Des Plaines Resident Elizabeth Stenholt Stars in Signal Ensemble Theatre's PLAINSONG, January 30 - March 9

Opening/Press Night is Saturday, Feb 1 at 8 p.m. and includes Post-Show Reception

NOTE: There is no Sunday, Feb. 2 matinee performance and an added performance on Monday February 17 at 7:30pm. 

Deep in the plains of eastern Colorado lies a town called Holt. It's not a busy town, but there's a lot going on. Tom Guthrie is raising two young sons as his wife steps deeper into depression. Victoria Roubideaux (Elizabeth Stenholt, a senior at Maine West High School), finds herself seventeen, pregnant and desperate, turning to schoolteacher Maggie Jones for help. And the solitary ranching brothers Harold and Raymond McPheron aren't at all prepared for the ways they'll be involved. Eric Schmiedl's adaptation of Kent Haruf's National Book Award finalist is a sweeping, even-handed treatment of humanity in a small plains town. 

Schmeidl’s adaptation of Kent Haruf's best-selling novel Plainsong won the 2008 Westword: Best of Denver award for Best Dramatization of a Novel, labeling it “a genuine song of the west.” Originally commissioned and produced by Denver Center Theatre Company, the Denver Post dubbed the play a “rural epic [that] flows like [a] river” and “satisfyingly executed in nearly every conceivable way.” The play was also nominated for “Outstanding New Play” by the Colorado Theatre Guild’s 2008 Henry Awards. 

The cast and production team for Plainsong includes: 

CAST: Joseph Stearns* (Tom Guthrie), Cale Manning (Ike Guthrie), Jack Edwards (Bobby Guthrie), Simone Roos* (Ella Guthrie), Katie Worthington* (Maggie Jones), Vincent Lonergan* (Harold McPheron), Jon Steinhagen* (Raymond McPheron), Elizabeth Stenholt (Victoria Roubideaux), Barbara Harris (Mrs.Stearns/Mama Roubideaux), Philip Winston* (Ensemble), Vincent Mahler (Ensemble), Tom McGrath (Ensemble), Rudy Galvan (Ensemble), Greg Wenz (Ensemble), Sara Gorsky (Ensemble), Mary Jo Bolduc (Ensemble), Ariel Begley (Ensemble), Dennis Newport (Ensemble), and Jordan Scott Johnson (Ensemble). *Indicates Signal Ensemble Theatre Member, ^Indicates Signal Ensemble Artistic Associate 

CREW: Bries Vannon* (Director), Michelle Carlene Roth* (Stage Manager), Carla Hamilton (Costumes), Julie Ballard^ (Lighting Designer), Buck Blue* (Set Designer), Mary O’Dowd^ (Properties Designer), Anthony Ingram* (Sound) and Tyler Rich (Violence Designer).

*Indicates Signal Ensemble Theatre Member, ^Indicates Signal Ensemble Artistic Associate 

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
Eric Schmiedl’s plays for children and adult audiences have been produced by theatres including The Cleveland Play House, the Denver Center Theatre Company, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Public Theatre, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, New Stages Theatre, the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, the Oregon Children's Theatre, Karamu House, Great Lakes Theater Company, and BackStage Theatre in Chicago. His rock musical inspired adaptation of Treasure Island created with recording artists Captain Bogg and Salty (Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Disney Junior) received acclaimed productions in Portland (Oregon Children's Theatre) and Chicago (Adventure Stage Chicago). Schmiedl is the recipient of a 2012 Creative Workforce Fellowship. He also received an Aurand Harris Fellowship from The Children's Theatre Foundation of America in support of his new play, My Hemisphere and Your Hemisphere Live Across the Street, created with his wife and Nigerian storyteller, Adaora Nzelibe Schmiedl. He has written for the Emmy Award nominated children's television program, Ask Gilby and has been awarded an Edgerton Award, a Sloan Foundation commission, and was a finalist for the 2010 COSE Arts Business and Innovation Award. 

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Bries Vannon is in his fourth year as an ensemble member at Signal Ensemble Theatre, where he serves as the company’s literary manager. Plainsong marks his second time directing for the company. Previously, he directed Signal’s Princes of Waco and served as assistant director on Hostage Song and The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie. As a performer he has been seen in Successors,Motion, Aftermath, Ballad of the Sad Cafe, Hamlet, and She Stoops to Conquer. Vannon is also the creator and director of The Nine, an independent project focusing on free experimental performance. Part Four of The Nine took place in November 2013; Part Five is currently in planning. Vannon has also worked as an actor/director with Mary-Arrchie Theatre, The Right Brain Project, the side project, The Building Stage, and WNEP Theater. 

Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the second production of their 11th Season with the Chicago premiere of Plainsong, at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave. Founded in 2003, award-winning Signal Ensemble Theatre uses a deeply collaborative method to produce work never-before-seen in Chicago. Plainsong is written by Eric Schmiedl and is directed by Signal Ensemble Theatre Member Bries Vannon. The play is adapted from Kent Haruf’s National Book Award finalist novel by the same name. Preview performances are on Thursday, Jan. 30 and Friday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m., followed by opening/press night on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. Performances will run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.  and ticket prices are $20 for single tickets, $15 for industry/students/seniors/groups and $10 for previews. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773.698.7389 or by visitingwww.signalensemble.com.  

NOTE: There is no Sunday, Feb. 2 matinee performance and an added performance on Monday February 17 at 7:30 p.m. 

Street parking available on Ravenswood and Berenice (runs one way going west) CTA Brown line EL stops Irving Park and Addison. CTA busses #80-Irving Park, #152-Addison, #50-Damen, #11-Lincoln. The theatre is handicapped accessible.