New plays at Steppenwolf Theater

Steppenwolf Presents

5^th Annual First Look Repertory of New Work:

Honest, Sex with Strangers & Ski Dubai

July 22 – August 9, 2009

CHICAGO (July 1, 2009) – Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the 5^th annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotation and accompanied by a series of events around the development of new work. First Look Repertory of New Work runs July 22 – August 9, 2009 in The Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted St. All tickets are $20.

The First Look Repertory of New Work 2009 productions are:

Honest

Written and directed by ensemble member Eric Simonson

Wednesday, July 22 – Sunday, August 9, 2009

Featuring Martin McClendon, Katherine Cunningham, Erik Hellman, Lucas Neff and Kelly O’Sullivan.

Guy, author of a best-selling memoir about his downward spiral into drug addiction and homelessness, comes face-to-face with a prying reporter, snooping for a scandal. Their tense showdown over truth versus creative license leads to shocking revelations that could jeopardize both their livelihoods.

Sex with Strangers

By Laura Eason

Directed by associate artist Jessica Thebus

Thursday, July 23 – Sunday, August 9, 2009

Featuring Amy J. Carle and Stephen Louis Grush.

Ethan Strange is a hot young scenester whose online journal of sexscapades have turned him into the “it” boy of the blogosphere. Olivia is an attractive 30-something whose own writing career has crapped out. After they hook up, sex turns into dating and dating into something more—but their online exploits threaten to destroy their real-life connection.

Ski Dubai

By Laura Jacqmin

Directed by Lisa Portes

Friday, July 24 – Sunday, August 9, 2009

Featuring ensemble member James Vincent Meredith with Cliff Chamberlain, Hillary Clemens, Jennifer Coombs, Sadieh Rifai and Rani Waterman.

Rachel, a young Environmental Friendliness Consultant, moves from New York to steamy Dubai to work on a man-made island teeming with skyscrapers and luxury hotels. Trying to uphold her “green” principles in a hotbed of capitalism, she navigates a stream of quirky displaced internationals battling loneliness and isolation in a flashy, modern pseudo-city.

The First Look 2009 Playwrights

Laura Eason is the author of more than 15 plays, both original works and adaptations. Previous productions at Steppenwolf include When the Messenger is Hot (also at 59E59, NYC), A Tale of Two Cities and Huck Finn. Her plays have been produced and developed in New York at New York Theatre Workshop, WET, New Georges, MCC, Andhow and Vital Theatre and produced regionally at Lookingglass, Walkabout, Two River Theater and Theatre Schmeater. Laura is an Affiliated Artist of New Georges and a playwright member of the Women’s Project Lab in New York and an Ensemble Member and the former Artistic Director of Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago.

Laura Jacqmin is the winner of the 2008 Wasserstein Prize, a $25,000 award for emerging female playwrights. Her plays have been produced and developed with Ars Nova, 2econd Stage Theatre, Aurora Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater and The 24 Hour Plays Off Broadway at the Atlantic Theater. Jacqmin will be the artist-in-residence at the Center on Age and Community in Milwaukee this fall and is an adjunct faculty member at Carthage College.

Eric Simonson, a Steppenwolf ensemble member since 1993, recently completed a documentary on the late Studs Terkel for HBO. He received a Tony^® nomination for his direction of Steppenwolf's The Song of Jacob Zulu with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and directed an Oscar^®-nominated documentary about the acclaimed South African singing group. Simonson received an Oscar^® for Best Documentary Short for his film A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin in 2006. Other directing credits at Steppenwolf include Carter’s Way (also playwright), Slaughterhouse-Five (also adaptor) and Nomathemba (Hope). His new play Fake will be presented during Steppenwolf’s 2009-2010 Season.

The designers for First Look 2009 are: Kevin Depinet (sets), Myron Elliott (costumes), J.R. Lederle (lights) and Joseph Fosco (sound). Jonathan Templeton is the Lead Stage Manager, Jonathan Nook and Lauren Hickman are the Stage Managers, Kimberly Senior and Ed Sobel are the Program Directors and Whitney Dibo is the Program Assistant.

