SCRATCH NIGHT
March 9th - 7pm
Curated by Raquel Torre
and Scott Ray Merchant
SCRATCH NIGHT
by Various Artists (USA)
90 minutes with no intermission
Age Guidance: 14+
Scratch Night is a curated showcase of works-in-progress featuring innovative local theatre makers. Scratch Night features 6-7 previews of original contemporary, visual, and physical theatre by different Chicago artists to foster their development. Co-produced by Raquel Torre and Scott Ray Merchant, Scratch Night aims to provide a social space for community, conversation, and collaboration.
Thursday, March 9th at 7 pm
All performances are at The Newport Theater
(956 W Newport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657)
Box Office: (773) 270-3440
Winter 2023 Line-Up:
Footwork Through the Trauma (Christopher "Mad Dog" Thomas & co)
Kevin Michael Wesson
Comedy Dance Chicago
Alize Hill
Daniel Wightkin
Agnotti Cowie and Tanima
Lindsey Ball
Johanna Vargas and Xavier Claudio Sotomayor
THE CURATORS:
Raquel Torre (she/her & ella) is a creator/performer from Puerto Rico with a background in physical theatre and devised performance. Since moving to Chicago in 2016, she’s collaborated with UrbanTheater Company, Filament Theatre, Shattered Globe Theatre, The Gift Theatre, Opera-Matic, Playmakers Lab, among others, as a director, movement coach, and actor. In 2013, she co-founded La Vuelta Ensemble (formerly Circo La Vuelta) with Jean Claudio, now a minority-led ensemble with a focus on high physicality and delightful absurdity. Raquel holds a BA in theatre from the Universidad de Sagrado Corazón (Puerto Rico), a certificate in Devised and Movement Theatre from Cabuia Teatro (Argentina), and an MFA in Devised Performance Practice from LISPA/Columbia College Chicago (Berlin/Chicago).
Scott Ray Merchant (he/him) is a performance artist and theatre maker celebrating over a decade in the Chicago theatre community. A graduate of the Theatre Conservatory of Roosevelt University, Scott has had the privilege to perform with The Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, the Scooty & Jojo Show, Abraham Werewolf, New Leaf Theatre, Dog & Pony, Red Twist, Rough House Theatre and he is a proud company member of Collaboraction. Scott was Co-director of, "TOLLBOOTH: A Clown Show" for First Floor Theatre and a former member of the cult-hit Bouffon troupe Les Enfants Terribles. Over the last several years, he has trained with Eric Davis in Bouffon, Sue Morrison in Pochinko clown in Toronto and with Steve Wasson and Corine Soum in Decroux mime. Scott was the co-curator and co-host of the 'Hindrance and Hysteria Mandatory Happy Party' alongside Lindsey Marks (Lady Jack) at the Den and Newport Theater.
Electronic Programs of past Scratch Night Shows: