“Flight,” a musical written by Chicago playwright and compose Michael Potsic, will premiere at the Beverly Arts Center (BAC), 2407 W. 111th St. the first two weekends in May.
Based on the Greek myth the Flight of Icarus, “Flight” re-imagines the classic cautionary tale through the eyes of the carpenter Daedalus, his wife Aeden, and their son Icarus. Potsic has written a soaring score for his play, which examines the truth that to live and love comes with great risk.
The run is part of the BAC’s Black Box Theatre Series, and will be staged Sat., May 4, 7:30 p.m., Sun., May 5, 2:30 p.m., Fri., May 10 and Sat., May 11, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., May 12, 2:30 p.m.
The show is directed by Erica Elam and choreographed by Gloria Mwez.
Michael Potsic, an alumni of the Beverly Arts Center theatre program, said that experience “sparked my love of acting and theatre, but also was the major catalyst for writing.” Past performing credits include “Rent” (Paramount Theatre), “Parade” (Writers Theatre), “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” and “Assassins” (Kokandy Productions). He has contributed music and lyrics to AlphaBet Soup Productions and The Second City. His debut children’s pop album, “Michael‘s Music Machine,” is available on iTunes, Spotify and CDBaby.
Erica Elam is the Chicago Artistic Director of the critically-acclaimed musical improv company “Baby Wants Candy,” with whom she co-wrote and directed the premier production of the sold-out hit musical “Thrones!” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Elam has led improvisation workshops at Dartmouth, Stanford, Notre Dame and University of Chicago, and for companies including Google and Facebook. She improvises regularly with Baby Wants Candy and The Improvised Shakespeare Company, and has performed at theatres that includeThe Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, Northlight, Court, Peninsula Players, The Kennedy Center, and The Second City, where she is faculty.
Choreographer Gloria Mwez has worked with the Beverly Arts Center, Fear Experiment, Matter Dance Company, The Modern Marvels Dance Company, Movement Revolution Dance Crew, Perceptual Motion Inc., and Simantikos Dance Chicago. She created That Untitled Project which facilitates workshops, events and performances for movement artists in Chicago and St. Louis. In 2016, Mwez was voted runner up in the Chicago Reader Poll for best choreographer.
The Black Box Series showcases new works by Chicago playwrights in the BAC’s black box theater, an intimate space that offers flexibility in staging innovative shows for audiences of 75 or less. The final show in the series will be staged in August
Tickets are $22 or $20 for BAC members, and available at the BAC box office, via phone at 773-445-3838 or at www.beverlyartcenter.org.
