DINNER WITH FRIENDS by Donald Margulies
October 19 - November 23, 2024 at Theater Wit, Chicago
Dinner with Friends is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play that delves into the complexities of friendship and marriage. It centers on two couples—Gabe and Karen, and their longtime friends Tom and Beth—whose relationships are tested when Tom and Beth announce their divorce. Through recollections and revelations, this drama explores love, loyalty, and the evolving dynamics of human connections.
Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm
Tickets $20 - $30 (Student and Senior discounts available)
Content Disclosure: Dinner With Friends contains strong language and themes of sex, domestic violence and infidelity.
THE CAST
EMIL THOMAS as Gabe
Emil (he/him) is a graduate of Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts and Ball State University, in Muncie Indiana. Most recently, he completed his MFA in Directing at The Theatre School at DePaul University. For the last eight years, he has led Marietta's Theatre in the Square as their Producing Artistic Director. In 2017, He was awarded Director of the Year for his production of Nambi E. Kelley's Native Son. He has directed productions such as LA GRINGA, IN THE HEIGHTS, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, and Marietta's Theatre Square's annual holiday show, A GIFT OF THE MAGI 2.0. Follow him on Instagram at @nemilthomas to see his upcoming projects.
DANA MUELCHI as Karen
Dana is honored to be a returning artist with Bluebird Arts. Previous credits with the company include Proof, Stupid F#@*ing Bird and The Elder Son.
Dana earned her BFA from UIC. Post-grad, Dana starred in an industrial commercial for a hotdog restaurant and enjoyed an illustrious, albeit short-lived career performing burlesque parodies at Gorilla Tango. She is not currently represented, but she really ought to be, don’t you think? Offstage, Dana can be found playing ukulele inside your cellphone on Tiktok @mustbebigd and Instagram @awkwardneckponytails.
SARAH SEIDLER as Beth
Sarah is delighted to be returning to Bluebird Arts after understudying Catherine/Claire in their production of Proof earlier this year. Sarah holds a B.A. in Acting from Illinois State University and has toured with both Illinois Shakespeare Festival and Chicago Kids Company, performing abridged classics for young audiences. Other credits include: The Shaughraun at Storm Theatre NY (Claire Ffolliott), The Real Inspector Hound at St. Sebastian Players (Cynthia), 25th Annual…Spelling Bee at point2productions (Olive Ostrovsky) Most recently, she has been working in commercials/film in Chicago and Milwaukee and can be seen in the upcoming thriller Cul de Sac. She is represented by The Talent Networks. Thanks and love to Mom, Dad, Griffin, and squad.
ALEX OBERHEIDE as Tom
Alex is excited to be making his Bluebird Arts debut at Theater Wit. Recent theater and film credits include: Time Sensitive - The Guthrie Theater (MN), Natural Affection- American Lives Theater (IN), Heyday of Insensitive Bastards - Rabbit Bandini Productions (CA)... Alex received his MFA in Acting from UCLA. Love to mom, dad, and brother for the continued support and encouragement on this artistic journey.
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
LUDA LOPATINA SOLOMON (Director)
Luda is Artistic Director for Bluebird Arts and is excited to be directing again working with so many talented artists. She studied acting and directing in Russia at the Leningrad Institute of Music, Theatre and Film and earned her Ph.D (WD) in teaching acting at the St. Petersburg State Academy of Dramatic Arts. She worked as an actress at Leningrad Studio Theatre. Luda’s work as a director includes every production produced by Bluebird Arts: THE CLEAN HOUSE by Sarah Ruhl (in English and Russian); HELLO AND GOODBYE by Athol Fugard (in English and Russian); ZOYKA'S APARTMENT by Mikhail Bulgakov (in English and Russian); THREE HOTELS by Jon Robin Baitz (in English and Russian); THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE by Martin McDonagh; CLEVER LITTLE LIES by Joe DiPietro; and THE ELDER SON by Alexander Vampilov, and last season’s Jeff Recommended productions of STUPID F*CKING BIRD by Aaron Posner and PROOF by David Auburn. Luda also directed, as a member of European Repertory Company, Chekhov’s IVANOV (Jeff Nominated); Bulgakov’s ZOYKA’S APARTMENT; Chekhov’s THE DUEL, adapted by Frank Galati; Carlo Gozzi’s PRINCESS TURANDOT; and Vasili Sigarev’s BLACK MILK. Also, with European Repertory Company she co-directed, with Yasen Peyankov, Galin’s STARS IN THE MORNING SKY and Nikolay Kolyada’s GO AWAY, GO AWAY (Jeff Nominated). Other directing credits include Stephen Schwartz’s THE BAKER’S WIFE with One Theatre Company, Galin’s THE HOUSE THAT SWIFT BUILT co-directed with Dale Goulding for Red Square Theatre Company, and WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF at Theatre Volhonka, Ekatirenburg, Russia (Translated to Russian; Bravo award). She also co-directed, with Bill Raffeld, ARMS AND THE MAN by George Bernard Shaw at Old World Theatre Company. Luda has taught acting at The School at Steppenwolf, Act One Conservatory and The University of Illinois at Chicago. She thanks Barry and Angela for inspiration and endless love and support.
