The Mercy Seat

Profiles Theatre has once again extended its World Premiere of the new comedy-drama GRACELAND by Ellen Fairey. The production, directed by Matthew Miller, has been extended through November 15, 2009. Tickets are available at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway. GRACELAND opened at Profiles in May 2009 and has quickly become one of the theatre’s most successful runs ever, playing to consistently sold-out houses and critical acclaim.

Chicago's oldest cemetery is the backdrop for GRACELAND, the story of four lonely Chicagoans whose lives collide one August weekend while the Blue Angels airshow is in town. As fighter jets buzz the skies from dusk till dawn, estranged brother and sister Sam and Sara try to make sense of their father's recent suicide. Sara's one night stand with Joe, an aging lothario, brings further trouble in the form of Joe's mercurial teenage son, Miles. GRACELAND is a World Premiere comedic drama about the loneliness of family, the tenderness of strangers and the unexpected benefits of bad decisions.

Ms. Fairey's first full length play, GIRL, 20, was named one of the "Top Ten Most Promising Plays of 2006" by the Chicago Tribune in its World Premiere production by Serendipity Theatre. The production subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where it received rave reviews and was nominated for two 2007-2008 LA Weekly Theatre Awards for Best Director (Matt Miller) and Best Ensemble.

This is the fifth and final production of Profiles Theatre’s 20th Anniversary Season following its acclaimed productions of THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA by Anthony Neilson, GREAT FALLS by Lee Blessing, THE THUGS by Adam Bock and MEN OF TORTUGA by Jason Wells.

“Profiles, to me, is such a distinctly Chicago theatre company- the whole vibe, the work they do- it's honest and tough,” says playwright Ellen Fairey. “When they told me they were interested in GRACELAND, I was thrilled. What better place for a play about Chicago? Although I've recently moved to Los Angeles, Chicago remains close to my heart and GRACELAND is, in a way, a kind of love letter to the city that shaped the way I write plays and who I want to write plays about.”

“Ellen continued the development of GRACELAND last year with Profiles in mind, and we have watched the play grow beautifully as she has revised it throughout the season,” says Profiles Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. “This is the first time in our 20 year history that we have worked so closely with the playwright on the development of a script.”

Ellen Fairey (playwright) is the author of GIRL,20 named one of the Top Ten Plays of 2006 by the Chicago Tribune and nominated for two LA Weekly awards in 2007. Her plays TUNING IN EL PASO and CHILL IS GOOD were both award winners at Collaboraction's Sketchbook Festival '00 and '06. Other works have been read as part of Chicago Dramatists Saturday Series and her short play ALOHA FROM PALM SPRINGS was part of Edward Albee's Last Frontier Theatre Conference in 2004. She is currently developing a full length version of TUNING IN EL PASO as well as writing a new play about Michigan. GRACELAND marks Ms. Fairey's third production with Matthew Miller as director. She is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Click Here to Read the Chicago Tribune article by Chris Jones: "YOU CAN'T FAKE A CHICAGO PLAY LIKE GRACELAND"

Matt Miller is the director for GRACELAND. He has previously collaborated with Ellen Fairey on her plays TUNING IN EL PASO for CollaborAction’s Sketchbook and the Chicago and L.A. productions of GIRL, 20 (Best Director & Best Ensemble nominations, LA Weekly Theatre Awards) for Serendipity Theatre. Matt also recently directed BIBLE B-SIDES with the SiNNERMAN Ensemble, THIS IS OUR YOUTH with Pine Box Theatre, and Hans Holsen’s one man musical DENNIS TAR, HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS STAR! at The Annoyance Theatre & I.O.

The designers are William Anderson (set), Jessica Harpenau (lights), Ricky Lurie (costumes), and Mikhail Fiksel (sound and original music). The assistant director is Profiles ensemble member Tyler Gray and the stage manager is Maryann Carlson.

The cast of GRACELAND features Profiles ensemble members Somer Benson, Eric Burgher and Darrell W. Cox.

Somer Benson was most recently seen this season as Lisa in Profiles’ U.S. premiere of THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA and as Diane in the Midwest Premiere of THE THUGS by Adam Bock. Last season, she was seen in “Coax” as part of Profiles' Midwest premiere of THINGS WE SAID TODAY by Neil LaBute.

Eric Burgher most recently appeared in Profiles’ productions of THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISSOCIA and MEN OF TORTUGA. Last season, he appeared in THIS IS HOW IT GOES by Neil LaBute and "Land of the Dead" as part of Profiles' Midwest Premiere of LaBute shorts, THINGS WE SAID TODAY. Prior to that, he appeared as Carter in the Midwest Premiere of FAT PIG by Neil LaBute.

