Timeline Theatre Company presents The World Premiere of “To Master The Art”
TimeLine Theatre Company presents the world premiere of To Master the Art by William Brown and Doug Frew, directed by William Brown, October 30 – December 19, 2010, (previews October 26 through October 29) at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago.
This world premiere play recalls the adventure and romance of Julia and Paul Child’s journey of discovery to Paris during the 1950s. From the bistro where Julia fell in love with food, to the kitchen table where she recreated everything learned during cooking class, to a room where Paul was grilled by U.S. agents about alleged Communist contact, this is the story of a larger-than-life culinary icon and her remarkable husband as they struggle to find themselves as Americans abroad.
To Master the Art marks the first full production of a play TimeLine Theatre has commissioned. The initial idea was hatched by TimeLine Company members during an artistic retreat in the summer of 2006. An official commission in 2008 with William Brown and Doug Frew culminated in a developmental workshop and private play reading early in 2010. The development of To Master the Art has been partially supported by The Dramatists Guild Fund.
“Bill and Doug have crafted a love story for the ages. Inspired to re-define herself in mid-life, Julia was on a path to shatter the perceived role of the American housewife, while Paul toiled in the bureaucracy of the state department,†TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers said. “They were two frustrated artists charting very different courses, working to master the arts of marriage, communication, cooking and personal fulfillment — a struggle that would ultimately impact legions of followers and ignite a nation of food enthusiasts.â€
The cast of To Master the Art features Karen Janes Woditsch as Julia Child and Craig Spidle as Paul Child, with Jeannie Affelder, Ian Paul Custer, Amy Dunlap, TimeLine Associate Artist Terry Hamilton, TimeLine Company Member Juliet Hart, Joel Gross, Ethan Saks and Ann Wakefield. Note that Craig Spidle has replaced the previously announced Torrey Hanson in the role of Paul Child.
Performance Schedule/Events
Preview performances of To Master the Art are Tuesday, October 26 through Friday, October 29 at 8 p.m. The play opens on Saturday, October 30 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 31 at 2 p.m. and then runs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through December 19, 2010. Note that there are no performances on Wednesdays, November 3 and 24, and Thursday, November 25. Note that there will be an additional performance at 4 p.m. on Friday, November 26.
POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS: Free post-show discussions led by a TimeLine Company Member and featuring the production dramaturg and members of the cast on Thursdays, November 4, 11, 18 and December 2; Sundays November 7, 21 and 28 and Wednesday, December 1.
SUNDAY SCHOLARS SERIES: A free hour-long post-show panel discussion with experts on the themes and issues of the play on Sunday, November 14.
To purchase tickets or for more information, call the TimeLine Theatre Box Office at 773.281.8463 or buy online via timelinetheatre.com.
