The Story Theatre presents "the love object"

The Story Theatre is pleased to welcome back audiences with its world premiere of the love object by Emerging Playwright-in-Residence Justine Gelfman, directed by Northwestern MFA Directing alum Jasmine B. Gunter. This new play, which explores agency, betrayal and power through the bubblegum veneer of the early 2000s pop music industry, will take place October 10 - November 3, 2024 on Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage, 6157 N. Clark St (at Granville) in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at thestorytheatre.org/tickets or by calling (773) 338-2177. The press opening is Sunday, October 13 at 3 pm.

The production will feature Cat Christmas, Kaylah Marie Crosby, Spencer Díaz Tootle, Emily Holland, Mollyanne Nunn and William Anthony Sebastian Rose II.

On the eve of Ramona’s sold-out stadium tour, her best friend and trusted assistant Paula announces she is leaving to pursue her own artistry. Fearing the loss of her closest confidante, Ramona reveals that a sex tape she made is about to be released, tainting her image (and ticket sales) forever. Will Paula stay and clean up Ramona’s mess one more time or finally escape the oppressive celebrity machine for good? A contemporary adaptation of Euripides’ Hippolytus, the love object examines the hyper-sexualization of women celebrities, the power struggles of interracial friendship and the tragedies of late-stage capitalism, all through the bubblegum veneer of an early 2000s pop superstar.

Dates: Previews: Thursday, October 10 at 7:30 pm and Friday, October 11 at 7:30 pm
Friends and Family Opening: Saturday, October 12 at 7:30 pm
Press Opening: Sunday, October 13 at 3 pm
Regular run: Thursday, October 10 – Sunday, November 3, 2024
Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm
Tickets: Previews $15, Regular run $20, Students/active military and veterans $10
Tickets are available at thestorytheatre.org/tickets or by calling (773) 338-2177
Group tickets: Special group grates are available. For more information, call (773) 338-2177 or email paulmichael@thestorytheatre.org.

About The Story Theatre:

Founded in 2018, The Story Theatre will pose questions rather than provide answers. We develop and produce new work that is whimsical, melancholic, mythic in vision and intimate in scale. We are run by a Governing Artistic Ensemble, who ensures our work is actively dismantling racism and inequity, while cultivating community through activism and catharsis.

Our Emerging Playwright Residency Program fosters the growth of playwright at the beginnings of an exciting career. After an intensive application and interview process, the Governing Ensemble chooses one playwright-in-residence and offers them: a fully-produced run of a completed full-length play; the development of a new script through our unique inquiry-based workshop process; a free public staged reading of this new script; and our trusted advocacy with industry professionals every step of the way.