Stef Tovar, Jeff Award-winning actor, American Theater Co. ensemble member and former resident of Los Angeles, announced Friday he has launched The Route 66 Theatre Co.

Its mission is "to cultivate dynamic, relevant and provocative stories that bridge the 2,448 miles of cultural divide, seeking to be the leading arts organization for both national artists and audiences along the historic highway."

Along with Artistic Director Tovar, the company also includes Judge Gloria Coco, Heather Meyers, John Mohrlein, Jenniffer Weigel and Gwendolyn Whiteside.

The Route 66 Theatre Co.'s first production will be the Chicago premiere of John Kolvenbach's "On an Average Day," coproduced with the Vs. Theatre Co. of Los Angeles.

The show will preview July 30, open at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 and run through Aug. 31 at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater Upstairs Mainstage, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Ron Klier will direct.

"On an Average Day" first premiered in London's West End in 2002, starring Woody Harrelson and Kyle MacLachlan and directed by John Crowley. Both black comedy and psychological drama, the film tells the story of the emotional fog surrounding the relationship between two estranged brothers. Robert is clearly in desperate trouble and unraveling, just as his neat and controlled brother Jack arrives after a long absence. The piece evokes the tension of a mystery thriller though the lens of brutal family dysfunction.

The Chicago stage premiere of "On an Average Day" will star Los Angeles-based actor Johnny Clark along with Chicagoan Tovar.

Clark and Tovar will reprise their roles from the critically acclaimed, sold-out run in Los Angeles.

Tovar, who will play the brother Jack, most recently was seen as Knute Rockne in the world premiere musical "Knute Rockne: All American" at Theatre at the Center in Munster.

In fall 2007, he served as interim artistic director of American Theater Co.

In Chicago, Tovar has worked at The Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Northlight Theatre, Organic Theater, Briar Street, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre and Apple Tree Theatre, where he won a Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play for "Bald to the Heat."

Jenniffer Weigel, daughter of the late Chicago sportscaster, Tim Weigel, is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and published author whose book, "Stay Tuned," chronicles 12 years of research and interviews with the likes of James Van Praagh, don Miguel Ruiz and Deepak Chopra.

This August she will bring this book to the stage with her one-person show "I'm Spiritual Dammit!"

It will be produced by The Route 66 Theatre Co. at the Viaduct Theater, directed by Scott Cummins. The show opens Aug. 15 and runs through Sept. 14.

For tickets or more information, (773) 871-3000 or www.route66theatre.org.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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