Tickets Now On Sale; Show Runs October 21 - November 19 at The Athenaeum Center
CHICAGO, Illinois -- Prop Thtr today announced the cast and production team for its world premiere of Hallie Palladino’s THE CLEANUP, directed by Jen Poulin. Featuring Lucy Carapetyan, Lynnette Li, Chad Patterson, and Brandon Rivera, the show runs at the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture on October 21 - November 19, 2022 with previews October 13 - 16 and October 20.
Commissioned and developed in Prop Thtr’s 2021 Play Development Lab, THE CLEANUP is a nuanced, character-driven story of love, friendship, and the messes we make in their pursuit. This stealthy-substantive comedy set behind the scenes at a DIY preschool co-op is a window into the often invisible struggles of toddler parents.”
“Foremost, this play is entertaining,” said playwright Hallie Palladino. “Parents and non-parents alike, will relate to the familiar challenges of trying to keep a volunteer-driven organization afloat. THE CLEANUP additionally celebrates the contributions of queer fathers and their often underappreciated role in the ecosystem of donated parental labor. Ultimately though, this is a story of the beauty and awkwardness of forming friendships in adulthood.”
In the spirit of the show’s themes, the run will feature community and family events including:
October 23: “Reimagining the Village: How Can We Create Parenting Communities for our Mid-Pandemic Moment?” Post-matinee guided talkback with Lauren Grossman, Executive Director of Across the Table.
October 27: “Toward Parent-Inclusive Production Practices” moderated by the Parent Artist Advocacy League. https://www.paaltheatre.com/ - live broadcast on HowlRound TV.
November 3: “Queer Fathering and the Pressure to be a Model Volunteer” presented in partnership with Gay Fathers of Greater Chicagoland. Moderated by Rufus Gonzales, father of three, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology at Loyola University.
November 6 will be a bring-your-baby matinee with infants welcome in the house on an adult’s lap with additional babysitting for children ages 0-6 available on site in partnership with Jovie.
November 13: American Eagle Productions will offer a theater class for kids 5-12 while parents enjoy the show.
About THE CLEANUP: Playwright: Hallie Palladino Director: Jen Poulin Cast: Lucy Carapetyan, Lynnette Li, Chad Patterson, and Brandon Rivera Understudies: Christine Chiang, Tony DiPisa, Norah Flaherty, and Chris Lysy
Previews run October 13-16 and October 20 with the Opening on October 21, 2022. Shows Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays 7:30 p.m.; Sundays 3 p.m. THE CLEANUP is approximately 100 minutes, with 1 intermission. Tickets are $22 for previews; $32 general admission. Student and industry tickets are available for $10.
Synopsis: Seeking community post-quarantine, Nicole enrolls her toddler at The Learning Co-Op, a parent-run DIY preschool, where she’s assigned to Sunday night cleanup crew. There she meets Logan, a swoon-worthy superdad. To get closer she becomes the school’s star volunteer, causing the burnt-out founders to tap her as their replacement. THE CLEANUP is a tale of love, friendship, and the messes we make in their pursuit.
Creative Team: Playwright: Hallie Palladino Director: Jen Poulin Prop Thtr Artistic Director: Olivia Lilley Production Manager: Melanie Thompson Stage Manager: Adriana Rodriguez Dramaturg: Christopher Vanderark Scenic Designer: Alyssa Mohn Lighting Designer: Liz Cooper Sound Designer: Rae Segbawu Costume Designer: Rachel Sypniewski Props Designer: Lily Berman Intimacy Director: Kayla Menz Casting Director: Karissa Murrell Meyers Graphic Designer: Jules Darling Technical Director: Darren Lee Brown Assistant Stage Manager: Anna Zaczek Production Assistant: Alanna Yong Master Electrician: Jackson Mikkelsen Literary/Producing Intern: Sarah Johnson
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