Buffalo Theatre Offers 3 Play Season including Patrick Shanley's Defiance

Three-play Season Includes “The Dingdong, or How the French Kiss,” Adapted by Mark Shanahan from Feydeau’s “Le Dindon;” John Patrick Shanley’s “Defiance” and Tom Dudzick’s
“Miracle on South Division Street”
 
GLEN ELLYN, Ill. – Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center, is pleased to announce its 2018-2019 season.
 
“Incredible critical response to our productions and the addition of two new ensemble members made the 2017-2018 Season one of our most memorable yet. We are building off that success with a new season reflecting the full spectrum of theater from entertaining comedy to thought-provoking drama while maintaining the connection to the heart our audiences have come to expect from BTE. None of this would be possible without the support of the College of DuPage, McAninch Arts Center, The DuPage Foundation, the Norm Woodel Inspiration Fund and all our patrons, and we are deeply grateful to all of them,” said BTE Artistic Director Connie Canaday Howard.
 
BTE’s 2018-2019 three-play season will include the following:
 
“The Dingdong, or How the French Kiss” (Chicago Premiere)
A new adaptation by Mark Shanahan from “Le Dindon” by Georges Feydeau
Directed by BTE Artistic Director, Connie Canaday Howard
Sept. 6 – Oct. 7, 2018; Preview Sept. 6, Press Opening Sept. 7
Tickets: $40
 
Lucy and Vatelin, a mostly faithful couple, are tempted by sly suitors and femme fatales. Five actors play 13 roles in this bubbly, fast-paced adaptation of Georges Feydeau’s classic where opening the wrong door can lead to mayhem, giggles, and ultimately some unexpected understandings of a happy marriage. The New York Times hails it as “hilarious,” and Front Row Center gives it a “Critic’s Pick - Best of the Year!”
 
“Defiance”
by John Patrick Shanley
Directed by BTE Ensemble Member, Kurt Naebig
Jan. 31 - March 3, 2019; Preview Jan. 31; Press Opening Feb. 1
Tickets: $40
 
A 1971 Marine Corps base becomes a collision course over race, women and the exacting cost of doing the right thing. Variety calls it, “witty and thought-provoking,” and the Wall Street Journal hails it as, “Spellbinding. I wouldn't have thought it possible, but John Patrick Shanley has followed up ‘Doubt,’ the best play of 2004-2005, with a play of identical quality."
 
“Miracle on South Division Street” (Chicago Premiere)
by Tom Dudzick
Directed by Steve Scott
May 2 - June 2, 2019; Preview May 2; Press Opening May 3
Tickets: $40
 
Ever since the miraculous night in 1942 when the Blessed Mother appeared to Grandpa in his barbershop, a Brooklyn neighborhood has looked upon the Nowaks' 20-foot shrine as a beacon of hope and faith. Now daughter Ruth announces her plan to write and star in a one-woman show about the family miracle so the “whole world will know,” just as a deathbed confession brings the family legend into question. Sprightly, gentle comedy sparkles throughout this play where revelations that might remake a family's sense of itself are each rolled out in service of laughter. “Utterly delightful,” says Theatremania.com.
 
Tickets for Buffalo Theatre Ensemble’s 2018-2019 season are currently on sale by subscription only. Subscribers save 20% off of the regular ticket price of $40. To subscribe, call the MAC Box Office at 630.942.4000. Tickets for individual performances go on sale in person at the Box Office, Saturday Aug. 4; online Sunday, Aug. 5 at noon; and by phone on Tuesday, Aug. 7 at noon. For more information, visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000. All BTE 2018-2019 season performances contain adult themes and language.
 
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
 
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble members include: Aly Amidei, Robert Jordan Bailey, BTE Associate Artistic Director Amelia Barrett, Bryan Burke, BTE Artistic Director Connie Canaday Howard, Jon Gantt, Christopher Kriz, Loretta Hauser, Michael W. Moon, Kurt Naebig, Galen G. Ramsey, William “Sandy” Smillie and Kelli Walker.
 
The mission of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble is to provide a forum in which artists, scholars, writers, students and community members explore new ideas and provocative issues through the production of high quality theater for the enjoyment of its audiences. Since 1986 BTE has staged more than 114 productions. For more information about BTE visit btechicago.com.
 
BTE thanks the DuPage Foundation for their generous support in the reinstatement and continued operation of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. BTE also thanks the Norm Woodel Inspiration Fund for its assistance in the rebirth and further development of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble.