Announcing Season Four!

During this unprecedented time, we’ve been working hard on planning our upcoming Season Four! Though the exact details of where and how each show and event will take place will depend on the shelter-in-place and stay at home recommendations from our local, state, and national government, we are thrilled to share with you our plans for now, and we look forward to keeping in touch with you as our season proceeds!

Our Season Four kicks off with our production of Infinite Jest on Thursday, April 30 at 7pm. Infinite Jest is a cabaret-style, live streaming performance featuring the foibles and follies of Shakespeare’s jokers, jesters, and fools. The performance will stream live on our YouTube and Facebook pages, and is FREE to attend! We are accepting donations to support our season here, but it is not necessary to donate in order to view the performance. We look forward to seeing you there! Learn more here.

Featuring Charles Askenaizer, Joseph Beal, Jake Busse, Courtney Gardner, Steven Hermez, Lewis Jones, Barry Irving, Michelle Limon, Kate McDuffie, Jack Morsovillo, Terra Schultz, and Diane Sintich

The remainder of our Season Four explores the theme of “Fathers and Sons/Mothers and Daughters.” Over Summer 2020, we will reconvene Shakespeare in the Courts, our outreach program focusing on juvenile detention diversion, where educators from Invictus rehearse and perform Shakespeare with youth in the Cook County Probation system. This year, our Shakespeare in the Courts ensemble will perform Henry IV: Part 1, a play centered around party-boy Prince Hal's coming of age and the tumultuous relationship with his beleaguered father, King Henry IV.

In the fall of 2020 Invictus Theater will produce Shakespeare's Hamlet. Hamlet tells the story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, who grapples with the death of his father, King Hamlet, and the inappropriate marriage of his mother Gertrude to his uncle Claudius.

Finally, in spring of 2021, our Season Four will conclude with Marsha Norman’s ‘Night, Mother. ‘Night, Mother tells the story of an elderly mother and her middle-aged daughter, whose depression has pushed her to the brink of suicide.

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More than ever, we believe our mission of creating theatre that promotes a better understanding of language is important. 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, and we can’t do it without your support.

Please click here to support Invictus Theatre Company’s Season Four.

A Raisin in the Sun is highly recommended!

We’re proud to announce that our production of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Set on Chicago’s South Side in the 1950s, this 20th Century classic portrays the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of an African American family. When her deceased husband’s insurance money comes through, Mama Lena dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Her son Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Daughter Beneatha dreams of medical school. The family’s heroic struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration.

Read the reviews here:

WCGO Radio (Lainie Petersen) - Highly Recommended
"...This is a wrenching, spellbinding production that should not be missed. Michael Lewis, who plays Walter Lee Younger, offers a searing performance as a man struggling with, and within, a system designed to not just defer his dreams but to dismiss them as insanity. Yet is clear that continued deference to this system will surely make him insane."
Read Full Review

Around the Town (Julia Rath) - Highly Recommended
"Nicely portrayed via wonderful acting, realistic scenic design and props, well-fashioned costumes, and highly accomplished directing by Aaron Reese Boseman, the characters reveal their hopes, ambitions, and struggles through frank discussions, all within the context of their home and family life."
Read Full Review 

Chicago Reader (Kerry Reid) - Highly Recommended
"...Hansberry crammed a lot of life into that small flat (the story is based in part on her own family's legal challenge to racist restrictive housing covenants), and Boseman's production goes for broke with heartfelt zest, spilling over the edge of Kevin Rolfs's appropriately tiny dingy set. …I suspect the ensemble will grow even stronger over the run."
Read Full Review 

Purchase tickets here!

Auditions for A Raisin the Sun - December 7 and 8, 2019

Invictus Theatre Company is excited to announce auditions for their upcoming production of A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Aaron Reese Boseman. The performances will be on February 17th-March 15th and will take place at The Buena, 4147 N Broadway. There will also be a daytime matinee performance on March 17th.

Auditions will be held, on Saturday, December 7th 10am-5pm, and on Sunday, December 8th 2:30-8pm Callbacks will be on Tuesday, December 10th from 6:30-9:30pm. Both auditions and callbacks will be held at North Shore Baptist Church, Room 309, 5244 N Lakewood Ave . 

Auditions will be held at North Shore Baptist Church Room 309 5244 N Lakewood Ave Chicago, IL

Character Breakdown:
Invictus Theatre Company does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender, ability, nationality, religion, or any other protected status by law. All are encouraged to audition. 

WALTER LEE YOUNGER 
(Mid to Late 20s- Early 30s, African-American/ Black/ African Descent) - A dreamer. He wants to be rich and devises plans to acquire wealth with his friends. Endlessly preoccupied with discovering a quick solution to his family's various problems. 

BENEATHA YOUNGER 
(Early 20s, African-American/ Black/ African Descent) - An intellectual. A college student. Some of her personal beliefs and views have distanced her from her conservative mother. She dreams of being a doctor and struggles to determine her identity as a well-educated black woman.

