For its debut production Theater Faction presents One Thousand Words: A New Musical, book and lyrics by Michael Braud, music by Curran Latas. One Thousand Words is directed by Michael Owen Achenbach with musical direction by David White, both company founding members. Choreography is by Jenna Schoppe. Lighting design is by Benjamin Carne with sound design by Matthew Chase. The musical runs August 31 – September 17, 2017 at Theater Wit; tickets are on sale now.
About One Thousand Words: Old Warren Johnson enjoys his solitude and secrets. When a reporter shows up on his doorstep with an old torn photograph, his past wounds open and he is forced to confront the deep dark secrets he thought he buried in the old mining town years ago. As the journalist further investigates, the story unravels revealing Mr. Johnson’s tales of war, death, dreams, and forbidden love. Reliving his past, we fall into a time where certain relationships are still too taboo to whisper about and happiness has an imposed outline for success. Through his stories we see Warren follow his dreams and fight for his heart and country despite the odds against him. After the war, he returns home to find that time doesn’t stand still and life forces people to abandon what they believe in order to survive. As he records Warren’s story, the journalist discovers for himself what honest sacrifice and pure love mean, leaving with much more than his assigned one-thousand-word story.
One Thousand Words features Bandon Campbell, Ricardo Diaz, Megan Gill, Genna Guidry, Garrett Wade Haley, Peter Kattner III, Brian Kulaga, Gary Murphy, Jen Paulos, Justin Stevens, Katelyn Stoss, and Bill Zimmerman.
History of One Thousand Words: Michael Braud met Curran Latas in March 2014 at Louisiana State University when he heard him playing in a practice room and asked if he would be interested in collaborating with him on a musical. Curran said yes and three months later they had completed the book and score for the then titled Maybe, Someday, and in July 2014 they performed a staged reading at LSU. Director Alys Murray saw that staged reading and proposed a full production at Theater Baton Rouge, which played a sold-out run in January 2015. One Thousand Words was accepted into the Chicago Musical Theater festival in 2015 where an abridged one act version directed by Lavina Jadwani with David White as musical director played for five performances to positive reviews at the Den Theater. Michael and Curran have continued to improve the piece over the last two years and in March of 2017 Theater Faction chose One Thousand Words for its inaugural performance.
One Thousand Words Performance Schedule
August 31 – September 17, 2017
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
Preview
Thursday August 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Where
Theater Wit 1229 W Belmont Ave Chicago, IL 60657
Box Office
www.theaterfaction.org or 773-975-8150
Tickets
Single tickets range in price from $17.50 to $27.50
Discounts
Seniors age 62 and older may purchase single tickets at $22.50
Students with valid identification may purchase single tickets at $22.50
Industry professionals (actors, directors, etc.) with identification may purchase tickets for $17.50 for performances on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. or Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. only.
Theater Faction is in its first season and is proud to present One Thousand Words as its inaugural production. Under the leadership David White, Michael Owen Achenbach, Katie McClatchey, and the Board of Directors, Theater Faction’s mission is to provide a theatrical experience that is, from start to finish, welcoming, collaborative, challenging, and safe; for our actors, our production team, and especially for our audiences. www.theaterfaction.org.
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