The United States premiere of Green Corridors, a work from Ukrainian playwright Natalka Vorozhbyt features a number of connections to the NIU School of Theatre and Dance.
Green Corridors, which opened January 15 at Trap Door Theatre in Chicago, is directed by Kay Martinovich who is an associate professor and head of BFA acting in the NIU School of Theatre and Dance. Her assistant director on the production is Sam Bliss, a BFA alum of the school.
“Directing Green Corridors has been an absolute joy, especially collaborating with such talented artists in all areas of design and performance,” Martinovich said. “Also learning so much about Ukrainian history during this process – both past and more recent – has only added to the richness of our collective experience.”
A Jeff Recommended show, Green Corridors is set in the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The play uses “elements of absurdity and dark humor” and “is a poetic, harrowing journey through a world fractured by war.” It is also one of TheatreInChicago.com’s highest rated shows currently running.
Another BFA graduate of the School of Theatre and Dance, Emma Mansfield plays Manicurist, one of the four main refugees. MFA alumnae Hannah Hammel and Gina Cioffi are understudies in the production.
The production at Trap Door Theatre (1655 W. Cortland Street, Chicago) runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. through February 21. Sunday performances are scheduled February 1, 8 and 15 at 7 p.m.
Last February, the NIU School of Theatre and Dance’s annual participation in the world-wide Ukrainian Play Reading Project featured a live reading of the story under the title Green Channels.
