Roadkill Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
Part of World’s Stage Series May 11 to 26
By: CST - Apr 18, 2013
The cast of Roadkill includes Mercy Ojelade, Adura Onashile and John Kazek. The creative team includes Set and Costume Designer Jessica Brettle, Lighting Designer Paul Sorley, Video Artist Kim Beveridge, Assistant Director/Sound Designer Harry Wilson and Movement by Natasha Gilmore. Roadkill is produced by Pachamama Productions and Richard Jordan Productions Ltd, in association with Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
Roadkill comes to Chicago Shakespeare Theatre in the midst of a state-wide public awareness campaign aimed at shifting law enforcement's attention to sex traffickers and people who buy sex, while proposing a network of support for survivors of the sex trade. The campaign, End Demand Illinois, brings forward public dialogue on the issue of sexual exploitation and advocates that prostituted people be considered victims of human trafficking in need of services, rather than as criminal offenders. The passage of SB1872 in the Illinois Senate on Friday, April 12 moves the bill supporting the changed law forward to the Illinois House of Representatives.
Roadkill joins CST’s 2013 World’s Stage Series lineup of bold theatrical events from across the globe, inciting discussion on issues of searing social and political importance through the work of internationally acclaimed theater artists. In January, Belarus Free Theatre brought their provocative production of Minsk, 2011: A Reply to Kathy Acker to Chicago Shakespeare, exploring the nature of sex in one of Europe’s last surviving dictatorships; In February, CST partnered with The Market Theatre of Johannesburg to premiere Cadre, a new work by Omphile Molusi exploring the journey of a young South African man struggling to navigate his way through the tumultuous political landscape of apartheid; and June 25–29, 2013, Chicago Shakespeare will host Piccolo Teatro di Milano's Inner Voices, written in 1948 as a reaction to the post-war period in Italy, as part of the Year of Italian Culture in America in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Italian Institute of Culture in Chicago
Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s limited two-week World’s Stage Series presentation of Roadkill runs May 11–26, 2013. A limited number of tickets are on sale now for $45. Audience Notice: The production contains adult themes, hard language, depictions of violence and sexually oriented nudity. Roadkill is not recommended for young or sensitive audiences. For more information, please call the CST Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com/roadkill
The British Council and Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s dialogue on Current Approaches to Ending Sex Trafficking will take place Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 9 a.m. at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The panel discussion is FREE and open to the public. Reservations are required. Please call the CST Box Office at 312-595-5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com/roadkill
ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER'S WORLD'S STAGE SERIES
Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a leading international theater company, known for vibrant productions that reflect Shakespeare’s genius for intricate storytelling, musicality of language and depth of feeling for the human condition. Recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award®, Chicago Shakespeare’s work has been recognized internationally with three of London’s prestigious Laurence Olivier Awards, and by the Chicago theater community with 70 Joseph Jefferson Awards for Artistic Excellence. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson, CST is dedicated to producing extraordinary classic productions, new works and family fare, unlocking Shakespeare’s work for educators and students, and serving as Chicago’s cultural ambassador through its World’s Stage Series.