Full casting was announced today for PrideArts’ virtual reading of Christopher Shinn’s OTHER PEOPLE, a comedy set around the holidays in New York City’s East Village, involving relationships past and present among four men and one woman. Chicago actor and director Tim Ashby, who will direct the reading, announced his cast today. The reading will be performed live online on Tuesday, January 19 at 7 pm.
Los Angeles-based actor/writer/director Laura Seay, whose credits include the theatrical feature films SUPERBAD and the ABC-TV series MARVEL’S AGENTS OF SHIELD, will play Petra, a poet and stripper who lives with Stephen. David Prottas, an NYC-based actor and dancer who appeared in the 2018 Broadway revival of CAROUSEL, will play the gay struggling playwright Stephen. Blake Valletta has been cast as Mark, the ex-boyfriend of Stephen who has been invited to spend the holidays with Stephen and Petra. Canadian actor Carter James, of the feature film SHALL WE PLAY, will be Tan, a young street hustler befriended by Stephen and Mark. Christopher J. Reese will play the roles of Darren and Man.
Top Row L-R: Carter James, David Prottas, Christopher J. Reese
Lower Row L-R: Laura Seay, Blake Valletta
OTHER PEOPLE premiered at London’s Royal Court Theatre in March 2000 and opened in New York City at Playwrights Horizons in October of that year. Christopher Shinn’s other plays include FOUR, WHERE DO WE LIVE, DYING CITY, NOW OR LATER, and TEDDY FERRARA, which was commissioned and premiered in 2013 by Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. His adaptation of Ibsen’s HEDDA GABLER was produced on Broadway by the Roundabout Theatre Company in 2009.
Other upcoming live virtual readings announced by PrideArts include TWELFTH NIGHT on January 12, MARCUS; OR THE SECRET OF SWEET on January 26, the world-premiere SHUT UP KISS ME on February 9, and LESBIAN SHORTS on February 16.
Tickets are $10.00 for each reading and are available at www.pridearts.com or by phone at 773-857-0222.
LISTING INFORMATION
OTHER PEOPLE
By Christopher Shinn
Directed by Tim Ashby
January 19, 2021 – 7:00 pm
Tickets $10.00 available at www.pridearts.org or by phone at 773-857-0222
Stephen, a struggling playwright and website movie critic, invites his ex-boyfriend, Mark, to spend Christmas with him and his roommate, Petra, a poet and stripper. Mark, who’s recently completed making an independent film and is fresh out of rehab, begins his life back in the real world by becoming friends with Tan, a street hustler. In the crucible of a tiny East Village apartment, Stephen, Mark, and Petra struggle with questions of art, sex, and each other as the impending New Year forces them to define how they want to live and love in a dark and confusing world.
Tim Ashby (Director) is a Chicago based actor, originally from Houston, Texas. He most recently understudied a role in Broken Nose Theatre’s LABYRINTH by Beth Steele, and before that understudied KEELY AND DU at the Red Twist Theatre. He is represented by Grossman & Jack and received his MFA in Acting from Ohio University in 2018.
ABOUT PRIDEARTS
PrideArts is working to produce year-round theater and film projects that change lives in normal (non-COVID) times, the company produces a season of full play and musical productions, as well as events including dance, cabaret, film, and more. It was recently honored with seven Jeff award nominations for the 2019-20 season. Events can be one-night or limited run productions or feature national treasures like Charles Busch. PAC occupies The Broadway at 4139 N. Broadway, which has 85 seats, and The Buena, which has 50 seats at 4147 N Broadway.
PrideArts is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago’s City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, Proud to Run, The Pauls Foundation, The Heath Fund, The Service Club of Chicago, the AmazonSmile Foundation, Arts and Business Foundation, Tap Root Foundation, Arts and Business Council, and Alphawood Foundation.
PrideArts is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. PrideArts is a member of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Northalsted Business Association, Uptown United, and The League of Chicago Theatres.
For more information and to donate, visit www.pridearts.org or call 1.773 857 0222.