BoHo Theatre kicks off its first mainstage production of 2022, NATIONAL MERIT, a world premiere play by up-and-coming playwright and Northwestern University graduate, Valen-Marie Santos, directed by BoHo Artistic Associate, Enrico Spada. This production marks the company’s first mainstage production under new Artistic Director, Elizabeth Swanson, as well as the company’s first commissioned production. Santos has developed her work in partnership with BoHo Theatre, and with mentorship from BoHo’s Literary Manager, Dillon Chitto. BoHo Theatre conducted two workshops and three readings of NATIONAL MERIT in the development stages in preparation for the mainstage premiere. The press opening is Saturday, August 27 at 7:30 pm, at Theater Wit, 1227 W. Belmont, Chicago.
LISTING INFORMATION
NATIONAL MERIT
By Valen-Marie Santos
Directed by Enrico Spada
WORLD PREMIERE
August 25 – September 25, 2022
Performing at Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont, Chicago
PERFORMANCE TIMES
Previews: Thursday, August 25 and Friday, August 26 at 7:30pm
Press Opening / Opening Night: Saturday, August 27, at 7:30 pm
Performance run: August 25 – September 25, 2022
Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm. Additional performances held Saturdays, September 3 & 17 at 3 pm, Monday, September 12 at 7:30 pm, and Wednesday, September 21 at 7:30 pm.
General Tickets on sale now at www.bohotheatre.com/our-shows, or through the Theater Wit box office: (773) 975-8150. Tickets are $30 for general admission, $15 for seniors, military, and first responders, and $10 for students and educational professionals.
THE PLAY
“BoHo is thrilled to bring Chicago our very first world premiere play,” remarks Swanson. “BoHo will continue to herald new voices like Santos’ in future seasons alongside our long tradition of exciting musicals.” BoHo aims to tell compelling stories that examine and celebrate human relationships. The company’s vision is to create a shared community of artists and patrons in which all members are moved through art to make thoughtful, well-examined, caring relationships the highest priority in their lives.
In NATIONAL MERIT, seven students embark on an intensive PSAT prep program in the hopes to become National Merit Scholars. As the pressure rises, these high school juniors question what it means to achieve National Merit status, who gets to achieve it, and what it costs. With humor and heart, playwright Valen-Marie Santos scrutinizes academic achievement, socioeconomic privilege, and racial injustice within a private school setting.
“The play feels so fresh as a piece of theatre, not only because of the drama and humor, but because it keenly examines the way the systems of our world—education, capitalism, meritocracy—pressure and shape young lives,” says director Enrico Spada. “For these characters, the future is on the line—but only if they can safely navigate a system that may not have their best interests in mind.”
CAST
Juan Gonzalez Machain as Alex, Tatiana Bustamante as Camila, Justin Kuhn as Jax, Amber Washington as Melissa, Maddie Powell as Ariana, Alex Rocha as Cisco, Magdalena Dalzell as Jenny, Sripadh Pulligilla as Yash.
UNDERSTUDY CAST
Ciara Hickey (U/S Jax and Ariana), Ella Leon (U/S Camila), Edgar Lopez (U/S Cisco), Danielle Kerr (U/S Jenny), Alani Gross-Roberts (U/S Melissa)
Valen-Marie Santos is a writer, director, actor, and recent graduate of Northwestern University. Through her work, Valen-Marie spotlights young people, women and girls, family, and the Latine identity within the US context. Her most recent writing credits include USING PROTECTION, a web series she co-created with Rishi Mahesh and Madi Hart which is currently in post-production. Her play PERREO, a drama set in the Miami reggaeton scene, was selected for the 2020 Agnes Nixon Playwriting Festival, and her comedy about the murder of a fourth-grade class pet BUTTERSCOTCH was student-produced at Rider University in 2019. Valen-Marie is so excited to work with BoHo and see NATIONAL MERIT come to life!
Enrico Spada is a freelance director and teaching artist, committed to engaging audiences and communities through clear and entertaining storytelling experiences. Recent directing credits include LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Metropolis Performing Arts Center; THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, and KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Illinois State University; SLEEPING BEAUTY at Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre. Enrico is the Founder and Artistic Director of Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park, a free outdoor festival in Western Massachusetts for which he has directed multiple productions. Enrico served as Assistant Director to Eric Tucker for Bedlam’s Off-Broadway UNCLE ROMERO VANYA JULIET, and to Barbara Gaines for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s ROMEO AND JULIET. As a teaching artist, Enrico has worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s Shakespeare SLAM and the National High School Institute at Northwestern (CHERUBS), in addition to directing for nine years in Shakespeare & Company’s Fall Festival of Shakespeare and other K-12 residencies. Enrico received his MFA in the professional directing program at Illinois State University/Illinois Shakespeare Festival. He holds a BA in Acting and Theatre Education from Emerson College in Boston, MA.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Produced by Elizabeth Swanson, Dramaturgy by Gabriela Furtado Coutinho, Choreography by Tommy Rivera-Vega, Scenic Design by Shayna Patel, Lighting Design by Henry Muller, Costume Design by Liliana Otero, Sound Design by Payton Kaye and Vija Lapp, Properties Design by Noah Elman, Assistant Directed by Rafael López, Production Managed by Dalton Long, Stage Managed by Anna Margevich, Assistant Stage Managed by Nate Ridgely, Executive Director: Sana Selemon.
BoHo Theatre tells stories examining and celebrating human relationships — focusing on the Bohemian pillars of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Love — using bold, intimate theatrical stagings. Our vision is to create a shared community of artists and patrons in which all members are moved through art to make thoughtful, well-examined, caring relationships the highest priority in their lives.