by Eugene Ionesco
October 24 – November 24, 2024
Thursdays - 7 pm, Saturdays 3 pm & 7 pm, Sundays 7 pm
"Who can say where the normal stops and the abnormal begins?"
Set in a small French village, a bizarre crisis unfolds: the citizens are gradually transforming into rhinoceroses. It starts innocuously—a bump on the forehead, a hoarse voice—until entire groups are consumed by their new, inhuman forms. As the epidemic of conformity spreads, will anyone resist and refuse to surrender their individuality in the face of mass hysteria?
Theatre Y’s interpretation of Rhinoceros explores the politics of fear and personal responsibility at a moment when our social fabric is defined by apocalyptic discourse and extreme cynicism. With an historic election looming and the future of democracy in question, Rhinoceros is more relevant than ever, serving as an enduring examination of unchecked groupthink and the allure of ideological certainty.
Theatre Y brings this timely parable to life with an intergenerational cast and a physical, imagistic staging that playfully mines the psychological dynamics of panic, self-doubt, and the normalization of the abnormal. With a set dressed by North Lawndale’s found-object visual artist Marvin Tate (and 10 young apprentices), we step into a dream world with logic of its own, and the game slowly grabs us by the collar.
At the heart of this production is a paradoxical irony: when we are convinced of our own rationality and righteousness, that is when we are perhaps the most susceptible to delusion. How do we simultaneously hold onto our convictions while embracing the ambiguities of self- doubt?
"An allegory for our times." - The New York Times
Directed by Theatre Y Co-Founding Artistic Director Melissa Lorraine, featuring Bide Akande as Berenger, together with Theatre Y Ensemble Members Terreon Collins, Tania Ramirez, Matt Fleming, Howard Raik, Arlene Arnone, Nadia Pillay, Roesha Townsel, Braniah Townsel, Jabari Ellis and understudy Lauren Valice.
Assistant direction and lighting by Makoto Yamaguchi (with lighting support from Henry Muller), costumes by Terreon Collins, sound design by Kimberly Sutton (with sound support from James Clayton Bowman), technical direction and carpentry by Steve Stoll (with set design by Marvin Tate and the Theatre Youth Apprentices), stage management by Emily Bynum, graphic design by Jimi Geiyer, production management by Emily Bragg, and technical support from E.R. Emison and Maxwell Gantner.
Performance Schedule:
October 24 – November 24, 2024
Showtimes: Thursdays - 7 pm, Saturdays 3 pm & 7 pm, Sundays 7 pm.
Location: Theatre Y - 3611 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60623
Ticket Information:
We welcome DONATIONS and MEMBERS!
All performances are FREE to the public thanks to members who donate as little as $5/month ($60/year).
About Theatre Y:
Theatre Y is a Chicago-based international incubator that creates connections between diverse artists seeking mutual growth through collaboration. Since 2006, Theatre Y has been a point of convergence for diverse activisms, and all of the uncomfortable conversations that happen as a result. Artistic director Melissa Lorraine and the Theatre Y ensemble are committed to continuously re-thinking the practice of theater as a tool of liberation and a revolutionary practice, bringing Theatre Y to venues ranging from La MaMa’s historical theater to Illinois prisons.Newly and permanently relocated to the West Side (on the border of North Lawndale and Little Village), Theatre Y, now in its 18th year of experimental productions, challenging international content, and a member-based FREE theater model, occupies a unique place in Chicago's theater community.
More about our history and mission.
Artistic Team:
Bide Akande (Berenger) stampeded towards the opportunity to join this production of Rhinoceros at Theater Y! His previous credits include “Biff Loman” in Death of a Salesmen, “Mortimer Brewster” in Arsenic and Old Lace, and, most recently, as “-“ in Attempts On Her Life with Tuta Theater. Bide is one half of the comedy duo Hello Brother, and he has performed at the Second City, iO, and other places probably, I don’t know. When he’s not acting, Bide works as an assistant public defender for Cook County, and he’d like to remind you that nothing in this production of Rhinoceros should be construed as legal advice.
