Chicago Dramatists Announces 2008-2009 Season

Chicago Dramatists has announced the selections for its 30th anniversary season, which will kick off with the world premiere of Ten Cent Night (September 18-October 26), by Marisa Wegrzyn. In this family comedy, Dad’s shot himself in the head and failed musician Roby Finley is on her way home to Burkeville, TX, with a suitcase full of stolen cash to save her heart-sick sister. Wegrzyn is the author of The Butcher of Baraboo, Killing Women, Psalms of a Questionable Nature, and Hickorydickory.

Next up will be the world premiere of How I Became an Interesting Person by Will Dunne, January 15-February 22, to be directed by artistic director Russ Tutterow. The play concerns an isolated man, his elderly landlady, and three unusual boarders. Dunne’s plays include Hotel Desperado, Love and Drowning, and The Ascension of Carlotta.

The world premiere of Hope VI (April 23-May 31), by Nambi E. Kelley, will follow, to be directed by Ilesa Duncan. It tells the story of Hope Graves, age six, a high spirited and funny young girl who has become strangely quiet since her mother beat her in the head with a steel-toed boot. Kelley’s previous work has included projects for Steppenwolf Theatre and Lincoln Center Theater in New York City.

In addition, Chicago Dramatists will produce Many Voices Project (July 16-19), showcasing playwrights of color and The Saturday Series (September 6-July 25), which will present a weekly staged reading of a play-in-progress followed by a moderated audience discussion.

For more information, visit www.chicagodramatists.org.