Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, concludes its 2025/26 Season with the sweeping yet intimate play Leopoldstadt, written by the late, celebrated playwright Tom Stoppard, directed by Carey Perloff. Leopoldstadt is the largest production in Writers Theatre's history and includes a remarkable 29-member ensemble of Chicago actors and script revisions made by Stoppard and Perloff expressly for the Writers Theatre production. 

"Tom Stoppard's final play is one of his most personal, emotionally powerful, and epic in its scope. This summer, Writers audiences will experience Leopoldstadt in the most intimate venue the play has ever been performed in and feel every word of it. It will almost be like you are inside this family's Vienna flat with them through the decades," said Braden Abraham. "With Tom's blessing, and through the ingenuity of director Carey Perloff—one of Stoppard's closest collaborators—her creative team, and a large ensemble of Chicago's finest actors, we are attempting something with this presentation that has never been done before."

Tickets are now on sale for the celebrated play running in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe; 847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org.

The all-Chicago cast includes many performers new to the Writers stage, including Steppenwolf ensemble member Ian Barford and Lookingglass ensemble member Joey Slotnik.

Leopoldstadt marks the return to Writers Theatre for Sean Fortunato (The Real Thing, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The Diary of Anne Frank, Hedda Gabler, among others), Jessie Fisher (Every Brilliant Thing), Kate Fry (Arcadia, Hedda Gabler, Oh Coward, Marjorie Prime, among others), Erik Hellman (Translations, Marjorie Prime, Smart People), Andrew Mueller (Translations, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Barbara Roberston (The Detective's Wife), and Sarah Coakley Price (Eurydice) and Emma Rosenthal (The Diary of Anne Frank).

The full cast is: Justin Albinder (Zac/Nathan), Ian Barford (Hermann), Ella Bopari (Young Sally/Mimi), Levi Charnay (Young Jacob/Heini), Hanna Dworkin (Poldi/Older Hanna, Understudy Emilia/Eva), Jessie Fisher (Hilde/Rosa), Sean Fortunato (Ernst), Kate Fry (Gretl), Sam Bell-Gurwitz (Jacob/Leo), Erik Hellman (Fritz/Percy), Asha Dale Hopman (Young Rosa/Bella), Rachel Jones (Ensemble, Understudy Jana/Sally & Wilma), Theo Clark Leber (Young Jacob/Heini). Morgan Medina (Young Rosa/Bella), Andrew Mueller (Otto/Civilian, Understudy Fritz/Percy & Ernst), Grainne Ortlieb (Jana/Sally, Understudy Hanna/Hermine), Sarah Coakley Price (Wilma, Understudy Eva/Nellie), Barbara Robertson (Emilia/Older Eva), Adeline Rosenthal (Young Sally/Mimi), Emma Rosenthal (Eva/Nellie, Understudy Hilda/Rosa), Sebastian Rus (Pauli/Young Leo), Caleb Scherr (Pauli/Young Leo), Joey Slotnick (Ludwig) and Brenann Stacker (Hanna/Hermine). The understudies are: Ani Cohen, Jack Doherty, Ian Geers, Göran Norquist and Rebekah Ward.

Under the direction of Carey Perloff, a frequent collaborator and dear friend of Stoppard's, this new production features script revisions the two made expressly for Writers Theatre. The Tony Award-winning work is the final play from one of our era's greatest playwrights. A Jewish family braves the darkest and most consequential chapters of the 20th century in this epic masterpiece from the late Tom Stoppard. 

The creative team includes: Carey Perloff (Director), Faith Hart (Assistant Director), Tommy Rapley (Choreographer), Ken MacDonald (Scenic Designer), Keith Parham (Lighting Designer), Alex Jaeger (Costume Designer), Tom Watson (Makeup and Wigs Designer) and Eva Breneman (Voice/Dialects/Text).

Leopoldstadt

Written by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Carey Perloff 

Dates: First performance: Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 7:30pm
Closing performance: July 19, 2026   

Performance Schedule: 
Wednesdays: 2:00pm and 7:30pm 
Thursdays: 7:30pm  
Fridays: 7:30pm  
Saturdays: 2:00pm and 7:30pm  
Sundays: 2:00pm and 7:00pm 

Open Captioned Performance: Thursday, June 25 at 7:30pm 

ASL-Interpreted Performance: Saturday, June 27 at 2:00pm 

Pay What You Can Performances: Thursday, June 4 at 7:30pm and Sunday, June 21 at 7:00pm   

Location: Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe 

Prices: $55-$125 
Special pricing and full performance buy-out packages are available for groups of 10 or more. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Discounts are available for students, educators, theater industry professionals, active military personnel, veterans, police officers, firefighters, and their immediate families. Information is available at: https://www.writerstheatre.org/plan-your-visit/box-office-and-theatre-center/pricing--special-offers 

Box Office: The Box Office is located at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe; 847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org 

