New Circumcision Comedy Directed by Gary Griffin Launches TADA Theatricals, a New Chicago-Based Theatrical Producing Company

June 27, 2017 - Chicago, IL – The new Stan Zimmerman and Christian McLaughlin play, Knife to the Heart: The Circumcision Comedy, held a starry private reading on May 8, 2017, at Chicago's The Second City, the iconic institution home to some of the world's greatest comedy, produced by Steve Abrams, Tony D'Angelo, Stefani Nicole von Huben, Kim Stafford and Tommy Lipnick. Readings for potential investors and invited industry members are in preparation for a slated Chicago run in Spring 2018 at the Broadway Playhouse (exact dates to be announced), and mark the launch of new Chicago-based commercial producing team TADA Theatricals, led by Chicago theatre veterans Steve Abrams and Tony D'Angelo. TADA Theatricals will bring vibrant new work to audiences in Chicago and beyond, with a commitment to creating job opportunities for Chicago's world-class arsenal of theatrical talent.

The cast for the Chicago reading of Knife to the Heart included Marilu Henner ("Taxi"), Esteban Andres Cruz (Domesticated), Jürgen Hooper (Brighton Beach Memoirs), Kierra Bunch (The Sun Always Shines for the Cool), and Chelsea Kane ("Baby Daddy"). Gary Griffin (Broadway's The Color Purple, Associate Artistic Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) directed and is scheduled to direct the world premiere in Chicago.

The play attracted much attention last fall following a Los Angeles reading at the Lex Theatre. That cast included Wendie Malick ("Hot in Cleveland"), Todd Sherry ("Parks & Recreation"), Katie Walder ("How I Met Your Mother"), and Josh Zuckerman ("Desperate Housewives").

The debut of Knife to the Heart marks the first of many projects currently in development for TADA Theatricals as they forge a new era in Chicago's vibrant theatrical legacy, and aim to galvanize its wealth of world-class theatrical talent to provide a launching pad for new commercial theatrical work. TADA's Steve Abrams has been a force in Chicago theatre for more than two decades, at Steppenwolf, Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, Chicago Children's Theatre and is the guest Artistic Director of Chicago's massive Navy Pier. Tony D'Angelo brings over 35 years as the co-founder, producer and Managing Director of Candlelight Dinner Theatre and Forum Theatre and has produced numerous commercial productions.

For more about investment opportunities, and to sign up to receive additional production details as they are announced, visit www.knifetotheheart.com.

About Knife to the Heart:

When Marshall and Julie Ann Katz discover that they have twin boys on the way, no one is kvelling more than Marshall's mother Rhonda–queen of Texas organic foods, and the 21st century Jewish mother we've been waiting for. But when it's time to decide whether or not to circumcise the twins, the whole family is pulled into an uproarious tug-of-war, with a little help from YouTube, a meddling gay schoolteacher, and more than a few centuries of tradition. By the time it's over, there's no telling who (or what) will be left intact.

Bios:

STAN ZIMMERMAN (co-playwright): Director/Writer/EP/Creator: "Secs & Execs," "Skirtchasers" – Webseries (telloFilms.com). Writer/EP/Creator: "Rita Rocks". Writer/Producer: "Gilmore Girls", "Roseanne" (WGA nomination - "Kiss Episode"). Writer: "The Brady Bunch Movie", "A Very Brady Sequel", "Annie" (ABC-TV movie), "The Golden Girls" (WGA Nomination). Director: Pledge - Hollywood Fringe 2017 (McCadden Theatre), Piñata - Hollywood Fringe 2017 (Lounge Theatre), Synthesis (Dorie Theatre), Warm Cheese – Hollywood Fringe 2016 (Studio C), Suicide Notes: In Their Own Words - Hollywood Fringe 2015, also Writer/Producer (Theatre Asylum), Daughter Of… - Hollywood Fringe 2014 (3 Clubs Lounge), Entertaining Mr. Sloane (Actors Company), BLINK & You Might Miss Me (Hollywood Fringe 2013, SF Fringe, Best Director winner – Broadwayworld.com), Spike Heels (Actors Circle), A Tuna Christmas (Theatre Asylum), Gemini (Celebration Theatre), Music video "All I Want" - Whore's Mascara (LOGO). Writer/Director/Producer: Yes, Virginia (Studio C), Meet & Greet – Hollywood Fringe 2014 (Theatre Asylum), Meet & Greet (Elephant Space), It's On!: the tv theme song musical (workshop- NYMF/Signature Theatre, Falcon Theatre), Dancer/Broadway: Nureyev & the Joffrey Ballet (Mark Hellinger Theatre). TV Host/Showrunner: "Situation: Comedy" (Bravo/Producer Sean Hayes). Teacher: Chapman University, Beverly Hills Playhouse, American Comedy Institute (NYC), Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy (TX). Education: Cranbrook Theatre School, Hampton Playhouse, BFA-Drama NYU/Circle-in-the-Square. 