The First Look Repertory of New Work also includes First Look 101, a unique three-month experience that takes enrolled participants on a backstage journey through all aspects of the new play development process – from the first rehearsal to the final performance. The program is limited to 101 members and is open to anyone interested in, and wanting to know more about, creating new plays. First Look 101 runs June 1, 2009 – August 9, 2009. This year’s First Look 101 is SOLD OUT.

First Look Repertory of New Work is a developmental process that culminates in performance before an audience, rather than in a staged reading or workshop presentation. Scripts undergo significant revision during the workshop/rehearsal process and may be revised even after being publicly presented during First Look. They are presented with full, if minimal, design support because in Steppenwolf’s view, the design process is an integral aspect of play development. The intent is to prime the plays for future production at other theaters across the country.

First Look has gained both local and national recognition since its inception in 2005. Seven of the twelve plays presented during First Look’s first four seasons have enjoyed subsequent world premieres at other theaters, including: Jason Wells’ Perfect Mendacity produced at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida; Wells’ Men of Tortuga also at Asolo (followed by a second production at Profiles Theater in Chicago); Butcher of Baraboo by Marisa Wegrzyn produced by 2econd Stage Theatre in New York; 100 Saints You Should Know by Kate Fodor produced by Playwrights Horizons in New York; Spare Change by Mia McCullough produced by Stage Left Theatre in Chicago; Gary by Melinda Lopez produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre in Massachusetts; and When The Messenger is Hot by Laura Eason produced by 59E59 Theaters in New York.

Individual tickets to First Look Repertory of New Work cost $20. A First Look Pass to all three plays is available for $45. Tickets are available at www.steppenwolf.org or by calling Audience Services at 312-335-1650. First Look 101 costs $75 ($45 for students with valid ID) and includes access to all First Look 101 events, plus tickets to all three First Look Repertory productions. This year’s First Look 101 is SOLD OUT.

Steppenwolf is located near all forms of public transportation and is wheelchair accessible. Street and lot parking are available. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance.

Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting new American plays at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and for their sponsorship of the First Look Repertory of New Work.

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company's mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon. The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting, filmmaking and textual adaptation.

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Illinois Green Party meeting July 17-19 in Champaign-Urbana

ILLINOIS GREEN PARTY

www.ilgp.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 9, 2009

CONTACT:

Phil Huckelberry

Illinois Green Party Chair

309-268-9974

phil.huckelberry@ilgp.org

Patrick Kelly

Illinois Green Party Media Coordinator

773-809-4547

media@ilgp.org

ILLINOIS GREEN PARTY TO HOLD STATE MEETING IN CHAMPAIGN- URBANA, JULY 17-19; WILL RECOGNIZE STATEWIDE CANDIDATES

The Illinois Green Party will hold a state party meeting on July 17-19 in Champaign-Urbana, with the majority of events held at the Illinois Terminal station. The primary purpose of the meeting is to recognize statewide Green candidates for the February 2010 primary election.

The meeting will also include workshops on running for office, political issues, and party building.

"This meeting is going to gear us up for the 2010 election and kick off an effort to bring real change to Illinois," said Phil Huckelberry, Illinois Green Party Chair. "With the corruption and gridlock on the state level, and the corporate giveaways and broken promises on the federal level, the Green Party remains the party of principle, progress, and people. Green Party candidates are able to put the interests of the people first since they do not accept corporate campaign contributions. For those who no longer wish to vote for the parties of Blagojevich and Ryan, we ask you to support the Green Party."

The meeting, which is open to all Illinois Green Party members, will hear from several candidates seeking the Green nomination for one of the seven statewide offices up for election in 2010. The Illinois Green Party does not issue endorsements for statewide office during primary elections, but may extend formal recognition to one or more candidates for such offices.

Formal recognition is intended to give Green Party members an opportunity to learn who the legitimate Green candidates are in advance of the petitioning period, which begins on August 4. Green candidates generally rely on a grassroots volunteer base and recognition is a vital aspect of connecting candidates to the rank and file membership.

