Corner House Filament Theatre launches full-out stage

season with 'The Snow Queen'

Y By MARY HOULIHAN ' .i For SUN-TIMES MEDIA nv

I n August 2013, Filament Theatre took a big "Andersen has created an incredibly rich step into its future by signing a lease on its and evocative world filled with original first permanent home in the Portage Park and interesting characters that lends itself

neighborhood near the Six Corners intersec- to a great theatrical rendering," Allegra tion (Milwaukee, Irving Park and Cicero). Since Libonati says. "It's a playful, rustic and de- then, the company has slowly and precisely lightful story that speaks to all ages." worked on getting the raw, new space ready "The Snow Queen" is the tale of young as well as setting up the usual organizational Gerda and her best friend Kai. When Kai is infrastructure of an ensemble of artists ready lured to the wicked Snow Queen's palace, to move to the next level. Gerda embarks on an unexpected quest

While Filament has hosted an array of events to the ends of the world to save him. It's a in the space, including music story of courage and friend-

"house" concerts and short runs ship across the wintery won- of its original ensemble piece ders of the North Pole and

"Crossing Six Corners," an ongo- beyond. ing series looking at the his- "We're interested in telling tory of its new neighborhood, it stories that connect with a is now ready to open its doors for diverse audience," artistic

'THE SNOW QUEEN; Jan. 17-Feb. 9, Filament Theatre. 4041 N. Milwaukee. $20. (773) 270-1660; filarnenttheatre.org

a season of plays beginning with an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen."

For this production, Filament has kept it all in the family. Ensemble member Christian Libonati was familiar with a staging of "The Snow Queen" directed by his sister Allegra, resident director at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Mass., and suggested it for the season opener. The new adaptation (not to be confused with Michael Smith's version that has played at Victory Gardens) was cre- ated by Libonati and playwright Tyler Monroe. Additional puppets and masks for the Filament staging are by artist Jeff Semmerling.

director Julie Ritchey says. "Our goal is to create a visceral live

aesthetic that draws people in." "The Snow Queen" was first produced on a

proscenium stage. The Filament version will be up close and a lot more personal, says director Libonati.

'We are reimagining some of: the characters to create more subtlety and depth," Libonati explains. "The ensemble is creative and adven- turous and it's a pleasure to unpack this story and re-examine it with them."

"The Snow QueenJ' also will mark the debut of Filament's 2014 acting ensemble, which includes actors Lindsey Dorcus, Nathan Drack-

urn F~U*M- omd Ltn my bareus rob- a scono from tho Fl lamM Theater production of,'4he Snow Queen." ABOVE8 All- '

Libonati directs the play, based on the fairy tale by Ha%

'

Christian Andersen. IMICNAEL A - JARECKIIFOR SUN-TIMES MEDIA

ett, Christian Libonati, Molly Bunder, Mara Dale and Andrew Marchetti. The goal of the ensemble is to bring together a committed group of multitalented artists to tell stories, create original work and perform together as an ensemble throughout an entire year which serves to strengthen Filament's emphasis on community-building and collaboration.

Later this year, Filament will stage Scottish playwright David Greig's "The Monster in the Hall" as well as two new segments of "Crossing Six Corners."

Filament, which can seat up to 180 (65 seats is the limit for "The Snow Queen"), is

part of the growing arts community in Portage Park. Semmerling's mask-making studio is lo- cated in a space just above the theater. Across the hall is the Wtional Veterans Art Museum (formerly the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum). Just down the street is the recently shuttered portage Theatre, which many in the neighborhood hope will eventually reopen.

"It's been an incredible experience moving into a neighborhood that's embraced us in so many ways," Ritchey says. "It's fueled our fire to do work that connects with the community and to help it grow through vibrant arts pro- gramming."

MONSTER MASH W T T n A r T T T

** HEY, BABY! CLASSIC ROCK Itk the smnnth stvlinns nf Kannv R E 0 Snaadwmaan headlines t h e

- SUN-TIMES AGENDA S

Corner ~ o u s e ' V

season with 'The Snow Queen' + Filament Theatre launches Full-out staqe I(

. By MARY HOULIHAN, ' ,. a , I , 4 . 4 ' 'a11

For SUN-TIMES MEDIA '. ,--. 1 J 1 \ -, Ar--A--dd

T at August 20B, Filament T h e m took a big "hclersen has created an SncrecBbly rich I

1 &Winrp its future by signiiq8 lease m iti &&permanent home in the Port&@ Pa&

neij&krhood near the Six coiners intersec-

and ev0caUve . . woild med with orEgina1 and to a

'THE SNOW QUEhM,* Jan. 17-Feb. 9. F i l a m ~ t Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee. $20. (773) 270-1660; filarnentthmtm.org

tl;on (I@lwaukee, Irving Park and Cicero). Since Libonati sags. %s a p l ' a l m&ic a d r de- .qe company has slowly and precisely light33 story that speak to dl ages."

w'b]~kd an getting tke~hwnew space ready The Snow QUenP ls the tale of yo- , as we3 ds S d n g up tBe usual c & ~ x h t i o n 4 Oerda and her best'fried ~ai , When Kd is infrastructure of an ensemble of artists ready lured to the whked Snm'Queen's palwe,, to move to the next level. Gerda embark& oC&n unexpectett q&t

