Steven Simoncic's BROKEN FENCES extended at 16th Street Theater

Broken Fences by Steven Simoncic Directed by Ann Filmer and Ilesa Duncan

Garfield Park, Chicago: where the speed of gentrification accelerates and property taxes rise…
Hoody and D have been in the neighborhood for years. Czar and April have saved for years to buy their first home. As Hoody struggles to cover his property tax bill and Czar struggles to join the community, both struggle to maintain separate identities and accept the changes surrounding them. Broken Fences examines culture, race and socio-economics in the modern American Village with humor, humanity and dignity.

"With 16th Street Theater’s production of Broken Fences. three artistic directors – Ann Filmer (16th Street), Ilesa Duncan (Pegasus Players), and Daniel Bryant (Congo Square) – have united for this multi-layered look at a neighborhood’s footprint in the past, present and future...

Playwright Steven Simoncic’s tale of gentrification is mind-broadening. It starts out familiar. A white couple moves next door to a black couple. After that introduction, Simoncic spins us around to see these homes from every possible angle. The evolving story is riveting. His characters are authentic. His dialogue is natural. The banter is over the fence ‘getting to know you’ awkward and casual. There is plenty of humor within the drama. A boot camp scene between a hustler (Eric Lynch) and a Shaumburg couple (Bradford R. Lund and Tasha Anne James) is especially hysterical."
Read the full eview in Chicago Theater Beat