In 2006, Rich Whitney received more than 10% of the vote as the Green candidate for Governor, making the Green Party one of three "established" parties in Illinois, which means that the party has full ballot access for all races across the state in 2010. Whitney has expressed interest in being the Green candidate for Governor again and is expected to be at the meeting.

Candidates will make their case for recognition on the morning of July 18th and members will vote that afternoon. A press conference will be held at 3:30 p.m. (more details about the press conference will be forthcoming). A fundraising dinner will be held Saturday evening, featuring speeches by candidates and other party leaders, a silent auction and entertainment.

Workshops will be held throughout the meeting, including Green Health Care Solutions, the Co-op Alternative, Transition Towns, and Gardening and Local Food: Practice and Politics. There will also be campaign school workshops that will touch on topics like fundraising, petitioning, public speaking, and building a campaign team.

A social mixer will be held the evening of Friday, July 17, at Crane Alley in downtown Urbana. The meeting will be held at the Illinois Terminal train station in downtown Champaign on Saturday, July 18, and at the Eastland Suites in Urbana on Sunday, July 19.

A full schedule and registration information is available online:

http://ilgp.org/groups/meetings/next-membership-meeting

"I am excited about this state meeting" said AJ Segneri, Illinois Green Party Membership Steward. "The Illinois Greens are full of dedicated people who can work together. We look forward to working with the people of Illinois to enact sustainable, sensible policies for the state."

MORE INFORMATION:

Illinois Green Party

http://www.ilgp.org

http://ilgp.org/groups/meetings/next-membership-meeting

http://ilgp.org/elections/2008-primaries/

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Community meetings schedule for 2016 Chicago Olympics

2016 Community Meetings Calendar

From the Chicago 2016 web site:
"Chicago 2016 is committed to reaching out and providing a forum for dialogue to all Chicagoland communities. The bid strives to actively engage in participation and conversation with all neighborhoods and communities. For up-to-date information about community meetings, please check back often. If you would like to request a meeting, please reach out to us at community@chicago2016.org and we will try to accommodate you as best as we can. Also, please check our page dedicated to Neighborhood Legacy Forums for information regarding our upcoming legacy meetings."

July 7 7:15 p.m.
The Gap Community Organization Meeting Illinois College of Optometry - 3240 S Indiana, Suite 1200

July 8 5:30 p.m.
11th, 12th and 25th Ward Meeting McKinley Park Field House, 2210 W. Pershing Road

July 9 2 p.m.
Robert Taylor Working Group Meeting Hansberry Square Community Center - 4034 S. State Street

July 13 5:30 p.m.
39th and 40th Ward Meeting North Park University's Hamming Hall - 3225 W. Foster

July 14 6:30 p.m.
28th Ward Meeting Garfield Park Field House (Gold Dome) - 100 N. Central Park Ave

July 15 5:30 p.m.
5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Ward Meeting South Shore Cultural Center - 7059 S. South Shore Drive

PLEASE ATTEND AND BRING "NO BLANK CHECK" PETITIONS AND GENERAL
INFO FLYERS. download here

If you do decide to gather signatures, please email us at nogameschicago@gmail.com to let us know what meeting you're going to and we'll connect
with you to pick them up.

Proft challenges Dillard's Republican loyalties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2009

CONTACT: Blake Dvorak
847-912-2038

blake.dvorak@proft2010.com

PRESS RELEASE:

UPDATE: Dillard Endorses Madigan. Proft Endorses Republican

From today’s Chicago Tribune:

Republican state Sen. Kirk Dillard kicked off his run for governor in Hinsdale today, where Madigan was a topic of discussion.

"She's been a good attorney general and if she wants to stay there, that's fine," Dillard said. "With Lisa Madigan out of the race, it clearly makes this at least an even, if not a Republican-tilting field. Personally, I'm glad she's not going to be my opponent in the general election. I believe my chances are better with Pat Quinn or someone else than Lisa Madigan. I look forward to having Lisa Madigan as attorney general when I'm the governor."

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/07/madigan-to-seek-reelection-as-attorney-general.html

I wonder what DuPage County State’s Attorney and recently announced GOP Attorney General candidate Joe Birkett thinks of Sen. Dillard’s endorsement of Lisa Madigan’s re-election.

