SOLDIERS: THE DESERT STAND
WORLD PREMIERE
by Joshua Aaron Weinstein*
Directed by Glenn Proud*
April 10 - May 4, 2008
at the side project theatre
FEATURING
Cory Conrad* (SERGEANT BILL)
Madeline Long* (TOMA SINGERSON)
Allison McNeela* (MARTHA DIXON)
Chris Zdenek* (HAROLD JOHNSON)
with Becca Coren*, Danielle O'Farrell and Erin Barlow* as FOOLISH SOLDIERS
PRODUCTION TEAM
Scenic Designer: Anders Jacobson*
Costume Designer: Erin Fast*
Lighting Designer: Eric Branson*
Sound Designer: Maya Kuper
Dramaturg/Properties Designer: Liz Larsen-Silva
Stage Manager: Tresa Makosky
Production Manager: Amber Hilgenkamp*
Assistant Director: Vanessa Hughes
** Madeline Long, 2008 After Dark Award for Outstanding Performance in a Play **
REVIEWS
"...the play's comic sensibility is impressive and in perfect balance with the chilling moments that result from the appropriation of cartoon violence, exploration of the play between reality and fantasy of war games and mediation on the media coverage of war."
-- Monica Westin, NewCity Chicago
"Madeline Long’s all-in performance as the foul-mouthed, lisping, violence-crazed preteen does her country proud. -- Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago
"LiveWire Chicago Theatre is yet another example of the talent that brims from every nook and cranny of this city...proof that a tiny show can look, sound, feel and play great...Their world premiere of “Soldiers: The Desert Stand” displays excellence in creative and technical execution..." -- Venus Zarris, Gay Chicago Magazine
"nihilistic lampoon" -- Albert Williams, Chicago Reader
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
Soldiers: The Desert Stand was developed from the 10-minute play Toy Soldier which was presented by Not-A-Penny Productions as part of their 1st Annual New Play Festival April 10, 2004 in Fayetteville, AR. Directed by Edward Fairchild. Starring Angela Hicks as MARTHA, Josh Cowdery as HAROLD, Ellen Nimo as TOMA and Matthew Parker as BILL. Produced by Clayton A. Rogers and Joshua Aaron Weinstein*.
Soldiers: Recruitment, a short excerpt from Soldiers: TDS was presented December 13, 14 & 15 as part of Mordine & Company Dance Theatre's 800 lb Gorilla in the Room 'what we're not talking about'. An evening of multi-disciplinary performance at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Directed by Glenn Proud*. Starring Cory Conrad* as SERGEANT BILL; Madeline Long* as TOMA; Ryan Musil as HAROLD; Liz-Larsen Silva, Vanessa Hughes or Deborah Proud* as MARTHA; Sound Design by Maya Kuper; Lighting Design and Stage Management by Julian Pike; Production Manager Atalee Judy.
LiveWire Chicago Theatre also spent time reading the full-length play with the help of Sebastian Aguirre*, Erin Barlow*, Cory Conrad*, Daniel Cox, Erin Fast*, Amber Hilgenkamp*, Anders Jacobson*, Madeline Long*, Deborah Proud* and Glenn Proud*.
PHOTO GALLERY
