Cast and production team announced for THE WINTER’S TALE, playing March 11 – April 20
Modern dress production to feature original music and choreography
CHICAGO – Invictus Theatre Company – who, with twelve 2024 Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations, earned more than any other company primarily producing non-musicals – has announced the cast and production team for its 2025 season-opening production of Shakespeare’s THE WINTER’S TALE. Artistic Director Charles Askenaizer will direct this full-scale modern dress interpretation featuring a cast of 16 and an original musical score by Jeff Award winner (and current nominee) Petter Wahlbäck performed by live vocalists and a five-piece instrumental ensemble. THE WINTER’S TALE will be presented at the company’s home at the Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. It will open to the press on Monday, March 17 at 7 p.m., following previews from March 11, and will play through April 20.
One of the Bard’s later plays, THE WINTER’S TALE has been termed by some critics as a comedy, and by others, a romance. In Sicily, King Leontes suspects his pregnant wife Hermione of infidelity with his best friend Polixenes, and when the child is born, has her banished from the kingdom. The baby girl is adopted by a shepherd, who names her Perdita. With the help of some magic, King Leontes’ suspicions are eventually proven to be groundless and the family is put back together. The first three acts of this story of jealousy are filled with intense psychological drama, while the last two acts are comical and supply a happy ending. Askenaizer says, “while the story begins as a fable of some rather dark emotions, it is ultimately hopeful, showing the healing power of time and the possibility for forgiveness and rebirth. Shakespeare acknowledges, though, that the good things one might hope for do not come easily or quickly, but come after some struggles and the passage of time.”
Askenaizer’s cast will be led by Michael Stejskal (David Lewis in GODS AND MONSTERS at Theatre Wit) as the jealous King Leontes. Andrea Uppling (Jeff-nominated for her Martha in Invictus’s WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?) will play Hermione. Completing the suspected love triangle as Polixenes will be Raúl Alonso (A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY with Blank Theatre Company). Florizel, the prince who becomes betrothed to Perdita, will be played by Robert Hunter Bry, who had the title role in City Lit Theatre’s THE VIRGINIAN, and has twice played Mr. Darcy in CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLY (for Buffalo Theatre Ensemble and St. Sebastian Players). Amber Dow (of Invictus’s THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH and Kokandy’s AMERICAN PSYCHO) will be Hermione’s devoted friend Paulina.
Also in the 16-person cast are Jennifer Agather (Perdita/Maximillus), Kim Pereira (Camillo), Fred A. Wellisch (Antigonus/Bohemian Ensemble/Musician), Carolyn Waldee (Emilia, Mopsa, Lord/Musician), Sam Nachison (Autolycus/Lord), Chuck Munro (Shepherd/Lord), Kyle Quinlivan (Clown/Lord/Musician/Archidamus), Sydney René Cox (Lady 3/Lord/Servant/Dorcas/Musician), George Dougherty (Ensemble/Officer/Lord/Time), Megan Erin Lai (Ensemble/Lady 2/Shepherdess (Musician), Diego Rivera-Rodriguez (Mariner/Lord/Bohemian Ensemble), and Jose Yantin Jr. (Ensemble/The Bear, U/S: Autolycus/Florizel).
Understudies are Adam Schulmerich (Leontes/Polixenes), Anne Trodden (Hermione/Paulina), Mary Margaret McCormack (Perdita/Emilia/Others), Whitney Minarik (Camillo, Hermione 2nd Cover), Arabella DeLucco (Clown/Paulina 2nd Cover), Rory Jobst (Shepherd/Antigonus), and Chase Wheaton-Werle (Leontes 2nd Cover).
Top row (l-r): Jennifer Agather, Raúl Alonso, Robert Hunter Bry, Sydney René Cox
Second row (l-r): George Dougherty, Amber Dow, Megan Erin Lai, Chuck Munro
Third row (l-r): Sam Nachison, Kim Pereira, Kyle Quinlivan, Diego Rivera-Rodriguez
Fourth row (l-r): Michael Stejskal, Andrea Uppling, Carolyn Waldee, Fred A. Wellisch
Fifth row (l-r): Arabella DeLucco, Rory Jobst, Mary Margaret McCormack, Whitney Minarik
Bottom row (l-r): Adam Schulmerich, Anne Trodden, Chase Wheaton-Werle, Jose Yantin Jr.
The production team includes Jeff Award winning scenic designer Kevin Rolfs, who scored two nominations in the recently announced 2024 Jeff Awards for his scenic design of Invictus’s TOPDOG/UNDERDOG and NETWORK. Rolfs previously won the award for his design of Invictus’s WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?. Another Jeff Award winner is sound designer and composer Petter Wahlbäck, a 2024 nominee for his sound design of Invictus’s THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH. Jessie Gowens, a Jeff nominee for her costume design of Invictus’s THE CRUCIBLE, is designing costumes for this production. The design team also includes Trey Brazeal (Lighting Designer), Randy Rozler (Properties Design), and Jay Donley (Fight/Intimacy Designer). Jen Cupani is Choreographer.
Completing the production team are Todd Henry Faulstich (Executive Producer), Stacy Scapino (Production Manager), Desiree Stypinski (Stage Manager), Beep Trefts (Assistant Stage Manager), Tom McNelis (Technical Director), Hannah Bolstad (Master Electrician), and Becca Holloway (Casting Director). MC Dougherty is Marketing Manager and Ana Schedler is Graphic Designer.
