Theatre News Wire

 The power of virtual reality. The surreal grip of social media.The icy depths of repressed desire. Shattered Globe Theatre has announced its 35th anniversary season, introducing one World Premiere and two Midwest Premieres to Chicago audiences that find humor in unexpected places and offer a fresh lens on our ever-evolving world.

Shattered Globe's 2025-26 season launches in October with the Midwest Premiere of Lindsey Ferrentino's poignant comedy Ugly Lies the Bone, a darkly funny, heartfelt story of a veteran using virtual reality to piece her life back together, directed by Jonathan Berry. February brings social media, magic realism and moms and daughters to SGT's season mix with Kirsten Greenidge's Morning, Noon, and Night, directed by Shattered Globe Associate Artistic Director AmBer Montgomery, another Midwest Premiere. Next April, get set for the World Premiere of Eelpout!, Paul W. Kruse's hilarious new fantasia on Midwest masculinity, directed by Jeremy Ohringer.

In SGT's fall opener Ugly Lies the Bone, humor and heart combine for a powerful, funny story of how beauty endures beneath the surface. After three tours in Afghanistan, Jess has returned home to a changed world, and body. With biting dark humor and virtual reality therapy, she begins to rebuild her life one puzzle piece at a time, confronting scars both seen and unseen.

Coinciding with SGT's Midwest premiere of Ugly Lies the Bone, Ferrentino will be making her Broadway debut with the book for Queen of Versailles, Stephen Schwartz's new musical starring Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham. Also of note: Ugly Lies the Bone marks the welcome return of director Jonathan Berry to Chicago. An ensemble member of Steep and Griffin theaters and former artistic producer at Steppenwolf, Berry is home after three years as artistic director of Penobscot Theatre in Maine.

Shattered Globe's cast for Ugly Lies the Bone features Ensemble Member Christina Gorman as Jess, with Cyd Blakewell as Kacie, Christopher Acevedo as Stevie, Eddie Martinez as Kelvin, and Barbara Figgins as voice/Mom. Previews start October 3. Performances run through November 15.

In February, Shattered Globe presents the Midwest premiere of Morning, Noon, and Night, Obie Award-winning playwright Kirsten Greenidge's stirring drama about how the "new normal" is actually pretty weird.

Because it's hard, raising a teenager. For Mia and Dailyn, it's not going smoothly. As they get ready for older sister Alex to come home, an unsettling visitor steps out of the algorithm, and their plans glitch into pure chaos. Amber Montgomery directs Greenidge's mind-bending exploration of teens, family, surveillance, and connection in a post-pandemic world. Previews start February 13. Performances run through March 28.

Then, in April, Shattered Globe casts its third rod into Season 35 with the World Premiere of Eelpout! by Paul W. Kruse, directed by Jeremy Ohringer. Meet Sven Svensen and Ole Olsen, best buds since kindergarten. But all that changes on the morning of Ole's ice-fishing bachelor party on a frozen lake in rural Minnesota. Could they be something more than friends? Or is Sven destined for something even more wild and strange? Kruse's hilarious new fantasia on Midwestern masculinity invites us to consider the limits of Queerness. Dream ballet included. Previews start April 17. Performances run through May 30.

"Shattered Globe is on a roll, particularly as we're coming off a highly successful season marked by the most Jeff Award nominations in company history, 14 in all, including best production, director, cast, ensemble, and design nominations," said Shattered Globe Producing Director Artistic Director Sandy Shinner. "The entire ensemble is buzzing with anticipation as we encourage audiences to join us for a wild ride to three unexpected places, with three unexpected outcomes, during our 35th season."

All three Shattered Globe productions will be presented at the company's resident home, Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood.