"Raggedy And" in production

2/20/2016

Wow, much has transpired in the three months since first posting about "Raggedy And". This is proving to be every bit the career changing experience I had hoped. My role is very challenging, rewarding, and I'm learning more about her every day. And the proceeding at a great pace.

The Cast of "Raggedy And"

After a thorough audition process, our cast was finalized in December.
From left to right, below:
   Averis I. Anderson ... Ben - just out of college, Clem & Ondi's son
   Myself ... Ondi - teacher and poet
   Katura Nelson ... Klem - Ondi's wife, construction company owner
   Manuel Ortiz ... Jayden - on the President-elect's Inaugural Committee

Company Membership & Early Publicity

Around the Christmas holiday I was very happy to accept company membership in Pride Films and Plays. I believe strongly in their mission to promote LGBT talent, and bring it to a wide audience.

Publicity began in December. Pride Films has an IndieGogo Campaign to help defer cost of the production. This promotional video highlights the significance of this remarkable role, and PFP's bold decision to cast it with a transgender actor -- aside from youth productions, possibly a first on Chicago's stages .

"Raggedy And" In Rehearsal

Katura and Manny in an early rehearsal.

Aside from a couple readings in December, rehearsals began in earnest on January 23. Under the enthusiastic and expert guidance of director Cecilie Keenan we've accomplished a great deal in this past month: worked scenes in detail, gotten off book, and even had some runs under our belt.

Our wonderful playwright David Valdes Greenwood left the Boston area to spend 3 sessions with us in Chicago. He was invaluable in clarifying points of the text for us, providing the helpful rewrite here and there, and being a wonderfully receptive audience. All the designers have watched the show beginning to end at least once. We now even have many of the costumes. I'm going to look pretty sharp in this one, folks!

We load into our venue at Rivendell Theatre in a couple weeks for tech, with our first audiences in previews March 10, only 19 days away. This weekend I am missing a couple rehearsals with the flu, while the director and cast work around me, but here at home I continue to run lines and explore new possibilities.

"Raggedy And" in Performance

Playwright David Valdes Greenwood and myself saw this Raggedy Ann Doll next door to our cafe and couldn't resist a quick photo op.

Tickets are now on sale at this link
Raggedy And by David Valdes Greenwood
directed by Cecilie D.Keenan
featuring Delia Kropp as Ondi Rivers.

Previews
March 10 and 11 at 7:30 ($15)

A special Industry show:
Monday, March 21st
(Actors - please contact me for the discount code)

Regular performances:
March 12 thru April 10
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 3:30pm
Tickets are $22 Thursdays, and $27 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Discounts are available for students and seniors

More about the play on the Official Raggedy And website

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