. Admission $15 presale / $20 door. Cash bar is available. Coordinated by Samm Gatwood* & Kristi Szczepanek* and Produced by Anna Schutz*. The Midwest Premiere of GRACE, OR THE ART OF CLIMBING by L M Feldman June 6-July 7, 2019 at Stage 773 Faced with a painful chapter in her life and fighting the inertia of depression, Emm decides to enter the world of competitive rock-climbing. Her quest through the rugged and humorous terrain of physical training and personal relationships charts the journey of a young woman suspended between love and loss, strength and fear, fathers and daughters, and the ardor and grace of being human. Brown Paper Box Co. is proud to present the Midwest premiere of this Barrymore Award Best New Play nominee and Kilroys List honorable mention. Directed by Artistic Associate Erin Shea Brady*. COME RAIN OR COME SHINE: A JUDY GARLAND CABARET Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 7:30pm Presented at Mary’s Attic It’s been 50 years since the world lost the one & only Judy Garland, and 50 years since the modern gay liberation movement began at the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village. Come Rain or Come Shine is a celebration of an international icon, a queer movement, and exactly how far the LGBTQ+ community has come over the past 50 years. Join Brown Paper Box Co. as we travel down a yellow brick road of joy, heartbreak, drag queens, and song. Bring your best Judy and sing along to Ms. Garland’s biggest hits as performed by BPBCo. members, past participants, friends of the company, and a few surprise guests. Admission $15 presale / $20 door. Full service bar & dining options available throughout the evening. Coordinated by Kimi Arquines & M. William Panek*. 2019/2020 SEASON STAFF & CREATIVE BIOS Kimi Arquines (Come Rain or Come Shine Coordinator & Music Director) is a freelance music director, sketch writer/performer, and singer-songwriter who is heavily involved in the Chicago comedy scene. She has been featured in the Chicago Musical Improv Festival, Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, Chicago Women's Funny Fest, San Francisco's Femprovisor Fest, and more! You can find Kimi on her Facebook @kimiarquinescomedy or Instagram @kimikimi_more. Erin Shea Brady* (Grace Director) is thrilled and grateful to be directing Grace, or the Art of Climbing. Directing credits include: Everybody (Brown Paper Box Co.) and Cabaret, Annapurna (staged reading) and The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (No Stakes Theater Project). Assistant Directing and Dramaturgy credits include productions at the Goodman, Jackalope, TimeLine, A Red Orchid, Northlight, and Remy Bumppo. Erin is a graduate of the directing program at Columbia College Chicago, and participated in the internship program at Steppenwolf, Jackalope's Playwright's Lab, and Goodman's Criticism in a Changing America bootcamp. Erin is a company member with BPBCo. & is currently pursuing her MSW at Loyola. She is a contributing writer & critic at PerformInk & Newcity Stage. L M Feldman (Grace Playwright) is a queer, feminist playwright (and circus artist) who pens plays that are wildly theatrical but deeply intimate. Her plays include THRIVE, OR WHAT YOU WILL (Page 73 Residency, New Georges Audrey Residency); ANOTHER KIND OF SILENCE (Magic Theatre Virgin Play Festival, PlayPenn Conference, Playwrights Realm Fellowship, FEWW Prize Honorable Mention); AMANUENSIS (Georgetown University); A PEOPLE (Orbiter 3, Jewish Plays Project); THE EGG-LAYERS (Jane Chambers Honorable Mention, New Georges/Barnard College commission); GRACE, OR THE ART OF CLIMBING (Denver Center, Art House Productions, Nice People Theatre, ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award Nomination, Barrymore Nomination); ensemble-devised works, including GUMSHOE (New Paradise Labs + Free Library of Philadelphia + Rosenbach Museum), WAR OF THE WORLDS: PHILADELPHIA (Swim Pony + Drexel University), AND IF YOU LOSE YOUR WAY, OR A FOOD ODYSSEY (The Invisible Dog, New York Innovative Theatre Award Nomination), and others; and a baker's dozen of short plays. