100th Performance of A STEADY RAIN May 4, 2008

A STEADY RAIN, Chicago Dramatists hit production now playing at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, will celebrate its 100th performance on Sunday, May 4 at 5 p.m. No other production in recent Chicago history has garnered the kind of critical acclaim and commercial success as A STEADY RAIN. In celebration of this performance, a special post-performance panel discussion and reception is planned. The discussion will focus on the controversial topics of the drama. The panel will be moderated by WLS TV reporter John Garcia and will include Dr. Marya Schechtman, Ethics Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. Mollie Painter-Morland, Ethics Professor at DePaul University, Fraternal Order of Police member and former detective Greg Bronsberg and the stars of A STEADY RAIN, Peter DeFaria and Randy Steinmeyer as well as the playwright, Keith Huff and one of the producers, Frank Gero. A reception celebrating the 100th performance will follow the panel discussion.

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 critics Top 10 Theatrical Productions of 2007 list including the Chicago Tribune, The Daily Herald, New City, UR and more. The highly praised cast and artistic team have remained the same.

Praise for the Jeff-recommended production of A STEADY RAIN included the following: "A must-see, smash hit cop dramaa 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 playnow 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 intelligenthighly 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 Huffs 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 & Films 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 Londons West End, the Geros have produced BREAKING THE SILENCE, CAMILLE, LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, LE CIRQUE IMAGINAIRE, NANA, Arthur Millers LAST YANKEE and DAMN YANKEES starring Jerry Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Geros 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 WONT PAY by the Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo. During his career, Gaspard has run New York Citys WestSide Arts Theatre (formerly Chelsea Theatre Center) and Union Square Theatre (formerly Roundabout Theatre). He has produced numerous shows, including Steppenwolfs EDUCATING RITA, PENN & TELLER, OUR COUNTRYS GOOD (with Frank and Woji Gero), PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, Ken Hills PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and the Market Theatre of South Africas 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.

Beginning the week of April 28th, the performance schedule for A STEADY RAIN is 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 $40 to $50. 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. This production is recommended for audience ages 16 and up.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of ajaniszewski.