Lifeline Theatre Resumes Halted 2020 Production of Middle Passage

Chicago IL

13 April, 2022

9:29 AM

Description

Lifeline Theatre resumes its interrupted 2020 production of Middle Passage based on Dr. Charles Johnson's epic tale, directed by Lifeline Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan and co-adapted by Duncan and David Barr III, April 25 – June 5 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Middle Passage shares a tale of personal growth within a dark phase of American history. In the play, Rutherford Calhoun, a newly freed Illinois slave eking out a living in 1830 New Orleans, stows away aboard The Republic, an outbound rigger, to evade debtors enforcing marriage. But his clever escape backfires as the clipper turns out to be a slave ship bound for Africa. Calhoun must choose between a fanatical captain, a mutinous crew, and the Africans seeking escape. Building on a tradition of African American storytelling, this tale challenges perceptions of American identity using a Black aesthetic. We are at a critical historical moment in which issues such as racism, classism, poverty, and the meaning of freedom impact us all. Now in its 39th season, Lifeline Theatre continues to explore, interpret, and reimagine books and other literary works to create stories that move us beyond the margins of our own lives. The performance times are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 4 p.m. The production runs approximately 2 hours with an intermission. The novel will be on sale in the lobby. Ticket prices are $45 for regular single tickets, $20 for active and retired military personnel (with ID), $35 for seniors, $20 for students (with ID), $20 for rush tickets (available half hour before show time, subject to availability), and $25 for previews. Group rate for 8 or more is available upon request. Tickets may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com. The cast includes Patrick Blashill as Captain Falcon/Ensemble & Christopher Vizurraga as Peter Cringle/Ensemble; with guest artists Shelby Lynn Bias as Isadora Bailey/Ensemble, Ajax Dontavius as Rutherford Calhoun, Linsey Falls as Papa Zerinque/Fetcher/Ensemble, Benjamin Jenkins as Santos/Ensemble, Monty Kane as Jackson/Ngonyama/Ensemble, Robert Koon as Josiah Squibb/Ensemble, MarieAnge Louis-Jean as Baleka/Ensemble, Kellen Robinson as Tom/Ensemble, & Gerrit Wilford as McGaffin/Ensemble; with understudies Andrew Bosworth, Bryan Carter, Sam Fain, & Mary Heyl. Accessible Performances: The Saturday, May 7, 4 p.m. performance and the Friday, May 27, 7:30 p.m. performances will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The Sunday, May 22, 4 p.m. performance will feature a pre-show touch tour of the set at 2:30 p.m. and live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. For more information about Lifeline's accessibility services, please contact our Accessibility Coordinator Erika Rivard at 773.761.4477 x703 or at [email protected]