Program

A note from the playwright: Welcome to Buddha's Birthday.  I had the inkling of an idea for this play long ago, maybe as long ago as 2011. I wrote it as a ten-minute play in 2014, and that year it was featured in a Chicago Dramatists Scene Shop Showcase, starring Kristie Berger. In 2020, I developed it into a full-length play in Chicago Dramatists' Master Class. I continued to work on it, and in January of 2024, this finished version got a reading with Chicago's Ubiquitous Players. Kristie was in every reading as it grew, and I'm thrilled after all these years to have her star in the full production, courtesy of Actors' Equity. 

I've been a fan of Christopher Hainsworth since seeing him in productions at the House Theatre and Lifeline. And how is it possible we were lucky enough to get two Chicago legends, Kathleen Ruhl and Ada Grey as Roberta and Jennifer? Rounding out the ensemble is the ever creative puppeteer, Emilie-Helene Wingate.

 I hope you'll sit back, enjoy the show, and watch out for those rascally raccoons!

Written by Amy Crider

Directed by Iris Sowlat

Assistant Director Nora Cushman

Stage Manager Anna Zaczek

Set Designer Kevin Hagan

Light and Sound Designer Alvaro Ledesma

Projection Design by Beneath the World

Costumes by Amy

PR by John Olson

More information coming soon.