The Midwest Premiere of
Isaac's Eye
By Lucas Hnath
Directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam
September 2, 2014 – December 7, 2014
Performed at Books on Vernon: 664 Vernon Ave, Glencoe
Plays about historical figures often play fast and loose with facts. In Isaac’s Eye, however, an ingenious, meta-theatrical device separates truth from fiction, as each incontrovertible fact is chalked onto the very walls of the theatre!
Such is the inspired atmosphere of Lucas Hnath’s wildly creative new play, which tells the story of a young Isaac Newton, who once inserted a long needle “between my eye and the bone, as near to the backside of my eye as I could.” (This statement is true—it will be written on the wall!)
Hnath playfully reimagines Newton’s world with a contemporary conceit and language—stripped of accents and period dialect—as he introduces young Newton to the great Robert Hooke, the most famous and powerful scientist in Britain. The resulting battle of intellects and egos pulses with wit, humor and tension, as the playwright uncovers (and invents) the motivations that drove a young farm boy to become one of the greatest thinkers in human history.
Artistic Director Michael Halberstam directs this compelling new play by one of the country’s most exciting young playwrights—the ideal opening to our 23rd season!
By Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
Newly Adapted by Wendy Kesselman
Directed by Kimberly Senior
February 24, 2015 – May 31, 2015
Performed at Books on Vernon: 664 Vernon Ave, Glencoe
Thirteen actors share the intimate Writers Theatre bookstore space in this powerful and authentic portrait of a young girl clinging to hope in a time of tragedy.
As vital today as when it was first written, Anne Frank’s extraordinary diary has become an essential part of how we remember one of the darkest periods of human history. Filled with its young author’s luminous spirit – her “boundless desire for all that is beautiful and good” – the diary also illuminates the coming of age of a complex, passionate young girl as she falls in love, grows into a woman and struggles to survive with her family amid the chaos of war and religious persecution.
Directed by Kimberly Senior, the Writers Theatre production will provide a visceral insight into the realities of life in the “secret annex,” in which the tight quarters and forced intimacy serve as an ever-present reminder of the danger just outside--allowing audiences to come to know Anne and her family in a new and strikingly honest way.
By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by William Brown
April 28, 2015 – July 12, 2015
Performed at Glencoe Union Church: 263 Park Ave, Glencoe
Writers Theatre is thrilled to bring audiences this riveting, Pulitzer Prize-winning play about authority, suspicion, ambiguity and religion in an exciting, site-specific production staged in the library of the Glencoe Union Church.
Set against the backdrop of a 1960s America in the midst of political and social change, a progressive young priest’s conduct comes under question by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the school principal whose beliefs are deeply rooted in tradition. As the actions and motivations of each are scrutinized and suspicion mounts, the two are drawn into a battle of wills that threatens irrevocable consequences for all involved.
The Writers Theatre production—directed by William Brown—will allow the audience to be a fly on the church wall, observing as battle lines are drawn, allegiances formed and motives called into question.
During this transition season, tickets will be extremely limited, due to the smaller house size of both performance spaces. As a result, seats may only be guaranteed to Writers Theatre season package subscribers. Any remaining tickets will be made available to the general public in the weeks leading up to the opening of each production.
In this transition year, three-play packages will be available for $135 (weekday) and $180 (weekend). All performances will be General Admission seating, as they have been for previous Books on Vernon performances. Season package holders will continue to have the opportunity to select their dates at the time of ordering or during our member booking period in the month prior to each production.
Season Packages are available online or by calling 847-242-6000!
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