While Filament has hosted an array of events 'to the ends of the world to save hlm. It's a in the space, including music story of courage and friend-

"hme" concerts and short runs ship across the wintery w of its original ensemble'piece ders of the North Pole ar? "Crossing Six Corners," an ongo- beyond. 1: -*-- --- bm --

ing series loaging at the his- We're interested in telling , s -.. -A

tory of its new aeighborhoad, it stories that connect with t know ready to apen i ts doors for diverse audience," artist " - - a season d plays beginning with direcam Julie Ritchey says- an adaptation of W a y Christian "Our goal is to createavisceral live eft, Christian Libonati, Molly Bundet Mara part of the growing arts co &e&'The Snow Queen." aesthetic that draws people in." ,D& and Andrew Marchetti. The goal of the

For this production, Filament has kept it "The Snow Queen" was first produced on a ensemble is to bring together a committed all in the family. Ensemble member Christian proscenium stage. The Filament version will be group of multitalented artists to tell stories, the hall is the Wonal Libonati was familiar with a staging of "The up close and alot more personal, says director create original work and perform together as (formerly the ~ i t iona l Snow Queen" directed by his sister Allegra, Zibonati. an ensemble throughout an entire year which resident director at the American Repertory 'We are reimagining some ofthe characters serves to strengthen Filament's emphasis on shuttered Theatre in Cambridge, Mass, and suggested it to create more subtlety and depth: Libonati community-building and collaboren. for the season opener. The new adaptation (not explains. 'The ensemble is creative and adven- Later this year, ~ilahent will stage Scottish to be confused with Michael Smith's version twous and it's apleasure to unpack this story pl- David Greig's The Monster in the that has played at Victory Gardens) was cre- and re-examine it with them." Hallp as well as two newsegments of "Crossing ated by Libonati and playwright Tyler Monroe. The Snow Queen" also will mark the debut Six Corners." Additional puppets and masks for the Filament of Filament's 2014 acting ensemllle, which Filament, which can seat up to 180 (65 staging are by artist ~effsemmerG. includes actors Lindsey D~rcus, Nathan Drack- seats is the limit for 'The Snow Queen"), is

Snow Quoon." AB Libonati directs the $ based on the fairy kale by Christian Andsrsen. ~wlc JARECKYW SUN.TlWS MEDIA

L . ..-- - SUN-TIMES AGENDA I-

1 1

. I

L a > , . -I

Corner House - I- Filament Theatre launches full-out stage

season with 'The Snow Queen'

By MARY HOULIHAN For SUN-TIMES MEDIA .?

I n August 2013, Filament Theatre took a big step into its future by signing a lease on its f i s t permanent home in the Portage Park

neighborhood near the Six Corners intersec- tion (Milwaukee, Irving Park and Cicero). Since then, the company has slowly and precisely worked on getting the raw, new space ready as well as setting up the usual organizational infrastructure of an ensemble of artists ready to move to the next level.

While Filament has hosted an array of events in the space, including music

"house" concerts and short runs of its original ensemble piece

"Crossing Six Corners," an ongo- ing series looking at the his- tory of its new neighborhood, it is now ready to open its doors for a season of plays beginning with an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen!'

For this production, Filament has kept it all in the family. Ensemble member Christian Libonati was familiar with a staging of "The Snow Queen" directed by his sister Allegra, resident director at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Mass., and suggested it for the season opener. The new adaptation (not to be confused with Michael Smith's version that has played at Victory Gardens) was cre- ated by Libonati and playwright Tyler Monroe. Additional puppets and masks for the Filament staging are by artist ~ e f f ~ e m m e r l i i

'THE SNOW QUEEN; Jan. 17-Feb. 9, Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee. $no. (773) 270-1660; filarnenttheatre.org

"Andersen has created an incredibly rich and evocative world filled with original and interesting charact- that lends itself to a great theatrical raer ing," Allegra Libonati says. "It's a playful, rustic and de- lightful story that speaks to all ages."

"The Snow Queen" is the tale of yo Gerda and her best friend Kai. When Ksu lured to the wicked Snow Queen's pal Gerda embarks on an unexpected qu to the ends of the world to save him. I t s

story of courage and frien ship across the wintery w ders of the North Pole a

Libonati directs the play,

beyond. "We're interested in tellin$ JARECKVFOR SUN,TlMES MEDIA

stories that connect with a diverse audience," artistic director Julie Ritchey says.

"Our goal is to create a visceral live aesthetic that draws people in!'

"The Snow Queen" was first produced on a proscenium stage. The Filament version will be group of multitalented artists to tell stories, the hall is the up close and a lot more personal, says director create original work and perform together as (fdrmerly the Libonati.

"We are reimagining some of the characters serves to strengthen Filament's emphasis on shuttered Po to create more subtlety and depth," Libonati community-building and collaboratipn. explains. "The ensemble is creative &d adven- Later this year, Filament will stage Scottish turous and it's a pleasure to unpack this story and re-examine i t with them." Hall" as well as two new segments of "Crossing

"The Snow Queen" also will mark the debut SixCorners." of Filament's 2014 acting ensemble, which Filament, which can seat up to 180 (65 includes actors Lindsey Dorcus, Nathan Drack- seats is the limit for T h e Snow Queen"), is gramming.b