About Live Bait Theatrical

Live Bait Theater was founded in 1987 to produce new work by emerging Chicago playwrights and solo artists. We choose work that employs a rich and compelling use of language, explores unusual subject matter, and strongly emphasizes the visual component. We seek out diverse artists who find inspiration in a wide variety of life experiences and artistic points of view. Over the past twenty-one years, Live Bait has produced more than 110 world premieres.

Chicago's Joseph Jefferson (Jeff) Committee has honored Live Bait with Best New Work and Best Adaptation nominations for Night Battles (2001), Lovechild (2000), Cheri (1999), 1001 Afternoons in Chicago (1997), Zap! (1996), I Was Really Very Hungry: A Portrait of M.F.K. Fisher (1996), Duck, Duck, Goose (1993), and Girls! Girls! Girls! Live On Stage, Totally Rude (1990).

We have an interest in the history of Chicago, most notably our award-winning 1001 Afternoons in Chicago and Nelson and Simone, about the Chicago-based love affair between Nelson Algren and Simone de Beauvoir. We have also presented new plays inspired by Hollywood history: Death On A Pink Carpet , the Lana Turner-Johnny Stompanato murder scandal; the indie-film satire Film Flam ; and Paramount Girl , an irreverent bio-play about 1950s actress-turned-nun Dolores Hart.

Live Bait is also known for its dramatic adaptations of unconventional literature. La Svengali , one of our first productions, was based on the British novel Trilby by George du Maurier. We later presented Colette’s Cheri in its first professional English-speaking stage adaptation in fifty years. I Was Really Very Hungry: A Portrait of M.F.K. Fisher was a huge hit drawing lovers of literature as well as local foodies. Memento Mori was adapted from the essays of F. Gonzalez-Crussi, a pathologist who wrote about the mysteries of death, both medically and historically. Of Diamond and Diplomats , Letitia Baldridge’s memoir of her years on the Kennedy administration as the social secretary to the First Lady, premiered in the summer of 1995 and was remounted at the Chicago Field Museum’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Exhibition in 2005.

Death on a Pink Carpet by Edward Thomas Herrera
feauring Kelly Lynn Hogan as Lana Turner

Death On A Pink Carpet by Edward Thomas Herrera, retells the story behind one of Hollywood's most legendary scandals: the stabbing death of underworld figure Johnny Stompanato at the hands of Cheryl Crane, the 14 year-old daughter of screen siren Lana Turner. Beginning with Johnny's death, the plot works forward and backwards, describing Lana's troubled relationship with the infamous mobster and Cheryl's arrest and incarceration, leading up to the televised coroner's inquest in which Lana herself took the stand for a riveting 63 minutes. Throughout the story, audience members are treated to recreations of scenes from some of Lana's most memorable films, including Peyton Place and Imitation of Life, as well as extended verse monologues that try to connect the dots between Lana's glamorous film career, Cheryl's lonely existence as a Hollywood princess, and the sudden act of violence which would mark them forever in the eyes of the American public.

What is it about fine wines, Italian accents and romance that awakens the senses? Whatever that elusive link is, it’s captured beautifully in Blind Tasting by Sharon Evans.

The play, directed by Peter Amster, features an ensemble of six cast members with wine - more then just a fleeting prop - acting as the crucial seventh character. The story takes place in both Chicago and Italy and centers on the complex and dynamic relationships of six individuals, whose interconnectedness isn’t fully understood until the play’s closing.

The small theater space is used cleverly with a simple sweep of a curtain taking the audience from Chicago to Italy in seconds. The play’s illumination of insightful truisms with matters of the heart is balanced by a hearty dose of humor that connoisseurs and amateurs alike will appreciate. It also serves as a brilliant lesson plan, complete with terminology, rules and customs essential to understanding wine. If nothing else, Blind Tasting is sure to stimulate your desire for a post show Merlot. Magnifico!

When teenage mothers… Shawanda, Dawanda, Tawanda, and LaWanda… are forced to take a no holds barred parenting skills workshop at the Sue Emma Goldman Home for Unwed Mothers, pure and unbridled comedy surfaces. Love Child, a poignant new play, addresses the never-ending cycle of teenage pregnancy and illiteracy. “Babies having Babies” continues to be a large factor in the destruction of so many African-American communities. Throughout this high-spirited dark comedy, painful images that surround the lives of so many young, African-American women are brought into focus.
 
Love Child is a tragicomedy about a parenting class for unwed inner-city mothers, is written in bold, bracing strokes full of truth and an edgy but passionate satirical bite. In sharp, painful, fast-paced scenes, Goins traces the emotional journey of four attitude-pumped teenage moms."

