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Quigley Goes “Undercover” at Timeline Theatre Company

July 20, 2015

CHICAGO – This weekend, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) went “undercover,” as part of his “Undercover Congressman” series, at Timeline Theatre Company in Lakeview as a production assistant, preparing the stage, lights and sound for a performance of “Inana.”

“There is a lot that goes into preparing for a play – from sound and light check, to cleaning the stage and making sure the props are set, to welcoming guests and showing them to their seats,” said Rep. Quigley. “We are lucky to have companies like Timeline Theatre bringing thoughtful and intriguing plays right to us in the Fifth District. Thank you to everyone at Timeline for showing me the ropes and contributing to the arts in Chicago.”

Rep. Quigley’s work as a production assistant included introductions to Timeline Theatre Company’s leadership, cleaning the stage from the previous performance, setting the props for the opening curtain, and checking lights and sound to make sure that everything was in working order.

Rep. Quigley (left) discusses lighting and sound control with P.J. Powers (right), Artistic Director for Timeline Theatre Company.

Rep. Quigley (left) discusses lighting and sound control with P.J. Powers (right), Artistic Director for Timeline Theatre Company.

Rep. Quigley cleans the stage as a production assistant for Timeline Theatre Company.

Rep. Quigley cleans the stage as a production assistant for Timeline Theatre Company.

“TimeLine was honored to welcome Congressman Mike Quigley to our theatre to serve as a production assistant, prepping for our matinee performance of the play INANA,” said P.J. Powers, Artistic Director of Timeline Theatre Company. “Clearly a huge history buff, the Congressman was a great fit with TimeLine’s mission of producing plays inspired by history that connect with social and political issues of today, and he dove in to every aspect of our work, asking fantastic questions about the operations of a not-for-profit theatre and rolling up his sleeves to understand and operate various technical elements of our production.”

TimeLine Theatre Company has found a niche by specializing in historically inspired material. They have completed 16 seasons, more than 55 plays, nine world premieres and 18 Chicago premieres. “Inana” follows an Iraqi museum curator who plots to save treasured antiquities from destruction during the American invasion of Baghdad in 2003. TimeLine’s production of “Inana” is the play’s Chicago premiere.

Rep. Quigley’s “Undercover Congressman” series connects him with constituents at their place of employment to better understand the daily challenges they face in their industry and community. Since taking office in 2009, Rep. Quigley has performed a wide range of jobs as an Undercover Congressman, including cleaning animal pens as a zookeeper at the Lincoln Park Zoo, packaging beer and cleaning tanks at Half Acre Brewery, pouring metal at a local metal refinery and delivering mail with the United States Post Office.

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