Provision Theater Presents: SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN April 17, 2008
Posted by Steve in : The City, Chicago, The Cultural Conversation, The Arts in the City, Provision Theater, Culture and Faith , add a commentIt is that time again!
Provision Theater, who is dedicated to performing works of hope, reconciliation and redemption and has received accolades for its last six shows, is getting set to mount its last production of the year, SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, a foot-stompin’ musical, featuring Susan Moniz, !
In this musical, Provision’s artistic director, Tim Gregory, takes you back to a simpler time, where you become the congregation of Mount Pleasant Church. You have been invited to their “first ever Saturday Night Sing”. Pastor Oglethorpe is determined to move his flock into the “modern world”, by inviting the Singing Sanders Family to join him. They will delight you with some of the best old gospel tunes ever written, like “Church in the Wildwood”, “Wonderful Time Up There”, and “I’ll Fly Away”. A mixture of song, stories, hilarity and honest emotion, this audience favorite will have you tapping your toes and lifting your spirit.
WHAT: SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN
WHERE: VIADUCT THEATER 3111 N Western Avenues (MAP)
WHEN: May 8 - June 8 — Thur, Fri and Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3pm
To purchase tickets: Call 773.506.4429
Christians in the Culture March 6, 2008
Posted by Steve in : Weblog, The City, Church, Methods & Strategies, Missional, The Cultural Conversation, The Arts in the City, Provision Theater, DifferenceMakers, Culture and Faith , add a commentFor as long as I can remember, I have been interested in how the culture ebbs and flows and who drives the culture. I’ve also seen a more determined generation who wants to drive faith and values into the culture. 
A good friend of mine, Dave Carlson of Bucktown Pictures, has continually told me that the movie theaters are the churches of the next century and movie directors are the priests so we better wade into the culture and not shrink from it as Christians.
Recently, I have been introduced to the Wedgewood Circle folks, sort of a national angel investment network of successful entrepreneurs, investment institutions and high net worth investors who provide investment capital, strategic guidance and relationships to contribute to the renewal of the culture by investing in cultural “artifact” creation in the key influential sectors of film, music television, publishing, theatre/performing, fashion, fine arts and computer/console gaming. I like what they are doing.
I also like what Gabe Lyons and the Fermi Project is doing. Fermi Project is a broad collective of innovators, artists, social entrepreneurs, church and societal leaders experimenting with ways to advance the common good in culture.
Well over the last ten years, many have begun to make an impact in Hollywood and recently, Beliefnet has chronicled their top dozen most influential and powerful Christians in Hollywood? Well, Beliefnet has come up with their list, and it includes names like Mel Gibson, Denzel Washington, Patricia Heaton, Angela Bassett, and Martin Sheen. Sounds like a pretty diverse list with a pretty broad theological definition, but none the less, interesting. You can read more here…
“Time of Your Life” - Jeff Recommended February 14, 2008
Posted by Steve in : The City, Chicago, Breaking News, Chicago Fact, The Cultural Conversation, The Arts in the City, Provision Theater, Culture and Faith , add a commentCome on out and see “Time of Your Life, a Pulitzer prize-winning play by William Saroyan performed by Provision Theater Company at the Viaduct Theater at 3111 N Western Avenue in West Roscoe Village. Don’t miss this poetic tribute to optimism and dreams, starring Tim Gregory. A stellar 22-person ensemble cast brings to life Saroyan’s message of spending your life truly living, and Sue and I are going tonight so we can give you a first hand report. It’s already been reviewed by the Jeff Committee and got a RECOMENDED verdict from them.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! - Provision Theater has mounted a masterpiece… a magical evening of theatre… the kind of show that you want to experience again.” - Tom Williams, ChicagoCritic.com
LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP 5 SHOWS TO SEE NOW
Sweet… Attractive… a postcard of a different time.” - William Scott, New City
“Saroyan’s writing is lyrical… characters, entertaining… there’s a humanity to this play.” - Barbara Vitello, Daily Herald
“Snuggle in the nostalgic comfort… an American classic.” - Mary Shen Barnidge, Windy City Times
JEFF RECOMMENDED!
C.S. Lewis Extended into January! December 19, 2007
Posted by Steve in : The City, The Cultural Conversation, The Arts in the City, Provision Theater , add a commentDue to unprecedented demand, Provision Theater, headed up by Tim Gregory of Park, is extending performances of CS LEWIS ON STAGE into the new year. Bradley Armacost portrays legendary writer C.S. Lewis to critical and audience acclaim in the Royal George Theater Gallery Space (1641 N. Halsted) - now in an Open-Ended Run!
If you haven’t seen it, come for the first time, or even the second or third, to enjoy an intimate, hilarious, and engaging journey with the writer we’ve all read, but know almost nothing about. Provision Theater is proud to present the Chicago premiere of “CS Lewis On Stage” starring Bradley Armacost. This one-man show capturing the personality and writing of the author of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and SCREWTAPE LETTERS, “CS Lewis On Stage” is an intimate look at the Oxford man who could make his audience think as deeply as he made them laugh. Directed by Tim Gregory. Read the Chicago Critic review here. Order your holiday week or January tickets by calling 312.988.9000 or click here for tickets.
Special HOLIDAY WEEK Performance Schedule:
Wednesday, December 26 - 8 pm
Thursday, December 27 - 8 pm
Friday, December 28 - 8 pm
Saturday, December 29 - 5 pm and 8 pm
After you slow down and celebrate Christmas and the holidays with friends and family, gather your loved ones and spend a cozy evening enjoying the show the Chicago Sun-Times calls “the thinking person’s holiday show.”
Chicago Sun-Times:
“…performed with wit and fervency by Bradley Armacost…”
“…follows through on Provision’s mission to stage “works of hope, reconciliation and redemption.”
- Hedy Weiss
Chicago Tribune:
“…a piece directed with integrity by Provision artistic director Tim Gregory and performed with the expected charm and smarts by Armacost.”
“Armacost is one of the most genial, warm and generous of Chicago actors.”
- Chris Jones
Standing Room Only! - Gospel of John February 27, 2007
Posted by Steve in : The Cultural Conversation, Provision Theater , add a commentAs one of the most dramatic figures to mark the history of our world, Jesus is the perfect subject for the stage. Provision Theater, (where I am privileged to serve on the Board) just concluded a fabulous 5-week run at the Royal George Theater of this critically acclaimed off-Broadway production to mostly sold out shows. Brad Sherrill, (from the original New York production) assumed more than a dozen characters from this fourth book of the New Testament — from the Samaritan woman at the well to Pontius Pilate. His script was the 20,000-word book of John, verbatim. Check out the reviews from the Trib here and here and the HIGHLY RECOMMENDED review from the Chicago Reader here.
This is an excellent theater company with highly professional actors and a compelling vision. Provision Theater Company was founded in September 2003 by Chicago-based actor/director Timothy Gregory, who goes to Park Community Church. At that time, Tim felt there was a need for a theater company (more…)
