Cassandra Rose

Mike Danovich

Short plays by Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alumni are featured in the Chicago Theatre Marathon, a weekend-long developmental showcase of new work celebrating the diversity of the Chicago-area theatre community. Columbia College alum Cassandra Rose ’10, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Playwriting program, will be represented by the half-hour one-act An Interview with Freddie Mercury, performed Friday, July 21, at midnight. Rose is also the marathon’s artistic director. And Columbia College alum Mike Danovich ’11, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Musical Theatre, is the author and co-director of Shoom Ka, a 45-minute one-act performed Sunday, July 23, at 10 AM.

The Chicago Theatre Marathon aims to acknowledge the variety of characteristics and categories of identity that make individuals unique, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or gender expression, socio-economic status, age, physical, mental and learning abilities, religious beliefs, and political views. The event’s theme is “I Am Indomitable.” This curated series will provide a platform to recognize the uniqueness of individuals, populations, groups and their experiences while cultivating a sense of commonality and shared goals for the theatre community. More than 25 plays will be performed over the weekend, which runs Friday, July 21, from 7 PM to 1 AM, Saturday, July 22, from 1 PM to1 AM, and Sunday, July 23, from 10 AM to 10 PM.

All performances take place at Strawdog Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice, Chicago. For a complete performance schedule and tickets, click here.