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, L is also a New Georges Affiliated Artist, a devised-work collaborator, a teacher of playwriting (Bryn Mawr College, Lantern Theatre/Jefferson Medical School, PlayPenn), and a freelance dramaturg. L has lived in seven cities and is now based in Philly – where she is an InterAct Core Playwright and a proud member of Orbiter 3. Samm Gatwood* (Holding On Coordinator) is a freelance actor, director and choreographer who can be found throughout the Chicagoland area with her beloved bulldog Elphaba. She graduated with her degree in Musical Theatre from Drake University where she developed a passion for teaching and choreography. She spends the vast majority time as a teaching artist, but also loves to spend time on and around stage; some of her favorite credits include The Wild Party (Queenie), Rock of Ages (Waitress #1/Assistant Choreographer/Fight Captain) and Jesus Christ Superstar (Choreographer). samanthagatwood.com M. William Panek* (Come Rain or Come Shine Coordinator) is a proud BPBCo. founding member and graduate of the University of Illinois' Theatre Department. Director: Little Women the Musical; Now. Here. This.; [title of show] (Jeff Award Nominated); A New Brain; Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls; Godspell; To Tree (world premiere); Reefer Madness! The Musical in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Casting Associate: EVERYBODY; The Baltimore Waltz; Julius Caesar; Spike Heels. Cabaret: "Positively Present," "Mary'z With a Z," "Proud at Mary's" at Mary's Attic; "Spring Forward Fail Back" at Uncommon Ground; "BPB Yearbook" "Character Breakdown" at Davenport's. He recently collaborated with Zach Zimmerman (Luke Babylon: Christian Magician and Spell) at iO Chicago, iO New York, The Duplex New York, and the Annoyance Theatre. William served as an artistic associate with The Orchard Project in Hunter, NY, a production assistant for the 24-Hour Musicals at Joe's Pub, and the business management assistant at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. He can be found on Twitter and Instagram @mwilliampanek. Anna Schutz* (Holding On Producer) is a proud founding member of Brown Paper Box Co. She holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is currently working towards her Masters in Nonprofit Management at DePaul University. She has worked in Chicago as an actor, singer, & arts administrator for the last decade. Backstage, she has work with Brown Paper Box Co. as a producer, production manager, and stage manager. Onstage, she has performed in their plays, musicals, and cabarets. As a playwright, Anna's first script, Prodigy, was selected for the League of Chicago Theatres' Bright Angel Creative Retreat in 2017 and then received a staged reading co-sponsored by DePaul University's Women's & Gender Studies Department. Prodigy was most recently selected for Dandelion Theater's Reservoir Series in May 2019. More information can be found here: www.annaschutz.com Charlie Sheets* (Graphic Designer) is currently residing in (suspiciously) always sunny California. He’s been designing for over a decade—and has the arthritis to prove it! Charlie’s worked in a variety of industries including transportation, retail, automotive, healthcare, and consumer technology/marketing—you might be using something he’s designed! His work with the Brown Paper Box Co. includes designs for productions and events since 2012, as well as website and social media graphics and consultation. To see Charlie's portfolio, visit charliesheets.com. Kristi Szczepanek* (Holding On Coordinator) joined Brown Paper Box Co. after performing as the understudy in Now. Here. This. She has since been seen with BPBCo. in "The Broad-Way: A Ladies Cabaret,” created and coordinated "Positively Present: An Uplifting Cabaret," and recently served as dramaturg for Little Women the Musical. She served as the Management and Development Assistant at Off-Off-Broadway's Ensemble Studio Theatre, helping coordinate events like the Sloan Project and their annual Marathon of One Act Plays. Chicago companies she's had the pleasure of working with both onstage and off include Quest Theatre Ensemble, Tympanic Theatre Company, Chicago Dramatists, and the Something Marvelous Festival. kristisz.com. * denotes Brown Paper Box Co. members GRACE, OR THE ART OF CLIMBING
