CHICAGO — The Theatre School at DePaul University will present “The Duchess of Malfi”’ by John Webster at the Fullerton Stage Theatre. The production, directed by Lavina Jadhwani, premieres on April 17 and runs through April 26. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Previews are on April 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m.
About the play: The Duchess asserts her freedom of choice to marry whom she pleases, even if her beloved Antonio is “beneath her class.” Her brothers retaliate in protest and send their henchman, Bosola, to keep an eye on the Duchess. The result: a tragedy full of complex players, destruction, violence, greed, secrets, madness, murders, double crosses, poison, treachery and good old-fashioned aristocratic revenge.
Notoriously one of the greatest blood baths of the stage, this Jacobean drama is reimagined by Jadhwani, MFA Directing, class of 2015.
Tickets are $15, preview tickets are $10, and student tickets are $5. Subscriptions and group rates (six or more people) are available. All tickets are reserved seating. Tickets are available by calling 773-325-7900 or visiting the online box office at http://theatre.depaul.edu.
The Theatre School at DePaul University is located at 2350 N. Racine Ave (at Fullerton). The school is easily accessible via the Fullerton CTA Station and the Fullerton (74) bus. Visitors and audience members can park in DePaul University’s Clifton Parking Deck, located at 2330 N. Clifton Avenue. Please call the Box Office for more information or for help in planning your trip.
For patrons who are blind or have low-vision, the performance will be audio described on April 24 at 7:30 p.m. with a pre-performance touch tour. Call 773-325-7900 for information. The performance on April 26 at 2 p.m. will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Call TTY at 773-325-7975. Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. is USO of Illinois night. U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families can attend the performance for free. Visit www.tixfortroops.org to reserve tickets, or call 773-325-7900 for more information. Additional special events include an opening night reception following the performance on April 17, and post-show discussions on April 19 and 23.
The cast features Christian Cook (Roderigo/Executioner), William Delforge (Pescara/Executioner), Bernard Gilbert (Antonio), Jalen Gilbert (Bosola), Kayla Holder (Cariola/Nun), Noah Laufer (Cardinal), Ashlyn Lozano (Duchess), Erika Miranda (Julia), Hugh Smith (Ferdinand), and Peter Varga (Delio).
The production staff includes Jadhwani (director), Thom Pasculli (movement coach), Chuck Coyl (fight choreographer), Claudia Anderson (vocal coach), Greg Pinsoneault (scenic designer), Stephanie Tomey (costume designer), Lindsay Rosenfeld (lighting designer), Kevin A Cushman (sound designer), Aaryanna Renee (dramatrug), and Julia Bates (stage manager).
Jadhwani is a Chicago-based freelance director in her third and final year of the MFA Directing program at The Theatre School. She is an artistic associate at Silk Road Rising (“Ching Chong Chinaman,” “Gold Boy/Emerald Girl”) and Oak Park Festival Theatre (“Hamlet,” “Twelfth Night” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona”). She is also the casting director at Lifeline Theatre. Jadhwani's work has been seen at Apple Tree, Bailiwick, Chicago Dramatists, Rasaka Theatre Company (Artistic Director, 2007-2013), Raven Theatre, Remy Bumppo, The Side Project, Stage Left, Teatro Vista, and Victory Gardens. She is the recipient of the Drama League’s Classical Directing Fellowship, an SDCF Observership, an Illinois Board of Higher Education Fellowship, and an LMDA Residency Award. Jadhwani was named Time Out Chicago’s “Best Next Generation Stage Director” in 2013.
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Media Contact:
Andrea Tichy
atichy@depaul.edu
(773) 325-7819