“Four Stars!!! Unconventional, provocative, breathtaking.  [Lear] will have particular resonance for, oh, everybody!”Time Out Chicago

NEW ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

Red Tape Theatre is pleased to announce that Artistic Director and founding ensemble member James D Palmer (The Love of the Nightingale, Elephant’s Graveyard), has been accepted into the MFA Directing Program at Brown/Trinity. His final Chicago production will be Lear, which marks James’ return to the work of Young Jean Lee following the successful production of her two plays Church and Pullman, Wa in 2011.

As Red Tape says goodbye to James, they begin the search for what will be the third Artistic Director in Red Tape’s ten-year history. Red Tape remains committed to producing new and experimental works that feature its diverse ensemble as well as talent from throughout Chicago.

“Red Tape provided me with a wonderful home. I was able to create some remarkable productions thanks to the grace and commitment of my fellow ensemble members,” says Palmer. “I’m pleased with what I’ve accomplished in my six and a half years as AD and am happy to have helped create a stable home for our artists.”

“This is a real moment of celebration for our company,” said company Board Chair Eric Evenskaas. “While it’s sad on many levels—personal and professional—to see James move away from Chicago, we take pride in that James’ acceptance into this prestigious program could not have happened without the Red Tape family.”

Red Tape’s Lear begins previews on May 9 and runs through June 22. The cast features ensemble members Amanda Drinkall, Meghan Reardon, and Johnard Washington with Josh Davis, Anita Kavuu, Miriam Reuter (understudy) and Jake Szczepaniak (understudy). It’s King Lear. But there’s no King Lear. Experimental playwright and Doris Duke Artist Award winner Young Jean Lee has penned a whimsical and psychologically disturbing look at a world in which the pater familias is noticeably absent. The children are left to run the show but they must first overcome their anxiety and regret. As the story goes off the rails, Big Bird arrives to help us make sense of the madness.

A committee comprised of board members, ensemble members, and staff members have convened to seek out Palmer’s replacement. Gears are already in motion for a fall show with a full slate of plays to be announced after a new Artistic Director is named.

During his time at Red Tape, James produced 19 plays including the 5 world premieres and 7 Chicago premieres. With former Managing Director Paul Miller he created the unique Fresh Eyes Project that has provided workshop opportunities for 18 playwrights. The Chicago Fringe Artist Networking night, which annually presented the work of over 100 local artists, was the brain-child of James and his long-term partner and choreographer, Myah Shein. Through his work at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, James turned an unused gymnasium into a performance space that has featured many of Chicago’s prominent store front theatres.

JAMES D PALMER directed and adapted Dog in a Manger(2008). Directing credits include Ruby Wilder (2012), Elephant’sGraveyard (2012 Jeff Recommended), TheGingerbreadHouse (2012), Church/Pullman, WA (2011), The Love of the Nightingale (2010 Jeff Award for Best Direction, Nominations for Best Production, Best Choreography, Best Sound, Best Fight Choreography), Enemy of the People (2009), Pugilist Specialist (2008), Endgame (2007), Baden Lehrstuck (2007), FEP: Jesusland(2006), and FEP: Coriolanus (2006). Producing credits at Red Tape include Brand (2011), Tragedy: a tragedy (2011), Obscura: a voyeuristic love story(2010), Mouse in a Jar (2009 Jeff Award for Best Sound Design). Selected readings and workshops with Goodman Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, American Theatre Company, and TUTA Theatre.

He is in his sixth season as Red Tape Theatre Company’s Artistic Director after serving as Managing Director for two years prior. James is a member of the Vestry at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. James has served on the Board of Directors for the League of Chicago Theatres as well as the TCG 2010 Host Committee. He served for four years as the Executive Assistant at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

ABOUT RED TAPE THEATRE:
Red Tape Theatre Company, now in its ninth season, is committed to the creation of new and experimental work. Red Tape’s plays invite audiences to reimagine their world. Red Tape’s work serves a vital purpose in our community: to arrest attention and create empathy. Our ensemble collaborates with playwrights, musicians, dancers, and visual artists on our three annual productions. This work is supported by our Fresh Eyes Playwrights Workshop and the Chicago Fringe Artist Networking Night, both of which are produced annually. Red Tape is housed in St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. The unique performance space allows us to continually reinvent the audience/artist relationship. 

Maria is one of the Lakeview business owners that annually supports Red Tape Theatre. To learn more about the LV10 program,  click here.

Krista: How long has Stella’s been open?

Maria: We have been on this corner for 50 years.  We started in 1962.  So I went from being a bus girl to a waitress to manager.

Krista: As a family business, do you run it now?

Maria: Me, two brothers, one nephew, and one aunt.

Krista: What do you love about Stella’s?

Maria: It’s a real family atmosphere.  Everybody knows everybody on a first name basis.  It’s not just coming in for good food.  They come to see us and the waitresses, you know?  Gail’s [one of the waitresses] been here twenty-something years already.  Jean’s [another waitress] been here twelve years.  I can tell by how old their kids are now.  We have customers coming in here forty years.  That’s the best part.  It’s a real neighborhood family feel to it.

Krista: I can tell you love your job, but if you could pick anything else in the world, what would you do?

Maria: I do love it.  I used to dream of working at the Field Museum.  Being one of those people that cleans all the old artifacts.

Krista: Have you seen any Red Tape shows?

Maria: You know what, I feel so bad.  I go to St. Pete’s, and I help them out with other benefits and never even knew there was a theater in there.  When James came in here and asked me to help, and I love his father, so I couldn’t say no.

Krista: How did you start going to St. Peter’s?

Maria: My father was cremated and the Greek church doesn’t believe in cremation.  They would only do a memorial service.  I was in here crying one day wondering what I was going to do.  Everyone was waiting for me to post a sign about the funeral.  Father Dun Kerly [a regular at the time] told me to have it at St. Pete’s.  At the funeral there was standing room only.  It was packed.  Father Dun Kerly says to me, “You Greeks need to have more events here.  You dusted off the side pews.”  I started laughing.  I’ve been going there ever since.

Interview by Krista Taylor, Administrative Coordinator

Red Tape presents it’s final show of  Season Nine: Empires Collapsing

LEAR

by Young Jean Lee

Directed by Artistic Director James D. Palmer

May 9- June 22

 More Info & Tickets

Performances March 6th – April 13th
(No Performances March 28, 29, 30)

Matryoshka is 1,001 Nights as covered by 20th-century American pop culture: a manic gumbo of television, b-movies, and comic books, populated by gangsters, cops, super-scientists, zombies, demons, comedians, soldiers, hit men, detectives, femme fatales, fallen angels, knights, and wizards – all brought to life by a powerful ensemble of actresses… and one very terrifying man.

Meet John Manchester, Owner of Windy City Sweets

John is one of the Lakeview business owners that annually supports Red Tape Theatre. To learn more about the LV10 program,  click here.

Krista: When did you open Windy City Sweets?

John: We actually bought it from the original owner who still works here.  So in March we’ll be open for 30 years in this same location.  I’ve had it for a little over a year.

Krista: What did you do before owning this business?

John: I’m an engineer, and I’ve owned a couple different construction companies.

Krista: Why did you switch professions?

John: Just due to the economy shrinking.  And the construction pie was just smaller and smaller jobs and less people.  It just got too tough.  Too much like work.  When it’s too much like work it uh, it’s work.  This [refers to the candy around him] isn’t like work.  This is fun.

Krista: Do you have a sweat tooth yourself?  Or do you not and that’s why you chose a candy store?

John: No, I do.  I like chocolate.  Love chocolate.  And I switched from milk chocolate to dark chocolate from working here.  We’ve got a great dark chocolate.  We have 800 to 1,000 different items [in the store], and everybody has their favorite.  Mine is the dark chocolate covered almonds.  Another gentleman that works here loves the chocolate covered gummy bears.  And ever since he found them, he pushes them.  We used to sell 5 – 10 pounds every two months.  And now we’re about 50 pounds every two to three months.  (laughs)

Krista: What influenced your decision to support Red Tape?

John: You know, we’re all about stay local, shop local.  Other people come in and tell us that they’re why they’re here [at the store].  The other thing we want to support somebody that’s the small guy and that’s local. And want them to stay around and be local.  Anything that we can do to help.

Krista: Do you have any artistic projects or tendencies?

John: I used to draw heavily in high school, college, and then even afterwards with pens and things like that.  No theater.  I would be better at backgrounds and things like that.  I took classes in high school and…college.  I have a minor in architecture.  And I designed stuff [while an engineer], or put together things, and handed them off to an architect.

There’s a Best Friends Pet Care.  They opened a place in Walt Disney World, on their property.  And I helped with the initial design and schemes.  We used to live out east… in New Jersey, right outside Manhattan.  I worked in Manhattan for J. Crew doing stores, building out stores.  And then we moved here 7 years ago.  I worked for McDonald’s Corp here in town.  At the Field Museum, they redid their McDonald’s there, so I had a lot of influence on and worked with the architects and the logos.  I can watch things go up, to me that’s fun and exciting and that’s not work.  It’s a lot of fun.

Interview by Krista Taylor, Administrative Coordinator

The lineup:

These locally owned businesses support Red Tape and our mission of unique, theatrical experiences. When you visit us, be sure to check them out.

Stella's Diner

Wilde's Logo

Windy City Sweets

GoorinLogo

Wordpress Slideshow

]]> http://redtapetheatre.org/2013/01/buy-local-buy-independent/feed/ 0 http://redtapetheatre.org/2012/12/where-do-i-send-my-headshot/ http://redtapetheatre.org/2012/12/where-do-i-send-my-headshot/#comments Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:18:24 +0000 myahshein http://redtapetheatre.org/?p=1945            
Paige Sawin                                                            Laura Durham

Red Tape Theatre Announces New Casting Director

After three years of hard work, Paige Sawin will be leaving her post as Red Tape’s casting director.  When you think of a memorable experience you’ve had at Red Tape, chances are, Paige played an important role in creating that production.  Her professionalism, tenacity, and positive attitude spread far beyond the casting department.  We are happy that Paige will be able to focus on her acting career.  She will remain a Red Tape ensemble member and we anticipate seeing her back on our stage soon.

It is with great joy that we announce Laura Durham as our new Casting Director!  Laura is the Casting Associate at Two Birds Casting and has been Red Tape’s Casting Associate since the beginning of the season.  Laura has a great eye for talent and share’s our commitment to professionalism.  In the short time she’s been at Red Tape she’s proven herself to be an invaluable asset.  We look forward to many more seasons with her!

Laura moved to Chicago in May to start her internship at Goodman Theatre in the Casting Department. Before that she was working at Actors Theatre of Louisville, and graduated from DePauw University in 2011.  She would like to thank her family, her friends, and Erica Sartini in particular for tons of love and support.

Casting inquiries may now be sent to laura.durham@redtapetheatre.org.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZdgkfS6VKc

For the past 9 years, Red Tape Theatre has been providing Chicago audiences with cutting edge new plays, innovative theatrical experiences, and bold works that speak to the moment. Ticket sales account for only 50% of our operating budget; the rest comes from supporters like you. We hope that you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our work.

You know what to expect when you see a Red Tape show. You hang out in the lobby with other audience members. Maybe you have a drink with an ensemble member. A little music. A few snacks. Everything’s normal. Then the doors open…and anything is possible.

“Red Tape always impressively reconfigures its space. Theater artists of all stripes…need to see [them] if only to see the possibilities if you think big. Miniscule budgets are no excuse for shoddy production values, and Red Tape is keeping the bar high.”
-Chicago Tribune

“Taking place at the Red Tape Theatre, it should be no surprise that the structure is unique.”
- The DePaulia

“There were no boundaries as to what could done in the space. I felt something beyond performance.”
- Chicago Splash

“As usual at Red Tape, the designs were a marvel of detail and atmosphere.”
- Centerstage

“Red Tape has created a virtual reality. It’s intimate and interactive. The artistry is so absorbing that I’m inclined not to brand it with a definition.”
- The Fourth Walsh

By re-imagining the way stories are told onstage, we invite you to re-imagine your world. Only at Red Tape will you find powerful stories, presented by talented artists, in wildly imaginative stagings. New experiences and new stories; this is how innovation starts.

Sincerely,

James D Palmer
Artistic Director

P.S. Want to double your gift at no extra cost? Many employers will match gifts to non-profits. Simply check with your personnel office to obtain the necessary form, complete it, and send in along to double or even triple your gift!