Brown Paper Box Co. Playwright: L M Feldman Director: Erin Shea Brady Faced with a painful chapter in her life and fighting the inertia of depression, Emm decides to enter the world of competitive rock-climbing. Her quest through the rugged and humorous terrain of physical training and personal relationships, GRACE, OR THE ART OF CLIMBING charts the journey of a young woman suspended between muscularity and vulnerability, falling and climbing, parents and children, and the ardor and grace of being human. AUDITION DATES Saturday, March 2nd, 2019: 10am - 4pm Sunday, March 3rd, 2019: 10am - 4pm CALLBACKS Monday, March 4th, 2019: 7pm - 9pm *Callbacks will include movement work. Please dress accordingly. LOCATION TBD PAY Stipend BREAKDOWN SPECIAL NOTE ON CASTING: GRACE will be comprised of a company of performers of varying generations, gender- and ethnic -identities, and abilities. The character breakdown below is a suggestion from the playwright, however BPBCo. welcomes actors of all genders to audition. We have been in conversation with the playwright and they have enthusiastically encouraged open casting. SPECIAL NOTE ON MOVEMENT: GRACE will involve significant movement work, choreography, and physical activity. Please make the auditioners aware of any physical strengths and limitations. All actors may be involved in climbing scenes. Previous climbing experience is not necessary, however if you are familiar, please let us know. CHARACTERS:
TIME COMMITMENT Rehearsals: Tuesday - Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons starting the week of April 22nd Tech and moving into the theatre starts the week of May 27th, 2019. Previews: June 6 - June 8, 2019 Opening: June 9, 2019 Regular Run: June 10 - July 7th, 2019. Thursday - Sundays, with 2 Monday performances, June 10 and 17. MATERIAL TO PREPARE Sides will be provided with your audition slot HOW TO REQUEST AN AUDITION SLOT Please email your head shot, resume, and availability across our 2 audition days to casting@brownpaperbox.org.  What is your role in Little Women? I understudy the role of Jo March!
Which March sister do you most identify with? Definitely Jo. Little Women was written in the 19th century, but continues to be a beloved story. What do you think makes it so appealing? There is something really sweet and pure about the March sisters. They're just so endearing and you're rooting for them as they go through very human things. No matter how old the story is, that's something any reader can relate to. Do you have a favorite story from childhood or a great book that you've read recently? I was (and still am) a big fan of the Wizard of Oz! Jo's sanctuary is her attic. Tell us about a place where you find sanctuary. I've recently found the yoga studio to be a great place of sanctuary for me! It's really helpful for me to get out of my apartment to reset my mind and body a few times a week. Some things are meant to be.... revealed! What's a secret you've been keeping? I actually knew very little about Little Women before this! I hadn't read the book or seen any of the movie versions. I feel like it's just one of those stories everyone seems to already know, so I don't know how I had no exposure to it previously other than the songs I had heard from the musical and that one episode of Friends where Rachel makes Joey read it. I'm glad this show gave me a reason to read the book, though! I tend to read only contemporary novels, so it's been a breath of fresh air to dive into the world of the March sisters. Tickets for LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL are on sale now through February 9, 2019: https://dime.io/events/little-women  What is your role in Little Women?
Amy Which March sister do you most identify with? I am the middle child, sandwiched between two brothers. I think being the only daughter in my family, I identify with Amy in many ways. There are a lot of things I was spoiled with because I was the only daughter. However, I also identify with Meg. Being an older sister to one of my brothers, I have found that mentorship is something that comes with being an older sibling. Little Women was written in the 19th century, but continues to be a beloved story. What do you think makes it so appealing? The feminist aspect of the story makes it a story that we want to share, especially today. Do you have a favorite story from childhood or a great book that you've read recently? Harry Potter, hands down. I've thought about that a lot throughout this process. Even though Jo's stories can have such a melodramatic flourish, they also have a world of their own. Harry Potter always took me to my own world. I'm still waiting for my letter from Hogwarts... Jo's sanctuary is her attic. Tell us about a place where you find sanctuary. I find sanctuary in yoga. It's my me time, my time to look inward and my time to release any unnecessary stress or anxiety. Some things are meant to be.... revealed! What's a secret you've been keeping? I don't have many secrets... I'm a very open person... Maybe my age? Mwahaha... ;-) Tickets for LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL are on sale now through February 9, 2019: https://dime.io/events/little-women  What is your role in Little Women?
