IVP 2018 SEASON May 1 - May 31 at the Instituto Cervantes Chicago
CONTEMPORARY PLAYS FROM AROUND THE WORLD: International Voices Project (IVP) celebrates the voices of international playwrights from translation to production.
IVP brings global voices to Chicago stages through commissions, translations and production. We collaborate with consulates, cultural partners and universities throughout the Chicagoland area and collaborate with national and international theatres to promote global playwrights at the national level. A global city demands global art.
International Voices Project (IVP) is proud to announce this year’s five-week celebration of international plays. The ninth season of play readings by playwrights from around the world takes place at Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio, May 1 – 31 with performances at 7 p.m. (full schedule below and can be found here.) The series is presented in collaboration with consulates and other cultural institutions throughout Chicago and this year’s engagement features plays from Spain, Serbia, Poland, Syria, Finland, French Canada, India and Germany. A reception follows each evening’s reading. The International Voices Project is the largest event of its kind in the country and introduces Chicago audiences to some of the most exciting voices on the international theater scene. Performances are free to the public and reservations are requested. For the complete program, more information about IVP, or to reserve your seat, visit IVPChicago.org.
“This year’s International Voices Projects promises to be one of our most exciting. IVP returns to the location of our first festival eight years ago, Instituto Cervantes, and we are presenting new powerful works from Spain, Romania, Serbia and more. As our audience grows, we strive to curate the Festival with strong and thought provoking work and this year will be no different,” stated International Voices Project Executive Director Patrizia Acerra.
Pleased to host this IVP season, Instituto Cevantes’ Teresa Hernando Rojo said, “One of the missions of the Instituto Cervantes is to foster knowledge of Spanish-speaking cultures around the world. With International Voices Project, we are able to fulfill this mission and expand on it giving Chicago an opportunity to encounter theatre and cultures from around the world in one locations, our downtown home. We look forward to the rich variety of audiences and experiences to be had here this spring from International Voices Project." Instituto Cervantes is Chicago’s not-for profit center for Spanish language and cultural exchange.

Playwright: Juan Carlos Rubio
Country: Spain
“Arizona”
Tuesday May 1st, 2018
Playwright: Juan Carlos Rubio
Translator: Laureano Corces
Director: Jacob Janssen
Partner: The Blue Parrot Chicago
Synopsis: George and Margaret are defending the Southern Border of the United States. But when Margaret starts asking too many logical questions their absurdist plot spirals out of control.

Playwright: Dušan Kovačević
Country: Serbia
“A Hypnotic Love”
Thursday May 3rd, 2018
Playwright: Dušan Kovačević
Translator: Dennis Barnett
Director: Elizabeth Carlin-Metz
Partner: Vitalist Theatre
Synopsis: On a mysterious eve, a young woman looks to the stars with an unshakable faith in a love that will descend and transform her, as her injured parents bicker and try to hold her on a planet as damaged by strife as they are themselves. This lyrical and slightly absurd comedy reflects the fragile return to Serbia of hope, faith, and healing following decades of repression and war.

Playwright: Przemysław Wojcieszek
Country: Poland
“Made In Poland”
Tuesday May 8th, 2018
Playwright: Przemysław Wojcieszek
Translator: Alissa Valless
Director: Emily Lotspeich
Partner: Trap Door Theatre
Synopsis:

Playwright: Riad Ismet
Country: Syria
“Mihbaj”
Thursday May 10th, 2018
Playwright: Riad Ismet
Director: Riad Ismet
Partner: Columbia College Chicago
Synopsis: A gripping play that sheds light on the Syrian tragedy: Near the areas occupied by ISIS in northern Syria, a widow struggles to to keep her three sons together, who represent three conflicting points of view, while an international proxy war spreads sectarianism, extremism and hatred in a country that was once a harmonic grinder of all religious ethnicities, like a Mihbaj which prepares coffee beans for hospitality.

Playwright: Vera Kiiskinen
Country: Finland
“Internalized Theory of Love”
Tuesday May 15th, 2018
Playwright: Vera Kiiskinen
Translator: Merja Talvela and Leslie Hyde
Director: Breahan Pautsch
Partner: Akvavit Theatre
Synopsis:

Playwright: Mishka Lavigne
Country: French Canadian
“Haven”
Tuesday May 22nd, 2018
Playwright: Mishka Lavigne
Translator: Neil Blackadder
Director: Anna Bahow
Synopsis: Haven is the story of Elsie, who's just lost her mother, and of Matt, who's searching for his past. They're brought together by the hole that opened up in the asphalt and the contents of the car lying at the bottom.
Playwright: Anand Rao
Country: India
“A Muslim in The Midst”
Thursday May 24th, 2018
Playwright: Anand Rao
Partner: Rasaka Theatre
Synopsis: September 14, 2001: Three days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on American soil, on the other side of the world in the Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore, a poor Muslim family is stranded. Desperate to reach a relative’s home in a distant suburb, the new immigrants to the city are struggling to find a ride late in the night. Watching them closely from inside a car is an American-Indian Hindu couple, executives of American companies. The westernized and affluent couple offers to take the traditional and rural Muslim couple along. In the car, their conversation quickly takes an unexpected turn. Fueled by a pro and anti-Islamic rhetoric and warnings about potential terror threats playing on the radio, the characters fight with their prejudices and fears even as they attempt to look beyond the obvious differences and worldview to unravel a common fellowship based on humanity.

Playwright: Marius von Mayenburg
Country: Germany
“Bang”
Thursday May 31st, 2018
Playwright: Marius von Mayenburg
Translator: Maja Zade
Director: Warner Crocker
Synopsis: “Bang" is a play about "political emotions. About the irrational desire for explosions and sensations in the political sphere", a biting satire of the "longing for macho men, leaders who provide simple solutions for complex problems". (Marius von Mayenburg)
Instituto Cervantes of Chicago

The Instituto Cervantes of Chicago is located downtown at 31 W. Ohio St. between State & Dearborn Streets.
How to get there
Bus: 147, 146, 145, 151, 135, 136, 22, 36
Train: CTA Red Line Grand station
Car: Directions
Parking Options
Patrons of the Instituto Cervantes may park for up to 12 hours in the parking garage located within the Grand Plaza building. There is a garage entrance directly adjacent to the Instituto Cervantes lobby on Ohio St., as well as block south on Grand Ave. $12 with validation from the center.
In addition to the parking in the building, the garage directly across the street from the center offers a rate of $10 for up to 16 hours. There are garage entrances on Ontario St. and Ohio St., between State and Dearborn. Go to www.ooparking.com for more details.
Please Note: For both of these parking options, you will need to request a validation ticket at the Instituto. Please specify which garage you are parked in when requesting the validation.
The Instituto Cervantes is not responsible for lost or damaged tickets or duration of special rates.
KEEP THE FESTIVAL FREE !
For six years, we have kept our readings free of charge. Now we need your help. Please donate today to keep the new season free and open to the public. Help support IVP by making a donation today. Any amount helps us achieve our goals