Sen. Dillard is also incorrect on substance when it comes to AG Madigan. When AG Madigan ran in 2002 she vilified former AG Jim Ryan for not doing enough to root out public corruption under Gov. George Ryan. The same standard she applied to Jim Ryan should now be applied to her. So I will ask a question Sen. Dillard clearly did not and would not ask: Which corrupt public officials has Lisa Madigan brought to justice over the last six years while Gov. Rod Blagojevich was taking pay-to-play politics in Illinois to new lows?

It is a sorry state of affairs when someone seeking to be the Republican Party’s standard bearer for Governor is disinterested in holding Lisa Madigan and the rest of the Chicago Democrats accountable for what has occurred on their watch. This is the kind of go-along-to-get-along politics that has debilitated the Republican Party in Illinois.

And, as nice a guy as he is, Sen. Dillard goes down this road over and over again—on taxes, on spending, on debt, and on the future of the Republican Party in Illinois.

Let me differentiate myself again from Sen. Dillard: I will be endorsing and supporting the Republican nominee for Attorney General come the general election.

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This release updates a release on Sen. Dillard’s announcement issued this morning: http://www.proft2010.com/news-room/contentview.asp?c=188821

Radio Chicagoland for Tuesday July 7: Illinois reform, Sarah Palin, Cynthia McKinney, Michael Jackson and Hamas

The Chicago Tribune's Ray Long discusses the failure of the Illinois Legislature to pass real reform despite the howling and screaming about former Gov. Rod Blagojevich at 8 am CST/Central on WJJG 1530 AM Radio (and live on the Internet at www.RadioChicagoland.com)

Monroe Anderson discusses Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and her decision to resign from office; is the criticism of Michael Jackson driven by racism? and the media blackout on the arrest, detention and hijacking of former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. At 8:30 am CST/Central

Journalist and Middle East commentator Ali Younes on the Hamas terrorist threat and the rising threat of radical Islam. Hamas arrests woman in the Gaza Strip who refused to wear a Hijab. Story in Ha'aretz newspaper. Read story? at 9 am CST/Central

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Jewish federations of North America select Jerry SIlverman as new president and CEO

UJC/JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES THE SELECTION OF JERRY SILVERMAN AS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO

New York, NY, July 6, 2009 -- UJC/Jewish Federations of North America reported today that Jerry Silverman will join the organization as president and CEO. UJC/Jewish Federations represents 157 Jewish Federations and 400 network communities, which raise and distribute more than $3 billion annually for social welfare, social services and educational needs. The Federation movement, collectively among the top 10 charities on the continent, protects and enhances the well-being of Jews worldwide through the values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (charity and social justice) and Torah (Jewish learning).

Silverman is a highly experienced leader in the North American Jewish community and longtime corporate executive. As CEO of the Foundation for Jewish Camp since 2004, Silverman has been extremely successful in building the quality, availability and demand for Jewish summer camps by creating partnerships with key philanthropists and federations, increasing scholarships for campers, and providing leadership development opportunities for camp directors. Silverman came to the Foundation after highly successful careers at the Stride Rite Corp. and Levi Strauss & Co.

Over a span of almost 25 years, Jerry Silverman served in various executive leadership capacities at Levi Strauss and Stride Rite. He worked on many successful consumer brands, including Levi’s, Dockers, Stride Rite Children’s, and Keds. Before becoming the President of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, Jerry’s most recent position was President of the Keds Corporation. He has run both wholesale and retail operations and was noted for his leadership, outstanding work ethic, and ability to build strong teams.

Kathy Manning, who led the CEO Search Committee and is the nominee to chair the UJC Board of Trustees, said she and the committee were excited to have Silverman joining the Federation system.

“We are thrilled to have such an outstanding individual to lead UJC/Jewish Federations of North America,” Manning said.

“Jerry has proven himself to be a visionary and results-oriented leader who in five short years has built a strong team, worked in partnership with his board which in turn has brought the Jewish camp community together and put Jewish camping on the communal map. His personal qualities, his engagement with the Jewish world and his extensive success in the business world, make Jerry someone who is uniquely poised to build on UJC’s accomplishments and partner with Federations to be the best philanthropic forces we can be.”