NOTES OF INTEREST 

• Directed by Carey Perloff, a longtime collaborator of the late playwright, this production marks the largest and most ambitious project in the history of Writers Theatre, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of its Jeanne Gang-designed building.
• Writers Theatre is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of its Jeanne Gang-designed building. The first production in the new venue was Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, featuring Leopoldstadt cast member Kate Fry. Staging an epic like Leopoldstadt represents the culmination of what Gang's building has made possible over the last decade.
• In addition to Arcadia, Writers has previously produced Stoppard's The Real Thing, (featuring Carrie Coon and Leopodstadt's Sean Fortunato), and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, (also featuring Fortunato).
• Writers Theatre embarked on a dedicated fundraising campaign to bring the production to fruition. To date, over $1.2 million has been raised from 37 individual donors to support the work.
• This production features specific script revisions made by Stoppard and Perloff expressly for the intimate stage at Writers Theatre. The minor, but impactful changes, included adjustments to the dialogue for American actors by taking out the anglicisms, removing a couple of the minor characters and adding an intermission.
• Leopoldstadt has been a major critical success in the US and UK and won four 2023 Tony Awards, including Best Play and two 2020 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play.
• In celebration of the largest production in Writers Theatre history and the final play from one of our era's greatest playwrights, Writers Theatre presents The Stoppard Series, an unprecedented line-up of special events to enhance the experience of the production. These events have been created to celebrate themes and events complementary to Leopoldstadt. 

The Stoppard Series

Writers Theatre continues its tradition of deep artistic engagement with The Stoppard Series, a curated collection of lectures, conversations, and community events to illuminate the historical and personal layers of Leopoldstadt.  The events, conversations and experiences included in The Stoppard Series are made possible by the Leopoldstadt sponsors. 

Details for a full slate of programming will be available soon and registration will open on May 1, 2026. 

In the meantime, registration is currently open for the following programs as part of The Stoppard Series:

The Green Room: A Conversation with Carey Perloff
Wednesday, May 6 at 7pm

At this event, Perloff will discuss her friendship and working relationship with the late Stoppard, her family's history in Vienna, and the ways this new production is leaning into WT's trademark intimacy. A podcast featuring highlights from the conversation will be available following the live event.

Leopoldstadt: The Final Word Audience Discussion

Sundays, June 28 and July 19 at noon

Join fellow audience members and WT artistic staff for a lively, in-person discussion delving into the characters, production elements and themes of the play. Come share your impressions and uncover new perspectives as we reflect on the story, its characters, and the creative choices behind this staging. Final Word discussions are intended for patrons who have seen the production.

Writers Theatre community partners for The Stoppard Series include: Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Temple Am Shalom, North Shore Congregation Israel, Glencoe Union Church, Congregation Sukkat Shalom, Northwestern - Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israeli Studies, Northwestern – Hillel, University of Chicago, Folks Operetta, Resetting the Table, Jewish Studio Project and The Art Institute of Chicago.

WRITERS THEATRE 2026/27 SEASON

The recently announced season includes Matthew Libby's Sisters, directed by Jessica Thebus; The Royale by Marco Ramirez (Orange is the New Black, Buena Vista Social Club), directed by Tyrone Phillips; Noël Coward's Brief Encounter by Emma Rice, directed by Shana Cooper and music direction by Matt Deitchman; the Strindberg thriller Creditors, written by Jen Silverman and directed by Braden Abraham; Hershey Felder's brand-new work The Piano and Me.   

Writers Theatre is offering a variety of subscriptions with an option for every theatregoer. Each subscription includes a deeply discounted ticket price, ranging from $275-$385 for one ticket to the five-play series. Flex subscriptions, with options for either four tickets ($280) or five tickets ($350), are available.

Season subscribers receive the new Writers Theatre concierge service for ticket exchanges and questions. Exclusive subscriber benefits include: complimentary ticket exchanges (upgrade fees may apply), special "subscriber-rate" prices on additional tickets, advance access to special events and programs, easy, free parking, exclusive discounts in bar items and merchandise, discounts on rental of Writers Theatre event spaces on Writers Theatre merchandise, event rentals, and more. For a complete list of benefits visit writerstheatre.org.

Season Packages are available online at www.writerstheatre.org, and at the Box Office by calling 847-242-6000.

Single tickets will go on sale for each show approximately two months prior to first preview. Single ticket prices start at $35.

ABOUT WRITERS THEATRE

Writers Theatre proudly celebrates its 35th Season.  

From its beginnings in the back room of a Glencoe bookstore, Writers Theatre established what would become its defining conviction: that vibrant language and exceptional performances in an intimate setting create a transformative theatrical experience. Today, the company is a major cultural destination in the Chicago region with a national reputation for artistic excellence, heralded by The Wall Street Journal as "America's finest regional theatre company." 

Founded in 1992, Writers has produced over 160 productions—from inventive interpretations of classics to groundbreaking new work. In 2016, the company opened a state-of-the-art theatre center designed by the internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects. The new facility includes the 255-seat Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre and the flexible 100-seat Gillian Theatre, spaces designed to preserve the company's trademark intimacy and bring audiences up close to Chicago's finest actors. The building's striking glass atrium serves as a welcoming gathering space for artists, staff and the community, open daily for reading, working and conversation.  

