News...on the march!

A Red Orchid Theatre has announced the Chicago premiere of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant. The 2004 Obie Award winner features book, music and lyrics by Kyle Jarrow from a concept by Alex Timbers.

According to the news release, "Rejoicing in songs such as 'Hey! It's a Happy Day!' and 'The Science of the Mind,' an anonymous company of merry children gather on a cold winter night to exult in telling the story of Scientology founder and hero L. Ron Hubbard. This satirical musical about Scientology explores the magic of Dianetics, the fascinating E-meter, the immortal Thetans, and the entrancing story of Xenu with the straightest of faces."

The production is co-directed by Lance Baker and Steve Wilson, with musical direction by Brandon Magid. The show runs November 14th through December 28th at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 North Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60610. Tickets can be purchased by calling 312.943.8722 or logging onto www.aredorchidtheatre.org.

Mary-Arrchie Theatre has announced the U.S. premiere of Our Bad Magnet by Douglas Maxwell.

According to the news release, "On the shores of Scotland, three 9 year old boys begrudgingly befriend a troubled young outsider, a gifted but tormented child who harbors the ability to spin magical, often fable-like fairy tales. The boys, now men, reunite years later to try to piece together the circumstances that led to the mysterious death or disappearance of their childhood fascination."

The play runs November 17th through December 22nd at Angel Island, 735 W Sheridan Ave, Chicago, IL 60613. Tickets can be reserved by calling 773-871-0442 or by logging into http://www.maryarrchie.com/.

Also, Pavement Group will be presenting the Chicago premiere of Arrangements by Ken Weitzman. The plot synopsis, according to their news release, follows:

When Donna shows up at Ros’ flower boutique, the reunion is less then cheerful. After six years of estrangement and some dire circumstance, Donna needs the help of her little sister. She is unemployed, almost homeless, and…morbidly obese. Reluctantly, Ros takes her in, and puts her to work in her new business endeavor – a flower shop teetering on the brink of success.

Robby, the shops sole employee is stuck. After being expelled from college, he is reliant on the help of his brother David to pay the bills. In exchange for his support, David requires Robby to take “life coaching” lessons with him weekly. When a strange friendship emerges between Donna and Robby, it unearths a tidal wave of dark history in the lives of the two pairs of siblings.

This is a theater company with which I was previously unfamiliar. They bill themselves as a group "dedicated to new plays, new takes, and new voices that use theatre to incite discussion between seemingly uncommon people, brought together by a shared experience."

More information on the company can be found at http://www.pavementgroup.org/.

The production will be directed by Meghan Beals McCarthy and will run at the EP Theater, 1820 South Halsted Street from November 7th through November 30th. Performances run Friday through Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $20 and seats can be reserved in advance though 773-278-9083 or by emailing boxoffice@pavementgroup.org.

Collaboraction is currently running their world-premiere adaptation of George Saunders' short story Jon. It is scheduled to run through Sunday, December 14th.

It is "futuristic fable about teenage love in a corporate universe where television commercials replace life experiences...this world premiere production invites the audience into a multi-media test-marketing laboratory, and unfolds a surreal and strangely moving coming-of-age story," according to their news release.

Jon is currently running at The Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter Street. Tickets are available at www.collaboraction.org or by calling 312.226.9633.