| "Kita y Fernanda" Launches Clockwise Theatre |
"Kita" Press Release - Long VersionFor 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!” “We are thrilled beyond words to have found so many talented professionals right here in Waukegan,” Co-Artistic Director Madelyn Sergel says. “Discovering such a deep talent pool in the area has everyone extremely optimistic about the long term success for building an organization of national prominence. Diana Serna 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! Sergel continues, “Nada Steier was the very first actress who auditioned for us and after the first 30 seconds, we all knew our Kita had been found. No else was even called back for the role. Nada seized the part and never let go. And then we hit casting pay dirt by getting Wendy Valasso. Wendy is a highly experienced on-camera actress and sought-after radio personality. She brings has that magical combination of charisma and talent to the role of Fernanda. She is a huge talent.” Boyd adds, “Waukegan is becoming the Midwestern SoHo. It has such a cool urban vibe, the Genesee Theatre, marvelous restaurants and bars, elegant old buildings with lake views and loft-scaled spaces, fun resale shops, affordable neighborhood living, and a lush, active harbor. It’s the perfect setting for our new company.” Managing Director Rebecca Adler agrees. “Downtown Waukegan feels like a Chicago or NYC neighborhood and that’s why we are making our home here. The energy and opportunity are palpable.” “With Waukegan being situated on the lake, exactly halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago, with the well populated county of Lake to the west, this location is ideal on so many levels,” adds Co-Artistic Director Less Boyd. “We can tap into the huge talent pool in both urban centers, as well as the artists who live in the suburbs. And for our audiences, we want them to have an easy, positive experience, from the moment they buy their tickets to the moment when they get back home after the show.” Sergel continues, “I’m a playwright, a producer and retired actor. I love theatre. But even I get tired of racing through dinner, fighting traffic, hunting for parking, all to see a show that results in not getting home until sometimes after midnight. One of the reasons Less, Rebecca and I started Clockwise is that we love exciting, provocative, high-caliber theatre, but we figured if we felt weary of the hassle of trying to see top-notch theatre in Chicago, others might feel the same.” “Waukegan just feels like the future,” sums up Sergel. “Diverse, warm, with an exciting mood that has the 21st Century written all over it. We want to be a part if it!” Clockwise Theatre Mission StatementClockwise is a not-for-profit theatre company committed to producing timely, smart, professional theatre. With an emphasis on Midwestern artists, Clockwise works to provide satisfying theatrical and cultural experiences for local audiences and professional opportunities for local artists. Contacts:Madelyn Sergel, Co-Artistic Director847-856-0648 Doug McDade, Director Less Boyd, Co-Artistic Director 708-721-3973 Catalina Quinones-Nelson Diana Serna Nada Steier Wendy George Valasso |