Nov. 21--This week's Theater Loop Showcase video is Leah Urzendowski in "Burning Bluebeard," the dark holiday play from The Ruffians beginning Dec. 13 at Theater Wit.
Jay Torrence's play harkens back to the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago, when 600 people, mostly women and children, died during a Christmastime matinee of "Mr. Bluebeard." In "Burning Bluebeard," five actors and the stage manager of the 1903 show attempt -- in moments alternately hilarious and horrifying -- to make it to the end of their show while keeping their wide-eyed audience safe from harm. Urzendowski plays Nellie Reed, the real-life aerialist who was the only performer to die in the fire. Here, Reed recounts the euphoria her flying stunts gave her.
"Burning Bluebeard" begins performances at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont, on Dec. 13 and continues through Jan. 4, 2015.
We filmed this video in our studio in Tribune Tower. Also check out this recent Showcase video of Justin Adair and Royen Kent from Griffin Theatre Company's "Titanic."
