Casting THIS: A bunch of new faces, and one returning favorite.

OK, rehearsals are about to start for Melissa James’ Gibson’s stunning unromantic comedy This, and our casting is finally complete. I’m really really excited to get started on the play, and a chief part of that is due to the cast. Check them out!

Rebecca Spence (Jane) recently portrayed the role of Merteuil in Remy Bummpo’s Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Jeff Nomination, Supporting Role) and Catherine Donohue in Rivendell Theatre Ensemble’s These Shining Lives (Jeff Nomination, Lead Role). Film: Contagion, The Dilemma, Audrey the Trainwreck, Earthling, Public Enemies, Grace is Gone and The Break-Up. Television: Detroit 1-8-7, The Chicago Code, The Beast and Prison Break. This is her first collaboration with Theater Wit. If you haven’t seen Rebecca act (I saw her for the first time in Les Liaisons Dangereuses), you’re in for a treat.

Lily Mojekwu (Marrell) will be making her Theater Wit debut, but she blew me away in The Overwhelming at Next Theatre. Chicago theatre credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). The Brother/Sister Plays (u/s), The Elephant Man, Intimate Apparel (u/s) (Steppenwolf Theatre). Well (Next Theatre). Greensboro A Requiem (Non-Equity Jeff Nomination: Best Supporting Actress) and In Arabia We’d All Be Kings (Non-Equity Jeff Award: Best Ensemble) (Steep Theatre).

John Byrnes (Tom) is thrilled to make his Theater Wit debut with This. He is a proud member of The Hypocrites, with whom he has performed in The Hairy Ape, Our Town, 4.48 Psychosis and many others. Recently, John has appeared in Port with Griffin, Thieves Like Us with the House, All My Sons at Timeline and The Overwhelming at Next Theatre. I’ve seen John perform in nearly a dozen plays over the last fifteen years, and I really look forward to him bringing his characteristic heart and passion to the role of Tom.

Mitchell J Fain (Alan) is a favorite of of our audiences, as he’s portrayed the Elf in The Santaland Diaries for us the last four years. I first worked with Mitchell on my very first professional production at 1229 W Belmont (back in it’s days as Bailiwick Repertory) in 1992, so we’ve known each other a looooong time. I’ve directed Mitchell as a prostitute, as Henry VI and a bitter bitter part-time Christmas worker. I’m looking forward to spending some time with him as Alan, a performer with eidetic memory and a sharper wit.

Steve Hadnagy (Jean-Pierre) will be working at Theater Wit for the first time. Steve was most recently seen in last year's production of Bertolt Brecht 's Baal at TUTA and in the title role in Macbeth at City Lit Theatre. Other area appearences include Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, also at TUTA.

I swear to God, this is going to be one hell of an evening. Casting This was very challenging; it took us nearly six weeks and we contacted about 190 performers to have them read. The script requires both genuine comic timing and technique alongside some very real and heartfelt human behavior. When done right, This is a lovely, funny and heartbreaking evening. And after all this casting work, I’m happy to say we’ve found the group who can carry us through this experience.

We start rehearsal in seven days, and I’m counting down. If you are even a tenth as excited as I am, you should seriously consider ordering some tickets today, because until February 1st, tickets are only $18. Go Go GO!