Brett Neveu Playwright

Ron OJ Parson ~ + Director

Cast

Tiffany Addison Rochelle Walker

Linda Bright Clay * Brenda Cameron

Al'Jaleel McGhee Dontre Cameron

Josh Odor Dex Farwell (beginning 6/18)

Geno Walker Terry Kilbourn

Stephen Walker Dex Farwell (through 6/17)

AnJi White * Regina “G” Whitnall

Jay Worthington * Ike Jeno

Production Team

Regina García # Scenic Designer
Christine Pascual # Costume Designer
Mike Durst # Lighting Designer
David Kelepha Samba Sound Designer
Vivian Knouse Properties Designer
Matt Hawkins Fight Director, Intimacy Choreographer
Tanya Palmer Co-Dramaturg
Regina Victor Co-Dramaturg
Dina Spoerl Lobby Display Designer
Amalie Vega * Stage Manager
Kristiana Rae Colón Assistant Director
Gabriella Welsh Production Assistant

Understudies

Eric Gerard Terry Kilbourn, Dontre Cameron

RjW Mays Brenda Cameron

Katrina D. RiChard Rochelle Walker, Regina “G” Whitnall

Stuart Ritter Dex Farwell, Ike Jeno

Reviews

Chicago Tribune

May 10, 2018

★★★½. “A gripping dissection of a personally catastrophic, real-life event that happened just 90 minutes up the freeway from here. And it contains a superb performance from Geno Walker … This is one of the best performances of the season. … It feels like all of these artists are going to some tough places.”

—Chris Jones

Chicago Sun-Times

May 13, 2018

★★★½. “Haunting, gripping … expertly directed by Ron OJ Parson … [AJ McGhee’s] Dontre has only one scene with Ike and Dex, and it’s a masterclass in subtext and razor-wire tension strung so tight you can practically hear it snapping.“

—Catey Sullivan

Chicago Reader

May 10, 2018

“TimeLine Theatre has a long history of successfully transforming seemingly unstageable stories of bureaucracy and institutional malfeasance into ground-level human dramas.”

—Dan Jakes

Stage and Cinema

May 4, 2018

“Neveu’s compassionate To Catch a Fish is a rich revelation in Ron OJ Parson’s all-feeling staging. The work itself is an invaluable anomaly: Unlike most news stories, it’s more interested in the sufferers of a scam than the reasons for wrongdoing. … Neveu has a full grasp of what’s at stake in his story and, even better, a warm respect for the real folks caught in the crossfire.”

—Lawrence Bommer

PerformInk

May 7, 2018

CRITICS’ PICK. “Director Ron OJ Parson brings this troubling story together flawlessly … To Catch a Fish is timely, shedding light on the blatant disregard for human rights that is becoming a repetitive occurrence, especially within the Black community. This play delivers a fresh perspective, reminding us that liberty and justice are not for all.“

—Naima Dawson

TheaterMania

May 8, 2018

“A moving character study about a family in over their heads … the actors give achingly sympathetic performances that speak volumes. … Their lifetimes of history make for an emotional tug-of-war that is potent even when bubbling beneath the surface … To Catch a Fish is a tender study of people trying to do what they can to understand and protect the people they love.“

—Adelaide Lee

The Fourth Walsh

May 4, 2018

“[Brett] Neveu pens well-developed characters with palpable back stories and complicated relationships. Director Ron OJ Parson skillfully navigates his talented ensemble. Their portrayals are authentic. Their banter feels spontaneous and unscripted. This is how real people talk, stumble through conversations and endure a regrettable life. Neveu unravels his story with knots and unfinished honesty. I enjoyed TO CATCH A FISH immensely. Neveu provided the bait. Parsons hooked me. And the talented ensemble reeled me in.“

—Katy Walsh

Rescripted

May 9, 2018

“[This] is a production that captures specificity of both character and place. … To Catch a Fish is an engrossing portrait of a beautiful, vulnerable man that calls out the destructive practice of the sting operation, too often glamorized or satirized in popular culture.“

—Hallie Palladino

Picture This Post

May 4, 2018

RECOMMENDED. “It is the interpersonal stories in this script that make it engaging … Superb performances make these characters alive and worth your time to get to know them.”

—Amy Munice

Around the Town Chicago

May 4, 2018

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. “The story is filled with mystery, romance, relationships, family, friends, and how each has an effect on the other. … As this is a TimeLine production, you know you will have something to discuss on the way home, or even the next day.”

—Alan Bresloff

Chicago On Stage

May 3, 2018

“The play, briskly paced under the direction of Ron OJ Parson, features some very strong acting and enough powerful moments for any play.”

—Karen Topham

Ada Grey Reviews for You

May 15, 2018

“People who would like this show are people who like peaceful fishing, stern and lovable grandmas, and suspicious stores. I think that this is such an intriguing, well-performed, and visually, aurally, and emotionally stunning show. I really enjoyed it.”

—Ada Grey

WGN Radio

May 3, 2018

“The performances are intimate, right on and powerful … This is an important production for all to see … It will surely ignite significant conversation of the not-so-perfect world we live in.”

—Paul Lisnek

Newcity Stage

May 21, 2018

“An important story to tell and a vital dialogue to engage in … therein lies the strength of To Catch a Fish: if the goal of this play is to get more people interested, involved, and informed about the events of ‘Operation Fearless’ then it succeeded”

—Emma Couling

Let's Play

June 9, 2018

★★★★, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. “Director Ron OJ Parson once again delivers with fantastic staging in small places with To Catch a Fish. … A riveting, explosive play of actual life events. … [it] delivers a fresh perspective, reminding us that liberty and justice are NOT for all.”

—Rick and Brenda McCain

Features

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

May 15, 2018

Read this feature from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the real-life Milwaukee events that inspired Brett Neveu to write To Catch a Fish, highlighting the work of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters Raquel Rutledge and John Diedrich in breaking the story, and how the cast and creative team explored the area to research the play.

—Jim Higgins

Read the full feature

Footlights

May 3, 2018

Footlights’ Amanda Finn interviews To Catch a Fish playwright Brett Neveu about the play’s inspiration, its real world connections, and the winding road from pen to stage.

—Amanda Finn

Read the full feature

WGN Radio

May 16, 2018

“A production and performances not to be missed and [in] one of the most intimate spaces in the city. … I encourage everybody to see it.”

WGN host Paul Lisnek is joined by To Catch a Fish actors Geno Walker and Linda Bright Clay for a spirited conversation about this moving and complex world premiere (section starts at 31:34).

Listen to the interview

Booth One

May 14, 2018

Tune in for a lively conversation with Gary Zabinski and Frank Tourangeau of Booth One, who sat down with To Catch a Fish playwright Brett Neveu to chat about moments both lighthearted and profound in the creation of this world premiere. (Section starts at 5:25)

—Gary Zabinski and Frank Tourangeau

Listen to the interview