The Saint Sebastian Players held their 13th annual Monologue Matchup competition Monday, Oct. 24, at their home at St. Bonaventure, 1641 W. Diversey Ave. This annual fund-raiser provides actors with the opportunity to compete with their best monologues before a panel of theatre directors, who serve as judges, to win a variety of prizes as well as have important exposure. This year SSP hosted nearly 130 people and raised nearly $1,500. Forty actors competed before a judging panel that included: Johnny Arena of The House Theatre of Chicago; Amy Brown of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company; Dale Goulding of International Theatre of Chicago; Timothy Gregory of Provision Theatre; Director Cecilie Keenan; John Ragir of Live Bait Theatre; Sandy Shinner of Victory Gardens Theater; Mariah Sage of Apple Tree Theatre; June Podagrosi of Child's Play Touring Co.; Director Phillip Edward VanLear; and Chuck Zis of Saint Sebastian Players.
Morgan Malone, Mary Ross, and Lilia Vassileva were finalists. The 4th place winner was Claudia Vasilovik, 3rd place winner Jessica Jane Childs, 2nd place winner Errol McLendon, People's Choice Winner Calliope Porter, and Judges' winner John Walski.
Sponsors and donors included Eli's Cheesecake, Subway Sandwiches, Act One Studio, Chicago Actors' Studio, Sarantos Studio, Second City, Steppenwolf Theatre, Piven Theatre, The Body Clinic, Sam & George's Resturant, Fit & Fresh Cafe, Soliloquy Book Story, and Head First Hair Salon. |
