Theatre News Wire

The New Colony is proud to announce the world premiere of "Pancake Breakfast" by company member Tara Sissom, November 27 - December 19 at the Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N. Western Ave., and directed by Sean Kelly. The New Colony's first Chicago performance since their critically acclaimed New York City Fringe Festival appearance, previews for "Pancake Breakfast" begin Saturday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. The press opening is Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. 

"Pancake Breakfast" is based on author Sissom's actual long-time family tradition of attending the 4H Club's annual breakfast. Names have been changed to keep peace at home and The New Colony has put its distinctive creative process to these personalities and real experiences to create the new family comedy "Pancake Breakfast." Taking place during the annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast in Bel Air, Maryland, the Malloys gather for that one time of year where the entire clan can be together. The reunions have always been a true slice of Americana: watermelon eating contests, parades, turtle races, the crab feast and an empty chair for dearly departed Meemaw. But this year, it seems a heaping bowl of family dysfunction has been added to the buffet table and the now 20-something Beatrice Malloy is slowing realizing the once shining Malloy family has lost much of their glitter. With a younger brother learning to live with Asperger's Syndrome, a father newly-wed to a woman half his age, a mother juggling ex-husbands and a grandfather who seems to live on the fringe of rationality; Sissom's "Pancake Breakfast" looks at family and the bonds that keep them together or threaten to force them apart.

"Pancake Breakfast" is written by Tara Sissom and directed by Sean Kelly, with assistant director Sophie Gatins. The script director is Whit Nelson, with original music composed by Julie B. Nichols and Chris Gingrich. The cast members are Susan Veronika Adler, Andrew Hopgood, Megan Johns, Evan Linder, Thea Lux, Arlene Malinowski, Jack McCabe, Steve Ratcliff and Gary Tiedemann.

"Pancake Breakfast" staff also includes Shelby Wilson, stage manager;, Rachel Levine, assistant stage manager; Ashley Wolfe, company manager; Nick Sieben, set designer; Claire Paolini, costume designer; Jeremy Getz, lighting designer; Maria DeFabo, prop designer and Christopher Kriz, sound designer.

Tickets may be purchased at The Viaduct Theatre box office 866.468.3401 or thenewcolony.org.