Some of the West’s most influential theater artists have looked to the East for life- and art-shaping inspiration. The work these artists have produced stands in stark contrast to the kind of work Chicago theater artists are known for throughout the world: gutsy, honest and essentialist productions of naturalist plays firmly within the western tradition. For the first time in her newest work, The Long Christmas Ride Home, Vogel fuses her nontraditional approach with Eastern influence. In it, Japanese Bunraku and Noh theatrical techniques, along with a heavy dose of Buddhist thought, pervade what is essentially a meditation on the short plays of Thornton Wilder. This panel of distinguished artists and scholars will examine Chicago’s contribution – or resistance – to this non-traditional means of dramatic storytelling.

Reservations required: 847-475-1875 ext. 2. Limit 4 tickets per order.