First Floor Theater, a Chicago-based theater company focused on creating new works and re-imagining classics in the spirit of intellectual rigor and curiosity, is having a kick-off benefit party this month to start their second season. First Floor’s First Birthday event will take place on Saturday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m, at 1133 W. Fulton Market. New Artistic Associate Sid Branca will be there to celebrate her new position with the group and their birthday, as well as the unveiling of the new First Floor Theater website she has just completed in time for the party.

Sid Branca performing Your Mother’s Back Yard in Back to School,
photographed by Molly Fitzmaurice.

First Floor Theater has garnered some generous support for their fundraising event, which will include food and an open bar, thanks to sponsorship from Revolution Brewing, Metropolis Coffee, Alliance Bakery, The Southern Mac and Cheese Truck, and several others. Adding fun to the endless rounds of singing Happy Birthday will be a photo booth (run by new Artistic Associate Branca), a silent auction, performances by Jessie Fisher & Erik Hellman and The Amen Brothers.

The proceeds will go to funding their second season’s three main-stage productions (Polaroid Stories, The Reckoning of Kit and Little Boots, and Tollbooth); two workshop productions; and their second annual Litfest, a festival of short plays inspired by the works of a single author. FFT’s 2012 GrimmFest was a great success, and featured Branca’s play Better, directed by InterArts’ alumna Kellen Walker.

The Birthday Event will close with a DJ set by DJ Swaguerilla. Advance tickets are going fast, available here, and be sure to “like” their Facebook page!