F*** Around Series
a boundary-pushing production series hosted at The Hearth
In July of 2022, we met a huge goal of ours when we moved into our first-ever rehearsal space inside the Edgewater Presbyterian Church. We lovingly nicknamed our new home The Hearth, a tribute to the communal warmth that fosters genuine creative freedom. With our doors officially open, we've wasted no time in launching our first Red-hosted production series.
The F*** Around Series is only limited to what Chicago's artists can dream up (and our square footage). More experimenting, more collaboration, more spaghetti on more walls. We're here to get new art in front of audiences, try out new ideas and new jobs, and most importantly, to learn and grow with our ever-evolving artistic community.
For playwrights that are ready to move out of the workshop stage and get their shows up on their feet, for directors and actors that are deeply passionate about a script that isn't being done on main stages, for experimental and unique performances that deserve to be seen without having to pay for an expensive venue: we're going to f*** around and find out - and you are all invited to find out with us!
The F*** Around Series presents
marfa Lights
by Casey Wimpee
Directed by Jack William Rodgers
Poster art by COLBY (@trailerparkhero)
a surrealist one-act with hints of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, set in the backroads of Texas
@ The Hearth
1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave
Westside / Kenmore Ave entrance
May 31 - June 16, 2024
Fri / Sat / Sun @ 8P
Production Details:
MARFA LIGHTS is a surrealist spectacular that takes place on a ghostly desert night where two couples come to terms with insomnia, infertility, sexual deviance, delirium, and death – all in the midst of a mysterious and massive owl migration. When an unexpected visitor comes into camp, a midwinter’s night dream ensues, complete with a chorus of crickets, pink elephants, UFOs, horoscopes, memories of tennis, and the joy of magnets.
Directed by Jack William Rodgers. Originally conceived and developed by Adam Belvo, Darcie Champagne, Benjamin Manglos, Michael Mason, Karl Newman, Lacy Post, Julie Rossman, Casey Wimpee, and Cole Wimpee.
MARFA LIGHTS is being produced by Red Theater as the second installment in their F*** Around Series at The Hearth, located inside the Edgewater Presbyterian Church at 1020 W Bryn Mawr Ave.
Pay Rate: $125 stipend
Time Commitment:
Rehearsals will begin April 29 with specific dates settled among the cast after reviewing everyone’s availability. Performances will take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays @ 8P from May 31st to June 16th, 2024. (9 performances, no previews)
Material to Prepare:
In a 2-3 minute self-tape, please tell us the most supernatural event that has ever occurred in your life. This story should have the feel of sitting around the campfire with your friends, deep in the woods, so late into the night you’ve forgotten to be afraid of the darkness.
Submissions should be sent to Jack Rodgers at casting@redtheater.org by Monday, March 18th @ 11:59P and contain the following:
1. Self-tape
2. Headshot
3. Resume / Past experience
4. Availability for in-person callbacks on Saturday 3/23
Callbacks will consist of readings from the script with the actors playing Mercy and Rip.
Audition Date and Time: Virtual submissions open until Monday 3/18 @ 11:59P; In-person callbacks on Saturday 3/23
Audition Location: Callbacks will take place at The Hearth (1020 W Bryn Mawr Ave, westside ramp entrance)
Contact Person Email: casting@redtheater.org
Contact Person Name: Jack William Rodgers
Character Type/Restrictions:
marfa. female, capricorn, late 20s. the moon-pale angel of our nativity play. her fiance mercy thinks she’s dead. loves the feel of nature. recently suffered a miscarriage.
mercy.* male, scorpio, late 20s. going through severe alcohol withdrawal, mercy is descending into full blown delirium tremens. engaged to marfa and is deeply and irrevocably in love with her.
diane. female, cancer, early 30s. is extremely knowledgeable of the movements and placement of the planets. is married to rip. drives their station wagon. had a magnet collection in grade school.
rip.* male, sagittarius, early 30s; married to diane. obsessed with and deeply studies the massive owl migration taking place in west texas. rip is currently unable to fall asleep and it is slowly but surely killing him.
puke.* male, aquarius, indeterminable age. speaks the language of the crickets. suffers from synesthesia. is a native of marfa, texas and has done so many drugs with the tourists that he’s started to believe in the ghosts himself.
*The roles of Mercy, Rip, and Puke have already been cast.