Directors and Casts Announced for IGNITION Festival

Victory Gardens has tapped six high-profile directors to stage the six winning plays selected for IGNITION: Emerging Playwrights of Color, running August 7 - 10, 2008 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue , Chicago.

Henry Godinez, resident artistic associate at Chicago ’s Goodman Theatre, and director of the Goodman’s Latino Theatre Festival, will stage The Imagine Man by Christopher De Paola ( Chicago ) Thursday August 7th, 7:30p

In an unnamed country, it is illegal to buy and sell real estate. That doesn’t stop Daniel from brokering dangerous deals for people desperate to fulfill their dream of home ownership. Cast members include Scott Barsotti, Jason Boat, Christopher De Paola, Stephanie Diaz, Amy Ellenberger, Michael Herschberg, and Chiké Johnson. Michael Caloia is stage manager.

The Imagine Man will be preceded by a keynote address by acclaimed playwright OyamO, Associated Professor of Theater, University of Michigan.

Andrea J. Dymond, resident director at Victory Gardens Theater, will direct A Better Babylon by Michael Lew ( New York ) Friday August 8th, 7:30p

In 1960s UC Berkeley, a wave of student radicalism engulfs a young Chinese couple, a black protester, and a Chicana biologist. Personal dreams collide with political conscience, testing the limits of mentorship, friendship, and love. Cast members are Charin Alvarez, Allan Aquino, Kevin Hope and Jennifer Shin. Tina Jach is stage manager.

Eddie Torres, artistic director at Chicago's Teatro Vista, will stage The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz (New York) Saturday August 9th, 3:00p

Macedonio Guerra is a pro wrestler who has discovered the next big thing: an impossibly charismatic hip-hop-influenced Indian kid from Brooklyn. His boss has the perfect idea for their characters: terrorists. An in-depth comic look at pro wrestling, geopolitics, and refrigerator crispers. Cast members include Desmin Borges, James Krag, Morocco Omari and Ben Whiting. Jaclyn Holsey is stage manager.

Derrick Sanders, founding artistic director of Chicago’s Congo Square Theatre, will direct Bathing Van Gogh by Brian Tucker (New York) Saturday August 9th, 7:30p

Bathing Van Gogh is a generational glance at four friends negotiating a dying friendship and coping the best they can—with drugs, booze, sketchpads, and jazz. Cast members are Yadira Correa, KirTracy Hill, Bakesta King and Adeoye Mabagunje. Ellyn Costello is stage manager.

Ilesa Duncan, outreach director at Chicago Dramatists, will stage Year Zero by Michael Golamco (Los Angeles) Sunday August 10th, 12:00p

Year Zero is a comedic drama about young Cambodian Americans in Long Beach, California – about reincarnation, redemption, and everything that we try to leave in the past… but we can’t leave behind. Cast members are Joyee Lin, Jennifer Shin, Dwight Sora and Dawen Wang. Michael Caloia is stage manager.

Diane Rodriguez, director of new play production at Los Angeles Center Theater Group, will direct Fati’s Last Dance by France-Luce Benson ( Pittsburgh ) Sunday August 10th, 3:00p

Can an aging Ballet diva, a princely break dancer, a reality show reject, and a Brazilian Guru move a sleeping beauty off the couch and into the spotlight? Fati’s Last Dance, a touching, off-beat comedy tells the story of a young Haitian woman’s journey from self-loathing to self-acceptance, and her family’s gracefully awkward steps towards overcoming grief. Cast members include Tawny Newsome, Anthony Peeples, Samantha D. Tanner, and Wandachristine. Tina Jach is stage manager.

In addition to the six readings, following A Better Babylon on Friday, August 8th, Victory Gardens Fresh Squeezed series will throw open the Biograph doors at 9:30 pm for SparkPlug, a post-show party celebrating the IGNITION festival, showcasing local emerging artists of color. SparkPlug boasts appearances by Chicago’s premiere storytellers from 2nd Story; live painting by Pablo Perea of Havana Gallery; Instant Theater, a project of Chicago Dramatists; the magic of Benjamin Barnes; a print your own T-shirts station hosted by Modati,; and a delicious spread courtesy of Sugarplum Catering.

Also, on Saturday, August 9th at noon, Victory Gardens will host a free IGNITION event: Identity, Inspiration, and the Industry: A Playwrights Forum. The six IGNITION playwrights and several members of the Victory Gardens Playwright Ensemble will sit and discuss the inspiration of their work and the process and production of playwriting.

An IGNITION Festival Pass, offering entry to every reading and special event, is only $20. Single tickets to individual readings and select special events, including SparkPlug, are $5. For tickets, information, and the complete IGNITION schedule of events, call the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater box office, 773.871.3000, or purchase tickets online at VictoryGardens.org/ignition.