When I wasn't munching on Twizzler bits or figuring out which Instagram filter looked best against T.J.'s curly locks (pictures can be found below), I found myself enthralled & moved by 2/22's designer run of JULIUS CAESAR.

For the first time ever, one of BPBCo.'s shows is under the direction of a non-member's watchful eye. But heck, Lavina Jadhwani's eyes are more than watchful. They're keen, laser-focused, and bringing many new and exciting takes to the classic text. She and her team are creating an evening of insightful theatre with several exciting BPBCo. firsts:

- Mark Antony and Julius Caesar as women. Classic text pops with modern weight and importance. New social insight is illuminated as new triangles of love, trust, and betrayal are formed.

- 8 actors tackling 35+ characters. I can't. I just can't. How they do it is a mystery. An awe-inspiring mystery.

- It's an election year. Bernie, Ted, Hillary, Donald .... Mark Anthony, and Brutus.

- Vahishta Vafadari & Tyler Esselman's fight choreography. Even at a safely-paced 50% during the run, Vah and Tyler's fight design is spot-on. Scary, story-driven, and respectfully handled by the cast.

- On-stage seating. Lavina's cutting of this production of JULIUS CAESAR was new to me, so I wanted to be as surprised & immersed as possible, so I took advantage of 1 of our 8 on-stage seats. Fantastic opportunity to be up in the action without sacrificing sight-lines or feeling like you're apart of any kind of audience participation.

Couldn't be more excited to share this story, in this fashion, with these artists, this year with you all. Hope to see you at the Greenhouse Theater Center March 4 through April 3!

M. William Panek
Executive Director

“My goal with this production, and with casting a female Caesar and Antony, is to ask questions about how we support female leaders in a male-dominated political system. I think it is particularly relevant in this upcoming election cycle. It's a great debate play, and the fact that the story is so well known makes it extremely accessible. I think the gender-conscious casting of this production will result in a play that is a very exciting conversation starter for Brown Paper Box Co's audiences.” - Guest Director, Lavina Jadhwani

Tickets available now! http://greenhousetheater.org/julius-caesar/
MARCH 4TH - APRIL 3RD, 2016 ‪#‎ForRome‬ ‪#‎ChIdesofMarch‬

For the first time in Chicago​, Brown Paper Box Co. Presents
​Now. Here. This.
Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen
Book by Hunter Bell & Susan Blackwell
Directed by M. William Panek*
Musical Directed by T.J. Anderson*
 
Rivendell Theatre
July 22 – August 21, 2016

From the award-winning writing team that brought you [title of show], Now. Here. This. is a new musical tackling life's big questions with humor and humanity. In its Chicago premiere, the show follows the evolution and adventures of four friends in a natural history museum as they journey through time - from the present day museum, to their formative pasts, and back again. Inspired by various exhibits, the foursome share stories about friendship, hoarding, roller coasters, dying, middle school, and Archer the security guard in an attempt to step from the past into that elusive present moment…into the Now. Here. This.
 
“The chance to follow up [title of show] with Now. Here. This. is an amazing opportunity which timed itself out perfectly,” says director M. William Panek. “When production rights became available last summer, we wanted to continue Jeff & Hunter’s storytelling with as many of the same team members as possible. Not only did we want to recreate 2015’s excitement with this special opportunity, but we also wanted to highlight the writers’ collaborative nature with designers and actors who really have a handle on who these people are. I’m thrilled to see how these artists have grown, and welcome new faces on the journey – both onstage, backstage, and in the audience!”
 
The cast includes the reunited co-stars of Brown Paper Box Co.’s Jeff Recommended [title of show] - Neala Barron (Woman 1), Matt Frye (Man 2) and Anna Schutz* (Woman 2) – with new cast member Nick Shoda* (Man 1) joining the team.
 
The production team includes M. William Panek* (Director), T.J. Anderson* (Musical Director), Justin Harner* (Asst. Musical Director), Laura Wiley (Projection Designer), Sara Heymann*(Set/Prop Designer), Damian Wille* (Production Manager), and Charlie Sheets* (Graphic Designer).
 
*Denotes Brown Paper Box Co. members

As of today, The Brown Paper Box Co., NFP is following in the footsteps of Facebook and dropping our "The." "The" has served us well over the last 5 years and while we will miss it, we are excited to slim down and get right to the important stuff: Brown Paper Box Co.

- Board of Directors & Executive Artistic Team