Led by Executive Director Kate Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, Writers Theatre welcomes more than 60,000 patrons each year. The company has established itself as an important originator of new theatrical work, having produced over 30 world premieres in its history—including Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol, Witch by Jen Silverman, Trevor the Musical by Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis, A Minister's Wife by Austin Pendleton, Jan Tranen and Josh Schmidt, The Savannah Disputation by Evan Smith and Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus's adaptation of Crime and Punishment. 

Education and community engagement remain central to Writers Theatre's mission. Each season, the organization reaches more than 5,000 students and adults through school matinees, in-school residencies and curriculum-based programs that introduce young people to professional theatre. Writers Theatre also offers a wide range of free programs for the broader community, including readings, lectures and partnerships with local organizations that make theatre accessible to audiences of all ages. 

Located just 20 miles north of downtown Chicago, Writers Theatre offers artists and audiences a setting that combines world-class theatre with the calm and accessibility of Chicago's North Shore. As Writers Theatre enters its 35th season, the company continues its commitment to artistic excellence, meaningful storytelling and the uniquely powerful connection that only intimate theatre can create. 

Writer and performer Eileen Byrne brings her acclaimed one-woman play Running with Coffee to Chicago for two performances only, presented at Lookingglass Theatre Company's Water Tower Water Works. Following successful runs in the Chicago suburbs and New York City, this intimate and deeply human solo performance will be presented Saturday, May 16, at 7:00pm and Sunday, May 17 at 1:00pm on stage in the Lookingglass lobby in the historic Water Tower Water Works, 163 Pearson Street.

Tickets, $35, are available through the Lookingglass box office at 312.337.0665 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Proceeds will benefit North Shore Senior Center. Seating is limited to 85 per performance.

In Running with Coffee, Byrne portrays eleven characters in a tour-de-force solo performance drawn from her own lived experience. When a daughter opens her home to her separated parents, one living with dementia, she finds herself navigating the emotional, logistical, and deeply personal realities of caregiving. Blending humor with poignancy, the play explores memory loss, mental health, and the quiet isolation that can exist within families.

Writer/performer Eileen Byrne comments, "This is a very personal story for me, balancing humor with real-life, mid-life struggles. By stepping into the shoes of these characters, I portray the chaotic beauty of this family faced with dementia and decades of distance. There is an incredible, healing power in finally telling your own story and I am overjoyed to be sharing it again with Chicago audiences."

Critics have praised Byrne's dynamic performance and emotional depth. Theater Pizzazz called the piece "a tale that touched the heart with sadness, regret, and guilt," noting that Byrne "assumed the characters in her personal orbit... shifting quickly into each... masterfully." Wilmette Living described the work as "a hilarious yet heartfelt look at caregiving, mid-life challenges, mental health, and the everyday chaos of a family adjusting to major life changes."

With limited seating and just two performances, Running with Coffee offers Chicago audiences a rare opportunity to experience this moving and timely work in an intimate setting. To learn more about the production, visit www.eileenbyrne.org/running-with-coffee.

Eileen Byrne is a playwright and actress who portrays eleven characters in the critically acclaimed Running With Coffee, which she recently performed off-Broadway in the United Solo Festival, Theater Row. She earned a Best Actress nomination for her performance in the 2024 1st Irish Festival. The show was first workshopped and staged for the Br!nk New Play Festival for women playwrights in Milwaukee in September 2022. Byrne's other works include The Middle (Playwrights and Artists Festival, Know Theatre in Binghamton, NY), The Gettysburg Redress (Rockford New Words Fest -West Side Show Room in Rockford, IL),. Snowglobal Warming (Players Theatre/ Zoom), the Best in Show--2019 BooFest winning play Wingman, Tenants (NYC Fest-Players Theatre), Allegations (2nd Act Players/MeToo Festival in Evanston and The One That's a Play (Stage 773).

A native of Queens, New York, Eileen Byrne is a graduate of Fordham University and holds a Master's degree from Northwestern University.

FACT SHEET / Running with Coffee

Title: Running with Coffee
Written and Performed by: Eileen Byrne

Schedule: 

Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 7:00pm

Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 1:00pm

Location:  Lookingglass Theatre Company, 163 Pearson Street, Chicago          
Outer Lobby (East Wall Stage)

Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes

Tickets: $35

Box Office:  Buy online at lookingglasstheatre.org or by phone at (312) 337-0665

The Lookingglass box office is located at Water Tower Water Works, 163 Pearson Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre today announced full casting and production team for its season-opening production of GEE'S BEND, the 2008 play by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, to play Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons from May 23 to June 7 at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center at 927 Noyes Street in Evanston. GEE'S BEND follows a family —Alice, her daughters Sadie and Nella, and Sadie's husband, Macon — from 1939 to 2002 as they experience segregation, family strife, the Civil Rights movement, and celebrity. The play is set in the real-life community of Gee's Bend – an isolated community in West Alabama's Black Belt, which has become known for the hand-stitched quilts made by generations of its women. 

