Cast
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Janet Ulrich Brooks * + Maude Gutman
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Mike Nussbaum * ^ Lionel Percy
Production Team
- Stephen Sachs Playwright
- Kevin Christopher Fox ~ Director
- Jeffrey D. Kmiec # Scenic Designer
- Christine Pascual # Costume Designer
- Jared Gooding Lighting Designer
- Mary O'Dowd Properties Designer
- Jinni Pike * Stage Manager
- Jaclyn Holsey * Cover Stage Manager
- Kaitlin Taylor Assistant Director
- Tracee Bear Production Assistant / Wardrobe Supervisor
Understudies
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James Sparling Lionel Percy
* Member of Actors Equity Association
# Member of United Scenic Artists
~ Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
+ TimeLine Company Member
^ TimeLine Associate Artist
§ TimeLine Playwrights Collective
Reviews
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Chicago Sun-Times
August 26, 2016
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. “A TimeLine Theatre production that stars the ideally paired Mike Nussbaum and Janet Ulrich Brooks. If you are searching for the very definition of ‘high art’ you will find it in the fireworks between these two.”
—Hedy Weiss
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Chicago Tribune
September 2, 2016
“‘Bakersfield Mist’ is a fun piece of writing … [Nussbaum’s] work is richly crafted, as always, and he’s endlessly entertaining and, in one moment especially, deeply moving … the issues behind ‘Bakersfield Mist,’ and this is a piece intended to spark discussion, are probably worth 80 minutes of your time.”
—Chris Jones
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Daily Herald
August 30, 2016
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. “The great appeal of director Kevin Christopher Fox’s cogent, well-paced production rests primarily with Nussbaum and the equally masterful Brooks. … Nussbaum and Brooks are virtuosos. We’re lucky to have them.”
—Barbara Vitello
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Crain's Chicago Business — “10 Things to Do”
August 31, 2016
“Put those characters in the hands of actors Janet Ulrich Brooks and Mike Nussbaum and you get more subtle shadings and surprising topspin. … Timeline Theatre has put together a showcase production”
—Hank Sartin
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Chicago Theatre Review
August 26, 2016
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. “Director Kevin Christopher Fox has staged this twister with style and energy. … Spewing four-letter expletives and swilling bourbon like a sailor, Ms. Brooks is unbelievable in this role … She’s matched moment for moment by her costar, the incredibly talented and always surprising Mike Nussbaum.”
—Colin Douglas
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Stage and Cinema
August 26, 2016
“[An] engrossing two-person drama … Bakersfield Mist [is] an 80-minute Chicago premiere richly mined by Kevin Christopher Fox.”
—Lawrence Bommer
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Chicago Theater Beat
August 27, 2016
3.5 STARS. “[Director Kevin Christopher] Fox, and the actors, walk a fine line: with a less able team, this Chicago premiere could have easily sunk into unlikable stereotypes. Thanks to the playwright and TimeLine, however, Bakersfield Mist makes an odd situation unforgettable, and a situation of opposites, attracting and repelling, a sweet and haunting search for truth. ”
—Lauren Whalen
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Windy City Times
August 31, 2016
“Consummate pro Brooks and national treasure Nussbaum are far, far too savvy to overplay their roles, with dry understatement the order of the day as directed by Kevin Christopher Fox. Nussbaum’s wordless facial expressions are worth the price of admission, and Brooks is a rock of dumb-like-a-fox credibility. Don’t hesitate to go see them.”
—Jonathan Arbarbanel
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Chicagoland Theatre Reviews
September 1, 2016
“It’s intellectually chewy stuff, made stimulating and entertaining in this concise yet fulfilling play brought to exhilarating life by a pair of terrific performances.”
—Dan Zeff
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Ada Grey Reviews for You
September 2, 2016
“I really liked this show. I thought it was very fun and interesting. When my mom read me the description, I said “Yep. I want to go to that show,” and I was definitely not disappointed! … People who would like this show are people who like abstract expressionist art, blinks, and cheez-ball fights.”
—Ada Grey
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Le Bon Travel & Culture
September 2, 2016
“For those who love art and theater, Bakersfield Mist is a dazzling must-see production. It’s one of the best shows of the year!”
—Betty Mohr
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CBS2 Chicago
September 9, 2016
Chicago’s own Mike Nussbaum … the dean of Chicago actors is not only starring in a new play, he’s playing a huge role. And just because some of us are used to his nightly brilliance all these years, that for me doesn’t make it any less amazing.”
—Chris Jones
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TimeOut Chicago
September 12, 2016
3 STARS. [Janet Ulrich] Brooks gives the kind of earthy, brassy performance you could see a Laurie Metcalf in had a different Chicago ensemble gone for this piece, while old master [Mike] Nussbaum imbues Percy with a good deal more texture than he’s given on the page. There’s some art you just can’t fake.
—Kris Vire
Features
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Chicago Sun-Times
August 25, 2016
Mary Houlihan interviewed playwright Stephen Sachs as well as Janet and Mike for this Chicago Sun-Times feature.
—Mary Houlihan
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Daily Herald
August 19, 2016
Mary O’Dowd and her work gathering props and set dressing for BAKERSFIELD MIST are profiled in this feature from the Daily Herald.
—Alicia Lee
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WGN Plus
September 16, 2016
Paul Lisnek takes you behind the curtain in this podcast with Mike Nusbaum and Janet Ulrich Brooks, as they discuss BAKERSFIELD MIST and where they get their inspiration for acting.
—Paul
Discussions & Events
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Opening Night Celebration: BAKERSFIELD MIST
Friday, August 26 at 8 pm Read More -
Open Captioned Performance
Saturday, Sept. 10 at 4pm Read More -
Company Member Discussion
Sunday, September 11 Read More -
PRE-Show Discussions
Various dates Read More -
Post-Show Discussions
Various dates Read More -
Sunday Scholars Series
Sunday, October 9 at 3:30 pm Read More -
BAKERSFIELD MIST Closing
Saturday, October 15 at 8pm Read More
Photo by Lara Goetsch
Photo by Lara Goetsch
Photo by Lara Goetsch
Photo by Lara Goetsch
Photo by Lara Goetsch
Photo by Lara Goetsch
Audience Reactions
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— Barbra G., via FacebookOne of the best plays I've seen recently. Two top actors!
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— Rick L., via FacebookMike Nussbaum is a real Chicago treasure.