Son Brings Late Father’s Play to the Stage at Chicago State University

Son Brings Late Father’s Play to the Stage at Chicago State University

Free November 12–13 program pairs Earle Chisolm’s “Two in the Backroom” with India Nicole Burton’s “Tear Gas”

CHICAGO — A family’s creative legacy will take the stage at Chicago State University when lecturer Earle Chisolm-El performs the lead role in “Two in the Backroom,” written by his late father, Earle Chisolm, during a free theatre program November 12–13, 2026.

Presented by CSU’s Department of Theatre and directed by Professor Sean Parris, the program pairs “Two in the Backroom” with “Tear Gas” by India Nicole Burton. Both plays are free and open to the public.

“Two in the Backroom” is set in a bar in the 1970s, where two people share a conversation that lingers. For Chisolm-El, performing in the production offers an opportunity to share his father’s work with a new audience.

“Tear Gas” centers on a group of teenagers confronting a tragedy that changes their world. Together, the productions reflect the program’s theme: “Two One-Acts • One Stage • Different Worlds.”

Performances take place Thursday, November 12, at 12:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Friday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m., in Douglas Hall, Room 116 (Black Box), at Chicago State University. The combined program is expected to run no longer than one hour and 15 minutes.

Community members, students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend. Reporters, photographers, and broadcasters are welcome to request interviews or coordinate coverage in advance.

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