Theatre News Wire

Profiles Theatre continues its 2012-2013 Season with Midwest Premiere of The Dream of Burning Boy by West Read, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. The production runs January 18 - March 10, 2013 at Profiles Theatre's Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway. Note to press: Due to a vibrant and busy month of theatre openings across Chicago, the press performance has been changed to accommodate schedules.

Since the sudden death of his favorite student, high-school teacher Larry Morrow has been falling asleep at his desk and dreaming. Steve, the school's guidance counselor, hangs inspirational posters designed to help everyone "process their emotions" while the student's sister and friends find little solace in their schoolwork. The Dream of the Burning Boy is a bittersweet story of choices made, opportunities lost, and finding the strength to move on.

The Dream of the Burning Boy received its World premiere in March 2011 as part of Roundabout Underground, Roundabout Theatre's initiative to nurture new plays by emerging writers. Playwright David West Read, a native of Toronto, currently resides as a Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellow at The Juilliard School, and a recent graduate of the MFA program in Dramatic Writing at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. The Dream of the Burning Boy was developed at the 2010 National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. Mr. Read currently works on a commission for South Coast Repertory.

Directed by Profiles Co-Artistic Director Joe Jahraus, the cast of The Dream of the Burning Boy features Co-Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox as Larry and Profiles ensemble member Eric Burgher as Steve. Also featured are guest artists Marilyn Bass, Sarah Chalcroft, Joel Collins, Vic Kuligoski and Alaina Stacey.

"The Dream of the Burning Boy was my first fully-produced play in New York, and I am thrilled to be making my Midwest premiere with the same play just two years later," says playwright David West Read. "Profiles Theatre has been home to many great plays and playwrights in recent years, and with this company at the helm, I am confident that my work is in very good hands."

The designers are Shaun Renfro (set), Mike Durst (lights), Jeffrey Levin (sound and original music), and Raquel Adorno (costumes). Jessica Winn is the stage manager and Harmony France serves as assistant director.