Darrell W. Cox was most recently seen at Profiles as the stepfather in Profiles’ Midwest Premiere of GREAT FALLS by Lee Blessing. Prior to that, he was seen as Taggart in Profiles’ first full Chicago production of MEN OF TORTUGA and the Midwest Premieres of IN A DARK DARK HOUSE and SOME GIRL(S). He recently appeared in the Chicago Premiere of Leigh Fondakowski's THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE at American Theatre Company as Jim Jones and Stephan Jones. He has appeared at Steppenwolf in the World Premiere of MEN OF TORTUGA (where he originated the role of Taggart), the Midwest Premiere of ORANGE FLOWER WATER (which traveled to the Galway Arts Festival), and the World Premiere of WENDALL GREENE. He has also appeared at the Goodman in THE SHAWL and HOME as part of the David Mamet Festival and the World Premiere of MARTIN FUREY’S SHOT at TimeLine Theatre, among others.

Making their Profiles debuts, the cast also features Cheryl Graeff as Sara and Jackson Challinor as Miles.

Cheryl was most recently seen in LOVE PERSON at Victory Gardens.  She is an ensemble member with American Blues Theater Company where she has appeared in THE PEOPLE’S TEMPLE, HALF OF PLENTY and SPEECH AND DEBATE.  Cheryl has worked at many Regional and Chicago theatres including Court Theatre, Piven Theater, Mary-Arrchie, Folio Theatre, Nebraska Repertory, Trap Door, Kansas City Repertory, Oregon Stage Company, Milwaukee Repertory, Madison Repertory, Chicago Dramatists, Famous Door, New American Theatre Company, and Steppenwolf Theatre Company.  She has also performed at the Kennedy Center and toured throughout the U.K.  Cheryl also appeared in the films ALLEYBALL, WHIRLYBIRD, and STRANGER THAN FICTION.

Jackson Challinor recently appeared in the critically acclaimed production of A VERY MERRY UNAUTHORIZED CHILDREN’S SCIENTOLOGY PAGEANT at A Red Orchid Theatre, A NEW NATION at Prop Thtr, LET THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN at Apple Tree Theatre and HAROUN AND THE SEA OF STORIES at Halcyon Theatre.

 Highly Recommended!  Ellen Fairey’s beautiful, haunting new play GRACELAND, under the deeply sensitive direction of Matthew Miller, is a must-see for anyone who follows important new plays from and about Chicago.  It’s a beautifully crafted piece of Chicago theater and it touched me greatly. I think it would do the same for you!”

-Chris Jones, CHICAGO TRIBUNE

 

“Highly Recommended! GRACELAND, the wonderfully wise and rueful new play by Ellen Fairey is a funny, touching, gracefully tuned world premiere at Profiles Theatre. Jackson Challinor, beguiling in his blend of boyish energy and willed calm -- is ideal. Looks like another long run for Profiles!”

-Hedy Weiss, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

 

  GRACELAND is staged by Matthew Miller with sensitivity and intelligence.  Ellen Fairey’s writing is rich with humor and emotional intensity. Eric Burgher has never been better and teen-age Jackson Challinor is astonishing!”

-Dan Zeff, COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

 

“Profiles Theatre turns Ellen Fairey's new play into an engaging evening as director Matthew Miller's pitch-perfect cast find myriad nuances. Jackson Challinor's razor-sharp timing as the bumbling, precocious Miles steals the show!”

-Justin Hayford, CHICAGO READER

 

“Ellen Fairey rivets our attention as she deftly brings the dramatic arc to a satisfying resolution. There’s an immediate empathy generated by the actors, guided by Matthew Miller's briskly efficient direction—in particular, the enchanting Jackson Challinor and the winsome edge brought by Darrell W. Cox!”

-Mary Shen Barnidge, WINDY CITY TIMES

 

“In Profiles edgy new show, Ellen Fairey displays a knack for dialogue. Young actor Jackson Challinor displays fine comedy chops and Profiles regulars Eric Burgher and Darrell W. Cox provide ample support. The painted Graceland backdrop is an accomplished work of art!”

-Web Behrens, CHICAGO FREE PRESS

 

“The cast delivers Fairey’s crisp, ironic dialogue and dry humor with skill, creating sympathetic and nuanced characters. Real-life teenager Jackson Challinor is a major find as he gives a nuanced, relaxed performance, capturing all the mannerisms of a contemporary teen but making Miles a character of substance and originality at the same time!”

-John Olsen, TALKIN’ BROADWAY

 

“GRACELAND is a very funny and extremely well-acted World Premiere. The cast make the characters believable and engaging and Jackson Challinor is particularly wonderful—he brings the melodrama and bizarre charm of adolescence to life in an utterly winning way!”

-Zev Valancy, CENTERSTAGE

 

“Profiles Theatre, one of Chicago's oldest storefront theaters, year after year, amazes audiences with the original works they produce and their current production of GRACELAND is no exception.  It’s a marvelous psychological look at four characters, the loneliness they are facing and how they are all brought together.”

-Al Bresloff, EPOCH TIMES

“Highly Recommended!  GRACELAND is a wonderfully written and supremely well acted World Premiere comedy/drama. There are stellar performances from Darrell W. Cox and Eric Burgher. Jackson Challinor steals much of the show with his cute, charming and totally honest portrait of the mercurial teen.  Profiles Theatre once again demonstrates their acumen as one of the finest storefront theatre troupes in Chicago.  GRACELAND is a must see show!”

-Tom Williams, CHICAGOCRITIC.COM

 

 

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