World Premiere of BODY & BLOOD Set for Gift Theatre, 6/18-8/9

The Gift Theatre artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the world premiere of smart, exhilarating new play Body & Blood by Gift Co-Founder and playwright, William Nedved and directed by Marti Lyons, who previously directed Bethany last season and recently directed Thornton in Lookingglass' Title and Deed. Body & Blood features Gift ensemble members Lynda Newton (The Royal Society of Antarctica) and Gabe Franken (Thinner Than Water) with guest artists Cyd Blakewell (Griffin Theatre Company's Balm in Gilead), Stephen Spencer (Remy Bumppo's Our Class) and Nicholas Harazin (Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Macbeth).

Body & Blood follows Dan as he finally finds his calling in life, and in the process, sends all of his loved ones spiraling into a spiritual crisis. The Gift co-founder and playwright of Northwest Highway depicts a beautiful local story about overcoming obstacles and following your heart.

"I've had the remarkable good fortune to come home to the Midwest, to Chicago, to The Gift and develop this play with my family of ensemble members under the direction of the whip-smart Marti Lyons," says Nedved. "I could not be more excited to bring this story to life in Jefferson Park, where my previous play, Northwest Highway was so whole-heartedly embraced."

Gift co-founder William Nedved's plays include Northwest Highway (American Theater Critics Steinberg Award nomination), Fact & Fiction (named one of the Best Productions of 2011 by Bob Verini of Variety), A Young Man in Pieces and County Fair, all of which were premiered or produced by The Gift. He is a member of the Skylight Theatre Company PlayLAb, and is a graduate of the University of Iowa, The University of New South Wales and the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Body & Blood director Marti Lyons most recently directed Title and Deed at Lookingglass Theatre, The Sweeter Option at Strawdog Theatre Company and Hot Georgia Sunday at Haven Theatre Company. The Goodman Theatre named her the Michael Maggio Directing Fellow for the 2015-2016 Season.

"In our first season dedicated entirely to world premieres, it's fitting that co-founder Will Nedved's Body & Blood will premiere at The Gift," says Thornton. "Working on Will's world premieres in our earliest years helped first define our exploratory rehearsal process, our passion for ensemble, and for great stories told with honesty and simplicity- all of which Body & Blood is decidedly emblematic."

Body & Blood previews run June 11 - June 14 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Opening night is Thursday, June 18. The show runs Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through August 9. Single tickets, $25-$35, are available at http://thegifttheatre.org/ or by calling the box office at 773-283-7071.