Shane
World Premiere Adaptation of the classic Western
by Jack Schaefer
Adapted and directed by Artistic Associate Mark Pracht
August 21 – October 4, 2026
Shane, a mysterious stranger, shows up at the Starrett homestead in the Wyoming Territory in 1889. Though he seems to be hiding a dangerous past, he’s offered a job as a farm hand and settles in with the Starretts: Joe, his wife Marian, and his son Bob, our narrator. When Joe refuses to sell his land to open range rancher Fletcher, it sets up a deadly showdown that alters the fates of everyone involved.
World Premiere
Cast
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Crew
Mark Pracht (Director/Playwright) has proudly worked in the Chicago theatre community for over 20 years, as an actor, playwright and director. As a playwright, City Lit presented his series on the history of the comic book industry, The Mark of Kane, The Innocence of Seduction (which he also directed), and The House of Ideas (Non-Equity Jeff nomination for Best New Work). As an actor, he is best remembered for his performance as Harlan “Mountain” McClintock in Requiem for a Heavyweight (The Artistic Home), for which he received the 2019 Non-Equity Jeff Award for Performance in a Principal Role. You can find out more at mark-pracht.com. I dedicate this show, and all I do, to CByrd, who continues to make my heart sing with her strength and courage. I see this world through your eyes, my love, and it is a joyous place.
Courtney Abbott (Intimacy Director) (they/she) Chicago: Deserted, ‘Night Mother, Agnes of God, Wolves (Redtwist), As You Like It (Midsommer Flight); Book of Will (Promethean); Twelfth Night (OPFT); Glassheart (City Lit); the love object (The Story); In His Hands (First Floor); Lavender Men (About Face). Education: MFA, Ohio University; BS, Northwestern. Courtney is a Stakeholder in the Back Room Shakespeare Project. @backroomshakes CourtneyAbbott.com
Jeremiah Barr (Scenic Designer) is very excited to be working with the City Lit gang and the Shane team. Some of his past credits include Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Clowns (scenic design), RUR (scenic design), Glassheart (scenic design), Night of the Hunter (scenic design) with City Lit Theatre; Strange Cargo (props/puppet design) with Black Button Eyes; Book of Will (props design) with Promethean Theatre Ensemble; Uncle Vanya (scenic/props design), The Pillowman (scenic/props design) with AstonRep Productions.
Leigh Barrett (Assistant Director) has been in Chicago stage managing, directing, and designing lights since 1989, working with companies such as Irish Theatre of Chicago, Bailiwick Repertory, Stage Left Theatre (Member Emeritus), Plasticene, Strawdog, Oak Park Festival Theatre, and City Lit. She acted as Artistic Director for Babes With Blades Theatre Company from 2011 - 2015, where she directed The Double, Bo Thomas and the Case of the Sky Pirates, 180 Degree Rule, Patchwork Drifter, and The Invisible Scarlet O’Neil.
Jeff Brain (Props Design) is a Chicago-area designer and performer that is excited to work on another show with City Lit. His previous props designs at City Lit includes The House of Ideas and The Innocence of Seduction. His recent work includes scenic designs for Native Gardens (Theatre Evolve) and Mr. Burns (UW-Parkside, Kenosha WI). See his upcoming work as Scenic Designer for Prayer Circle (Redtwist) this fall.
Josiah Croegaert (he/him; Lighting Design) CHICAGO: Jesus Hopped The A Train (City Lit) Honeypot (Fleetwood Jourdain), Pro-Am (First Floor), Mothers (The Gift), Sondheim Tribute Review, Baked!, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Theo Ubique), Last Hermanos (Red Orchid) CO-DESIGN: The Heart Sellers (Northlight), Falsettos (Court), Topdog/Underdog (Invictus). REGIONAL: Young Frankenstein, Every Christmas Story, Cabaret (Breckenridge). Graduate of Columbia College Chicago 2021. josiahcrodesign.com
Mateo Gutierrez (Production Manager) is so excited to work with City Lit on their production of Shane. Past credits include Every Brilliant Thing (APM/ ALD), Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson APT 2B (PSM), SpongeBob the Musical (PSM), Carousel with Music Theatre Works (Assistant Stage Manager), and No Man’s Sky with Steppenwolf (Electrics Intern). He’s so glad to have worked with such an amazing team as he stepped into the role of production manager.
Becca Holloway (Casting Director) (she/her) is thrilled to have cast this amazing team! Casting Credits (Selected): Scaramouche (City Lit Theater), Indoor Cats, Hamlet, The Pilon, The Seagull (Red Theater), Wise Guys, Party At The Pantheon, Die Hard 4 Your Luv (Factory Theater), Romeo And Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost (Midsommer Flight). Aside from her work as a director and casting director, Becca is also the curator of the monthly Readings at Red series to help support and develop new plays written by Chicago local playwrights. Much love as always to CWW. IG: bwaybexy
Beth Laske-Miller (Costume Designer) previously worked with City Lit on Strange Cargo, RUR, House of Ideas, Innocence of Seduction, and Fuente Ovejuna. Other credits include Mary Rose, Nightmares & Nightcaps (Jeff Nom 2019), Shockheaded Peter (Jeff Award winner 2018), Goblin Market, and Coraline with Black Button Eyes and I Promised Myself to Live Faster (Jeff Award winner 2024) A Fine Feathered Murder (Jeff Award winner 2023) and L’Imitation of Life with Hell In a Handbag.
Michael Lesko (Stage Manager) (he/him) Michael’s first production with City Lit Theatre. Recent stage management credits include The Trojan Women (Eos Theatre), Bat Boy The Musical (Stage Wright), and Lyn Knottage’s Sweat (Loop Players) He has worked various roles throughout his career as an actor, sound designer, and stage carpenter. He wants to thank his family and friends for their endless support, and you all for coming to see our production of Shane.
G. “Max” Maxin IV (Projection Design) (he/him) has created over 300 designs on over 200 professional & educational productions. He is a proud member of the United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE. Max has won 2 Non-Equity Jeff Awards (Lighting - Jekyll & Hyde @ Kokandy & Projections - Angels in America @ Invictus), a Lou Award (Lighting - Into the Woods @ Big Noise), and 3 Equity & 9 additional Non-Equity Jeff nominations. Max spent 2 summers designing lighting for the touring opera company La Musica Lirica (Novafeltria, Italy). ivMaxin.com
R&D Choreography (Violence Design) is Victor Bayona (he/him) and Rick Gilbert (he/him). R&D was founded in 1997 for the purpose of improving the power and effectiveness of Chicago area theatre through the art of violence design – choreographing better fights for better shows. We have designed violence for nearly four hundred productions and films. Our work has been seen at dozens of Chicago area theatres, including Backroom, Chicago Opera Theatre, Citadel, Factory, Goodman, Haven, Lifeline, Lookingglass, Metropolis, Oil Lamp, The Paramount, Piven, Steep, Steppenwolf, TUTA, and Theo.
Jim Terry (Projection Artwork) is a Ho-Chunk writer and illustrator who’s called Chicago his home for thousands of years. His memoir Come Home, Indio was nominated for the LA Bookprize as well as the Ignatz, and his recent visual essay Paper Cuts, based on his residency at the Newberry Library, is currently being taught in several schools. He’s illustrated for Marvel, Heavy Metal, Dark Horse, and several other publications over the years and when he’s not drawing comics he is writing spooky stories or making cheesy horror films. Find him at www.woundedbutdangerous.com