I play Meg March Which March sister do you most identify with? I see pieces of myself in each of the sisters, but probably Meg. She and I share a nervous energy and a deep loyalty to those we love. Her anxiety about Annie Moffat's St. Valentine's Day Ball... Well, it just REALLY resonates with me. Little Women was written in the 19th century, but continues to be a beloved story. What do you think makes it so appealing? At the time it was published, there was so much messaging about the "right" and "wrong" ways to be men and women. So many published gendered rules about manners and "gentility." We're obviously still today dismantling a lot of those limiting societal norms, so it's very cool to see how Little Women rebelliously provided a snapshot of what actual people were (and still are) like: varied, unique, flawed, ambitious, messy, brave, etc. The book also just radiates warmth. Reading it makes you feel cozy and safe. Do you have a favorite story from childhood or a great book that you've read recently? I love books of personal essays, and David Sedaris is my favorite author in that category. I'm currently reading Busy Philipps' and Jeff Tweedy's new books, and both are great. Jo's sanctuary is her attic. Tell us about a place where you find sanctuary. A long walk always clears my head and calms me down. Some things are meant to be.... revealed! What's a secret you've been keeping? I don't kill house centipedes in my apartment. Yes, they're terrifying, but they actually eat ALL other bugs, including spiders and roaches! If you see them, it means there are probably some other bugs around your place, so I try to just relax and let them do their thing. There are exactly no other topics that I am this chill about. Tickets for LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL are on sale now through February 9, 2019: https://dime.io/events/little-women  We support the hundreds of federal workers in and around Chicago currently furloughed as a result of the government shutdown. Federal employees with a valid government ID can enjoy a free ticket to select performances of our Jeff-recommended Little Women the Musical:
Monday, January 21 @ 7:30PM , Friday, January 25 @ 7:30PM, Saturday, January 26 @ 3:30PM, Saturday, January 26 @ 7:30PM, Thursday, January 31 @ 7:30PM, Friday, February 1 @ 7:30PM, Saturday, February 2 @ 7:30PM, Sunday, February 3 @ 3:30PM, and Thursday, February 7 @ 7:30PM. Seats are based on availability and tickets must be acquired in person at the Box Office (1802 W Berenice Ave., Chicago, IL 60613) the hour before the preferred performance. One (1) free ticket per government ID. For ticket availability, please visit www.BrownPaperBox.org or https://dime.io/events/little-women.  What is your role in Little Women?
John Brooke Which March sister do you most identify with? Jo. She’s ambitious and dedicated to the pursuit of her dreams. That’s me. Little Women was written in the 19th century, but continues to be a beloved story. What do you think makes it so appealing? It’s about family and love. Those timeless themes are universal. Do you have a favorite story from childhood or a great book that you've read recently? Childhood memory: Christmas was always a special time. Putting up the Christmas tree, blasting Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas, and spending time with family. Recent Book: The Mother of Black Hollywood by Jenifer Lewis. I love hearing the life stories of legendary performers. Highly recommended. Jo's sanctuary is her attic. Tell us about a place where you find sanctuary. Home. For me, home has always been a place of relief, acceptance, and love. Home is wherever my family is. Some things are meant to be.... revealed! What's a secret you've been keeping? I’m really a cyborg sent back in time from the year 2089 to destroy mankind...but don’t tell anyone. Be cool, just be cool. Tickets for LITTLE WOMEN THE MUSICAL are on sale now through February 9, 2019: https://dime.io/events/little-women |
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