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Nice Girl

by Melissa Ross

directed by Lauren Shouse

January 24 – March 11

Performances Begin Wednesday, January 24 at 7:30 pm.
Call 773.338.2177 to make your reservation.
Josephine Rosen finds herself stuck in her job, her spinsterhood, and her mom’s house at age 37. But when a new friendship and a budding romance bring her the possibility of change, she takes tentative steps towards a new life with one powerful word: Yes. Raven proudly presents the Chicago premiere of Melissa Ross' play about the tragedy and joy of figuring out who you are, and letting go of who you were supposed to be.
 
  Melissa Ross' plays include Thinner Than Water, A Life Extra Ordinary, Nice Girl, An Entomologist’s Love Story and Of Good Stock.  Thinner Than Water and Nice Girl were both originally produced by LAByrinth Theater Company.  Thinner Than Water is included in the anthology “New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2011” by Smith and Kraus. Nice Girl was a finalist for the Francesca Primus Prize and is in Applause’s  “Best Plays of 2015.”  Of Good Stock received its world premiere at South Coast Repertory as a part of the Pacific Playwrights Festival followed by a subsequent production at Manhattan Theater Club.  A Life Extra Ordinary premiered with The Gift Theatre Fall of 2016.  An Entomologist’s Love Story is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Commission and an Edgerton New Play award recipient, and will premiere at The San Francisco Playhouse Spring of 2018. Her short play Jack was a part of Summer Shorts 2017 and will be published by Dramatists Play Service. Melissa’s plays have been developed with The Amoralists, The Cherry Lane Theater, Colt Coeur, Dorset Theater Festival, The Gift Theatre, Iama Theatre Company, The Juilliard School, Labyrinth Theater Company, LCT3, Manhattan Theater Club, Montana Rep, New York Stage and Film, The New Group, South Coast Repertory, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, and the TheatreWorks Palo Alto New Works Festival. She is twice commissioned by both South Coast Repertory and Manhattan Theater Club.  Melissa is a graduate of Bennington College and the Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Program at The Juilliard School, a two-time winner of the Le Comte de Nouy Prize, and a proud member of LAByrinth Theater Company.

Watch the Trailer

Reviews

  • "A first rate production... beautifully constructed. This play will take you on an emotional journey, and make you laugh along the way."

    Debra Davy, Chicago Splash

  • "A comic and poignant slice of life, beautifully acted and directed."

    Karen Topham, Chicago On Stage

  • "It could hardly be more fully felt or deeply delivered than by Shouse’s superb quartet."

    Lawrence Bommer, Stage & Cinema
  • Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago

    "Stellar performances, skillfully directed by Lauren Shouse. Raven continues to amaze me."

    Al Bresloff, Around the Town

Cast

Lucy Carapetyan as Josephine
Lynne Baker as Francine
Stella Martin as Sherry
Benjamin Sprunger as Donnie

Understudies

Katherine Swan
Anne Wrider
Devri Chism
Mike Newquist

Creative Team

Lauren Shouse (Director)
Lauren Nigri (Set Designer)
Noel Huntzinger (Costume Designer)
Becca Jeffords (Lighting Designer)
Eric Backus (Sound Designer/Composer)
John Buranosky (Props Designer)
Wilhelm Peters (Stage Manager)
Jordan Pokorney (Assistant Director)

Audience Events

Call 773.338.2177 to make your reservation.