LENA YOUNGER
(40s-60s, African-American/ Black/ African Descent/ Southern Dialect Required.) Walter and Beneatha's mother. The matriarch of the family. Religious, moral, and maternal. She wants to use her husband's insurance money as a down payment on a house with a backyard to fulfill her dream for her family to move up in the world. 

RUTH YOUNGER
(Mid to Late 20s- Early 30s, African-American/ Black/ African Descent) Walter's wife and Travis's mother. Ruth takes care of the Youngers' small apartment. Her marriage to Walter has problems, but she hopes to rekindle their love. She is about thirty, but her weariness makes her seem older. Constantly fighting poverty and domestic troubles, she continues to be an emotionally strong woman. Her almost pessimistic pragmatism helps her to survive.

TRAVIS YOUNGER
(9-14 Years Old, African-American/ Black/ African Descent) Walter and Ruth's sheltered young son. Travis earns some money by carrying grocery bags and likes to play outside with other neighborhood children, but he has no bedroom and sleeps on the living-room sofa. 

JOSEPH ASAGAI/MOVER
(Early to Mid 20s, African-American/ Black/ African Descent. Nigerian Dialect Required.) A Nigerian student in love with Beneatha. Very proud of his African heritage. He eventually proposes marriage to Beneatha and hopes she will return to Nigeria with him. 

GEORGE MURCHISON/BOBO/MOVER
(Early to Mid 20s, Early 30s), African-American/ Black/ African Descent) "George"- A wealthy man who courts Beneatha. Has a willingness to submit to white culture and forget his African heritage. He challenges the thoughts and feelings of other black people through his arrogance and flair for intellectual competition. 

"Bobo"-One of Walter's partners in a business venture. Bobo appears to be as mentally slow as his name indicates. 

MR. KARL LINDNER/MOVER
(30s-60s, Caucasian/ White) Arrives at the Youngers' apartment from the Clybourne Park Improvement Association. 

MRS. JOHNSON/ Lena Younger u/s
(40s-60s, African-American/ Black/ African Descent. Southern Dialect required) The Youngers' neighbor. Annoying but yet endearing.Takes adavantage of the Youngers' hospitality. Warns them about moving into a predominantly white neighborhood. 

Time Commitment: 
Rehearsals: January 4th-February 6th Monday-Thursday 6:30-9:30pm, Saturdays 10:00am-4:00pm
Tech: February 8th-February 12th 
Previews: February 13th-February 16th
Opening Night: February 17th  
Performances: February 20th-March 15th Thursday-Monday performances*
*There will also be one daytime matinee on March 17th.

Material To Prepare: 
Sides will be provided. 

Contact Info:
Please submit your headshot and resume to casting@invictustheatre.com to request an audition.

Audition details for A Raisin in the Sun and other Invictus Theatre Company productions are posted on TheatreInChicago and the League of Chicago Theatres.

The Merchant of Venice is Recommended!

The reviews are in, and The Merchant of Venice is recommended! Playing through November 17th at The Buena Theater (4147 N Broadway), our production sets Shakespeare’s tale in 1938 Italy during the pre-World War 2 period of Racial Laws, where Italian Jews were disenfranchised and discriminated against during the rise of European Fascism. This concept sheds new light on a classic story of revenge, justice, and mercy.

Read the reviews here:

Chicago On Stage (Karen Topham) - Recommended

"...So how to react to such a production in a way that would do justice to its myriad strengths and all of the superb elements that have created it? On the one hand, I can readily exclaim that this is one of the finest productions of The Merchant of Venice that I can even imagine. Every aspect has been meticulously thought through and presented in order to highlight the beauty of Shakespeare’s language and the complications of this particular story. If I had a whole Christmas tree full of green lights, I could justifiably award them to Invictus."
Read Full Review 

Buzz center stage (Bill Esler) - Recommended

"...In this Merchant of Venice, the language of Shakespeare is handled effectively, with Chuck Monro as Antonio, Martin Diaz-Valdes as Bassanio and Madeline Pell as Nerissa delivering compelling performances. Monro also brings a depth of emotion to his part."
Read Full Review 

Third Coast Review (Nancy Bishop) - Recommended

"...Director Askenaizer has a strong cast and Badger and Pell are particularly appealing as Portia and Nerissa. Among the production crew, Satoe Schechner deserves special mention for the beautiful costumes designed for Portia and Nerissa. The men’s suits, tuxedos and uniforms are also well designed. Scenic design and props are by Kevin Rolfs, with lighting by Michael NJ Wright and sound design by Stefanie M. Senior."
Read Full Review 

Stage and Cinema (Lawrence Bommer) - Recommended

"...The Merchant of Venice, a tragicomedy festering with anti-Semitism, remains the Bard’s most problematic play. But Shakespeare wrote it. Felt from all sides, there’s humanity to spare. Truth overcomes prejudice as an unparalleled observer distills the essential emotions behind every conflict."
Read Full Review 