Cheri is a tale about sensuality, sentimental education, money, respectability and the dangers of bringing these warring desires together. Colette's Cheri had not been successfully adapted to the stage in the United States until Live Bait took a chance on this timeless story in 1999. Colette, who knew a thing or two about human motivations, is arguably the greatest modern writer about our experience of the senses. She was a genius at depicting obsession, love, infatuation, miscommunication, theatrical display, and the pleasures and pains of sexuality. Cheri first appeared in Colette’s classic novel, around 1910. Cheri was brought up in the demimonde of Paris at the Belle Epoque, a time when courtesans had the status of rock stars and clothing designers. Shaped by an older woman who had triumphed in this ambiguous world, Cheri is more than a boy-toy. Cheri is charismatic, a kind of archetype, a young man whose allure and power go far beyond the art of

seduction. There are rumors that the tumultuous and passionate relationship between Cheri and Lea de Lonval is based on a similar dangerous liaison in Colette's own life involving a much-younger man--but Colette was too fierce a writer to let autobiography stand in the way of getting at profound truths about personality. For this production, Don Gecewicz adapted the story to the stage from his own translation of the novel and Colette's stageplay. Cheri was a hit for Live Bait, received excellent reviews, and was nominated for two "Jeff" citations, including one for best new adaptation to the stage. Colette's clear-eyed observations, merciless wit, and insight into men and women still hold true, fifty years after her death, as evidenced by our delighted audiences.

1988-89
Terminal Madness*
written and performed by James Grigsby
Candyland: The Saga of Helen Brach and Her Pet Poodle Sugar*
written and directed by Sharon Evans
Dark at the Roots: Four Works by Blonde Women*
written and directed by Sharon Evans & Paula Killen

1989-90
The Ornithologists*
written by Virginia Smiley directed by Curt Columbus
La Svengali*
written by John Ragir directed by Amy Ludwig
Girls! Girls! Girls! Live Onstage! Totally Rude!*†◊
written by Sharon Evans directed by Mary McAuliffe

1990-91
No More Peace†
written by Ernst Toller directed by Paul Quinn
Sirens: A Chronicle of Love, Sex, Death, & War*
written by Michele Fitzsimmons directed by John Ragir
Portrait of a Shiksa*†◊
written by Sharon Evans directed by Mary McAuliffe

1991-92
BUK: The Life & Times of Charles Bukowski*† with Prop Thtr
written by Paul Peditto directed by Scott Vehill
I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
written by Jeff Garlin directed by Mic Napier
Shirley Girl!*
written and performed by Cheryl Trykv
What's This in My Coke?: Poetic Justice*
written by Michele Fitzsimmons, Barbara Kensey, John Ragir & Michael Warr
directed by Glenda Starr Kelly & John Ragir
Surrender*
written by Ted Bales, Cindy Orthal, David Weynand & Karen Yates directed by John Gegenhuber

1992-93
Duck, Duck, Goose*†
written and performed by Marcia Wilkie directed by Jeff Ginsberg
Anna Christie
written by Eugene O'Neill directed by Sharon Evans
Looking for a Soft Place to Land*
written and performed by the Loofah Method directed by Sharon Evans
Infants of the Spring*
written by Wallace Thurman, directed and adapted by Glenda Starr Kelley
Late Night Catechism: Saints, Sisters, and Ejaculations*
written by Maripat Donovan & Vicki Quade
Tango Edwardo*
written by Edward Thomas-Herrera directed by Tina Lilly

1993-94
What Cops Know*
from the book by Connie Fletcher, adapted by Kenn L. D. Frandsen directed by Mary McAuliffe
Wireless BALLROOM*
written and performed by the Loofah Method directed by James Grigsby
Freud, Dora, and the Wolfman*
written by Sharon Evans directed by Gary Griffin

1995
Memento Mori*
inspired by the essays of F. Gonzalez-Crussi
adapted and directed by Sharon Evans & Valerie Olney
Telethon
written by Susan Nussbaum & William Hammack directed by Judy O'Malley
Of Diamonds and Diplomats* from the book by Letitia Baldrige
adapted by Edward Thomas-Herrera directed by Tina Lilly
Concentrated* (Fillet of Solo)
written and performed by Jeff Garlin directed by Marc Grapey
Are You Happy?* ( Fillet of Solo)
written and performed by Marcia Wilkie directed by Mary McAuliffe

1996
ZAP!*† ◊
written by Mary Ruth Clarke directed by Judy O'Malley
Junk Food*
written by Shirley Anderson, Tucker Brown, Jim Carrane, Jeff Garlin,Noah Gregoropoulos, Lois J. Hobart & Robert Rodi directed by John Ragir
Devour the Moon*
book by S. L. Daniels, music and lyrics by Eric Lane Barnes directed by Rob Chambers
Mondo Edwardo*
written by Edward Thomas-Herrera directed by Tina Lilly
I Was Really Very Hungry: A Portrait of M.F.K. Fisher*†
adapted by Kelly Nespor, directed by Paul Frellick

