The Roommate
A Jeff Recommended Production
By: Jen Silverman l Directed by: Beth Wolf
When: February 1st thru March 3rd
Where: 300S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Run time: 90 minutes, no intermission
About: Sharon, in her mid-fifties, is recently divorced and needs a roommate to share her Iowa home. Robyn, also in her mid-fifties, needs a place to hide and a chance to start over. But as Sharon begins to uncover Robyn’s secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely. A dark comedy about what it takes to re-route your life – and what happens when the wheels come off.
Meet the Cast & Director
Ellen Phelps (Sharon) Co-Founder, director, and actor at Citadel Theatre, Ellen’s past productions include VANYA SONIA MASHA AND SPIKE, ELEMENO PEA, ‘TIL THE FAT LADY SINGS, PRISONER OF 2ND AVENUE, SOMETHING’S AFOOT, SIRENS, OTHER DESERT CITIES, AND A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. Other theatre credits include COMPANY, RUMORS, THE BOY FRIEND , and THE GLASS MENAGERIE.
Laurie Carter Rose (Robyn) last appeared at Citadel in LIGHT UP THE SKY. Originally from Cincinnati, Laurie is a graduate of Miami University and a proud member of AEA, & SAG-AFTRA. Laurie has been fortunate to live and perform in NYC, LA, Tokyo and London before landing in Chicago and calling it home for the last 20 plus years. Recent regional credits: VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE (Masha) at Artists Ensemble Theatre, IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU (Georgette Howard) at Farmers Alley Theatre in Michigan, as well as various staged readings at Windy City Playhouse and Equity Library Theatre. Favorite past theatre credits include JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (AEA National Tour), SUNSET BOULEVARD (London’s West End starring Betty Buckley), LA DOLCE VITA (London’s Fringe Theatre) FOLLIES (Drury Lane Oakbrook), and BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS (Drury Lane South). Among her TV and film credits are CHICAGO MED, EARLY EDITION, THE TONIGHT SHOW, and many independent film productions including INSIDE THE WOODS, produced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Stephen Cone’s short film CHEMISTRY. Laurie also enjoys print and voice-over work in Chicago.
Beth Wolf (Director) is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of Midsommer Flight, a company dedicated to providing free Shakespeare productions in Chicago parks. Beth’s directing credits include TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, HAMLET, AS YOU LIKE IT, TWELFTH NIGHT, MACBETH, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, ROMEO AND JULIET and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM with Midsommer Flight; LIAR!, which won first place in the 2012 City Lit Art of Adaptation Festival; ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, BLACK MAGIC: AN EVENING OF SHAKESPEARE, SEASCAPE WITH SHARKS AND DANCER, BURY THE DEAD, THE FANTASTICKS, and SHAKESPEARE IN THE GARDEN (Promethean Theatre Ensemble). Additionally, she has directed for festivals, staged readings, and assistant directed with companies all around Chicago, including Remy Bumppo, Idle Muse, the side project, City Lit Theater, Polarity Ensemble Theatre, and more. Beth is also a co-founder and the former Artistic Director of Promethean Theatre Ensemble. She is a proud Northwestern University graduate with a double major in theatre and gender studies.
Reviews
Performink
By Elizabeth Ellis
Splash
By Jara Kider
Chicago Theater and Arts
By Jodie Jacobs
Lake Forester/Pioneer Press (Tribune publications)
By Myrna Petlicki