"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!”

Clockwise Co-Artistic Director and KITA Assistant Director Less Boyd adds, “Our company stage manager Ian Morton was introduced to us by one of our board members, Jackie Cunningham, and he has been an incredible addition to the company. He’s shown up to every production meeting, helped run auditions and callbacks, and is now deep in the rehearsal process. At the same time he is attending classes in theatre and history at CLC. Roosevelt Watkins just declared his major in Theatre Arts and already is diving into the working world of professional theatre. Both these amazing young men are living proof that if you show up, work hard, and pay attention, you’re going to get ahead in life.”

Boyd continues, "Aside from just finding the acting and production talent, the fact that the 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 KITA Y FERNANDA when we did!”

Regarding the theatre, 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. And honestly, the fact that, right-off-the-bat, we found such a deep talent pool in the area has everyone extremely optimistic about the long term success for building an organization of national prominence."

Clockwise 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. 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.”

“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 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 me 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!”

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

Clockwise Theatre Mission Statement

Clockwise 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:

Doug McDade, Director
224-944-1780

Less Boyd, Co-Artistic Director
224-715-3008

Catalina Quinones-Nelson
847-323-5515

Diana Serna
224-627-9841

Nada Steier
708-261-8209

Ian Morton
224-441-4333

Roosevelt Watkins
847-693-8650