Tim Rhoze, Producing Artistic Director of the company since 2010, will direct the production and design the set. His cast features Toccara Castleman, who is double-cast as Alice, the matriarch of the family, and later as Asia, Alice's granddaughter. Castleman is a multidisciplinary writer and actress whose credits include CONFEDERATES at Redtwist Theatre and I DON'T WANT TO PLAY MYSELF at The Tank in New York City. Alice's daughter Nella will be played by Jasmine Robertson, who performed in the two-actor cast of FJT'S UNTIL THE FLOOD in 2024, and was seen there most recently in 2025's HONEYPOT: BLACK SOUTHERN WOMEN WHO LOVE WOMEN. Cast in the lead role as Alice's youngest daughter, Sadie, is Kaitlyn Fields, a recent graduate of Northwestern University, who was among the cast members of HONEYPOT. Sadie's husband, Macon, will be performed by Rashun Carter, whose Chicago stage credits include GODS AND MONSTERS at Theater Wit and REASONS: A TRIBUTE TO EARTH, WIND AND FIRE for Black Ensemble Theatre.

The GEE'S BEND production team, in addition to Rhoze as director and set designer, includes David Goodman-Edberg (Lighting Designer), Rick Sims (Sound Designer), Kate Parker Barrows (Costume Designer), Sarah Kaiser (Muralist), Ben Blount (Props Designer), Melissa Blount (Quilting Instructor), Howard Godfrey Jr. (Musical Director), Charity Moody (Assistant Musical Director), Tuesdai B. Perry (Movement Specialist), Phil Timberlake (Dialect Coach), Bria Walker-Rhoze (Artistic Associate/Dramaturg), Tara Malpass (Production Stage Manager), Mary Dixon (Assistant Stage Manager), Shadana Patterson (Graphic Artist), Sholo Beverly (Poster Artist), and Shane Rogers (Technical Director/Set Builder). 
 
DC Theater Arts said, "GEE'S BEND weaves the essence of the quilt into a theatrical experience that exalts universal themes of family, faith, and overcoming adversity in a deeply moving way. "GEE'S BEND was commissioned and produced by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and has been performed at Denver Center, Cleveland Playhouse, Kansas City Rep, Northlight Theatre, Philadelphia's Arden Theatre, and Hartford Stage, among others. 
 
Tickets to GEE'S BEND are $33 and can be purchased at fjtheatre.com. Students and seniors can purchase tickets for $20 at the box office on the day of the performance. FJT is also offering Premium Gold Membership cards for $90.00 that include four reserved seats for any of the productions of the 2026 season, and other exclusive bonuses. The card can be purchased on Evanston's Parks and Recreation site. 
 

LISTING INFORMATION
 
GEE'S BEND
by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder
Directed by Tim Rhoze
May 23 – June 7, 2026
Saturdays at 7 pm, Sundays at 3 pm
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
927 Noyes St., Evanston
Tickets $33.00, Students and Seniors $20.00 at the box office. On sale at www.fjtheatre.com
Phone 847-866-5914
 
GEE'S BEND is the story of the Pettway women, quilters from the isolated community of Gee's Bend, Alabama. Beginning in 1939, the play follows Alice, her daughters Nella and Sadie, who is inspired by the real-life Gee's Bend descendant Mary Lee Bendolph, and Sadie's husband, Macon, through segregation, family strife, and the Civil Rights movement. Throughout their lives, the women's extraordinary quilts provide a respite from the turmoil around them. In the finale, Part III of the play, it is the year 2002; the quilts have been discovered as highly praised and sought-after folk art. Sadie, now 78 years old, is delighted with the recognition, and despite the lure of celebrity and the big city, she returns home to Gee's Bend and continues her lifelong passion for quilting. Wilder's play explores the resilience of the human spirit, especially as it is expressed in art, language, and gospel music. 

Drury Lane Theatre announces the appointment of Matthew D. Carney as its new Artistic Director. A longtime collaborator and key member of the artistic team at Drury Lane, Carney steps into the role following more than a decade of artistic contributions that have helped support the theatre's signature style and high standard of excellence.

Carney joined Drury Lane Theatre in June 2013 and, over the past 13 years, has served as Associate Artistic Director, Casting Director, and Company Manager. His extensive work with the organization includes directing the upcoming production of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, serving as Casting Director for more than 70 productions, and acting as resident director for the annual Theatre for Young Audiences production of A Christmas Carol. He has also worked as assistant director on productions including The 39 Steps, Steel Magnolias, Shrek, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and as costume designer for The Gin Game. Carney holds a BFA in Theatrical Design and Technology focused in Costume Design from Wright State University.

Kyle DeSantis, President of Drury Lane Productions, welcomed Carney as the new Artistic Director, "When my grandfather first raised the curtain in 1949, he created something special: a place where families discovered the magic of live theatre, children experienced their first Broadway musical, and a passion for performance was handed down through generations. Matt is just the person to carry on the  Drury Lane legacy. I have worked with him for over a decade – his artistry and leadership never ceases to amaze me. I am looking forward to his continued transcendent journey with Drury Lane. I am elated to collaborate with him as he guides us into the next era of world-class theatre in Chicagoland!