1997
1,001 Afternoons in Chicago*† with Prop Thtr from the newspaper stories of Ben Hecht
adapted by Paul Peditto directed by J.R. Sullivan
Glamour from the short story by Edna Ferber
adapted by Shirley Anderson directed by Kay Martinovich
Starving Artists*
written by Sharon Evans directed by Gary Griffin
At That Time* (Fillet of Solo)
written and performed by Lisa Buscani directed by Patrick Trettenero

1998
Film Flam*
written by Adam Langer directed by Kay Martinovich
Black Friday* written by David Goodis
adapted by Christopher Peditto directed by Richard Cotovsky
Fillet of Solo*
featuring Edward Thomas-Herrera, Cheryl Trykv, Paul Connell, Paul Turner, Abby Schachner, Anna Wagner, Stephanie Kulke, Jennifer Ostrega, Kristi Lynn Johnson

1999
Chéri*† ◊
written by Colette translated and adapted by Donald Gecewicz directed by Susan Leigh
Fillet of Solo*
featuring Jennifer Biddle, Jim Carrane, Tekki Lomnicki, Lotti Pharriss, George Savino
The Tall Ships*
written by Sharon Evans directed by Gary Griffin

2000
Best of Fillet of Solo
Featuring Edward Thomas-Herrera, Tekki Lomnicki, Lotti Pharriss, and Paul Turner
True Life Tales: “Doris,” “Niagara (You Should Have Been Yosemite)” & “Another Lousy Day”  (in rep.)
written and performed by David Kodeski
Nelson & Simone*
w Written by John Susman directed by Richard Cotovsky

2001
Love Child*◊
written by Luther Goins directed by Ilesa Lisa Duncan
Angela's Asses
written and performed by Judith Harding
Night Battles*◊
written by Donald Gecewicz directed by Susan Leigh
Fillet of Solo*
featuring  Sergi Bosch, Jim Carrane, David Kodeski, Mark Gagné, Kim Hsieh, Susan, McLaughlin-Karp, Martie Sanders, Stephanie Shaw, Edward Thomas-Herrera, Paul Turner and Quincy Wong

2002
Out Of The Blue*
created by the Police-Teen Link Group, Directed by Elizabeth Margolius -McNamara and Neil McNamara
Death on a Pink Carpet*†
written by Edward Thomas-Herrera directed by Jay Paul Skelton
Fillet of Solo*
f Featuring Jamie Black, Beth Ann Bryant-Richards, Diane Dorsey, Mark Gagné, Kristin Garrison, Judith Harding, Carrie Kaufman, Ron Kelly, David Kodeski, Michael Lehrer, Karin McKie, Susan McLaughlin-Karp, Jonathan Pereira, Lotti Pharriss, Marianna Runge, Stephanie Shaw, Edward Thomas-Herrera
True Life Tales: “I Can’t Explain the Beauty”*
written and Performed by David Kodeski

2003
Karma*
written by Mary Scruggs directed by Mark Gagné
Pura Vida*
written by Paul Peditto directed by Beau O’Reilly
Blind Tasting*◊
written by Sharon Evans directed by Peter Amster
Eighth Annual Fillet of Solo
featuring Stephanie Shaw, Kristin Garrison, David Kodeski and James Alfred

2004
Paramount Girl*
written by Sue Cargill directed by Beau O’Reilly
Us or Them*
adapted by Sharon Evans from the Police -Teen Link Group directed by Ann Filmer
The New, More Thrilling Secrets*
by BoyGirlBoyGirl Featuring Susan McLaughlin-Karp, Edward Thomas-Herrera, David Kodeski and Stephanie Shaw
Camp Nimrod For Girls*◊
book by Martha Watterson, Sharon Evans, Mary Scruggs and Robert Steel directed by Jay Paul Skelton
Ninth Annual Fillet of Solo*
featuring Edward Thomas-Herrera  and 20 other solo artists

2005
Of Diamonds and Diplomats (at the Chicago Field Museum and Live Bait Theater)
adapted and Directed by Edward Thomas –Herrera
I Was Really Very Hungry (at The Cultural Center)
adapted and Directed by Kelly Nespor
Portrait of a Shiksa
written by Sharon Evans directed by Mark Richard
Tenth Annual Fillet of Solo
featuring David Kodeski  (42 other solo artists)

2006
Golden Corral*
written and performed by Joe Steiff directed by Brigid Murphy
The Bird and Mr. Banks †
written by Keith Huff directed by Alex Harvey
Tenth Annual Fillet of Solo*
featuring Nicole Hollander  (24 solo artists)
North Pole/South Pole*
written and performed by Ann Purky and Tom Reilly directed by Brigid Murphy

* World Premiere
† Jeff Recommended
◊ Jeff Award Nominated and/or Winner