Kickstarter

Spartan Theatre Company is a Chicago-based theatre company that is dedicated to providing good stories for the stage and internet radio. We are now combining the two by taking on both tasks with Eric Bogosian's Talk Radio. The Pulitzer Prize nominated play that launched his career into high gear.

Any gift would be able to help us provide a better overall experience for the theatre-goer. Gifts will be used to help pay for:

• Rental of Performance Space
• Set pieces and props
• Compensation for our artists and actors

Synopsis

Radio personality, Barry Champlain has been shocking people for years with his abrasive sense of humor and controversial political views. His talk radio program "Night Talk" is about to become nationally broadcasted. Over the course of one preliminary night, Barry is expecting to perform as usual, but his listeners have other plans for him. As he delves into the lives of the late-night talkers Barry is eventually forced to confront the loudest voice in the room: his own.

About Talk Radio

Talk Radio was written by Eric Bogosian, based on a performance art piece developed by himself and Tad Savinar. The play initially premiered off-Broadway at The Public Theater in 1987. It was subsequently nominated for the 1988 Pulitizer Prize for Drama.

Talk Radio was also adapted into a 1988 film by Academy Award-winning director Oliver Stone, starring Eric Bogosian. The film went on to win the Silver Bear at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival.

After Talk Radio was revived on Broadway in 2007 by the Goodman Theatre's Robert Falls, Eric Bogosian was quoted as saying "Talk Radio kind of surprised people, because they revived it last year, twenty years after it had been written, and it felt fresh. But that's because I don't really write about topical stuff; I write about American attitudes, American values, my values, my attitudes. And to the degree that anybody sees things the way I see things, they can relate."

Spartan Theatre Company has chosen this play at a very particular time. Talk Radio is about the differences between public and private persona and promotes honesty within the media and public discussion. As the U.S. Presidential Election approaches quickly, the themes of Talk Radio should be explored both on and off the stage.

The Artistic Dream Team

Joseph Galizia (Director) Joe is a graduate from the Chicago College of Performing Arts with a B.F.A. in acting. Born in New York and raised in Las Vegas, Joe has had performance in his life since he was an infant Italian. Recently, he appeared in Pulcinella with Lookingglass Theatre and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Over the past couple of years, Joe has dedicated himself to writing and directing as well as performing. “I think every writer has a specific tool that they use to get themselves started. Mine is setting. For me, it's the heart for creating my stories.”

Andy Monson (Producer) Andy has worked as an actor and writer for numerous productions in Chicago. He has appeared in Easy on the Eyes (Pride Films and Plays) and The March (Steppenwolf), as well as interned with the Neo-Futurists. He received his degree in Acting from Roosevelt University. He has also appeared in Titus Andronicus and The Taming of the Shrew (Illinois Shakespeare Festival), composing music for the latter. He recently wrote and performed in Train of Thought (Spartan Theatre Company).

Patrick Belics (Barry Champlain) Patrick graduated with a B.F.A. in Acting from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He is the Co-Founder of Spartan Theatre Company along with Andy Monson. He recently directed Monson in the production Train of Thought at the Greenhouse Theater and continues to produce material with Spartan Theatre Company. While at Roosevelt, he performed as Dr. Finache in A Flea in Her Ear, Joseph Frietas, Jr. in Execution of Justice and Otto in Spring Awakening. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, he also appeared as Proculeius in Antony and Cleopatra at St. Louis Shakespeare, and John and King Philip in two separate productions of The Lion in Winter.

Tim Bickel (Sound Designer) Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tim earned his B.F.A. in Acting from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Tim appeared in A Parallelogram at Steppenwolf Theatre playing the role of JJ. While performing at Steppenwolf, he joined Actor's Equity. Tim was the host of Teens on Q, WQED public television in Pittsburgh and his film credits include Warrior, Captain Blasto, Heart Failure, and Training Film.

To learn more about Spartan Theatre Company and Talk Radio visit spartantheatre.org