"Kita" Press Release, Waukegan-centric

For its inaugural production, Clockwise Theatre is producing KITA Y FERNANDA by Tanya Saracho, the Jeff-nominated workwhich looks at class, immigration and women's friendships. Opening July 30th at 114 S. Genesee in downtown Waukegan, the play will feature Catalina Quinones-Nelson, Diana Serna, and Norma Serna, all of Waukegan. But employment for Waukegan’s theatrical professionals doesn’t end on the stage. Ian Morton is the company stage manager and Roosevelt Watkins, a theatre arts major at Augustana College, is production intern. The production will be directed by Jeff Award winner Doug McDade of Gurnee, and also features Nada Steier of North Aurora and Wendy George Valasso of Chicago.

“We are thrilled beyond words to have found so many talented professionals right here in Waukegan,” Co-Artistic Director Madelyn Sergel says. “Diana Serna and Norma Serna are mother and daughter, clearly the beginning of an acting dynasty. Diana brings years of professional experience to KITA Y FERNANDA and to have her daughter Norma, who is also an incredibly gifted actress, in the cast as well is so exciting. Also in the cast, making her stage debut, is Catalina Quinones-Nelson, who is the Assistant Principal of Jack Benny Middle School. Catalina came to auditions on the urging of her Latina Book Club. Never having acted before, she absolutely blew us away. Smart, talented, with an emotional wisdom and access that actors with decades of experience would kill for, the only thing that explains her ability is that she must have been a movie star in a previous life!”

"Kita" Press Release - Long Version

For its inaugural production, Clockwise Theatre has selected KITA Y FERNANDA by Tanya Saracho, the Jeff-nominated work which looks at class, immigration and women's friendships. Featuring Nada Steier (North Aurora), Catalina Quinones-Nelson, Diana Serna, Norma Serna (all of Waukegan), and Wendy George Valasso (Chicago), the production will be directed by Jeff Award winner Doug McDade (Gurnee). KITA Y FERNANDA opens July 30th and runs thru August 15th, Friday and Saturday nights at 8PM, Sundays at 3PM. KITA will be performed at 114 S. Genesee St, Waukegan, IL. Tickets are $15 plus $1.99 handling fee. Visit the website for more details. www.clockwisetheatre.org

Led by Co-Artistic Directors Madelyn Sergel (Gurnee) Less Boyd (Libertyville) and Managing Director Rebecca Adler (Gurnee), Clockwise is making its home in Waukegan, halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Sergel says, “While CWT will be a bare bones effort at first, our long range goal is to become a regional theatre akin to Victory Gardens, Steppenwolf, Goodman, and The Guthrie in Minneapolis.

Boyd chimes in, “The fact that KITA Y FERNANDA playwright Tanya Saracho is the break-out Chicago playwright, with a just-announced production at the Goodman, speaking engagements across the country, and media cover stories all over, has us thanking our lucky stars we got the rights to produce this play when we did!”