The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) announce the company is resuming live, in-person production with an
expanded 40th Anniversary Season. The four-play lineup celebrates genres that have been popular with
SSP audiences throughout its history—a classic comedy, a mystery, and a musical—and looks to the
future with a world premiere comedy co-authored by a company member. Performances take place at
SSP’s home in the lower level of St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, Chicago.
The season opens with Born Yesterday by Garson Kanin, originally scheduled to close SSP’s 39th
season in spring 2020. In this classic American comedy from 1950, an uneducated young woman, Billie
Dawn, accompanies an older, uncouth junkyard tycoon, Harry Brock, to Washington, where he intends
to make crooked deals with government bigwigs. When Billie embarrasses him socially, Brock hires a
journalist, who happens to be investigating shady political activities, to educate her. Performances run
October 15–November 7, 2021.
Tom Stoppard’s mystery-farce The Real Inspector Hound follows two theatre critics, named Moon and
Birdboot, who are watching the ludicrous setup of a country house murder mystery, in the style of a
whodunit. As the drama proceeds, they become involved in the action, causing a series of events that
parallel the play they are watching. Performances run January 14–February 6, 2022.
The Tony and Drama Desk award-winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
features a book by Rachel Sheinkin and a score by William Finn. An eclectic group of mid-
pubescents—joined by willing audience members—vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime.
While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their
way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-
inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Performances run March
11–April 3, 2022.
Closing the season is the world-premiere comedy The Shady Lady: A Robust Blend of Privilege,
Influence and White-Collar Crime by Kara Poe Atnip and SSP company member Lisa Dellagiarino
Feriend. Preston Taylor, executive director of a Portland, Oregon-based environmental nonprofit, has
two loves: yachts and women. Now his wife is running for governor and her campaign is using up most
of their disposable income, so when Preston falls in love with The Shady Lady, a yacht far outside his
price range, he uses the nonprofit’s money to buy it, unbeknownst to his staff. But Ronan Farrow is
arriving at noon for an interview, and Preston and his staff must scramble to cover up the evidence of his
embezzlement before Farrow exposes them—and they all end up in federal prison. Performances run
May 5–22, 2022.
In addition to the four-play subscription season, SSP will present its third annual 10-Minute Play
Festival June 9–12, 2022. More details will be announced in the spring.
SSP began producing theatre in 1982 at its original home, the St. Sebastian parish, located at the corner
of Halsted Street and Wellington Avenue on Chicago’s North Side. When the parish closed, SSP
relocated to its current home, St. Bonaventure, at 1625 W. Diversey. During its history, the company has
produced original and previously produced dramas, comedies, and musicals; original audience-
participation mysteries for special events; and the Monologue Matchup Competition, as well as providing support for Sebastian Studio Projects produced by company members. For a complete production history, visit saintsebastianplayers.org/Production-History
Performances for the first three productions take place Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays
at 2 p.m.; The Shady Lady also includes Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. All performances take place in the lower
level of St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, at Marshfield just west of Ashland, in Chicago. Free
parking is available in two lots. Four-play subscription packages are $80 for adults, $65 for
seniors—four productions for the price of three. Full-priced single tickets are $25 for each production
except 25th Annual…Bee, which are $30; tickets for seniors and children younger than 12 are $20 for
each production except 25th Annual…Bee, which are $25. Students with valid IDs may purchase $20
($25 for …Bee) tickets at the door. Group rates also are available.
SSP will adhere to all protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as determined by the city of
Chicago, the state of Illinois, and the CDC. As of August 20, requirements include providing proof of
vaccination (or a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the performance date) and masking at all
times.
All programming is subject to change. For information, call 773-404-7922 or visit
saintsebastianplayers.org.