"I am deeply honored to lead the next chapter in Drury Lane's story," said Carney. "I am excited by the opportunity to build on Tony DeSantis' legacy while embracing a fresh perspective for a new generation of theatre goers. My goal is to cultivate a space where artists feel inspired to tell classic stories in new ways, audiences feel welcomed and moved by their experience, and every production reflects the excellence Drury Lane is known for."

In his new role, Carney will oversee artistic programming and production at Drury Lane Theatre, helping to shape future seasons while continuing the organization's long-standing commitment to delivering world-class entertainment. Carney's appointment marks an exciting continuation of Drury Lane's tradition of artistic excellence and collaboration.

About Drury Lane Theatre    

Built from scratch. Built in Oakbrook. Built for you. 

Founded by Anthony DeSantis over 70 years ago, Drury Lane remains a family-run organization under the leadership of President Kyle DeSantis. Drury Lane Theatre continues as a major force in the Chicagoland theatre scene, producing world-class theatre in collaboration with some of the nation's leading actors, directors, and creative minds. Drury Lane Theatre produces the highest quality theatrical experience that immerses and supports artists and audiences in the exploration of what it means to be human and to experience the transcending power of the performing and visual arts. Drury Lane strives to create an environment in which every individual or group is welcomed, respected, supported, valued and able to fully experience and participate in this transformative art form. 

The theatre has staged more than 2,000 productions and has been nominated for over 360 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Drury Lane proudly employs thousands of professional actors, musicians, designers, and crew members to entertain upwards of nine million audience members and counting.

Definition Theatre is proud to present the Amplify World Premiere of Keerah, a quick-witted dramedy by playwright Netta Walker and directed by McKenzie Chinn. Keerah will run from May 29 to June 28, 2026 at Definition @ 55th (1160 E. 55th St, Chicago, IL). Tickets start at $25 and are on sale now through definitiontheatre.org.

Two aspiring young writers meet in a Chicago neighborhood on the cusp of gentrification. Ciara, a Black American poet, and Cormac, an Irish writer on a J1 visa. They connect over their shared love of language, literature, and the art of cruelty. What begins as fun flirtation transforms into an intense summer romance—until immigration, bad decisions, and unspoken truths tear them apart.

Seven years later, now a successful TV writer in London, Ciara faces an unexpected reunion when a journalist named Dedalus arrives to interview her about her hit series—a series based on their relationship. Inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, this quick-witted dramedy asks: Can you rewrite the past? Should you? And what happens when the person you immortalized shows up to confront you?

The cast features Netta Walker, Cat Christmas, Beck Nolan, and Jacob Coggshall.

The production team includes Director McKenzie Chinn, Assistant Director Ireon Roach, Production Manager Jordan Stewart-Curet, Stage Manager Ariel Beller, Scenic Designer Isa Noe, Costume Designer Janelle Smith, Lighting Designer Garrett Bell, Sound Designer Aaron Harris Woodstein, Props Designer Cecilia Chan, and Intimacy Director Jyreika Guest.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Keerah

Dates: May 29 – June 28, 2026

Previews: May 29 – June 2, 2026

Location: Definition @ 55th | 1160 E. 55th Street, Chicago, IL

Tickets: On sale now at definitiontheatre.org

ABOUT DEFINITION THEATRE

Definition Theatre has been a vibrant force for over a decade, celebrating stories created with, inspired by, and intended for people and communities of color. Through the act of making, Definition expands perspectives, stewards resources, and bridges the possibilities found at the intersection of art, innovation, and education. Known for bold and impactful productions, we've brought to life plays by Oscar-winner Tarell Alvin McCraney, Pulitzer Prize-winners James Ijames and Jackie Sibblies Drury, and Tony Award-winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. We strive to promote equity, foster empathy, and enhance the quality of life for our community members by offering opportunities for creative, entrepreneurial, and cultural expression. Our work emphasizes collaboration in theater-making and raises awareness of career paths in the arts. In 2024, Definition leased and equipped a storefront space in Hyde Park, enabling us to engage artists and expand programs as we prepare for our permanent home in Woodlawn on the southside of Chicago. This new theater, community center, and business incubator will amplify and preserve BIPOC voices, promote social justice, and empower the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to drive positive progress through the transformative power of the arts.

Definition Ensemble members include: Adia Alli, Owais Ahmed, Ariel Beller, Jared Bellot, Carley Cornelius, Ari Craven, Julie Jachym, Willow James, Martasia Jones, Slick Jorgensen, Yeaji Kim, Kristy Hall, James Ijames, Julie Jachym, Willow James, Kiki Layne, Kelson Michael McAuliffe, Victor Musoni, Neel McNeill, Sophiyaa Nayar, Karyn Oates, Alexandra Oparka, Julian Parker, Maya Vinice Prentiss, Tyrone Phillips, Ireon Roach, Jacqueline Rosas, Christopher Sheard, and Dujon Smith.

