Witch
Written by Jen Silverman
Inspired by The Witch of Edmonton by Rowley, Dekker & Ford
Directed by Marti Lyons
About the Play
Rising playwright Jen Silverman boldly transforms this classic play by Jacobean playwrights William Rowley, Thomas Dekker and John Ford, using a contemporary lens to make the machinations of the distant past strikingly relevant to today. Directed by Marti Lyons (The Mystery of Love & Sex) in the intimate Gillian Theatre, this wickedly funny, slyly subversive play will captivate you with the question: would you know what to ask for if the Devil came knocking on your door?
Advisory:
Recommended for ages 14 and up.
This production contains:
- Strong language
- Violence and stage blood
Showtimes
Evenings
Tuesdays – Saturdays 7:30pm
select Sundays at 6pm
Matinees
Saturdays 3pm
select Sundays at 2pm
select Wednesdays at 3pm
- This is a reserved seat venue. Doors to the performance space will open approximately 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the performance.
- There is no late seating or readmittance.
- For performances listed as “Sold Out,” contact the Box Office for more information about our standby and wait list options as well as for assistance locating currently available dates and times.
Meet the Artists
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David Alan Anderson* (Sir Arthur) |
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Audrey Francis* |
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Steve Haggard* (Cuddy) |
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Ryan Hallahan* (Scratch) |
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Arti Ishak (Winnifred) |
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Jon Hudson Odom* (Frank Thorney) |
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Sam Boeck (u/s Cuddy, Scratch) |
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Kenn E. Head* (u/s Sir Arthur) |
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Sam Hubbard (u/s Frank Thorney) |
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Annie Prichard |
Jen Silverman (Playwright)
Marti Lyons (Director)
Katie Spelman (Choreographer)
Yu Shibagaki (Scenic Designer)
Mieka van der Ploeg (Costume Designer)
Mikhail Fiksel (Sound Designer)
Paul Toben (Lighting Designer)
Bobby Kennedy (Dramaturg)
Matt Hawkins (Fight Director)
Hassan Al Rawas (Assistant Director)
Abigail Medrano (Assistant Stage Manager)
Cara Parrish* (Stage Manager)
*Denotes a member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers
Reviews
“Bloody brilliant! With a cast of six bravura actors under the superb, airtight direction of Marti Lyons, Witch is a pitch-black fairy tale for our times!”
"A lively new play [that] begs a fascinating question: How does the equation change when the Faustian bargain must be made by a woman?"
Chicago Tribune
“Jen Silverman’s exceedingly smart new comedy...casts an intoxicating spell!”
“Jen Silverman [has] written a diamond. A hard, sharp, lustrous thing made from the bones of what came before.”
“[Jen] Silverman has managed a miracle...creating a hybrid that seems timeless...clearly speaking to today’s world!”
Chicago OnStage
“This is what theater…can be and this is what it can do. This play will change your life.”
Special Events
Save the dates for these special events!
Accessible Performances
Open-Captioned performance: Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 7:30pm
ASL-Interpreted performance: Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 7:30pm
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW...
Monday, October 22 at 6:30pm
Hosted by Evanston Public Library | 1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston
In the world premiere play Witch, the Devil visits Elizabeth in the small town of Edmonton to offer her a deal—and her unexpected response puts the events of this smart modern fable into motion. Throughout history, humankind has been captivated by stories of temptation or torment by the Devil, who is presented by turns as charismatic, comedic and terrifying—sometimes all at once. As the weather turns colder and Halloween approaches, join us for this free From Page to Stage event as we delve into the history of the Devil as we know it, across cultures and contexts, to examine our fascination with the complex battle of good vs. evil. Seating is limited, RSVP is requested.
YOU'RE BEING RIDICULOUS: SPOOKY!
Saturday, October 20 at 8:00pm
Litowitz Atrium | Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
The popular Live Lit event comes to WT! At You’re Being Ridiculous, real people tell true stories about their lives. Each performer is linked by a rotating theme, and by the desire to make you laugh—and once in a while, cry. In honor of the Writers Theatre production of Witch and the Halloween season, the theme for this round will be: Spooky!
The You’re Being Ridiculous motto: Good stories are better than good times. “We laugh at ourselves and laugh with each other.” Scheduled Performers: Margaret Benson, Jennie Ellman, Elizabeth Gomez, Allison Hendrix, Archy Jamjun, Taylor Flory Ogletree and Jeremy Owens! $15 admission.
The Making of... Witch:
WITCHCRAFT THEN & NOW
Monday, November 12, 2018 at 6:30pm
Before The Wizard of Oz introduced the idea of “good witches” and “bad witches,” beyond Wicked and The Crucible and Harry Potter, witchcraft has mystified humankind for centuries and has always been present in popular culture and media. At this installment of The Making Of series, Director of Education Kelsey Chigas will walk us through a brief history of witches and witchcraft across time periods and cultures, exploring the deeper meanings behind the accusations and celebrations of witches throughout history and exposing the cultural misogyny so often at the root of the persecution of women who defied social norms. We’ll also examine what witchcraft looks like in today’s society, busting myths about this spiritual practice. Seating is limited, RSVP is required.
Post-Show Conversation: The Word
Join us after every Tuesday evening performance (excluding First Week and any extension weeks) for a 15-minute discussion of the play, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.
Post-Show Conversation: The Artist
Join us after every Wednesday evening performance (excluding First Week and any extension weeks) for a 15-minute talk-back featuring actors from the production, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.
WITCH First Rehearsal
WITCH Photo Gallery
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