THE OPPORTUNITIES OF EXTINCTION

(A New Play)
Written by Sam Chanse. Directed by Jen Poulin.
June 1 - 30, 2018 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee.

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While taking refuge from a social media firestorm on a last-minute camping trip, Mel and Arjun encounter Georgia, a solitary young woman studying the impact of climate change on the imperiled Joshua Tree.  At the crossroads of creation and obliteration, lovers and strangers in the Mojave Desert explore what it means to survive in a relationship – and a world – on the brink of extinction. THE OPPORTUNITIES OF EXTINCTION was an entry in the 2017 Kilroys List and developed at New York’s Cherry Lane Theatre.

Reviews for THE OPPORTUNITIES OF EXTINCTION…

“[A] brilliant new play... Every moment in Broken Nose Theatre’s production, directed by Jen Poulin, captures the absurd melancholy of life...”
— Irene Hsiao, Newcity Stage
“[Aria Szalai-Raymond] delivers her character with strength, determination and a steamroller style of line delivery that, we eventually learn, masks a great deal of personal pain.”
— Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review
“Recommended! Smoothly directed by Jen Poulin... played to perfection by Echaka Agba...”
— Al Bresloff, Around the Town Chicago
“Recommended! One of the Best Plays currently playing in Chicago...”
— Amy Munice, Picture This Post
“Critic’s Pick! The technical team assembled for this Broken Nose world premiere production likewise keeps us grounded with its evocatively accurate representations of rain-shadow plains.”
— Mary Shen Barnidge, Windy City Times
“Echaka Agaba delivers some standout moments as the conflicted wife of a man in free fall...”
— Matthew Nerber, Third Coast Review

PRODUCTION TEAM

  • SAM CHANSE | Playwright

  • JEN POULIN* | Director

  • JACKIE MARSCHKE | Stage Manager

  • ROSE HAMILL* | Production Manager

  • DAVID WEISS* | Dramaturg

  • DEVON GREEN^ | Scenic and Props Designer

  • MARTIN HANNA* | Costume Designer

  • ERIC BACKUS | Sound Designer, Original Music

  • CAT DAVIS | Lighting Designer

  • THERESE RITCHIE | Assistant Scenic and Props Designer

* company members  ^ artistic associates

CAST

  • ECHAKA AGBA* | Mel

  • RICHARD COSTES | Arjun

  • ARIA SZALAI-RAYMOND^ | Georgia

  • PRIYA MOHANTY | Mel U/S

  • VIJAY SARATHI | Arjun U/S

  • ELSA TORNER | Georgia U/S