Chicago theater production of 'A Steady Rain' moves to Royal George Theatre

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The following press release was just distributed:

Due to Popular Demand, ‘A Steady Rain’ Moves to Royal George Theatre
New York Producers Frank Gero, Ray Gaspard & Jono Gero will present the Chicago Dramatists’ play featuring the same cast and artistic team

CHICAGO – Seasoned New York producers Frank Gero, Ray Gaspard and Jono Gero are teaming to present the Chicago Dramatists’ critically acclaimed production of Keith Huff’s new play, A STEADY RAIN. A STEADY RAIN received huge critical acclaim over its sold out six week run last September and October at Chicago Dramatists, earning a nod on almost every Chicago theater critic’s “Top 10 Theatrical Productions of 2007” list including the Chicago Tribune, The Daily Herald, New City, UR and more. The play that everyone in Chicago is buzzing about will preview February 27, open March 4 with performances currently on sale through April 27 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, Chicago. The highly praised cast and artistic team will remain the same.

Praise for the Jeff-recommended production of A STEADY RAIN included the following: “A must-see, smash hit cop drama…a sizzler,” said Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, who also chose the play as one of the “Hottest Tickets in Chicago.” Steven Oxman wrote in Variety, “A STEADY RAIN turns out to be like a snowball that builds to an avalanche.” Hedy Weiss of The Chicago Sun-Times called A STEADY RAIN “a torch song of a play—now in a searingly acted world premiere.” “Russ Tutterow’s riveting production of Huff’s taut, gritty cop drama is must-see theater,” raved Barbara Vitello of the Daily Herald. “Rare is the play so purely entertaining and intelligent…highly recommended,” said Nina Metz in New City Chicago. “A STEADY RAIN provides an emotionally potent evening at the theater,” wrote Brian Kirst in Chicago Free Press. “This show is in your face but also in your gut and heart,” raved Larry Bommer in the Chicago Reader. Catey Sullivan of the Windy City Times raved that “the stark power of Huff’s drama is all-consuming, a syringe of Mexican Mud with a China White chaser shot straight to the heart.”

A STEADY RAIN explores love and rage on the streets of Chicago, as a routine domestic disturbance call sends two Chicago cops, Denny (Randy Steinmeyer) and Joey (Peter DeFaria), on a harrowing journey that will test their loyalties and change their lives forever.

A STEADY RAIN has received workshop productions at New York Stage & Film’s Powerhouse (July, 2006) and the Barrow Group Theater of New York (February, 2007). These workshops, in addition to staged readings and other developmental programs at Chicago Dramatists, have led to a final product of intimacy, grace and power.

Keith Huff is the recipient of a Drama-Logue Award, the Cunningham Prize, the John Gassner Award, the Berrilla Kerr Award, and three Illinois Arts Council Playwriting Fellowships. He has developed plays at American Repertory Theater, The O’Neill Theatre Center National Playwrights Conference, The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, New York Stage and Film, Steppenwolf, Berkeley Rep, Victory Gardens, The Eureka Theatre, Studio Arena Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Premiere Theater & Performance, Eye of the Storm, Echo Theatre, Collaboraction, Act One/Showtime, Alice’s 4th Floor, Live Bait, Florida Studio Theatre, WordBridge and Midwest PlayLabs. His plays have been produced Off-Broadway and nationally.

Prominent New York City producer Frank Gero, and his wife Woji Gero, have been the backbone of many Broadway and off-Broadway productions such as ON GOLDEN POND, EXTREMITIES, THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST, THE ASCENT OF F6 and ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN. An actor himself, he has performed in more than 50 productions, including numerous Off-Broadway roles. He made his Broadway debut in the Charles Laughton production of MAJOR BARBARA in 1957 and was a stage manager for several shows, including for George Abbott on FLORA THE RED MENACE, starring Liza Minnelli in her Broadway debut. Gero has written several plays, and was awarded the John Golden Prize as an outstanding young playwright in 1958. In London’s West End, the Geros have produced BREAKING THE SILENCE, CAMILLE, LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, LE CIRQUE IMAGINAIRE, NANA, Arthur Miller’s LAST YANKEE and DAMN YANKEES starring Jerry Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Gero’s son, film and theatre producer Jono Gero, joins his father as a co-producer of A STEADY RAIN.

Co-producer Ray Gaspard, a Chicago native turned New Yorker, spent the early years of his career in the music industry working with clients such as Stevie Wonder and Sly and the Family Stone. After turning his career to the theater and entertainment industry, he has co-produced the hit musical JAZZBO BROWN, starring the Tony Award winner Andre DeShields and the comedy WE WON’T PAY by the Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo. During his career, Gaspard has run New York City’s WestSide Arts Theatre (formerly Chelsea Theatre Center) and Union Square Theatre (formerly Roundabout Theatre). He has produced numerous shows, including Steppenwolf’s EDUCATING RITA, PENN & TELLER, OUR COUNTRY’S GOOD (with Frank and Woji Gero), PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, Ken Hill’s PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the Market Theatre of South Africa’s WOZA ALBERT. He is currently the Executive Director of the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center.

Director Russ Tutterow has been the Artistic Director of Chicago Dramatists since 1986. At Chicago Dramatists, he has nurtured the art and careers of hundreds of playwrights. Tutterow directed Chicago Dramatists’ hit 2006 production of VOYEURS DE VENUS by Lydia R. Diamond.

The design team for A STEADY RAIN includes set designer Tom Burch, lighting designer Jeff Pines, costume designer Kerith Wolf, sound designer Mike Tutaj, and props designer Daniel Pellant. The stage manager is Tom Hagglund.

The performance schedule for A STEADY RAIN is Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Ticket prices range from $35 to $45. Preview tickets for performances from February 27 through March 2 are $25. All tickets for police officers, firefighters and other uniformed personnel are $25 and available with the appropriate ID. Student and senior discounts are also available. Tickets can be purchased at the Royal George Box Office, 1641 N. Halsted, Chicago, or by phone at 312.988.9000. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, 312.902.1500, Ticketmaster.com or all Ticketmaster ticket centers. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available by calling Group Theater Tix at (312) 423-6612 or visiting www.grouptheatertix.com.