TimeLine Theatre to open 2023-24 season with Chicago premiere of The Lehman Trilogy
TimeLine Theatre Company has announced that its Chicago premiere of the Tony Award-winning THE LEHMAN TRILOGY by Stefano Massini (adapted by Ben Power) will open their 2023-2024 season and will run September 19 - October 29, 2023 at Broadway In Chicago's Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St.
"TimeLine is elated to create a new production of the monumental play THE LEHMAN TRILOGY," said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. "Tailor-made for TimeLine's mission of exploring history, the theatrical ambition of this play is thrilling, yet told in an astonishingly simple way, utilizing only three actors. The opportunity for Nick Bowling and Vanessa Stalling to envision a new production specifically for Chicago audiences is an honor-as is the furthering of our relationship with Broadway In Chicago, with whom we partnered on another epic Tony Award-winning play, Oslo, in 2019."
Told over the course of a single evening, THE LEHMAN TRILOGY is an exploration of western capitalism seen through the eyes of one immigrant family. In 1844, a young man from Bavaria steps onto the docks in New York with hopes for his future in America. He is soon joined by his two brothers, and thus begins a remarkable American journey. Fast forward 163 years and their business, Lehman Brothers, collapses into bankruptcy; the largest financial crisis in history. This captivating theatrical event brings to life nearly two centuries of family history, from their humble beginnings to incredible success and devastating failure with an institution that had massive global repercussions.
TimeLine Theatre brings THE LEHMAN TRILOGY to Chicago for its first production in the city. The original Italian theatre show made its world debut at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan under the direction of Luca Ronconi in 2015. It had its English-language premiere at London's National Theatre Lyttelton Theatre on July 12, 2018, helmed by Sam Mendes. The play then made its way to Broadway on October 14, 2021, with Mendes again directing.
THE LEHMAN TRILOGY was honored with five Tony Awards in 2022, including Best Play, plus Drama League and Outer Critics Circle awards. It was also nominated for five Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Play.