Definition Artistic Advisory Board members include: director May Adrales, Steppenwolf ensemble member Alana Arenas, actress Shannon Cochran, actor Brandon Dirden, actor Jason Dirden, actor Jon Michael Hill, director Pam Mackinnon, Equity Quotient CEO Keryl McCord, professor JW Morrissette, director Ron OJ Parson, professor/lighting designer Kathy Perkins, media producer and host Troy Osborne Pryor, Tony Award-winning actress and stage director Phylicia Rashad, and Goodman Theatre director in residence Chuck Smith. Tyrone Phillips is the Artistic Director, Neel McNeill is the Executive Director, Willow James is the Civic Engagement Director. For additional information, visit definitiontheatre.org and @definitiontheatre on Facebook and Instagram #stayinit

The world premiere of Marbled brings drama, history, and art to the Greenhouse Theater Center this Spring. Melanie Ann Apel promises a riveting experience with this new play by Joseph Anthony Rulli.

Chicago, Illinois – April 16th – A Joe & Melanie Thing Theatre Company is proud to announce its production of Marbled by Joseph Anthony Rulli, from April 16th to 26th at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 North Lincoln Avenue. Tickets are on sale at www.greenhousetheater.org

This production of Marbled is directed by Melanie Ann Apel and features Chicago area actors in the cast. Set in present times and in a large city, see Michelangelo's life as it might have been: 
Witness the tensions between art and propriety, spirituality and religion, self and society.

"We have a solid piece on our hands with very dynamic actors and crew committed to manifesting great theatre in this theatrical city," says Director Apel. "We want to showcase the dramatic, life-affirming, and humorous levels of art, sexuality, and acceptance in our lives."

Performance Schedule:
Wednesday, April 15  – 7:00 P.M. – Dress Rehearsal/Press Night
Thursdays, April 16 & 23  – 7:00 P.M. – Opening Night (April 16 th )
Fridays, April 17 & 24 – 7:00 P.M
Saturdays, April 18 & 25 – 2:30 P.M. & 7:00 P.M.
Sundays, April 19 & 26 – 2:30 P.M
Tickets:
General Admission – $25
About A Joe & Melanie Thing Theatre Company:
We are Chicago-based artists who seek to bring original works to the stage. We are overly dramatic types who cannot resist the call of the Muses. Since 2024 we have produced works of satire (Accidental Election of an Anarchist, 2024, and Vulcan Sleeping, 2025) as well as family-friendly fare (Hanukkah, Shmanukkah!, 2025)

Teatro Vista Productions, Chicago's premier Latine theatre company, today released four out of a series of five original short prequel films on YouTube, expanding the world of its upcoming production, BOTH, beyond the stage into a digital storytelling experience. Audiences can watch the full series at this link. 

The short film series, which arrives ahead of BOTH's run April 11 – May 10 as the first production in TVP's residency at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, offers audiences an early entry point into the play's themes, characters, and the creative process. Each film, approximately three minutes long, centers on a different character and introduces key moments leading up to the events of the play. All five films will be released simultaneously as a bingeable series on YouTube, with additional short-form content shared across Teatro Vista Productions' social media platforms. 

Written by Paloma Nozicka and directed by Georgette Verdin, BOTH is co-presented with Steppenwolf Theatre Company and marks the first production in a new, multi-year residency between the two organizations. The partnership brings Teatro Vista Productions into Steppenwolf's 1700 Theater for a full-length production each season over the next three years, expanding opportunities for the company's artists while deepening collaboration between the two institutions. 

The short films reflect Teatro Vista Productions' evolution as a multidisciplinary production company, translating its work beyond live stage performances into film and digital media that connect with audiences in new ways. Inspired by the play's exploration of family, memory, and competing versions of truth, the series offers a character-driven lens into the world of BOTH. The series is written and directed by Paloma Nozicka, with cinematography by Chris Rejano, editing by Ana Christian, and produced by Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel and Amy E. Powell. Wendy Mateo and Lorena Diaz serve as Executive Producers.

"This moment represents a meaningful evolution in how we share our work," said Wendy Mateo, Artistic Director, and Lorena Diaz, Executive Director of Teatro Vista Productions. "As we begin our residency with Steppenwolf, we're thinking beyond the stage and creating opportunities for our artists to tell stories across mediums and for audiences to engage with those stories in new and more accessible ways."

The initiative is supported by a $210,000 grant from the Walder Foundation, awarded through its Organizational Innovation in the Performing Arts program and distributed over two years. The funding supports Teatro Vista Productions' efforts to develop new approaches to storytelling, audience engagement, and long-term sustainability. 

The short films are part of Teatro Vista Productions' ongoing investment in multimedia storytelling, creating new opportunities for artists and audiences to engage with its productions both onstage and beyond. 

BOTH runs April 11 – May 10, 2026, at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St. Tickets ($47) are available at www.steppenwolf.org and the box office at (312-335-1650. For more information, including updates on the short film series, visit www.teatrovista.org and follow Teatro Vista Productions on social media. 

Filament Theatre, the Northwest Side's premier theater for young audiences, is delighted to announce the cast of the world premiere of Farewell Opportunity, written by local Chicago playwright Georgette Kelly and commissioned by Filament Theatre in 2019. The piece was a finalist for the John F. Kennedy Center's New Visions/New Voices workshop/festival, which is dedicated to supporting the development of new plays and musicals for young audiences. The show officially runs May 2 – May 17, 2026, with previews beginning April 25, at Filament Theatre. 

