The World Premiere of TRUMAN AND THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL

The Greenhouse Theater Center and Forum Productions are pleased to present the world premiere of the historical drama TRUMAN AND THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL, written by David Cohen (aka William Spatz) and directed by Randy White, playing October 11 – November 18, 2018 in The Greenhouse’s Upstairs Main Stage, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at greenhousetheater.org, in person at the box office or by calling (773) 404-7336.

TRUMAN AND THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL will feature Catherine Dvorak, Tim Kough, Peter Nerad and Andrew Pond.

From humble beginnings as a poor farmer, soldier, and failed business man to the unimaginable: President! Thrust headlong into global turmoil, TRUMAN AND THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL tells the story of one Missouri man’s unlikely rise to power and the controversial role he played in the founding of the State of Israel.

The production team for TRUMAN AND THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL includes: David SS Davis (scenic design), Kate Setzer Kaumphausen (costume design), David Trudeau (lighting design), Clara Tomaz (sound and projections designer), Nova Casillo (props design), Carrie Hardin (dialect coach), Rob Frankel (dramaturg), Ron Rude (production manager), James Heppler (technical director) and Jennifer Roseman (stage manager).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: TRUMAN AND THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL

Playwright: David Cohen (aka William Spatz)

Director: Randy White

Cast (in alphabetical order): Catherine Dvorak (Bella Abzug), Tim Kough (Truman), Peter Nerad (Eddie Jacobson) and Andrew Pond (Melvin Belli, Don Muller).

Location: Greenhouse Theater Center (Upstairs Main Stage), 2257 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, October 11 at 7:30 pm, Friday, October 12 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, October 13 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 14 at 2:30 pm

Press Performance: Monday, October 15 at 7:30 pm

Regular run: October 18 – November 18, 2018

Curtain times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 2:30 pm

Tickets: Previews: $25 ($15 students, teachers, military & industry, $20 seniors). Regular run: $32 - $35. Group discounts are available. Tickets are currently available at greenhousetheater.org, in person at the box office or by calling (773) 404-7336.

About the Artists

David Cohen aka William (Bill) Spatz Playwright) is a playwright, philanthropist and real estate developer in Chicago. Playwrighting credits include JESUS THE JEW As Told By His Brother James, which he will be adapting into Two Brothers from Nazareth, his first musical. JESUS THE JEW enjoyed its world premiere at the Greenhouse in 2017. As president of the board for the Greenhouse Theater Center, Bill has overseen the remodeling and expansion of the Greenhouse, which has for over 40 years served as an artistic home for Chicago theater companies including Victory Gardens. He is also the President of the Wendy and William Spatz Charitable Foundation. When not producing theater, Bill spends his time engrossed in historical research, traveling with his wife and business partner Wendy and supporting Chicago theater companies.

Randy White (Director) is the Founding Artistic Director of Cardinal Stage Company in Bloomington, Indiana, where he led the team that built Cardinal into a successful Equity theatre with a million-dollar operating budget in under 10 years. At Cardinal, Randy directed Frankenstein, West Side Story, King Charles III, The Whipping Man, August: Osage County, Next to Normal, Les Mis and 50+ other productions.

In NYC, Randy directed the 15 month off-Broadway run of Glen Berger's Underneath the Lintel, Theatreworks USA's Max and Ruby, New George’s Self Defense, and many other productions. Randy also assisted on The Lion King and was resident director at New Dramatists. Regionally, Randy has directed at Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Portland Center Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville (Humana Festival), etc. Randy has also directed and/or taught at Yale, Penn, Indiana University, Minnesota/Guthrie, AMDA, Fordham, and NYU Tisch. In Chicago, Randy is scheduled to direct the children’s musicals at Northbrook Theatre and the Children’s Theatre of Winnetka. Randy is also working to adapt several Newberry award-winning children’s novels for the stage.

Randy and his family recently relocated to Chicago after his partner accepted a position in the English Department (Shakespeare) at the University of Chicago. Randy holds an MFA in directing from the University of Alberta in his native Canada.

About the Greenhouse Theater Center

The Greenhouse Theater Center (GTC) is a producing theater company, performance venue and theatre bookstore located at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

GTC began its producing life in 2014 with the smash hit Churchill, followed by 2016’s much-lauded Solo Celebration!, an eight month, 16 event series highlighting the breadth and depth of the solo play form. In 2017-18, the Greenhouse presented its first full subscription season, including Machinal (4 stars from Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones) and the Chicago premiere of Birds of a Feather.

As a performance venue, the Greenhouse complex offers two newly remodeled 190-seat main stage spaces, two 60-seat studio theaters, two high-capacity lobbies and an in-house rehearsal room. GTC also houses Chicago’s only dedicated used theatre bookstore, located on the second floor the complex.

The Greenhouse Theater Center’s mission is first and foremost to grow local theatre. GTC seeks local theatre companies and artists to partner on co-productions, offering partners a multitude of resources including an equitable split of production costs, production manager, full-service box office and front-of-house staff, artistic consultation, marketing and public relations support and a full-service bar with concessions. For additional information, contact Bill Spatz at (312) 637-5323 or wmspatz@gmail.com.

With new ideas always incubating, the Greenhouse is flourishing. Come grow with us!

About Forum Productions

Forum Productions has produced or co-produced 17 plays since its founding in 2014. Previous productions include the highly-acclaimed Churchill (Producer: Chicago, 2014; Producer: Off-Broadway, 2015) and the Greenhouse Theater Center's much-lauded Solo Celebration! Series (Producer) in 2016-17.

PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Kough as Harry S. Truman in a publicity image for Greenhouse Theater Center and Forum Productions’ world premiere of TRUMAN AND THE BIRTH OF ISRAEL. Photo by Michael Brosilow.