Featuring eight ensemble members "in a passion-filled production of this classic story that swings wildly from comedy to tragedy," the play opens Oct. 1 after one preview and continues to Nov. 7 at the Viaduct Theater.
According to production notes, "In a community obsessed with gossip and greed, the brilliant Ivanov has fallen out of love with his wife and his friends and bankrupted his land, only to be dangerously attracted to the beautiful young daughter of his creditor. Chekhov's most accessible play asks the burning question 'How do you live without hope?'"
The Ivanov cast includes SiNNERMAN ensemble members Cyd Blakewell (Anna), Anna Carini (Zinaida), Jeremy Fisher (Ivanov), Ryan Martin (Borkin), Calliope Porter (Babakina), Sue Redman (Sasha), Johnny Russell (Lvov) and Ebony Wimbs (Avdotya), with guest artists Sean Bolger (Shabyelski), Howie Johnson (Lyebedev), Brian Kavanaugh (Kosich), including Jason Boat, Lila Collins, Alexander Lane, Jeffrey Charles Marcus, Rakisha Pollard, Melinda Stefanski and Jay Worthington as ensemble.
Patinkin is chair emeritus of the theatre department of Columbia College, and artistic consultant to The Second City and Steppenwolf Theatre. SiNNERMAN, formed out of a Steppenwolf Theatre summer program, is spelled with all caps except for the "i," and is named after the Nina Simone song. At Steppenwolf, according to troupe notes, the group did an exercise to the Nina Simone song, "Sinnerman," and "were inspired by the singer's music, passion and strength, and by the beautiful moment shared, to choose their name." (For more information, visit sinnermanensemble.org.)
The production team includes Jacqueline Penrod (set design), Frances Maggio (costume design), Mikhail Fiksel (sound design), Jill Bowarchuck (lighting design), Matt Cummings (props design), Brea Hayes (assistant director), Bill Paton (stage manager), Stefin Steberl (production manager), Ricky Lurie (assistant costume design), Dominica Fisher and Levi Petree (creative consultants). Viaduct Theater is located at 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. For tickets call (773) 296-6024 or visit www.viaducttheatre.com and www.goldstar.com.
