Theatre News Wire

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announced casting for Steven Dietz's Gaslight, based on the original play by Patrick Hamilton and directed by Jessica Thebus. Gaslight runs November 28 - January 4, 2025, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. 

Gaslight at Northlight Theatre

In this turn-of-the-century Victorian mystery, strange things start to happen as the seemingly perfect marriage of Jack and Bella devolves into something sinister. Why is the attic door locked? Whose footsteps wander the halls at night? And is that light really flickering... or not? Bella's reality is twisted into an indistinguishable tangle of truth, manipulation, and her husband's intentions, where certainty is uncertain for characters and audience alike.

"Clearly, our audience enjoys a good thriller, and to have Steven, with the blessing of the Patrick Hamilton estate, adapt the original under the title Gaslight is an exciting opportunity," comments Artistic Director BJ Jones. "At this time of year, when everyone is doing a holiday play, it's fun to go in the opposite direction and give our audience a bit of relief from the hurly-burly of the season. The spine of Gaslight is the manipulation of truth, and the word has been resurrected recently to describe what is happening in our world. Not unlike The First Lady of Television, Gaslight refocuses the present through the lens of the past. I suppose it feels safer that way, but in this moment, it feels just as creepy and cruel."

The cast is Janyce Caraballo (Nancy), Cheyenne Casebier (Bella Manningham), Lawrence Grimm (Jack Manningham), Timothy Edward Kane (Sergeant Rough) and Kathy Scambiatterra (Elizabeth).

The creative team includes Steven Dietz (playwright), Jessica Thebus (director), Collette Pollard (set design), Raquel Adomo (costume design), JR Lederle (lighting design), Andre Pluess (sound design), Ivy Thomas (props design) and Jim Guy (specialty props). The stage manager is Katie Klemme.