Last Chance: H.G. Wells' Scientific Romances at IL's Next Co. Thru Oct. 10 | Playbill

Related Articles
News Last Chance: H.G. Wells' Scientific Romances at IL's Next Co. Thru Oct. 10 If you haven't checked it out already, this weekend is your last chance to visit Chicago's Next Theatre Company's Scientific Romances, adapted by Pickering and Charley Sherman from H.G. Wells, playing through Oct. 10.

If you haven't checked it out already, this weekend is your last chance to visit Chicago's Next Theatre Company's Scientific Romances, adapted by Pickering and Charley Sherman from H.G. Wells, playing through Oct. 10.

Romances adapts two H.G. Wells classics, "The Invisible Man" and "The War of the Worlds." The show's title refers to a term used to describe sci-fi before there was the term sci-fi. The show is directed by former Next artistic director, Steve Pickering.

Michael Grant plays the Invisible Man, alongside co-stars Derek Hasenstab, Genna Brocone, Kipleigh Brown, Amanda Clower, Michael Hagedorn, Raymond Kester, Michele Mesmer, David Silvis and Luke Wilkins. Birgitta Victorson choreographs; Peter Rybolt serves as fight choreographer.

And for the rest of Next's 1998-99 season:
My Three Angels, a comedy by Sam & Bella Spewack, tells of three crooks on work-release in French Guyana, hoping to spread some Christmas cheer. Sarah Tucker directs (Nov. 13-Dec. 12, opening Nov. 17).

Richard Nelsons drama of Czech emigrees in America, Between East and West , arrives Jan. 15-Feb. 13, 1999 (opening Jan. 18, 1999). Doug Finlayson directs a cast that includes real-life married couple Peter Rybolt and Peggy Dunne. Nelson's other plays include Some Americans Abroad and Principia Scriptoriae. Developed at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in 1996, Kira Obolensky's The Adventures of Herculina will world premiere at Next, Mar. 16, 1999 (running Mar. 12 Apr. 10, 1999). Sarah Tucker stages this work, based on the erotic diary of a 19th Century French teenager.

Ending the season, May 7-June 5, 1999 (opening May 10, 1999) will be artistic director Buckley's staging of Eric Bentley's political drama, Are You Now or Have You Ever Been. The drama looks at Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-Communist witch-hunt via his House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1940's-50's. Bruce A. Young will play outspoken entertainer Paul Robeson in the fact based drama.

A founding member of Shakespeare Rep, Buckley has a Next resume that include Henry V (co-staged with Pickering) and a Jeff-nominated Macbeth.

While paying off two-thirds of the theatre's debt, Pickering staged 11 world premieres during his four-year tenure. His play choices included Son of Celluloid, The Ice-Fishing Play, The History of the Devil and the recent Burning Chrome.

For tickets or more information on The Next Theatre (927 Noyes St)'s Scientific Romances, call (847) 475 1875.

-- By Sean McGrath and David Lefkowitz

 
RELATED:
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!