CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2005 — Signal Ensemble Theatre will continue its third season with SEASCAPE by Edward Albee, directed by Ronan Marra, running Jan. 12 through Feb. 18, 2006 in the studio at the Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division Avenue). Opening night is Sunday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at SignalEnsemble.com or reserved at (773) 347-1350.

On a lonely beach, Nancy and Charlie grapple with their retirement. They are joined by another couple, Sarah and Leslie, and a fascinating double date, of sorts, takes off, with the two couples — one human and one reptilian — engaged in spirited discussions of the nature of relationships, emotions and evolution. Playwright Edward Albee won his second Pulitzer Prize for this work in 1975.

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1928, Edward Albee has become one of America’s most distinguished playwrights. Best known for the Tony Award-winning Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, he has won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama three times, for A Delicate Balance, SEASCAPE and Three Tall Women. His other plays include The Zoo Story, The Death of Bessie Smith, The Sandbox, Fam and Yam, The American Dream, Tiny Alice, Box and Quotations From Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, All Over, Listening, Counting the Ways, The Lady From Dubuque, Another Part of the Zoo, The Man Who Had Three Arms, Finding the Sun, Marriage Play, Fragments, The Play About the Baby, The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? and Occupant. A 1996 recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, Albee currently teaches at the University of Houston and regularly directs at the Alley Theatre.

The cast of SEASCAPE features Signal Ensemble member Aaron Snook (Leslie) with Don Bender (Charlie), Georgann Charuhas (Sarah) and Mary O’Dowd (Nancy).

Directed by Ronan Marra, the creative team for SEASCAPE includes Melania Lancy (scenic), Laura M. Dana (costumes), Julie E. Ballard (lighting), Anthony Ingram (sound) and Tiffany Carter (props). Devon MacGregor is the stage manager.

Ronan Marra, Signal’s general artistic director, helmed Signal’s Jeff- recommended productions of Waiting for Godot and his own Landslide (Jeff-nominated – New Work) as well as Much Ado About Nothing and his own Learning to Fly. Marra also directed the award-winning one-act version of Learning to Fly in New York, as well as Say Goodnight Gracie, The Swan and The Messiah at his alma mater, Kent State University.

Don Bender (Charlie) is making his Signal debut. He was last seen in Caffeine Theatre’s production of Federico García Lorca’s Dona Rosita. Recently he appeared in Writer’s Theatre’s production of To the Greenfields Beyond, City Lit’s Pigs Have Wings and Sextet – Eclipse Theatre’s evening of one-acts by Lanford Wilson. Previous roles include Oscar Wilde in Circle Theatre’s The Judas Kiss, King Lear in Vitalist Theatre’s production, and Francisco Pizzaro in the Journeymen’s Royal Hunt of the Sun. Other credits include work with Next Theatre, Seanachai Theatre Company, Bailiwick, Stage Left Theatre, Chicago Jewish Theatre, Live Bait Theatre, Shakespeare’s Motley Crew, The Hypocrites, American Theater Company, and Terrapin Theatre.

Georgann Charuhas (Sarah) returns to Signal after Landslide (Jeff nomination) and Learning to Fly. She is a member of the Artistic Home where she has played Maggie in After the Fall by Arthur Miller (2002-2003 Joseph Jefferson Nominee, Best Actress), Popeye Jackson in The Miss Firecracker Contest, (Jeff Recommended), Miss Scoons in Angel City, Adel in Self-Torture and Strenuous Exercise and Laura in The Glass Menagerie.

Mary O’Dowd (Nancy) is making her Signal debut. She recently appeared in Time and the Conways with Griffin Theatre, and the world premiere of All Through the Night at Chicago Jewish Theatre. Other credits include The Credeaux Canvas and Never in My Lifetime at Circle Theatre, Death and the Maiden and The Crucible at TimeLine Theatre and Anna Karenina at Theatre of Western Springs. Mary studied at The Theatre School, DePaul University.

Aaron Snook (Leslie), a Signal Ensemble member, appeared in Waiting for Godot (Vladimir), Catch-22 (Texan, Whitcomb and others) and Much Ado About Nothing (Claudio). Recently he appeared as Samuel in A Mislaid Heaven with Shapeshifters. He played Nat in the Jeff-winning Only the Sound with Chicago Dramatists, where he is an associate artist.

Productions Plus is the exclusive production sponsor for SEASCAPE. The play is produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service Inc.

SEASCAPE will play in the studio at the Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division) Jan. 12 through Feb. 18, 2006. Previews are Jan. 12 – 14 at 8 p.m. Opening is Sunday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. The play will continue through Feb. 18 as follows: Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $15 and may be purchased online at SignalEnsemble.com or reserved at (773) 347-1350. The Chopin Theatre is accessible by the CTA Blue Line train (Division) and buses (70-Division, 56-Milwaukee, 18-Ashland).

Known for its ensemble acting and producing a diverse slate of plays that range from classics to new works, Signal Ensemble Theatre uses the actor as focal point to clearly execute the playwright's vision. Founded by its three artistic directors, Ronan Marra, Christopher Prentice and Joseph Stearns, the company began producing in 2003. SEASCAPE follows Signal’s Jeff-recommended revival of Waiting for Godot in its third season.

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