Arlene Arnone (The Old Gentleman, Mrs Boeuf & Little Old Man) Arlene has been part of the Theatre Y Ensemble since 2018. She appeared as the Passerby in Self-Accusation and has been a part of all the Camino Projects, along with Theatre Y's 14 Episode YouTube Series My Body's Image, Delayed and Apparaticus. Most recently, she played Hanna Kennedy in Elsinor Theatre Ensemble's praoduction of Mary Stuart. She's appeared in several TWS's productions such as Design for Murder (Louise Cortland), Calendar Girls (Jesse) and Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Mrs Alexander). She's also appeared in Elgin Theatre's Over the River and Through the Woods (Emma) and Over The Tavern (Sister Clarissa). Last year, Batavia's Albright Theatre audiences saw her inThe Red Velvet Cake War (LaMerle). In 2015 Arlene added film to her resume and she's appeared in several short and feature films, such as The Bird Feeder (Edith), Routines (Sarah Mann),The Spiderweb (Tanti), Holy Trinity (The Nun) and her latest film, a psychological thriller, What Happened to Dorothy Bell (Dorothy Bell) Arlene is very excited to be working on this classic Theatre of the Absurd Eugene Ionesco piece.
Shawn Bunch (Proprietor) is a unpredictable whimsical kind of guy a one who's inner child is still alive with laughter.
Terreon Collins (Jean / Costume Designer) is a multi faceted artist who continues to grow, not only his resume, but his skill set. Since his Chicago debut in the 2023 Jeff Nominated production of “We Are Proud to Present-“, he has worked on and featured in an array of projects from puppeteering in three iterations of “Little Carl”, mentoring & costuming in “The Wiz Walk”, to now taking on his very first leading role in the upcoming production of Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros”.
Matt Fleming (Grocer / Dudard) is very excited to be back at Theatre Y, where he last appeared in 2018’s production of Stories of the Body. Matt works as a paralegal at Sperling & Slater, has 3 adult children who still command his affection, attention and concern, is always genuinely excited to meet a fellow Iowan and is usually mentally planning his next road trip. Matt has theatre degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Melissa Lorraine (Director) - Theatre Y Co-Founding Artistic Director - Born in France, graduating from Northern Illinois University with a B.F.A. in acting, Lorraine became a company member of Studio K in Budapest, Hungary. Co-founding Theatre Y with now deceased Director Christopher Markle. Premiered the English language version of Transylvanian writer András Visky’s JULIET with over two hundred performances worldwide. Starred in Visky’s I KILLED MY MOTHER, earning a Chicago’s Best Actress Orgie Award. Lauded by The Chicago Reader for turning even an “overwritten” and “implausible script” into “probing, harrowing, hallucinogenic truth,” for her Directorial work on VINCENT RIVER. In 2013 Lorraine directed the world premiere of THE BINDING, a collaboration between Theatre Y and two acclaimed Serbian/Hungarian choreographers, which was a cover feature of the Chicago Reader. Collaborating with Georges Bigot for one year (2015-16), Lorraine developed the Theatre Y Ensemble of 12 actors, according to the traditions of the Theatre du Soleil. She now leads this ensemble to discover a common language and a new way to work, searching for a way to make theater without the “dictator”. In 2018 she began to research Movement Therapy for Trauma Rehabilitation, and works with men serving life sentences at Stateville Correctional Center towards reinstating parole in Illinois.
Nadia Pillay (Housewife / Mr. Papillion) is a Chicago-based Actress and Company member at Theatre Y. She was last seen in Theatre Y’s “Little Carl” and last season’s “We Are Proud To Present. Nadia is thrilled to join this production “Rhinoceros”. When she is not Acting, Nadia is the Casting Director for MPAACT and the Artist Liaison for Color Me Africa Fine Arts, a non-profit Fine Arts organization that supports African artists from the continent and the Diaspora receive equal exposure in the Contemporary Fine Art market.
Howard A. Raik (Logician / Botard / Little Old Man’s Wife) returns for his fourth production as a Theatre Y ensemble member, playing the Logician and Botard in Rhinoceros, having performed previously in Self-Accusation, The Camino Project, and You Are Here. He was most recently seen at YippieFest in a one-man short play, A Last Lecture, and as Peters the Hermit in Seven Keys to Baldpate (Wheaton Drama). He also had the great pleasure of playing the Mad Hatter opposite his granddaughter as the Dormouse in Alice in Wonderland (Kirkwood Players).
Other favorite roles include Ben (The Dumb Waiter); Abraham Van Helsing (Dracula); Scrooge (Not Quite a Christmas Carol); Skelly Manor (The Rimers of Eldritch); Nunzio (Over the River and Through the Woods); Mr. Dussel (The Diary of Anne Frank); Friar Lawrence (Romeo and Juliet); and the tle role in Tuesdays With Morrie.
Look for Howard in The Cemetery Club, opening January 24 for a four-week run at Riverfront Playhouse in Aurora.
Tania Gillian Ramirez (Daisy) Mexican actress, writer and comedian. Studied Theater at SAH and local universities. One of her favorite shows she was in, The House of Bernarda Alba (2015) presented by Aguijon theater. She has been an Active actress in Chicago since 2012. Last show "La Pinche India" Aguijon Theater (2024, Spring.)
Kimberly A. Sutton (Sound Designer) is a sound artist, cellist, and sound designer living in Chicago, Illinois. Her installations and sound design work explore the connections between the physical properties of sound and the cultural signifiers of its content. As a cellist her practice is improvisatory and explores the possibilities of expression and reflection through sound and the immediacy of a meditational connection to her instrument. Recent installations have been shown at ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the Chicago Home Theater Festival. She has performed at Experimental Sound Studio, the Hideout and the Empty Bottle in Chicago, Yoshi’s in Oakland, Detroit Contemporary, and the Technosonics Festival at the University of Virginia. She has a BA in Political Science and Music from the University of Chicago and an MFA in Electronic Music and Recorded Media from Mills College.
Steve Stoll (Technical Director and Carpenter) is a west side Chicago based set designer, woodworker, and musician. Drawing on his studies in sculpture and sound art at SAIC, he has spent the last 16 years creating all types of imagined environments around Chicago and across the country.
Marvin Tate (Scenic Director) is a Chicago native, born and raised on the city’s west side. His works have appeared and heard on stages internationally and locally, including National Public Radio’s, “This American Life”, Def -Jam Poetry and on the BBC Radio program “The Poetry Detective”. He has recorded and played with stage with the late, International Anthem Recording Artist, Jamie Branch’s: Jazz Drummer , Pitch-Fork Music Founder, and Band leader, Mike Reed, multi-instrumentalists, Ben LaMar Gay, Angel Bat Dawid, Bill Mckay, Leroy Bach and Visual Artists and performer, Theaster Gates Jr., Feminist-Artist , and legendary Porn Actress, Annie Sprinkle, Alabaster Deplume, Bitchin Bajas, Parliament/-Funkidellic, Circuit Des Yeux, Tim Kinsella and Angel Olsen. Lastly Tate is the founder of the legendary, experimental soul band, D-settlement. Their 3 vinyl box set (American Dream Records) was voted ‘The Best Of’ in Pitchfork, Band Camp and NY Times in 2022.
Roesha Townsel (Ro/they/them) (Waitress/Fireman/Set/Masks) has been with Theatre Y since the beginning of their youth program in 2022. Ro has been a performer since they were in 3rd grade starting with their dance group Microphone Misfitz. They have always known that they belonged on stage no matter what they were doing, they wanted the spotlight. Ro has experience with dance, acting, puppet work, masks, set design, and a bit of singing. During Ro’s time with Theatre Y they have been a part of: All 4 editions of “Little Carl”, “The Laughing Song: A Walking Dream”, and the “Wiz Walk”. Ro has also worked with Marvin Tate doing multiple found object classes projects as they love crafting.
Braniah Townsel (Niah/she/her) (Grocer’s Daughter/Fireman/Masks) has been a part of Theatre Y since she was in 8th grade. Niah is currently a sophomore at Chicago Tech Academy High School. Niah would have never known that acting would become her main priority, and her favorite thing to do in the whole wide world. She has never been a fan of being in front of a large group of people (performing), until she met Theatre Y. Niah also has experience with dancing, and writing poetry. Being with Theatre Y, she has puppetry, masks, singing and dance, all under her belt. During the amazing time Niah has been with Theatre Y, she has been a part of 3 editions of “Little Carl”, and the “ Wiz Walk”. She is very excited to be a part of “Rhinoceros”, and can’t wait to participate in more activities, and plays with Theatre Y.
Makoto Yamaguchi (Assistant Direction and Lighting) was born and grew up in Japan. He is a writer, director, and performer. He became interested in acting and took some minor roles in TVs and films in his native country. When he was in a touring theater troop, he was introduced to American method acting and decided to cross the ocean to learn theater art here. He attended the City College of New York and immersed himself in all different kinds of artistic expressions as well as theater. He has become interested in the physical theater of Jerzy Grotowski and primitive tribal rituals and has been developing a new form of performance called, “Jazz Theater”. He recently performed a solo piece called, Hamlet in Jazz, in the Elgin Fringe Festival and often presents his experimentation at the Friday Night Swerve in Theatre Y. He is very grateful to be able to work with all the people in this wonderful Chicago theater and hope to continue working there.
Rhinoceros is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
For press inquiries, interviews, or more information, please contact:
Melissa Lorraine: 773-908-2248 / [email protected]
www.theatre-y.com
