American Theatre Company in Chicago has announced its 2016-17 season; included in the line-up will be the world premiere of T. by Dan Aibel. The new work is named after figure skater Tonya Harding, whose ex-husband reportedly coordinated an attack against her competitor, Nancy Kerrigan.
Margot Bordelon is set to direct the debut, billed by ATC as a “darkly funny and unrelenting play” about the lengths people go to for fame. Performances are scheduled to run September 23-October 30.
In 1994 Kerrigan was clubbed in the knee by Shane Stant during figure skating championships in Detroit, just weeks before the Winter Olympics.
ATC’s 32nd season will also feature Jaclyn Backhaus’ Men on Boats, directed by artistic director Will Davis; the world premiere of We’re Gonna Be Okay by Basil Kreimendahl, directed by Bonnie Metzgar; and William Inge’s Picnic, directed by Davis.
ATC also announced a new season-long partnership with Chicago Inclusion Project, whose work brings together Chicago artists and audiences normally separated by physical ability, gender identity and/or ethnic background.
“As one of the first trans identified artists to run a professional theatre, I feel both responsible and honored to make ATC an organization dedicated to access and inclusion, and to move our company towards a place of openness and curiosity about how we champion and celebrate truly new work for the American theatre,” said Davis in an online statement.
For more information visit atcweb.org/.