Piven Theatre proudly announces its 2007/2008 Season
featuring the following two premiere productions:

What Dreams May Come: American Visions Through Jewish Eyes

This World Premiere production directed by Co-Founder Joyce Piven will feature new stage adaptations of three short stories by famous Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning Jewish authors, adapted by Stephen Fedo & Joyce Piven.
Production runs 11/8/07 – 12/16/07

Because They Have No Words

By Tim Maddock and Lotti Louise Pharriss, directed by Emilie Beck

This Midwest premiere tells one man’s autobiographical story of his experience assisting with animal rescue efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Production runs 5/15/08 – 6/15/08

Both productions will be presented at the Piven Theatre, 927 Noyes Street in Evanston. Subscription and Ticket information is available at (847) 866-8049

WHAT DREAMS MAY COME: AMERICAN VISIONS THROUGH JEWISH EYES will be directed by co-founder Joyce Piven and will feature three world premiere adaptations by Joyce Piven and Stephen Fedo. These adaptations of stories by Jewish authors look at the Jewish experience in America through dreams of the past, mysteries of the present, and visions of the future. The stories included in the production are: IN DREAMS BECOME RESPONSIBILITIES by Delmore Schwartz, A WEDDING IN BROWNSVILLE by Nobel Prize winner Isaac Bashevis Singer, and THE SILVER CROWN by Pulitzer Prize winner Bernard Malamud. Joyce Piven and Stephen Fedo’s previous production of Jewish stories in 2005 was a smash hit receiving raves from the press. The Chicago Jewish Star declared the show “A winner! A delight from start to finish” and the Chicago Reader highly recommended the production, calling it “Enchanting … simply and eloquently performed.”

BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO WORDS focuses on the true story of Tim Maddock who, in response to Hurricane Katrina, traveled to New Orleans and threw himself into the chaos of animal rescue efforts in the wake of the storm. This riveting true story of one man’s journey into the heart of a disaster has been called “Raw, moving, and darkly humorous” by the L.A. Weekly, and Backstage West proclaims it “Reminds us of what good theatre is capable of achieving.” The play, written by Tim Maddock and Lotti Louise Pharriss received its world-premiere in L.A. under the direction of Piven Theatre Workshop alum Emilie Beck. Piven Theatre is pleased to reunite the playwrights with their original director, Ms. Beck, for this Midwest Premiere and to announce that the play’s author and inspiration, Tim Maddock, will be starring in the production, all of which adds up to a theatrical event not to be missed.