Written by Georgette Kelly and directed by Raquel Torre, the cast of Farewell Opportunity includes: Veronique Le (Tara), Takeisha Monet (Dr. Silva), Osiris Gabriel Mundo (Opportunity), Emily Zhang (Halley), Arielle Conrad (Understudy) and Miranda "MT" Taylor (Understudy). This galactic story explores complex themes through poetic language and magical realism, asking its young audiences, "How do you keep on roving when you—or someone you love—faces a dust storm that threatens to block out the sun?" 

"This production is about creating space (in outer space) to talk about mortality and completion with younger audiences," shares Director Raquel Torre. "From my first reading of Farewell Opportunity, I was struck by its honesty, poetry, and joy. My favorite niche in theatre making is tackling tough topics through joyful language, which this play truly exemplifies!"

Farewell Opportunity will be performed on Wednesdays at 10 AM, Saturdays at 11 AM & 2 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM & 6 PM. Performances begin on April 25, with the official run spanning from May 2 through May 17. All ages welcome, best enjoyed by ages 5+. School and community group pricing available. Tickets at www.filamenttheatre.org. To inquire about school field trips or group buy-outs, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Farewell Opportunity

By Georgette Kelly

Directed by Raquel Torre

At Filament Theatre

May 2 – May 17, 2026 (with previews beginning April 25)

Farewell Opportunity follows Halley, who visits the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab and meets the Opportunity Mars rover. The two share a curious spirit and a shortened life expectancy. Halley and the NASA scientist in charge of the Mars mission find themselves transformed by an unlikely friendship—with each other, and with a rolling robot millions of miles away. 

The Creative and Design Team of Farewell Opportunity includes Georgette Kelly (Playwright), Raquel Torre (Director), Korey Pimental (Assistant Director & Disability Access Advocate), Jojo Wallenberg (Stage Manager), Emily Brink (Properties Designer), E. Tylkowski (Production Manager), Kelsey Chigas (Audience Engagement Designer), Kyle Anthony Cortés (Sound Designer), Seojung Jang (Lighting Designer), Jazmin Aurora Medina (Costume Designer), Joonhee Park (Scenic Designer), and Joel Zishuk (Projections Designer).

Filament Theatre's Producing Team and Staff include: Krissi McEachern (Managing Director), Reji Simon (Producing Artistic Director), Julia Stemper (Assoc. Director of Advancement), Caroline Watson (Filament's Assoc. Director of Engagement), and Arielle Conrad (Operations Assistant).

Cast and Creative Team Bios

Georgette Kelly (Playwright) is an internationally recognized playwright with one foot in Chicago and the other in New York. She writes for audiences of all ages, and her work has been developed with The Kennedy Center, The National New Play Network, The Alliance Theatre, and schools and universities across Chicagoland.  Plays include: Ballast, I Carry Your Heart, North Star, Faith in A Fallen World, In the Belly of the Whale, How to Hero, and currently in development: Small Planets, a new play for babies and their caregivers, co-created with Julie Ritchey.  A resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Georgette holds a B.A. in Performance Studies from Northwestern University and an M.F.A. in Playwriting from Hunter College. GeorgetteKelly.com

Raquel Torre (she/her/ella) (Director) is a Boricua theater-maker based in Chicago. She was the 2024/25 Goodman Theatre Michael Maggio Directing Fellow and has co-led La Vuelta Theatre Lab since 2013. Select Chicago directing credits include BOOK UP!, The Lizard y El Sol (Goodman); Aquí o Allá (Actors Gymnasium); Memorabilia (Teatro Vista); Kid Prince and Pablo (Lifeline Theatre); Back in the Day (UrbanTheater Company). Select Associate/Assistant Director credits include: Eureka Day (Timeline Theatre); BUST, Betrayal, Inherit the Wind (Goodman), POTUS (Steppenwolf Theatre). She holds a BA in Theatre from the Universidad de Sagrado Corazón (Puerto Rico), a certificate in Movement and Devised Theatre from Cabuia Teatro (Argentina), and an MFA in Devised Performance Practice from LISPA/Columbia College Chicago (Germany/USA). raqueltorre.com

Veronique Le (she/they) (Tara) is a Vietnamese American actor, musician, and writer from Minneapolis, MN. They earned their BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University, where they appeared in Do You Feel Anger? (Sofia), Peerless (L), A Wrinkle in Time (Mrs. Whatsit/Reader #5), and Much Ado About Nothing (Margaret/Seacole). Chicago credits include Seagulls (Masha) and Dummy in Diaspora (Nic Demon). In addition to acting, Veronique is passionate about storytelling and music-making—especially when collaborating with friends. They recently released their debut single, "Wondergirl Cookie Bun," available on all music streaming platforms, with a music video on the way. As an artist, they are committed to amplifying untold stories and hope to illuminate the Vietnamese American experience. @verohnick · veroniquele.com

Takeisha Monet (Dr. Silva) is excited to join the cast of Farewell Opportunity as Dr. Silva. This role marks a meaningful shift in her artistic journey—stepping into a character who blends warmth, intelligence, and curiosity in a story created for young audiences and families. Takeisha is thrilled to explore a role that stretches her range in a new, heartfelt direction. Her recent screen and stage work includes The 4th Wall (Chassidy), the series Sunday Evenings, True Deception, Undercover, and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. She also appeared in the festival version of Trauma Attraction, which won its category, and will later return for its full production. Across her projects, Takeisha is known for bringing emotional depth, honesty, and a grounded presence to every character she embodies.