Chicago Theater and Arts (Reno Lovison) - Recommended

"..iIn the end, it is still left to the audience to decide and derive the meaning that makes most sense. Undoubtedly, Shakespeare saw his characters as complex and often flawed individuals. I like to think that he simply wanted us to ponder these questions for ourselves and perhaps consider that there is good and bad in everyone. That revenge, justice, and mercy are part of the human experience and we as humans can exercise some influence over how we treat one another."
Read Full Review 

lainiepetersen.com (lainie petersen) - Recommended

"..it was fantastic…it reminds us that dystopias aren’t always recognizable by those who benefit from them"
Read Full Review 

Purchase tickets here

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The Merchant of Venice
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Charles Askenaizer
Assistant Director Morgan Massaro

Featuring Julia Badger, Joseph Beal, Brandon Boler, Martin Diaz-Valdes, Courtney Feiler, Jack Morsovillo, Chuck Munro, Madeline Pell, Erik Schiller, Joshua Seeger, Travis Shanahan, Mitchell Spencer, Glenn Thompson

Understudies: Ted Dayton, Keenan Odenkirk, Corrie Riedl, John Wilson, Carlo Zenner

Performances 10/21/19- 11/17/19 Thursday-Saturdays and Mondays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 3pm (No Performance Monday 11/4)

Purchase tickets here.

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The Merchant of Venice opens October 21

The importance of storytelling is to bear witness to the events of the past.

Invictus Theatre Company's production of The Merchant of Venice is set in 1938 Italy during the period of racial laws where Italian Jews were disenfranchised and discriminated against during the rise of European Fascism. This concept sheds new light on a classic story of revenge, justice, love, and mercy.

Previews begin this week!
Purchase your tickets here.

Previews:
October 17 - 7:30pm
October 18 - 7:30pm
October 19 - 7:30pm
October 20 - 3:00pm

Performances:
October 21 - November 17
Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays - 7:30pm
Sundays - 3:00pm
*No performance on November 4

Tickets:
$25 general admission ($15 for previews)
$15 seniors (ages 65+)
$15 students
Groups rates available. Email marketing@invictustheatre.com for group reservations.

Location:
The Buena (4147 N. Broadway Chicago, IL 60613)

Purchase tickets

Invictus Theatre Company proudly presents
The Merchant of Venice 
by William Shakespeare

Featuring Julia Badger, Brandon Boler, Joseph Beal, Martin Diaz-Valdes, Courtney Feiler, Jack Morsovillo, Chuck Munro, Madeline Pell, Erik Schiller, Joshua Seeger, Travis Shanahan, Mitchell Spencer, Glenn Thompson

Understudied by Ted Dayton, Keenan Odenkirk, Corrie Riedl, John Wilson, Carlo Zenner

Production Team:
Charles Askenaizer - Director
Paulette Hicks - Text Coach
Morgan Massaro - Assistant Director
Kate McDuffie - Stage Manager
Jack Morsovillo - Composer
Shane Richlen - Fight Choreography
Kevin Rolfs - Set/Props Designer
Satoe Schechner - Costume Designer
Ana Schedler - Graphic Designer
Stefanie M. Senior -Sound Designer
Michael Shapiro - Dramaturg
Lauren Grace Thompson - Dialect Coach
Michael NJ Wright - Lighting Designer

You're invited to Guerrilla Shakespeare - Volume III!

You are cordially invited…

What:

Guerrilla Shakespeare - Volume III is a party you don’t want to miss! It’s a night of impromptu performances, laughs, and celebrating to raise funds for Invictus Theatre Company's 3rd season of performances and community outreach. In addition to 'Shakespeare karaoke', we'll have drinks, raffle prizes, and an awesome silent auction. Meet Invictus Theatre Company members and support our programming at this fun party! 
(Attendees must be 21+ years of age. $25 suggested donation at the door.)

When:

Saturday, August 24, 7–10:30 PM

Where:

Vagabond Studio (4001 N Ravenswood Ave, #504, Chicago)

Can’t make it?

You can still support our upcoming season at https://igg.me/at/InvictusSeason3

We hope to see you there!

Less than a week left!

Our Somatics for Shakespeare fundraiser is coming up! Come join us Friday, February 3rd at Moksha Riverwest 700 N. Carpenter St from 7-9pm! Refreshments and mingling with company afterwards! $20 suggested donation!

We are now officially a non-profit corporation!

Hey folks! We have just taken our first big step as a company and are now a recognized non-profit corporation! Up next, becoming 501(c)3 tax exempt! Stay tuned!

Somatics for Shakespeare!

Come get your yoga on with our Artistic Director, Charles Askenaizer! On Friday, February 3rd from 7-10pm we are having a yoga class fundraiser at Moksha Yoga studio. 700 N. Carpenter street. It is a $20 suggested donation. Come relax and get to know the company!

What: Yoga When: Friday, February 3rd from 7-10pm (class is 7-9, meet and greet with the company afterwards). How much: $20 suggested donation (but we would love to have you even if you don't have the money!) Where: Moksha Yoga 700 N. Carpenter St. Chicago, Il 60642 Who: You, friends, and the great folks at Invictus theatre! 

We hope to see you there!