TimePieces Archive: 2011-2012 Season
These plays were presented as part of the TimePieces Play Reading Series during the 2011-12 season:
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THE GUYS
by Anne Nelson
directed by Louis Contey
Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 7 pm
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 7 pm
at Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago
Our readings of The Guys on September 11 and September 12, 2011, raised $3,520 to benefit Ignite the Spirit. We thank all who attended and donated!
TimeLine presented two readings of The Guys, starring acclaimed Chicago actors Francis Guinan and Ora Jones, to commemorate 10th Anniversary of September 11.
Donations were accepted to directly benefit Ignite the Spirit, a non-profit organization founded in 2003 that provides assistance to Chicago’s emergency responders in times of hardship.
Based on a true story, The Guys is about the effects of the collapse of the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. Less than two weeks after the attacks, New Yorkers are still in shock. One of them, an editor named Joan, receives an unexpected phone call on behalf of Nick, a fire captain who has lost most of his men and needs help preparing an unprecedented number of eulogies. The two spend a long afternoon together recalling the fallen men, their virtues and foibles, and fashioning stories into memorials of words. Making their way through an emotional landscape of grief, they draw on humor, tango, the appreciation of craft in all its forms, and the enduring bonds of common humanity. This powerful and widely acclaimed play debuted off-Broadway on December 4, 2001, and has since been presented in 48 states and around the world.
Before the presentation, Artistic Director PJ Powers said: “We are honored to work with Ignite the Spirit and its co-founders Rich Pinskey and Ken Soo for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. We believe that this partnership is a great opportunity to make an impact — not just through a stirring evening of theatre and remembrance but also by being able to financially improve the lives of everyday heroes in our community. These two evenings are sure to be a powerful and moving event that is not to be missed.”
ABOUT IGNITE THE SPIRIT
Founded in 2003 by Chicago firefighters, Ignite the Spirit is a not-for-profit organization with no paid employees that benefits the city’s emergency responders — including emergency medical technicians, paramedics and firemen — and their families. Thousands of people across the United States volunteer and respond to emergencies for the sole reward of being able to help someone when they cannot help themselves. These heroes are sometimes in need of help themselves. Full-time Chicago firefighters established Ignite the Spirit for the men and women who are emergency responders. Money raised through events and sales of merchandise is used to help emergency responders in times of hardship. For more information, please visit ignitethespirit.org.
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WASTELAND
by Susan Felder
directed by William Brown
Tuesday, February 7 at 7 pm
at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave.
Wasteland is the story of two soldiers during the Vietnam War — both named Joe, yet vastly different. Drawn together by their surroundings over two years in captivity, each is held in a separate cell underground, with a barred ceiling grate as their only access to the outside world. In this stirring new play by Susan Felder and directed by TimeLine Associate Artist William Brown (To Master The Art), these soldiers battle dire conditions, boredom, loss of hope and each other. With little hope of rescue, they are separated not only by a solid wall but also by their differences in background, politics, world view and opinions about the war they’ve fought.
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CQ/CX
by Gabe McKinley
directed by Keira Fromm
Tuesday, June 5 at 7 pm
at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave.
Jay, an up and coming reporter at The New York Times, has dreams of becoming a famous journalist. But in a flash, they come crashing down when he becomes the center of a plagiarism scandal. Exciting young playwright Gabe McKinley weaves a revealing and complex story about the collateral damage of unchecked ambition and compounded lies. In this new play inspired by current events, truth becomes slippery and racial tensions reach a boiling point.
Synopsis courtesy of Atlantic Theatre Company, which presented the CQ/CX world premiere.