Osiris Gabriel Mundo (ki/kin) (Opportunity) is a Disabled Mexican Yoreme (Indigenous) Artist. Ki is a professional actor, an experienced writer/playwright, a classically trained singer, teaching artist, and emerging Director. Credits include Lizard y El Sol (Goodman Theatre), Skyflint pt 1 (Haven Theatre), Rebirth of Osiris (Haven Theatre), SPARK! Artist in Residence (Filament Theatre), as well as "Hora de Cuentinflas"; an hour of Mexican Songs and Spanish Storytime (NOITP Grant Recipient). This summer, Osiris co-wrote and performed the music for "El Barzon" (Free Street Theatre) and teaches with Changosnakedog. Ki creates theatre that illuminates the obscured and inspires innovation; often at the intersections of identity (race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and Disability). Ki is driven by the need to express in a way that everyone can understand, regardless of age and capacity. Directing credits include; Gutenberg! The Musical at A/C Theatre Company, Credible Women with Proud Mary Theatre, The Rebirth of Osiris at Haven Theatre, and Floating Girls Go To The Moon for the We Women Play Fest with Artemisia Theatre. Osiris can also be found @Cuentinflas on Instagram.

Emily Zhang (she/her) (Halley) is a Chicago-based actor and is so excited to be performing with Filament again. In addition to Farewell Opportunity, she is currently performing in Theater of the Mind created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkhar, at The Goodman Theatre. Favorite Chicago credits include The F*ck House (Strawdog Theatre), Hannah and Halmoni Save the World (Filament Theatre), Next Door (Producingbody), Among the Dead (Jackalope Theatre), Flush (Campfire Repertory), Woo Girls (The Factory Theatre), RACECAR RACECAR RACECAR, Blood of My Mother's (Bramble Theatre). Film/TV credits include System of Colors. Additionally, she performs improv and sketch comedy, and is a producer and workshop leader with Asian American Arts Chicago. She is a Northwestern University graduate, a SAG-AFTRA member, and is represented by Gray Talent Group.

Arielle Conrad (she/her) (Understudy) is so thrilled to be a part of Farewell Opportunity! You may have seen her in FORTS here at Filament, or working as Filament's General Operations Assistant. Arielle is a Chicago-based actor, artist, singer, storyteller, and streamer. She has a deep passion for story telling, helping and advocating for others, and creating meaningful art. Before moving to Chicago 3 years ago, Arielle moved from Southern Indiana, where she grew up, and worked for Florida Repertory Theatre. She spent time touring to schools all across Florida, bringing theatre to young people throughout the state. When she's not at Filament, Arielle enjoys spending time with her 3 cats, streaming video games to a lovely community of folks online, and doing lots of crafts.

Miranda Taylor (she/they) (Understudy) is a type one diabetic, Chicago-based actor, director, stage manager and production manager. Miranda studied at Gordon College and received her master's degree from Adelphi University in Theatre Education. She has worked with Writers Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Proboscis Theatre, Artistic Home, Paramount Theatre, Kerfuffle TVY, Paramount Theatre, Skyline Children's Theatre, and has been a part of a number of new works projects. They are passionate about developing new works for and with young artists, creating safe spaces for artists of all abilities and provoking empathy. 

About Filament Theatre

Filament Theatre, on Chicago's Northwest Side, has been creating innovative theatre for young audiences since 2007, serving thousands of families annually, often at no cost, through theatre programming, camps, school residencies, and classes. The mission of Filament Theatre is to create a more equitable society by celebrating and amplifying the perspectives and experiences of young people through the performing arts. Creating immersive and site-specific theatre that inspires, empowers, and activates young people and their communities, Filament's unique production process welcomes young people into the room as essential collaborators.  Filament imagines a world where young people are the experts and adults are the allies working to build a more just world for all. As the only theatre of its kind in Chicago, Filament is a vital home for innovative artists and young people finding and using their power through the performing arts. Awards: TYA Artistic Innovation Award - FORTS: Build Your Own Adventure (2025), Chicago Tribune Best Off-Loop Theatre (2016), Illinois Theatre Association Award of Excellence in Theatre for Young Audiences (2020), Bayless Family Foundation Stepping Stone Grant Recipient (2022). 

Filament Theatre is partially supported by a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, The Growing Tree Foundation, Laura Fox Charitable Foundation, Mark Edelman Theater Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Arts Council, and more.

4041 N MILWAUKEE AVE. CHICAGO IL 60641 - (773) 270-1660 -  WWW.FILAMENTTHEATRE.ORG