Podtalk: Christine Marie on ‘Xmas in Lost Pines’ at Chicago’s Prop Thtr, Dec. 6-13, 2019

CHICAGO – Theater art is collaborative, and it’s often the design of a stage that sets the tone for the play that unfolds. The Curious Theatre Branch presents an original holiday play called “Xmas in Lost Pines,” opening Friday, December 6th, 2019 at the Prop Thtr (theatre) on Chicago’s Northwest side, with four performances through December 13th (all 8pm). Christine Marie is the set designer, creating the mood that writer/director Matt Rieger is expressing in the work. The play is followed by the “Grumpy Christmas Cabaret,” and all the information is available by clicking here. [19]

Opening December 6th, 2019, at Chicago’s Prop Thtr
Photo credit: Curious Branch Theatre

“Xmas in Lost Pines” features three disparate and lost souls, as they find each other on an Xmas tree farm during the holiday eve. With each other’s help, they confront their pasts and perceived shortcomings. Their commonality is a shared bleak view of the present and future, so they connect through the collective realization that each has something to give and share.

Set designer Christine Marie and writer/director Matt Rieger collaborated through the Prop Thtr and the Curious Theatre Branch, and found out that they grew up about an hour apart around Pittsburgh. The Northwest side Prop has funky and soulful storefront spaces, and they consistently give artists an opportunity to create theater.

Set Designer Christine Marie for ‘Xmas in Lost Pines’
Photo credit: Curious Branch Theatre

In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Christine Marie talks design, collaboration and communication in “Xmas in Lost Pines.”

[21]	By PATRICK McDONALD [22] Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [21]