Milwaukee Chamber Theatre presents The Montgomery Davis Play Development Series staged reading of The Peculiar Distraction of Mr. Lincoln’s Social Media by Andy Bayiates

Milwaukee, WI …True to its mission of nurturing local theatre artists, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) presents the Montgomery Davis Play Development Series staged reading of THE PECULIAR DISTRACTION OF MR. LINCOLN’S SOCIAL MEDIA, by Andy Bayiates, on Monday, October 22, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. The reading will be directed by Marcella Kearns and features Mitch Bultman, Matt Daniels, Ibraheem Farmer, Amy Hansmann, Diane Lane, Hannah Shay, Nadja Simmonds, and Zach Thomas Woods.

This is a play about social media. Set in the 1850s.

Any brilliant young woman in 1853 with ambitions to change the world would be scorned. But in The PECULIAR DISTRACTION OF MR. LINCOLN’S SOCIAL MEDIA, Mabel Prescott finds such an opportunity in a unique venture—a printing-press version of Facebook led by failed Congressman Abraham Lincoln. Join us for an historical “what-if” that will determine the fate of Mabel’s career, Lincoln’s future, and the imperiled union of the United States.

Andy Bayiates is a Wisconsin- and Chicago-based playwright and Neo-Futurist alumnus. Recent plays include LOST LAUGHS: THE SLAPSTICK TRAGEDY OF FATTY ARBUCKLE, 45 PLAYS FOR 45 PRESIDENTS, 45 PLAYS FOR AMERICA’S FIRST LADIES and A HISTORY OF HUMAN STUPIDITY. His work has been produced by The Actors Theatre of Louisville, Geva Theatre, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Forward Theater Company, The NOLA Project, The Neo-Futurists, Dad’s Garage Theatre Company, Cleveland Public Theatre and NextStop Theatre Company.  Bayiates founded and directed the Plays for Presidents Festival in 2012, which inspired 44+ separate productions of the then-titled 44 PLAYS FOR 44 PRESIDENTS across the country in the months leading up to the 2012 Presidential Election. He wrote and performed in TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND in Chicago from 1999-2004. He was the astrology columnist for Time Out Chicago Magazine (2005-2007) and wrote non-astrological content for Time Out Chicago and the Southern Illinoisian newspaper.

A staged reading of THE PECULIAR DISTRACTION OF MR. LINCOLN’S SOCIAL MEDIA will be performed on Monday, October 22, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. in the Skylight Bar & Bistro, located on the second level of the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. Tickets for the reading are Pay-What-You-Choose at the door. Seating is first-come, first-served.

The Skylight Bar & Bistro, operated by Indulge Wine Room, will be open for dinner and refreshments starting at 5:30 p.m. Dinner reservations are welcomed in advance by emailing skylight@getindulge.com, calling 414.291.3773, or reserving via Yelp.

The Montgomery Davis Play Development Series is sponsored by Konrad K. Kuchenbach. For more information about the staged reading, contact Milwaukee Chamber Theatre at 414.276.8842 or visit milwaukeechambertheatre.com.

MILWAUKEE CHAMBER THEATRE

Founded in 1975, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) produces intimate and accessible theatrical works that engage and challenge the audience, while employing and nurturing principally local theatre artists. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director C. Michael Wright and Managing Director Kirsten Finn, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre performs at the Broadway Theatre Center in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.