Photos: "Six Men Dressed Like Joseph Stalin" at A Red Orchid Theatre

Production Runs May 28 - June 22, 2025

Chicago, Illinois (May 27, 2025) – A Red Orchid Theatre  today released production images of its Chicago Premiere of SIX MEN DRESSED LIKE JOSEPH STALIN, written by Dianne Nora and directed by Ensemble Member dado. The play, starring Ensemble Members Esteban Andres Cruz and John Judd, runs May 28 - June 22, 2025 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St. Tickets ($35 - $50) are available at www.aredorchidtheatre.org. 

Photo credit: Evan Hanover 

When Soso is left for dead on the Eastern Front, he’s taken in by the Kremlin due to his shocking resemblance to a certain someone. Koba is tasked with training him to perform the role of a lifetime: Stalin’s body double. While Soso is a performer—trained to dance, juggle, and tour the countryside entertaining peasants—Koba is an actor’s actor, a student of Stanislavski himself (maybe you’ve heard of his System?), committed to the pursuit of perezhivanie, or experiencing a character’s reality. Together, the doubles prepare for the Conference at Tehran, when three so-called Great Men (or were they merely players?) decided the fate of the 20th century. 

FACT SHEET:

SIX MEN DRESSED LIKE JOSEPH STALIN

Title: SIX MEN DRESSED LIKE JOSEPH STALIN

Written By: Dianne Nora

Directed By: dado*

Cast: Esteban Andres Cruz* (Soso), John Judd* (Koba); understudies: Rafael López (Soso u/s); Scott Westerman (Koba u/s)

Production Team: Lauren Lassus (Stage Manager), Patrick Starner(Production Manager), Grant Sabin* (Scenic Designer), Myron Elliott* (Costume Designer), Levi Wilkins (Lighting Designer), Angela Joy Baldasare(Sound Designer), Ab Rieve (Props Designer), Lana Whittington (Violence Choreographer), Jason K. Martin (Voice and Text Specialist), Tom Daniel(Technical Director), Tanya Palmer (Dramaturg), Tyler Struble (Assistant Director), Sheri Tarrer (Assistant Stage Manager), Nini Bagundo (Script Supervisor), Duncan Hon (Master Electrician)

* denotes A Red Orchid Theatre Ensemble Member

Dates: May 28 - June 22, 2025

Schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sundays at 3 p.m.

Location: A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St.

Tickets: $35-$50 regular run. Student, senior, and group discounts available. 

Box Office: (312) 943-8722 or online at www.aredorchidtheatre.org 

Sponsors: Production Sponsors: Heidi Graham, Andrea Mitchel, and Barbara & Randy Thomas. Developmental Sponsor: Kate Gray.

Images: Available at the Media Center at this link

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Images available at the Media Center at this link

ABOUT A RED ORCHID THEATREA Red Orchid Theatre has served as an artistic focal point in the heart of the Old Town community of Chicago since 1993 and was honored with a 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Over the past 31 years, its Resident Ensemble has welcomed into its fold an impressive array of award-winning actors, playwrights and theatre artists with the firm belief that live theatre is the greatest sustenance for the human spirit. A Red Orchid is well known and highly acclaimed for its fearless approach to performance and design in the service of unflinchingly intimate stories.  

A Red Orchid Theatre is: Karen Aldridge, Lance Baker, Kamal Angelo Bolden, Esteban Andres Cruz, Dado, Mike Durst, Sherman Edwards, Myron Elliott, Jennifer Engstrom, Kirsten Fitzgerald, Joseph Fosco, Steve Haggard, Levi Holloway, Mierka Girten, Larry Grimm, John Judd, Karen Kawa, Karen Kessler, Travis A. Knight, Danny McCarthy, Shade Murray, Brett Neveu, Sadieh Rifai, Grant Sabin, Michael Shannon, Guy Van Swearingen, Doug Vickers and Natalie West.  

Sponsor Information 

A Red Orchid Theatre remains grateful for the support of our board, donors, and loyal audience who continue to champion our ambitious and powerful storytelling. These sponsors help to create a platform for our talented Ensemble to reach new audiences, and ensure that we remain a source for honest, compassionate, and aesthetically rigorous theatre-making. 

A Red Orchid Theatre’s 32nd Season is sponsored by Kamehachi, Picnic Wine & Provisions, and Roost Roastery. The Production Sponsors for Six Men Dressed Like Joseph Stalin are Heidi Graham, Andrea Mitchel, andBarbara & Randy Thomas. Developmental Sponsor: Kate Gray.

Interested in sponsoring a production? By partnering with us as a sponsor, you will help to take our work to the next level of artistic excellence, while also receiving deeper access to our artists and the creative process. To learn more, please contact Development Director Stephanie Shum at stephanie@aredorchidtheatre.org or 312-943-8722.