Current UJC Chair Joe Kanfer welcomed Silverman’s arrival, saying he will drive UJC’s strategic priorities of delivering ever-greater service and value to strengthen Federations.

“We are proud to have Jerry on board,” Kanfer said. “Jerry will build on our momentum and further our change efforts in order to take our Federation system to the next level to better meet the challenges and the opportunities of the 21st century.”

The search for a new CEO began one year ago, when current President and CEO Howard Rieger announced he would be stepping down after completing his five-year term this August. The search committee represented the entire Federation system, with members hailing from leadership positions in all city size Federations across all regions. During the search, the committee gathered broad and extensive input from executives and lay leaders across the system.

The committee unanimously recommended Jerry Silverman for the new President and CEO of UJC/Jewish Federations of North America. The committee selected Silverman in part because of his passion for Jewish future, his commitment to continuous learning and growth, and his focus on customer centricity. These are critical qualities for leading the Federation system effectively, Manning said.

At the Foundation for Jewish Camp, Silverman led the only national organization dedicated to non-profit Jewish resident camps responsible for raising awareness and building support for Jewish summer camps. As head of the Jewish camping umbrella organization, Silverman, together with the Board and staff, developed a new strategic plan with a clear mission and focused strategies that would add significant value to Jewish camps across North America. The plan focused on motivating consumers and funders, including partnership with Federations to provide incentives to campers, such as matching grants that also helped Federations drive new initiatives.

“Jerry once told me that his job is to put Jewish camps front and center as they are on the front lines doing the heavy lifting -- if the camps are doing a great job, and more and more kids are having great Jewish experiences, then his organization will have been successful,” Manning said. “The same kind of approach will help UJC lead the Jewish Federations of North America to become an even more effective philanthropic force in the years to come.”

Silverman says he is committed to the mission of strengthening Federations and our collective system to better meet Jewish needs and grow the Jewish future, just as he was concerned about creating memorable Jewish experiences and Jewish identity through camping.

“I feel humbled and privileged by this opportunity,” Silverman said. “I was blessed to begin my career in the public sector with the Foundation for Jewish Camp and their visionary leadership. During my due diligence period, I had the opportunity to meet and solicit advice from many Federation leaders from across North America. Their wisdom and vision inspired me and gave me insight to what amazing possibilities we have as a Jewish people and as a collaborative and unified system.”

Jerry is married to Erica Silverman and is the father of five children ranging in age from 15-24. Two children attend Gann Academy - The New Jewish High School of Boston, two currently attend the University of Maryland and one is a working in NY City. All of them attended Jewish summer camp.

Silverman will officially begin his five-year term at UJC/Jewish Federations of North America on September 30th.

About UJC/Jewish Federations of North America

UJC/Jewish Federations of North America represents 157 Jewish Federations and 400 network communities, which raise and distribute more than $3 billion annually for social welfare, social services and educational needs. The Federation movement, collectively among the top 10 charities on the continent, protects and enhances the well-being of Jews worldwide through the values of tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (charity and social justice) and Torah (Jewish learning).

Gubernatorial Candidate on "un-fixing" clout problems at Illinois Universities -- press conference today

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 29, 2009

Contact: Blake Dvorak @ (847) 912-2038 or mediainquiries@proft2010.com

Proft to Propose “Un-fixing” Admissions to Illinois State Universities

GOP Gubernatorial Hopeful to Discuss Plan to Remove Clout from Higher Ed Admissions

(Chicago, Illinois) – Against the backdrop of the Mikva Commission meeting in Chicago to discuss admissions abuses at the University of Illinois and potentially other state universities, Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Proft will present a system change proposal to “un-fix” the fixed admissions process that gives preference to the politically connected. Proft will also discuss and respond to calls by state legislators, including Rep. Mike Boland (D- East Moline), for specific U of I officials to resign in the wake of what has been learned to date.

WHO: Dan Proft, GOP candidate for Governor

WHERE: Chicago Hilton & Towers

720 S. Michigan Avenue

Room: TBA

WHEN: Monday, June 29

1:00 pm

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