William L. Petersen to Star in Victory Gardens’ Blackbird

William L. Petersen, star of CBS-TV’s CSI, will star in the Victory Gardens’ Theater production of David Harrower’s Blackbird, July 3-August 9. The production will be directed by Dennis Zacek; additional casting and creative team will be announced at a later date.

The two-character play concerns the awkward reunion of Ray and Una, who meet unexpectedly 15 years after the end of their passionate affair. Blackbird won the 2007 Olivier Award for Best Play and has been seen in numerous U.S. theaters.

Peterson, who got his start in Chicago, will also appear this season in the Steppenwolf Theater Company’s production of Conor McPherson’s Dublin Carol. He will depart CSI during the show’s season.

The Victory Gardens season will begin with Sarah Ruhl’s adaptation of Eurydice (October 3-November 9), an astonishingly fresh take on the Greek Orpheus myth. Next up will be the return of Chicago folk legend Michael Smith’s smash hit musical The Snow Queen(November 28-December 28), based on Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved winter tale, directed again by Tony Award-winner Frank Galati, with puppets by Blair Thomas & Co. and choreography by Jim Corti.

The season will continue with the world premiere of Living Green (January 23-March 1), by Gloria Bond Clunie, which tells a timely drama about an upper middle class black family considering a move back to the “old neighborhood.” Another world premiere — Class Dismissed by Jeffrey Sweet – will follow, March 20-April 26. The play is a comedic drama set in the free-spirited 1960s about youth and living with the consequences of how you spend it. The season continues with Chicago debut of Aditi Brennan Kapil’s Love Person, May 15-June 14. This intriguing love story, performed in English, Sanskrit, American Sign Language, and projected e-mail, explores language as a portal and barrier to human connection.

For more information, visit www.victorygardens.org.