Photos: "Evanston Salt Costs Climbing" at First Floor Theater

Chicago Premiere Runs Through June 14, 2025

CHICAGO, Illinois (May 22, 2025) – Chicago’s First Floor Theater today released production images of their Chicago Premiere production, EVANSTON SALT COSTS CLIMBING, written by Will Arbery and running May 22 - June 14, 2025 at The Den Theatre;s Bookspan stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets ($10 - $35) on sale now at www.firstfloortheater.com. 

Photo credit: Michael Brosilow

Winters keep getting worse in Evanston, Illinois, where salt truck drivers Peter and Basil battle the ice and snow and pass the time with jokes and stories. But what’s with this creeping sense of dread? Is it because their boss Maiworm has noble visions of new green technology that would make their jobs obsolete? Or is there a more terrifying warning calling out from under these roads? At least they have each other, right?

In this play about climate and change, Pulitzer Prize finalist Will Arbery confronts humanity’s darkest fears with humor, warmth, and the fortitude of municipal public servants.

FACT SHEET:

EVANSTON SALT COSTS CLIMBING

Title: EVANSTON SALT COSTS CLIMBING

Written By: Will Arbery

Directed By: Micah Figueroa*

Cast: Jelani West (Peter), Dano Duran (Basil), Ashley Neal (Maiworm), and Jacinda Ratcliffe (Jane Jr.); Understudies include Johnny Moran (Peter u/s); Christopher Hainsworth (Basil u/s); Cynthia Marker (Maiworm u/s); Lizzy Mosher (Jane Jr. u/s)

Production Team: Alivia Arrizaga (Stage Manager); Spencer Donovan(Scenic Designer); Conchita Avitia (Lighting Designer); Sid Branca* (Projections Designer); Matt Reich (Sound Designer); Caitlin McCarthy* (Costumes Designer); Adanna Eziri (Props Designer); Jacinda Ratcliffe (Choreographer); Victoria Nassif (Intimacy Director); Mark Brown (Master Electrician); Mick Marcotte (Technical Director); Claire Kaplan (Assistant Director); Zuzel García (Assistant Lighting Designer); Ben Montague (Assistant Projections Designer); Rachel Katz (Assistant Stage Manager)

*Denotes First Floor Theater Company Member

Dates: May 15 - June 14, 2025 (Previews May 15, 17, 18, 21)

Press Opening: Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 8 p.m.

Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.

Run Time: Approximately 100 minutes

Location: The Bookspan at The Den Theatre (1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.)

Tickets: General Admission: $10 - $35 

Limited number of $10 access tickets available for all public performances.

Box Office: https://www.firstfloortheater.com

Images: Available at the First Floor Theater Media Center

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Images available for download at this link

ABOUT FIRST FLOOR THEATER

Founded in 2012, First Floor Theater has garnered a reputation for pairing some of the most cutting-edge scripts in Chicago and the American Theater with a signature innovative design style. Shortly after their inaugural season, FFT was named “Best New Theater Company” by the Chicago Reader. FFT was also honored to be recognized with the 2018 Francesca Primus Prize from ATCA for their production of Leah Nanako-Winkler’s Two Mile Hollow, and in Newcity’s Players 2019: “The Fifty People Who Really Perform for Chicago.” Some of First Floor’s notable past productions include Hooded or Being Black for Dummies, Mike Pence Sex Dream, Two Mile Hollow, peerless, Plano, and Pro-Am. First Floor Theater is a Resident Company at The Den Theatre.