Go!
In December of 1988, the Neo-Futurist troupe debuted “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” in Chicago, where the play would continue to be performed 50 weekends a year until 2016, becoming the longest-running show in the history of theatre in Chicago. The show has also been performed in New York City, New York; San Francisco, California; Montreal, Quebec; and in the United Kingdom (UK).
Now, Improductions, LLC—a Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation (NIETF) partner—is bringing “Too Much Light” to the Region this April, and you’re going to want to be in a seat. Attendees won’t just be getting a single play; they’ll be invited to watch and participate in 30 plays over an hour period, making each showing of “Too Much Light” a real bang for your buck.
“Too Much Light” is a combination of performance art, newspaper, and improvisation. At the beginning of the evening, attendees are given “menus” with each play named and numbered. To select a play, audience members yell out numbers until a cast member snatches one from a clothesline hanging at the venue. Someone shouts “Go!” and the play runs for two minutes until “Curtain!” is called.
The plays available for audience selection can range from random comedies to deathly serious tragedies, and the order they will be performed is different at every show given how they are chosen. This makes every performance unique, both for the actors and the audience.
"The show is funny, it'll make you think, it might make you understand someone else's political views, and it'll keep you and our actors on their toes,” said Co-Director Becky Fox Jascoviak.
“Too Much Light” will be performed on Thursday, April 27 at The Design Barn in Hebron. Audiences can expect a unique performance. In fact, you’re likely to never see the exact same performance twice, since there are 67,300,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 different combinations in which the plays can be performed.
“We could perform a play that is super serious right next to a farcical play,” said Co-Director and Improductions Founder Nelson Velazquez. “We also have some audience-interactive plays that will differ from night to night. I love presenting this scripted work with an improv flavor."
Of course, it’s hard to enjoy a show on an empty stomach, which is why Improductions is partnering with the venue to provide dinner packages alongside ticket prices. Tickets at The Design Barn cost $20 with the option to buy food and can be purchased online at toomuchlightnwi.com.
“Come create theatre together with us and have some great food in the process,” said Jascoviak. “See you at the show.”
“Too Much Light” is a once-in-a-lifetime performance that you don’t want to miss. With only two showings in the Region and tickets selling fast, it’s time to act now.
Curtain!
To find other local shows or to get involved in your community’s theatre, visit Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation’s show calendar on its website.
