The Library As Portal To The World

Ask any librarian, and you could get a story about an overdue book. I’m sure they all have their favorites. Playwright Glen Berger takes this experience to the next level when he imagines a young librarian finding a book in the overnight deposit chute that is 113 years overdue.

The book has enticing notes written in the margins that motivate our heroine to take a journey of self-discovery as she goes around the world defying the bounds of space and time, seeking to collect the fine for this book.

Berger might be better known for writing the book for Spiderman Turn Off The Dark’s Broadway production. (He later wrote book on the inside story of this famously troubled production.) He is widely known as a scriptwriter and playwright for children’s theater and television shows. He won two Daytime Emmys for Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman and Peep and the Big Wide World.

This play’s direction is by Brent Hazelton, who took over as Artistic Director at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) this year. Brent brings to MCT years of experience at The Milwaukee Rep. His resume reads like a theatrical Swiss army knife of expertise including as a director, internship program developer and handling new play development and production, with bragging rights as one of only three directors to have brought plays to all four venues at The Rep.

Brent is a graduate of Bachelor of Special Studies Degree (Integrated Theater Studies) from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He has also worked with UW-Parkside, Carthage College, and Ten Chimneys.

This play stars Elyse Edelman, who, like her character the librarian, is a true wandering soul. Edelman graduated from the University of Minnesota Guthrie BFA program. She has stamped her acting passport at Chicago Children’s Theater, The Guthrie, Minnesota & Utah Shakespeare Theaters, Renaissance Theaterworks, First Stage, In Tandem Theatre, American Players Theatre, and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater to name a few.

The performances are virtual. However, ticket purchases specify the time and date that they can be watched.

The play opens on April 9th and runs through May 2nd.

The schedule and ticket purchase can be bought online at Underneath The Lintel or call 414-250-8041.

And you can join Live Talkbacks with the cast and creative, hosted by Marcella Kearns, on April 15 and April 22.

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Edelman had performed with the American Players Theatre at age seven, this was incorrect. Additionally, First Stage was incorrectly listed as the Milwaukee Children’s Theater.