NOT  BITTER     

     NOR  SWEET     

Three people gathered around a desk in an office setting. A woman is talking on a landline phone, another woman is leaning on her hand, and a man is writing while looking intently at a paper. The desk is cluttered with papers and a telephone. Background includes a notice about office cleanup day and a plant.

Whether it’s self love, platonic love, romantic love, love gained or loved lost it has shapes us into who we are today. Come explore our devisers’ memories, dreams, and wishes and we ask each other an eternal question…what is love? Not Bitter Nor Sweet was Lazy Susan Theatre Co.’s second devised production. Performed during the 2025 Chicago Theatre Week.

This show is about love.

“The tone of the show is funny and quirky, but also very somber and thoughtful during various soliloquies. Which is what stands out about this production... Each time. It’s a great choice that is extremely effective and captivating.”

ALLI DOUBEK, ENTERTAINING CHICAGO

“This was a beautiful production and I’m excited to see what [Lazy Susan Theatre Co.] does next!”

LISA, @THEATERINCHICAGO

“The already unbelievable world further crosses the threshold—telephone cords are strung across the stage, post-it notes shroud a character in technicolor—is inventive and compelling. Indeed, many of the elements required for strong, attention-grabbing theater are present throughout the performance.”

CHARLES KENNY, NEWCITY STAGES

CAST & CREATIVE

*- DENOTES A LAZY SUSAN THEATRE CO. COMPANY MEMBER
†- DENOTES LAZY SUSAN THEATRE CO. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Manuela Álvarez
Performer

Jake Griffith
Performer

Smiling woman with blonde hair and hoop earrings
Portrait of a person with long dark hair and blue eyes, wearing a black top, against a gray background.

Hannah Loessberg*†
Director/Performer

Allison Ristaino
Performer

Smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a sleeveless burgundy top, neutral background.
Person smiling behind a control panel in a dimly lit setting, wearing glasses and a Chicago Bears sweatshirt.

Nealie Tinlin*†
Director/Performer

Sarah Schorle*
Stage Manager

Portrait of a smiling person with short dark hair, wearing a navy sweater with a collar and colorful circular patterns, against a brown background.
Portrait of a smiling person with curly dark hair wearing a black top against a dark background.
Smiling woman with wavy hair, wearing a red floral dress, pearl necklace, and headband, against a gray background.

Allison Horvatin
Performer

Martha Hansen
Performer

A woman wearing a white sweater with glasses perched on her head. She has long dark hair, glossy lips, and is standing in front of a green leafy plant.
Person with pink hair and glasses at an outdoor setting, wearing a tank top and watch, smiling with chin resting on hand. Background features trees and a billboard.

Ella Boyd-Wong
Asst. Stage Manager

Amina Gilbert*
Lighting & Sound Designer

Group of people posing playfully in an indoor setting with a purple tint and table with cake.

We started this company with a love for devised theatre and the idea of creating a piece of art from scratch with other artists in a collaborative process. Our first production with Lazy Susan was If the Moon Never Came Back which took the form of vignettes of our personal stories about the moons of our lives. From this production we learned so much and knew that more devising was in our future. For Not Bitter Nor Sweet, we knew we wanted to talk about love in its many facets, and how love or the loss of it shapes us all. And we knew it somehow took place in an office. Starting with this idea, we assembled a group of talented artists who brought in stories from their own personal lives and we set out to weave these stories together to create a play. This entire show was written, directed, and shaped in only four weeks. We didn’t have a script until the end of week two. Although we were a little nervous at times, we knew that this was a part of the process of creating something new, and working with other artists and crew. We kept reminding ourselves to trust the process. We did, and we believe something sweet and poignant came from it. We give special thanks to the Greenhouse for giving us a home and, our wonderful team here at Lazy Susan for supporting us throughout this process and making all our dreams come true. Sending love to our family and friends for accompanying us on this journey.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE