Evanston, IL – Piven Theatre Workshop proudly announces its 2011-2012 season! The exciting programs we’re offering this season are a celebratory retrospective on our 40 year history, mission & legacy. Productions include the world premiere of Cities of Light, an evening of theatrical cabaret with Rebecca Joy Fletcher and Encores: After the Theatre And Other Stories directed by Co-Founder Joyce Piven, featuring classic Piven Theatre adaptations of Chekhov stories originally created by Byrne and Joyce Piven as well as Sarah Ruhl. This season will also include a special Anniversary Production by our 2012 Young People’s Company performance troupe.
Cities of Light by Rebecca Joy Fletcher – World Premiere: Nov 7th – Dec 11th, 2011 The premiere show of Piven’s 40th Anniversary Season is a testament to our mission of premiering original works, and the celebration of Jewish culture. Cities of Light will take you on a powerful ride back into the cabarets of 1930’s Berlin, Paris, Yiddish Warsaw, and Tel Aviv. An evening of satire, story, and song – Cities of Light defines the term “theatrical cabaret”, blending the art of cabaret with story theatre for a truly memorable evening.
Encores: After the Theatre And Other Stories – Directed by Joyce Piven: Apr 16th – May 20th, 2011 Piven revisits the classic Chekhov short stories that started it all! A fresh look at some of our earliest adaptations – this piece features the work that is the heart of our cannon. Directed by Chicago theatre veteran Joyce Piven, the co-founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of Piven Theatre Workshop, this production will include alumna Sarah Ruhl’s earliest Chekhov adaptations as well as short stories originally adapted by Co-Founders Byrne & Joyce Piven.
The 2012 Young People’s Company: Feb 22nd – 26th, 2012 This year the company will remount and re-imagine stories originally adapted by Co-Founder Byrne Piven and performed by the Original Company over 35 years ago. The Young People’s Company is composed of young artists in the 9th -12th grade, and specializes in improvisation and the story theatre form – a process of working as an ensemble to adapt literature, myths and folk tales to the stage.
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