Event

MUSKET AND THE RAT

" Musket and the Rat is a sharply written and beautifully crafted play. It's tough but pure and the performances are absolutely excellent ... bravo!"
-- nohoartsdistrict.com

"An edgy and hard-hitting drama. ... Masterly directed by Simon Lees."
-- Accessibility Live

The story:

Musket Cherry is a young woman living in the basement of her deadbeat mother's house in Chicago.

She sells heroin to support them both -- whenever she's not smoking pot on the couch with her best friend, Gay Stevie.

The only good things in her life are her younger brother, Weso, and her man, Billy. After Weso gets thrown in jail on a trumped-up charge, Billy gets jumped by a rival dealer who steals the bail money. Musket embarks on an odyssey of violence and revenge.

"Every piece of fabric that's been woven into this story has come from pain, suffering and experience," says playwright Sammy Horowitz.

"Every single one of these characters were inspired by people I've known in my life. I know Musket. I know Billy. I know them all. This is who they are, how they talk, what they say ... in some cases verbatim."

> Read the full interview with "Musket and the Rat" writer Sammy Horowitz.

"Musket and the Rat" runs through Jan. 18 at the Arena Stage at Theatre of Arts. The play is directed by Simon Lees.

Cast members: Maya Schnaider plays the lead role of Musket Cherry. Adrian Burks is Billy. Other players: Lucas Jackson, Curt Cornelius, Adam Pasen, Garrick LeWinter, Michelle Holmes, Angel Lizarraga, Emma Hoss and Sammy Horowitz.

Photos (from top left): Director Simon Lees; playwright Sammy Horowitz; Maya Schnaider (Musket); Adrian Burks (Billy); Lucas Jackson (Dan); and Michelle Holmes (Tabitha).

> Read "Musket and the Rat" cast bios.