CHRISTIAN MCLAUGHLIN (co-playwright) Writer: Along with Valerie Ahern, Christian worked on the infamous "Married with Children". They've also written for "Desperate Housewives", "Hannah Montana", "Hot Properties", "Clueless" and "Rita Rocks". The team had stints on the daytime soaps – "The Young and the Restless" and "The Bold and the Beautiful". They created and executive produced MTV's Emmy nominated steamy soap opera "Spyder Games". Christian produced and directed a live stage production of The Phacts of Life in Los Angeles. He gained notoriety in his early twenties with the publication of his novels, Glamourpuss and Sex Toys of the Gods. Christian and Valerie are currently working on the Disney Channel hit series, "Jessie".  With Stan, he wrote It's On! and the 2012 and 2013 Divas Simply Singing! benefits.

GARY GRIFFIN (Director) Broadway: Honeymoon In Vegas, The Apple Tree, The Color Purple. Off Broadway:  Parade (Lincoln Center), The Sound Of Music (Carnegie Hall), Saved (Playwrights Horizons), Beautiful Thing (Cherry Lane Theater), and seven productions for City Center Encores. London: Pacific Overtures (Donmar Warehouse), Chicago: King Charles III, Road Show, Sunday In The Park With George, Follies, As You Like It, Amadeus, Pacific Overtures (Chicago Shakespeare), Hand To God, Never The Sinner, Appropriate (Victory Gardens), The Detective's Wife, Loot and the upcoming Parade (Writers Theater) as well as work at Lyric Opera, Court, Marriott, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Famous Door, Northlight and The Apple Tree Theatre. Seven seasons at the Stratford Festival of Canada. Regional productions at Signature (DC), Alliance, Hartford Stage, McCarter, Kansas City Rep, Actors Theater of Louisville and The Old Globe. 10 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Oliver Nomination (Pacific Overtures). Artistic Excellence Award from the League of Chicago Theaters.

STEVE ABRAMS (Executive Producer) has been a driving force in Chicago's diverse cultural landscape for almost the last three decades. Having had a celebrated career that took him from the exciting nightclub and restaurant scene of the 90s through senior and executive leadership positions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, he served as Interim Managing Director at Chicago Children's Theatre and is currently the guest Artistic Director at Chicago's massively renovated Navy Pier. He is the principal at The Abrams Group, LLC, an innovative arts management and production company and partner at TADA Theatricals, LLC, a commercial theatrical producing entity. Steve is the recipient of the Actors' Fund's 2016 Encore Award for extraordinary dedication and commitment to the performing arts by supporting those who bring spectacular performances to our stages and screens. Steve currently has 4 projects in development.

TONY D'ANGELO (Producer) was producer and managing director of the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse and Forum Theatre for over 35 years. At these theaters D'Angelo produced over 400 shows, including five world premieres, five mid-west premieres and over 30 Chicago premieres. His productions have received over 18 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Awards. Tony has produced numerous Chicago hits including Lyle, an original musical by Charles Strouse and Little Shop of Horrors at the Royal-George Theatre. At the Mercury Theatre Over the Tavern ran a very successful 13 months followed by King o' the Moon. He also presented John Powers' new play Life's Not Fair, So What! In Chicago, he produced the hit musical revue The Water Coolers. In the fall of 2007, at the Apollo Theater he produced the acclaimed show The Sparrow, followed in the spring by the world premiere musical Knute Rockne All-American at Theatre at the Center, which was voted one of the best shows for 2008. In the of spring 2009 he produced The Quiet Man Tales at the Chicago Theater and Hi-Fidelity the musical at Piper's Alley. He was a producer of Trying off-Broadway in 2010. Recently he was the General Manager for Working a musical which played at the Broadway Theater in 2011 and recently presented the musical Signs of Life at Victory Gardens Theatre. In 2015 Unspeakable at the Broadway Playhouse.

STEFANI NICOLE VON HUBEN (Producer) is the founder of 4th Street Park Productions, a Southern-California based production company that has produced short and full-length films, television programming and live stage theatrical productions. Stefani has partnered with the San Diego Civic Theatre to bring theatrical experiences to San Diego elementary school students, including the Broadway productions of: Cinderella (2015); Beauty and the Beast (2015); Newsies (2016); Lion King (2016); Matilda (2017); Finding Neverland (2017); and future shows to include: The Little Mermaid (2017); and School of Rock (2018).  She currently is involved with on-going collaborations with Disney-ABC Studios and DreamWorks Animation.  Ms. Von Huben's producing highlights include: debuting Unspeakable at the legendary Apollo Theater, New York (2013); winning the Indie Merit Award for her short film, Blue Butterflies (2014); premiering Unspeakable: a Dramatic Fantasia at The Broadway Playhouse, Chicago (2015); and developing Knife to the Heart at The Lex Theatre, Los Angeles (2016), and The Second City, Chicago (2017).