Pop artist Andy Warhol traveled to Iran in 1976 to photograph the Shah’s wife so he could paint her portrait. It turns out to be an eye-opening experience when Warhol encounters a young revolutionary in “Andy Warhol in Iran.”
Northlight Theatre is producing the second staging of Brent Askari’s play Jan. 19-Feb. 19 under the direction of Northlight’s Artistic Director BJ Jones at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.
Performances are 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 2:30 p.m. Sundays; 7 p.m. Jan. 22; and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24. There is no show at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 21.
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“I didn’t know Andy Warhol went to Iran,” Jones admitted. He became more intrigued after he read the script.
“I thought it was fascinating, especially because the structure of the play is not necessarily linear,” he noted. “It’s direct address. It breaks the fourth wall. It’s very theatrical and that’s what Andy was himself with the wig and the glasses and the performative clothing and amazing self-marketing that he did. He wholly created himself and that perhaps was his greatest work of art.”
Jones was convinced that the Northlight audiences would love the show.
He initially decided to direct the show because of some similarities between his background and that of Warhol but that decision was cemented because he believes the play is even more relevant now “with what’s going on in Iran,” Jones said.
The director chose award-winning actor Rob Lindley to play the title role because, “spiritually, artistically, and personally, he is aligned with Andy Warhol and that era of artists,” Jones explained.
“I’ve always had a fascination for the Pop Art era,” Lindley agreed. “I grew up knowing who Andy Warhol is, which isn’t something we can say about a lot of our artists that we know and love. When I read the script, I was really excited for the chance to play such an iconic artist.”
Lindley, who praised the script, has been digging deep in preparation for this role. That includes watching the documentary “The Andy Warhol Diaries” and every available interview of Warhol. In addition, Lindley reported, “this fall when I had a little break from other projects, I drove to Pittsburgh and spent a whole day at the Andy Warhol Museum.”
In analyzing the other aspect of this play, Lindley decided that “Andy went to Iran I don’t think understanding the political implications of him taking Polaroids of the Empress,” he said. “He got criticized by The Village Voice and by protesters for doing these portraits.”
Likewise, Lindley admitted that he didn’t know much about the revolutions that have been happening in Iran up to the current time.
He credits his co-star Hamid Dehghani, who plays the revolutionary Farhad and was born and raised in Iran, for helping him understand the political climate in that country.
Lindley noted that the play has Warhol thinking that the repetition in his paintings is similar to the way that revolutions keep happening. “It really brings all of it to the here and now,” Lindley concluded.
‘Andy Warhol in Iran’
When: Jan. 19-26 (previews); Jan. 27-Feb. 19 (regular run)
Where: Northlight Theatre at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd.
Tickets: $30-$89; $15 student tickets
Information: 847-673-6300; northlight.org
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
More things to do this week
Here are some other events occurring the week of Jan. 19-25 in the Pioneer Press and Doings suburbs.
Two Slick Stories
Disney On Ice presents ice skaters enacting two family favorite stories, “Frozen & Encanto.” Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Fridays, and 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; Jan. 19-22 and Feb. 2-5 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Tickets: $25-$80. At 6920 N. Mannheim Road. 847-635-6601; disneyonice.com.
Town shall remain nameless
Oil Lamp Theater presents a tale of falling in and out of love in a town so disorganized that it goes by the name “Almost, Maine” Jan. 19-Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 3 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays in Glenview. Tickets are $30-$45. At 1723 Glenview Road. 847-834-0738; oillamptheater.org
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.Going for Baroque
Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 with Music of the Baroque for “Montero Plays Mozart” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. Tickets are $48-$100. At 9501 Skokie Blvd. 847-673-6300; northshorecenter.org.
All that jazz
The Joe Policastro Trio will present “A Jazz Tribute to West Side Story” at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at FitzGerald’s Sidebar in Berwyn. Tickets are free but reservations are accepted. At 6615 Roosevelt Road. 708-788-2118; fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
— Myrna Petlicki