Chicago, IL — Silk Road Rising ( Chief Programming Officer Jamil Khoury and Executive Director Malik Gillani ) is proud to announce the World Premiere of Through the Elevated Line, written by Novid Parsi and directed by Carin Silkaitis. The production will run on March 7th to April 15th, 2018 at Silk Road Rising located at 77 W. Washington St., Lower Level, Chicago, IL, 60602. The Press Opening is March 17 at 4:00pm.
Synopsis
Having fled Iran where he was imprisoned for being a gay man, a damaged Razi arrives at his sister's doorstep in Chicago only to disrupt the life she and her American husband built together. As the Chicago Cubs vie to make history, rivalries of a different kind simmer in the Uptown two-flat that Razi tries to call home. With echoes of A Streetcar Named Desire, Novid Parsi's world premiere drama probes the boundaries between family, loss, prejudice, and desire.
Cast/Crew
The creative team for Through the Elevated Line includes Novid Parsi ( Playwright ), Carin Silkaitis ( Director ), Corey Pond ( Associate Producer ), Kelly Butler ( Production Manager ), Joshua Baggett* ( Stage Manager ), Joe Schermoly ( Set Designer ), Elsa Hiltner ( Costume Designer ), Lindsey Lyddan ( Lighting Designer ), Jeffrey Levin ( Sound Design and Original Music ), Abigail Cain ( Props Master ), Kate Cuellar ( Dramaturg ), Kristen Osborn ( Assistant Director ), and Stephen Kossak ( Assistant Stage Manager ).
The cast includes Salar Ardebili as Razi, Catherine Dildilian as Soraya, Joshua J. Volkers as Chuck, Alison Plott as Beth, Scott Shimizu as Ben, Philip Winston as Sean, and Christian Castro as Vendor/Cesar/Immigration Officer. Understudies include Ninos Baba, Bobby Bowman, Tim Yong, Reed Willard, and Armando Willard.
* Denotes member of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.
About the Artists
Novid Parsi ( Playwright ) has authored plays that have been produced or developed at Golden Thread Productions, The New Group, Paines Plough, Playwrights Foundation, Stephen Joseph Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse, and the Young Vic, among others. His plays have been recognized by the Playwrights Foundation's Bay Area Playwrights Festival ( finalist and semifinalist ) and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference ( semifinalist ). A son of Iranian immigrants, Novid was born in New York, grew up in Texas, and studied literature at Swarthmore College and Duke University. Also a freelance writer, Novid is known for starting a conversation on theatre and diversity when he co-authored the Time Out Chicago cover story that asked on its cover: "Why is theater in Chicago so white?" Novid lives in Chicago with his husband.
Carin Silkaitis ( Director ) previously directed two readings of Mosque Alert for Silk Road Rising. Carin is the Founding Artistic Director of Other Theatre where her credits include I Do Today, The Realm, and Others: A 24 Hour Play Festival. A few of her notable directing credits include: La Boheme, La Traviata, Die Fledermaus, Madame Butterfly ( Music By The Lake ), In Her Footsteps ( Greenhouse Theater Center ), The Laramie Project, Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night, and others ( North Central College ). Carin is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf, and she received her MFA in acting from the Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University. Carin is proud to be represented by Gray Talent Group, and equally proud to be a member of Actors Equity Association.
Performance Schedule
Through the Elevated Line will run from March 7th to April 15th, 2017.
During previews, performances will occur Wednesdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 4:00pm, and Sundays at 4:00pm.
After opening, performances will occur Tuesdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 4:00pm, and Sundays at 4:00pm.
Previews: March 7 - March 16, 2018
Press Opening: March 17, 2018 at 4:00pm
Regular Run: March 17 - April 15, 2018
Tickets
Preview Performances: $28 for adults ( $25 if purchased online ), $15.50 for students ( $12.50 if purchased online )
Regular Performances: $38 for adults ( $35 if purchased online ), $20.50 for students ( $17.50 if purchased online )
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at www.silkroadrising.org or by calling the Silk Road Rising Box Office at 312.857.1234 x201.x
Production Sponsors
The world premiere production of Through the Elevated Line is proudly sponsored by: The Bass Fund, Chicago Community Trust, and ComEd.
This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
Location
All performances will take place at:
Silk Road Rising
77 W. Washington St, Lower Level
Chicago, IL 60602
