The Neo-Futurists present Ensemble Member Lily Mooney’s Empty Threats, directed by Krissy Vanderwarker, in her directorial debut with The Neo-Futurists, playing at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., June 7 – July 14. Previews are Thursday, June 7 – Saturday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m., with opening night Monday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. The running time is currently 90 minutes. Performances run Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices for previews and Thursdays are pay-what-you-can; for the regular run, tickets are $10-25. Tickets and information are available at neofuturists.org or 773.275.5255.
In Empty Threats, writer-performer Lily Mooney presents a send up of power dynamics found in contemporary theater and in modern life. The show begins with a fictional premise: Victor, a college professor, prepares to leave his office at the end of a long day. Soon the play’s author, a “real person,” barges in and stages an interrogation, forcing Victor to defend his fictional existence. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and David Mamet’s Oleanna serve as springboards for this complex, comedic and vigorous investigation of truth and responsibility.
Empty Threats features performances from Lily Mooney* and Jared Fernley.
The production team of Empty Threat includes Krissy Vanderwarker (director); Mitchell Chapman (stage manager); Rachel Flesher (violence designer); Zach Payne (assistant violence designer); John Kelly (lighting designer); Grant Sabin (scenic designer); Leah Hummel (props designer); Andrew Tham (sound designer) and Kate Hardiman (production manager).
Lily Mooney is a writer, performer and teacher in Chicago. Since 2012, she has been an ensemble member of The Neo-Futurists, where she makes short plays for the company's flagship show, The Infinite Wrench. Alongside Artistic Director Kurt Chiang, she co-creates and produces The Arrow, a experimental storytelling show that collides prose, plays, and improvisation. Other Neo-Futurist credits include Saturn Returns, (writer/performer) and The Neo-Futurists: Body (contributing writer). Mooney studied and performed improv at The Annoyance Theatre and holds an MFA from Northwestern University.
Jared Fernley’s stage credits include work with Writers Theatre, Northlight, Strawdog Theatre, Jackalope, Griffin Theatre and The New Colony, as well as Backroom Shakespeare and One Year Chekhov (where he is an ensemble member). Fernley’s TV credits include “Chicago Fire,” (NBC) and “Patriot,” (Amazon). Fernley is also an artistic associate with Erasing The Distance, a company that sheds light on mental health through documentary theater. He is a proud graduate of The School at Steppenwolf and is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.
Previews: Thursday, June 7 – Saturday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Opening Night: Monday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Run: Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.