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The Gentleman Caller

by Philip Dawkins

directed by Cody Estle

March 28 – May 27

Playing Wednesday, March 28 at 8:00 pm
Call 773.338.2177 to make your reservation.

Although now regarded as two of history's finest American playwrights, back in 1944, William Inge and Tennessee Williams had yet to experience anything close to success. Before the Chicago premiere of The Glass Menagerie, Inge, a dissatisfied newspaper critic, invites Williams to his St. Louis apartment for an interview. This fraught, sexy rendezvous sparks a relationship which radically alters the course of their lives and the American Theatre.


 

Philip Dawkins is a Chicago playwright whose plays have been produced throughout the country and the world. His works Miss Marx: or The Involuntary Side Effect of Living (Strawdog Theatre) and Charm (Northlight Theatre at the Steppenwolf Garage) both won the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work. His critically-acclaimed plays The Homosexuals, Le Switch (both produced by About Face Theatre) and Failure: A Love Story (Victory Gardens Theater), all received Joseph Jefferson Nominations for New Work. Charm was produced by New York City’s MCC Theatre in fall of 2017. Philip is an Artistic Associate of About Face Theatre and Ensemble Playwright at Victory Gardens. He teaches playwriting at Northwestern University as well as at his alma mater, Loyola University Chicago.


ACESSIBILITY INFORMATION

We will be hosting an OPEN CAPTIONED performance of The Gentleman Caller on Thursday, May 17th.

Due to limited seating, we're holding tickets for anyone who'd like to use the service. To book your seats, email our Audience Services Manager at John@RavenTheatre.com.

Reviews

  • Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago

    "Utter, tragic perfection."

    Alex Huntzberger, Time Out Chicago
  • "The Gentleman Caller may very well be the best work produced in Chicago this season."

    Misha Davenport, BroadwayWorld Chicago
  • Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago Raven Theatre Chicago

    "Lovely, bawdy, raw, very funny, pensive, outrageous, emotional, powerful, and did I mention funny? But most of all it is REAL."

    Karen Topham, Chicago Onstage
  • "Witty, engaging, sexy, romantic, and dark in a tapestry of tones and text that is bursting at the seams with complex ideas and beautiful storytelling.

    It’s no wonder this production has already been extended; it would be a shame not to offer it to as many audience members as possible."

    Jessie Bond, Chicago SPLASH
  • "[Dawkins is] a poet and a visionary. His plays ring deeply personal and exquisitely vulnerable and “The Gentlemen Caller” is no exception."

    Emma Couling, Newcity Stage

Cast

Rudy Galvan as Tennessee Williams
Curtis Edward Jackson as William Inge

Understudies

Devon Nimerfroh as Tennessee Williams
Peter G. Andersen as William Inge

Creative Team

Cody Estle (Director)
Jeffrey D. Kmiec (Set Designer)
Melissa Ng (Costume Designer)
Michelle Benda (Lighting Designer)
Kevin O’Donnell (Sound Designer)
Claire Stone (Properties)
David Woolley (Fight Choreographer)
Elise Kauzlaric (Dialect Coach)
Tara Malpass (Stage Manager)
Isabel Thompson (Assistant to the Playwright)
Eli Newell (Assistant Director)

Audience Events

Call 773.338.2177
or email info@raventheatre.com
to make your reservation.