Find Tickets

April 27 - August 14, 2016

Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody

World Premiere

  • Created by Tim Ryder and Tim Sniffen
  • Written by Tim Sniffen
  • Directed by Stuart Carden and Michael Halberstam

This hilarious result of collaboration between Writers Theatre and Chicago's world-renowned comedy theatre, The Second City, asks the intriguing question: What happens when the most recognizable characters from some of the greatest American plays of the 20th century suddenly find themselves sharing the same stage?

Synopsis

Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf

When a mysterious invitation brings Blanche DuBois back to New Orleans, she finds herself once again face-to-face with the smoldering Stanley Kowalski. They are soon joined by luckless salesman Willy Loman and hard-drinking, hard-fighting couple George and Martha, and suddenly all bets are off. Add a folksy Stage Manager and the comic genius of The Second City team, and the question quickly becomes: Will the American theatre ever be the same?

Co-directed by Michael Halberstam and Stuart Carden, this deliciously satirical mash-up of A Streetcar Named Desire, Death of a Salesman, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Our Town opens the Gillian Theatre with a tongue-in-cheek salute to celebrated icons of American drama.

Contains strong language and adult themes. Intended for mature audiences. 

Cast

Jennifer Engstrom

Blanche DuBois

Marc Grapey

Willy Loman [through July 31]

John Hoogenakker

George [through July 17]

Michael Perez

Stanley Kowalski

Karen Janes Woditsch

Martha

Greg Matthew Anderson

George [starting July 19]

Sean Fortunato

The Stage Manager

Sean Fortunato CHICAGO: Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf, The Diary of Anne Frank, Hedda Gabler, The Real Thing (Writers Theatre); The Angel Next Door, Intimate Apparel (Northlight Theatre); Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing (Chicago Shakespeare); Frank Sr. in Catch Me If You Can, Applegate in Damn Yankees (Marriott Theatre); Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein (Mercury); Miss Trunchbull in Matilda (Drury Lane); 2666 (Goodman) and work at Court, Porchlight, Theatre at the Center, Timeline, Remy Bumppo. OFF-BROADWAY: Rose Rage (The Duke on 42nd). REGIONAL: Old Globe, Intiman, Peninsula Players. FILM: The Merry Gentleman directed by Michael Keaton. TV: Antoon Dumini in Fargo (FX), Chicago PD, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire (NBC) Monster (Netflix). AWARDS: Eleven Jeff Award nominations, After Dark Award. 

Keith Kupferer

Willy Loman [starting August 2]

Keith Kupferer can currently be seen in Alex Thompson and Kelly O'Sullivan's Ghostlight which premiered at Sundance in January 2024 to rave reviews and was released by IFC Films nationwide last summer. Keith has received widespread praise for his "powerhouse performance" (Deadline Hollywood) and has garnered multiple prestigious end-of-year nominations from the Gothams and Independent Spirit Awards, was the recipient of Best Actor in a Comedy by the Satellite awards and named the “2025 Chicagoan of the Year In Film” by the Chicago Tribune.

A veteran of the stage, Keith has appeared at Chicago's most prestigious theaters including Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Victory Gardens, Writer's Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Northlight Theatre, A Red Orchid and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He is a founding member of Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, now celebrating their 30th anniversary and performed in the critically acclaimed premieres of A Mile in the Dark, The Cake, American Wee-Pie and Cal in Camo (Jeff Award for Supporting Actor). Other notable theater credits include Support Group for Men, God of Carnage, and Sweat (Goodman); The Seagull, The Great Leap, The Qualms, Good People, and Middletown (Steppenwolf); Hillary and Clinton, Never the Sinner and Appropriate (Victory Gardens); West Side Story (Lyric Opera) and the world premiere of The Humans (American Theatre Company).   

Film credits include Ghostlight; Widows; The Dilemma; Dark Knight; Public Enemies; The Express; Stranger Than Fiction; Road to Perdition; Finding Santa; Fred Claus; The Last Rites of Joe May; and The Merry Gentleman directed by Michael Keaton. TV credits include The Bear; Emperor of Ocean Park; Better Call Saul; Empire; Chicago P.D.; Betrayal; Crisis; Chicago Fire; and Detroit 187.

Keith is represented by the Gersh Agency and Fusion Entertainment.

Creative

Tim Sniffen

Co-Creator & Writer

Stuart Carden

Director

Michael Halberstam

Director

Linda Buchanan

Scenic Designer

Jenny Mannis

Costume Designer

Jesse Klug

Lighting Designer

Josh Horvath

Sound Designer

Rebecca Pechter

Stage Manager

Mallory Bass

Assistant Stage Manager

Reviews

So cleverly written, weaving together storylines, characters and relationships to create a fun spoof of these famous plays.

Audience Member

Highly Recommended! 65 perfect minutes of pure fun… performed by [some] of Chicago’s A-list actors.

Chicago Sun-Times

****! First-rate stagecraft and a first-tier acting ensemble from Writers;
sly, topical humor and breakneck pacing from Second City.

Daily Herald

Hysterical! The writing was tremendous!

Audience Member

This is the funniest play ever written. For anyone in any aspect of theater, for anyone who has a season subscription anywhere, for all American high school drama students.

Third Coast Review

A slick, funny…mashup of epic proportions!

New City

****! This smart send-up is a multilayered treat!

Time Out Chicago

*****! A flawless, laugh-a-minute parody.

Around the Town Chicago

A wonderful tongue-in-cheek salute to celebrated icons of American drama. Don’t miss it!”

LA Splash

****! Get ready for what may be the most laugh-filled 65 minutes you've ever spent in a theatre.

Chicago Now

Highly Recommended! A brilliantly funny parody.

Chicago Theatre Review

Highly Recommended! A brilliant six-member ensemble of veteran actors who know these plays well enough to clearly delight in a chance to have fun with them.

Chicago Critic

This one-act, 70-minute juggernaut is a non-stop laugh riot, with pacing so relentless, there’s barely enough time to catch your breath.

PerformInk

****!

Examiner

Events

Post-Show Conversation: The Artist

Join us after every Wednesday evening performance (excluding previews) for a 15-minute talk-back featuring actors from the production, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.

Post-Show Conversation: The Word

Join us after every Tuesday evening performance (excluding previews) for a 15-minute discussion of the play, facilitated by a member of the WT Artistic Team.

Sunday Spotlight

Sunday, June 19, 2016
Sunday Spotlight is our exclusive series offering audiences access to the finest speakers, academics and cultural leaders. For Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody, Matt Hovde, the Artistic Director of The Second City training center, will discuss with Writers Theatre Literary Manager Bobby Kennedy the philosophies and methods employed by the legendary institution to craft a successful comedy show. RSVP required.

The Making of... Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody

Monday, June 27, 2016 at 6:30pm
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the shows you love?
Literary Manager Bobby Kennedy will lead a 1-hour conversation and question-and-answer session with Costume Supervisor Emily Waecker. Emily will talk about how she works with our designers to bring their costume sketches to life on stage, and what it’s like to finally have a proper costume shop in WT’s new theatre center. RSVP required.

From Page to Stage Series

This series of events is a collaboration between WT and select North Shore libraries designed to enhance and enrich your appreciation of one WT production each season. All events are free and open to the public.

Giilian Theatre

The Gillian Theatre

325 Tudor Court Glencoe, Illinois, 60022

Accessibility

Fully ADA accessible with wheelchair seating available.

Parking

Free parking is available in the Metra Station lot, and street parking is readily available.

Explore More

Production History