A Red Orchid Theatre presents the World Premiere of
The Cave
By Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai
Directed by Alex Mallory
Performance Dates: Jan. 30-March 16, 2025
Preview Performances: Jan. 30-Feb. 8, 2025
Press Performances: Feb. 8, 2025
Regular Run Performances: Feb. 13-March 16 (Thurs-Sun)
Amidst breaking news of the first Gulf War, tragedy forces a Palestinian-American family to move from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio, upending their lives. Jamil struggles to hold himself and his family together as the world becomes unbalanced and terror can no longer be buried behind closed doors. Sadieh Rifai’s thriller of a new play examines how a family across cultures and generations leans into love and humor in the face of global turmoil and a fracturing American dream.
As part of Chicago Theatre Week, our Feb. 6-16 performances will have a limited inventory of $15 tickets with code CTW25. (Excludes Opening Night on Feb. 9.)
CAST
Ensemble Members Kirsten Fitzgerald (Bonnie), John Judd (Grandpa), Guy Van Swearingen (Mark/Neil) and Natalie West (Grandma) with H. Adoni Esho (Jamil), Milla Liss (Noor), Aaliyah Montana (Dema), Ashley Neal (Gail) and Omer Abbas Salem (Actor on TV/Omar)
UNDERSTUDIES
Mohammad ElBsat (U/S Jamil), Iman Kamel (U/S Dema & Noor), Paul Murray (U/S Mark/Neil & Grandpa), Tatiana Pavela (U/S Bonnie), and Melissa Van Kersen (U/S Grandma & Gail)
CREATIVE TEAM
Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai (playwright), Alex Mallory (director), Sotirios Livaditis (scenic design), Joe Johnson (assistant scenic design), Kotryna Hilko (costume design), Ensemble Member Mike Durst (lighting design), Joe Court (sound design), Julia Alvarez (properties design), Victoria Nassif (intimacy director & assistant director), Ronnie Malley (dialect & language coach and cultural consultant), Tom Daniel (technical director), Duncan Hon (master electrician), JC Widman (stage manager), Faith Locke (assistant stage manager), Patrick Starner (production manager), Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel (dramaturg), and Peter Ruiz (assistant dramaturg & script supervisor)