AmericanTheaterWeb Original News & Reviews

Chicago Dramatists will kick off its 30th anniversary season with resident playwright Marisa Wegrzyn’s new comedy Ten Cent Night, running September 18 - October 26.

Wegrzyn's play focuses on country singer Hewitt Finley who has shot himself in the head, and his daughter, Roby, who is hitting the road, hoping to leave behind her failed music career and the boyfriend who can’t say her name. With a folding chair handcuffed to one hand and a guitar case full of stolen cash in the other, Roby hitchhikes home to Burkeville, Texas to save her heart-sick little sister. Roby’s twin, Dad’s mistress, and the owner of the stolen cash all end up on the Finley porch, renewing sibling rivalries, the fight over Dad’s royalties, and their hatred of the song that made him famous.

Wegrzyn’s The Butcher of Baraboo was produced in Steppenwolf Theatre's First Look Repertory in 2006, and premiered off-Broadway at Second Stage last summer. Her play Killing Women was produced by Theatre Seven of Chicago. Wegrzyn is currently working on commissions from Steppenwolf, Yale Rep, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. Her other plays include Psalms of a Questionable Nature and Hickorydickory. Her work has been produced or read at Chicago Dramatists, Washington University in St. Louis, Eckerd College/WordBRIDGE, Geva Theatre Center, Lucid by Proxy, The Hourglass Group, The Women's Project, Centerstage, and The Magic Theatre.

Performances of Ten Cent Night will be at Chicago Dramatists (1105 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago). Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 - $30 and can be purchased by calling 312-633-0630 or by visiting www.hottix.com. Further information is available online at www.chicagodramatists.org