“In THE WINTER’S TALE, Leontes waits 16 years before finding his redemption and regeneration given at the hand of the one he most wronged. Though the characters in this play must endure immense trials, the promise of regeneration and renewal—often through mystical, almost miraculous means—guides them toward brighter days ahead. THE WINTER’S TALE reminds us that, though the path may be long and fraught with difficulty; progress, redemption, and salvation await.”
Invictus Theatre Company has been one of the most notable success stories among Chicago’s storefront theatres in spite of the challenges facing the theatre community in recent years. Founded in 2017, they were an itinerant company until the fall of 2021, when they established residency in the former Jackalope Frontier Theatre in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, renaming it the Reginald Vaughn Theatre in honor of a deceased founding member. In that space, they continued to build a reputation for intimate and honest interpretations of classics with fidelity to the original texts and close attention to character development. The company’s extraordinarily successful 2021-22 season netted the company five Jeff Awards for its 13 nominations. When a fire gutted the Thorndale Avenue building housing the Reginald Vaughn Theatre in July 2023, the company was again homeless until early 2024, when they took up residence in the Windy City Playhouse on Irving Park Road. The company’s inaugural season in that space included highly regarded productions of TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, Chekhov’s THREE SISTERS, the Chicago premiere of NETWORK, and Shakespeare’s THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH. The company was recently honored with twelve 2024 Jeff Award nominations – the most of any company primarily producing non-musical plays.
TALKIN BROADWAY’s Christine Malcom said of TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, Invictus’s first production in the Windy City Playhouse, “In its new, much larger home at the Windy City Playhouse, Invictus Theatre Company loses none of the company's trademark intimacy or power…” The CHICAGO READER said of THREE SISTERS, “the performances are universally first-rate.“ Hugh Iglarsh of NEW CITY said Invictus’s NETWORK was a “smart, deeply felt, absorbing production.” Wesley David, writing for BUZZ CENTER STAGE, said THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH was “a potent, intense experience.”
Ticket prices for THE WINTER’S TALE are $38.00 for regular performances Fridays through Sundays, $25.00 for previews and Monday evenings. Season Flex Passes are available in three options: eight admissions for $200.00, four admissions for $120.00, or four admissions on Monday nights for $80.00. Individual show tickets and Flex Passes are on sale now at www.invictustheatreco.com.
LISTING INFORMATION
THE WINTER’S TALE
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Charles Askenaizer
Choreography by Jen Cupani
Original Music by Petter Wahlbäck
March 11 – April 20, 2025
Previews: March 11 and 14 at 7 p.m., March 15 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., March 16 at 1 p.m.
Press Opening: Monday, March 17 at 7 p.m.
Closing: Sunday, April 20, 2025, at 1 p.m.
Performances Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.
Performances at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago
Ticket prices: Previews $25. Monday $25. Friday through Sunday $38. Season subscriptions available.
www.invictustheatreco.com.
One of Shakespeare’s final plays, THE WINTER’S TALE is a romantic comedy with elements of tragedy. King Leontes of Sicilia falsely accuses his wife, Hermione, of infidelity with his best friend, the King of Bohemia. Inflamed by jealousy and convinced that he is right, Leontes’ torment causes a storm of loss that only the next generation can heal. Shakespeare’s THE WINTER’S TALE is a captivating parable of betrayals, renewed hope, and the transformative power of time.
DIRECTOR’S BIO
Charles Askenaizer (Artistic Director, Director) is the Founding Artistic Director of Invictus Theatre. He won the 2023 Jeff Award (Non-Equity Wing) for his direction of the company’s WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, which also won Jeff Awards for Production of a Play, Scenic Design (Kevin Rolfs), and Performer in a Supporting Role – Play (Rachel Livingston). Other recent Invictus directing credits include: NETWORK, THREE SISTERS, THE CRUCIBLE (Jeff Award Nominations-Director, Production), JULIUS CAESAR, HAMLET, 'NIGHT, MOTHER (Associate Director), THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, and OTHELLO: THE MOOR OF VENICE. Directing credits outside of Invictus include TITUS ANDRONICUS (Bare Knuckles Theater), JULIUS CAESAR (Associate Director- Brown Paper Box), THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (Reutan Collective) and readings with Chicago Dramatists and Piccolo Theater. Since 2018, Charles has also directed several productions for Invictus's outreach programming in partnership with the Cook County Juvenile Justice System and Lawrence Hall. In 2024, Charles was named one of New City Magazine’s “Players 50 2024: The Rising Stars and Storefront Stalwarts.”
ABOUT INVICTUS THEATRE COMPANY
At Invictus Theatre Company, our mission is to create theatre that promotes a better understanding of language: its poetry, its rhythm, its resonance; through diverse works by diverse artists. We respect the power of heightened language: spoken, written, sung; to express the breadth of the human condition. We work to harness the power of language: to promote diversity, to engender respect, to foster collaboration; and to empower our communities to share their voices.
Invictus Theatre Company incorporated in January 2017 and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in February 2017. A diverse group of Chicago actors and directors founded Invictus with the vision to empower their communities through theatrical productions of heightened language. We are committed to the idea that our productions should reflect the communities we represent, and, to that end, we are committed to non-discriminatory hiring practices. In working with local artists, designers, and production teams, Invictus Theatre Company does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, nationality, citizenship, religion, or any other status protected by law.
Invictus Theatre Company is generously supported by Michael and Mona Heath of The Heath Fund, The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Untouchable Times Tours, Inc., and the Illinois Arts Council.
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