ANGELA KRING (Stage Manager)
Angela Kring (she/they) is thrilled to be working again with Bluebird Arts on Dinner With Friends! Angela is originally from Arkansas and moved to Chicago, where she has Stage Managed for companies such as: Bluebird Arts, Organic Theater Company, City Lit Theater Company, Quest Theatre Ensemble, Reutan Collective, Danszloop Chicago."
MARY SEIGEL (Assistant Stage Manager)
Recent credits include Timberlake Playhouse (wig designer), Renaissance Theatreworks (assistant costume designer), and Optimist Theatre Company (costume designer). In addition to technical work, Mary is also an actor and director and company member of Moon Dog Theatre Company in Rockford Il.
KARINA OSBOURNE (Lighting Design)
Karina is a SoCal native who is so elated to working with BlueBird Arts.
She is currently studying lighting design at DePaul University, and is hoping to continue to have theatre enrich her life.
EMILY LYNCH (Sound Design)
BISA (Costume Design)
Bisa is happy to be back working with Bluebird Arts. Her previous costume designs with Bluebird Arts include Proof, The Elder Son, Clever Little Lies, The Beauty Queen Of Leenane, Three Hotels, and she was the assistant costume designer on Zoya’s Apartment. Other credits include costume co-design for The Word Progress on My Mother’s Lips Doesn’t Ring True at Trapdoor Theatre and she consulted on Overweight, Unimportant, Misshaped: A European Supper at Trapdoor Theatre.
SAMANTHA RAUSCH (Set Design)
Samantha is a Chicago-Atlanta based multidisciplinary visual and theatre artist. Her artwork explores and examines how we engage with time, space, and relationships. Rausch’s art practice revolves around creating narrative-based immersive environments through the means of sculpture, painting, public art, performance art, and scenic design.
Rausch is an ensemble member at Eclipse Theatre and Facility Theatre. She has collaborated with a number of Chicago theatre companies including A Red Orchid Theater, Factory Theatre, Redmoon Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre, The House Theatre of Chicago, and more. Rausch's work has also been nominated for the 2019 Non-Equity Jeff Award in Scenic Design for her work on "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" with the Eclipse Theatre Company. Currently, Rausch is the North Theatre Manager of the FXK Theater and Bartlett Hall Dance Studio at the University of Chicago.
Rausch’s artwork has been shown at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Science and Industry, and in many national galleries predominantly along the East Coast & Midwest. Rausch has a number of public artworks in the Midwest and murals in the east coast and in Ireland. Rausch received her MFA from the Mount Royal School of Art at the Maryland Institute College of Art and her BFA & BA in Art History from the University of South Florida. Rausch's commitment to transforming public spaces has led to being a grant and fellowship recipient from the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts, Chicago Sculpture International, Chicago Parks District for public artwork. She participates in residencies including the Vermont Studio Center, Art Farm, and Windy Mowing Mills. Rausch's online portfolio can be found at SamanthaRausch.com.
BOB PRIES (Props/Set Dressing)
LAURA STURM (Intimacy Coordinator)
MATT LEDAJAKS (Technical Design)
Matt is a passionate and innovative carpenter with a flair for creativity and craftsmanship. Specializing in custom woodworking projects that blend functionality with artistic design. Dedicated to delivering high-quality, unique pieces that exceed client expectations. Let's turn your visions into stunning realities.
RACHEL HARTMANN (Assistant TD)
Rachel (she/they) is a Props Designer and Puppeteer based in Chicagoland. Rachel has worked across the country and her worked has been featured at The Center for Puppetry Arts, as well as The Chicago International Puppet Festival. She is thrilled to be working on Dinner With Friends and can't wait to see the end result.
JAIMELYN GRAY (Press and Managing)
ABBY PALEN (Scenic Charge)
BELLA BIANCI (Scenic Build)
Media
REVIEW: Food, Wine and Relationships - Chicago Theatre Review
“Directed with skill and integrity by Artistic Director Luda Lopatina Solomon, this Award-winning, 25-year-old play still holds up and plenty to say. She has smoothly orchestrated a story that examines how friendships can change with the passing of years and how loyalties shift as inevitably as the sands of time.
And Ms. Solomon is wise. She’s allowed the laughter to evolve naturally but never forces the humor. After all, this isn’t a TV sitcom but a serious play in which the comedy is derived from the characters’ realistic, but sometimes bizarre behavior. And Ms. Solomon’s staging demonstrates how simply a scene change can take place within Samantha Rausch’s gorgeous Set Design, with just some subtle furniture rearrangement. Brilliant!”
RECOMMENDED
—Colin Douglas
‘Dinner With Friends’ [a review] [spoilers!]
“Featuring riveting physical performances, a beautiful set, a minimal but impactful audio score and a tight script, I left Dinner With Friends with a lot felt and a lot to think about.
Go see it! |⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️|”
—Anthony Riley, Medium
