Theatre News Wire

Executive and Artistic Director of Collaboraction, Anthony Moseley is excited to announce the line-up for the company's 16th season, featuring three Chicago premieres and a new format for the world premiere plays that will make up the 12th Annual SKETCHBOOK Festival. Collaboraction's 2011-2012 season promises to deliver thought-provoking, boundary-pushing theater, with each production this year staged in Collaboraction's new home at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1575 N. Milwaukee.

For season membership and more information, visit collaboraction.org or call 312.226.9633.

Collaboraction's 2011-2012 season features:

"Be A Good Little Widow"
By Bekah Brunstetter
Directed by Anthony Moseley
Sept. 8 - Oct. 23, 2011
Collaboraction at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1575 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Moseley helms the season's first production with the Midwest premiere of Brunstetter's dark comedy "Be A Good Little Widow." Stranded in suburbia while her husband globe-trots for work, Melody struggles to win the approval of her supercilious mother-in-law, Hope. But Melody can't figure out the rules of being a good little wife, so when her husband dies she is at a loss to live up to Hope's standards of grieving. In "Be A Good Little Widow," Brunstetter crafts a surprisingly funny and moving portrait of love, loss and temptation. "[Brunstetter] writes fresh, unfussy dialogue and characters who earn their laughs and emotional moments by honest means," hailed The New York Times.


"Dark Play or Stories for Boys"
By Carlos Murrillo
Directed by Anthony Moseley
Jan. 12 - Feb. 26, 2012
Collaboraction at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1575 N. Milwaukee Ave.

"Dark Play or Stories for Boys" follows a teenage boy's foray into the virtual world. His fictional internet identity begins as a harmless game, but the game takes on a frightening reality when real emotion overtakes his online relationship. When Nick's virtual world collides with the real world, his fantasies of love, intimacy, obsession and betrayal spiral into consequences that lead him to the brink of death. "Dark Play or Stories for Boys" was first produced as part the Humana Festival at Actor's Theatre of Louisville. Murrillo is the winner of National Latino Playwriting Award (2006) and the Otis Guernsey New Voices in American Playwriting Award at the 28th annual William Inge Theatre Festival. Murillo currently serves as the Head of Playwrighting Program at The Theatre School at DePaul University.


"Sixty Miles to Silver Lake"
By Dan LeFranc
Directed by Sarah Moeller
April 19 - May 27, 2012

Collaboraction at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1575 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Sarah Moeller will direct Dan LeFranc's "Sixty Miles to Silver Lake" as the third production in Collaboraction's 2011-2012 Season. By the playwright of the critically acclaimed hit "The Big Meal," LeFranc won the 2010 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award for "Sixty Miles to Silver Lake." A moving car. A father and son. The father drives. The son's face is pressed against the rolled up window. "Sixty Miles" turns an everyday father-son drive home from soccer practice into a highly dramatic situation that explores the complex relationships with family, and how those relationships affect who we become.


The 12th Annual SKETCHBOOK Festival
June 2012
Collaboraction at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1575 N. Milwaukee

For the 12th year of the acclaimed SKETCHBOOK Festival, Collaboraction is changing the format to produce a program of eight to ten world premiere short plays of seven minutes or less and two to three world premiere full length pieces all running in repertory in Collaboraction's new multi-use space, with discussions, panels and parties throughout the festival. SKETCHBOOK is Collaboraction at its best: breaking down the walls that divide theater, music, visual art, video, and the internet. The Chicago Tribune has hailed the festival as "stellar;" the Chicago Reader raves, "The atmosphere is all inclusive and embracing in this celebration of creativity, and as a result you're willing to go along for the ride no matter what," and New City proclaims, "One of the city's most intriguing off-Loop companies. SKETCHBOOK...has become a must-see annual event."

Collaboraction's 2011-2012 Season Membership is now available. This custom designed program allows supporters to create their own membership package made of tickets to their choice of Collaboraction productions, parties, and experiences. Memberships are $60 - $300, available in monthly and annual installments. To purchase a Season Membership, call 312.226.9633 or go to collaboraction.org.