Open Space Arts (OSA), who recently won some of the top honors in the Joseph Jefferson Awards for 2024 productions, wraps up its dynamic second season in April and May with three programs of staged readings and the international premiere of SCANDALOUS BOY, David Atfield's historical queer love story. All performances will be at Open Space Arts, 1411 W. Wilson Avenue (1/2 block east of Clark St.).
 
The series of staged readings will begin on April 25 with BREAKING THE CODE, Hugh Whitemore's powerful 1986 drama about Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician who pioneered modern computing and played a pivotal role in World War II by deciphering the German Enigma code. BREAKING THE CODE intertwines Turing's groundbreaking achievements with his personal struggles, particularly his persecution for homosexuality—a factor that led to his tragic demise. The play offers a profound exploration of the man behind the genius, highlighting the societal injustices he faced and his enduring legacy in the fields of cryptography and computer science. BREAKING THE CODE will be directed by Jack Dugan Carpenter and will be performed one night only, on Friday April 25 at 7:30 pm. Suggested donation is $10.00.
 
Following BREAKING THE CODE will be a riveting 90-minute program of new short plays called 100 DAYS featuring characters affected by the current political landscape. Curated by PlaywrightPower.com and directed by its co-founder Tara Blau Smollen, the production will feature eight compelling new 10-minute plays written since the last election, selected from 167 submissions. 100 DAYS will open on April 30, the 100th day of the new administration, with the same plays repeated on May 1, 2, 3, and 4. Performances will be Wednesday, April 30 through Saturday, May 3 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, May 4 at 3:00 pm. Suggested donation is $10.00.
 
The readings series will conclude with a staged reading of NOCTURNAL ADMISSIONS, a thrilling and provocative screenplay by Christian Reda, winner of the 2025 Queer Expression Writing Contest for Stage and Screen. This gripping romantic melodrama blends crime, suspense, and forbidden love in a story that challenges power and prejudice. Joe Kowalski, a 20-year veteran of the LAPD, is assigned to protect Hector "Angel" Cruz, a young Latino hustler and the sole witness to the murder of a married senatorial candidate he was hired to escort for the evening. As Joe fights to keep Angel safe, the last thing he expects is to fall in love. NOCTURNAL ADMISSIONS will be performed on Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 pm. Suggested donation is $10.00.
 
Open Space Arts' 2024-25 season will conclude with a fully staged production of SCANDALOUS BOY by David Atfield, in its International Premiere since its world premiere in Atfield's native Australia. The play is the story of the love between the emperor Hadrian and Antinous in pre-Christian Rome but framed in a twenty-first century setting with the statue of Antinous coming to life in modern Australia to tell his story. SCANDALOUS BOY will be directed by Benjamin Mills and will run from May 23 through June 8. Cast and production team will be announced soon.
 
All performances are at Open Space Arts's hyper-intimate 20-seat theater at 1411 W Wilson, in Chicago.
 
LISTING INFORMATION
 
BREAKING THE CODE
By Hugh Whitemore
Directed by Jack Dugan Carpenter
Friday, April 25, 2025 – 7:30 pm
Open Space Arts
1411 W. Wilson Ave.,
Suggested donation $10.00
Website: www.openspacearts.org
 
Hugh Whitemore's powerful 1986 drama about Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician who pioneered modern computing and played a pivotal role in World War II by deciphering the German Enigma code.
 
100 DAYS
Curated by Playwright Power.com
Directed by Tara Blau Smollen
April 30 – May 4, 2025
Wednesday – Saturday at 7:30 pm. Sunday at 3:00 pm
Open Space Arts
1411 W. Wilson Ave.,
Suggested donation $10.00
Website: www.openspacearts.org
 
A riveting 90-minute program of new eight compelling new short plays featuring characters affected by the current political landscape. Curated by PlaywrightPower.com and directed by co-founder Tara Blau Smollen.
 
NOCTURNAL ADMISSIONS
By Christian Reda
Saturday, May 10, 2025 – 7:30 pm
Open Space Arts
1411 W. Wilson Ave.,
Suggested donation $10.00
Website: www.openspacearts.org
 
Staged reading of a gripping romantic melodrama screenplay that blends crime, suspense, and forbidden love in a story that challenges power and prejudice. Joe Kowalski, a 20-year veteran of the LAPD, is assigned to protect Hector "Angel" Cruz, a young Latino hustler and the sole witness to the murder of a married senatorial candidate he was hired to escort for the evening. As Joe fights to keep Angel safe, the last thing he expects is to fall in love.
 
SCANDALOUS BOY
By David Atfield
Directed by Benjamin Mills
May 23- June 8, 2025
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 6:00 pm
Open Space Arts
1411 W. Wilson Ave.,
Tickets $30.00
Website: www.openspacearts.org
 
The story of the love between the emperor Hadrian and Antinous in pre-Christian Rome but framed in a twenty-first century setting with the statue of Antinous coming to life in modern Australia to tell his story.
 
BIOS
 
Hugh Whitemore (Playwright, BREAKING THE CODE) was a distinguished English playwright and screenwriter. He began his writing career in British television, contributing original teleplays and adaptations of classic works by authors such as Charles Dickens and Charlotte Brontë. Whitemore twice received the Writer's Guild of Great Britain award. His notable works include STEVIE (1977), focusing on poet Stevie Smith, and PACK OF LIES (1983), depicting the events leading to the arrest of two Americans spying for the Russians in London. Whitemore's work for American television includes CONCEALED ENEMIES (1984), about the Alger Hiss case; and THE GATHERING STORM (2002), focusing on a troubled period in Winston Churchill's life. Both earned him Emmy Awards. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and an Honorary Fellow of King's College, London.
 
Jack Dugan Carpenter (Director, BREAKING THE CODE) is a distinguished director and actor with extensive experience in the Chicago theater scene. He has collaborated with numerous theater companies, including The Plagiarists, where he served as Managing and Development Director from 2011 to 2025. His directorial credits with The Plagiarists encompass productions such as MÜNSTERSPIEL, SOME LIKE IT RED, GILGAMESH, THESE SAINTS WILL BURN, WAR SONG, MATRYOSHKA, AND CAESURA: A BUTCHERY. Beyond The Plagiarists, Carpenter has directed CHARLEY'S AUNT, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, and FIGMENTS with Saint Sebastian Players, as well as THE ALCHEMIST and THE ARMAGEDDON DANCE PARTY with Nothing Special Productions.
 
Playwright Power.com (Curator, 100 DAYS) Playwright Power empowers playwrights to spark change and inspire dialogue through impactful theatrical storytelling. Created in response to the 2024 election, the organization solicited new short plays featuring characters affected by the current political landscape, culminating in this electrifying 90-minute program.
 
Tara Blau Smollen  (Director, 100 DAYS) is an award-winning actor, director, playwright, and theater professor. She holds an MFA in Acting from the National Theater Conservatory in Denver and has worked extensively Off-Broadway and in regional theaters across the U.S. As the former Artistic Director of Porchlight Theater Company, her children's plays reached over 10,000 students in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a playwright, she was a finalist in Lifeline Theatre Company's 3rd Annual BIPOC Adaptation and Showcase for Sisters, an African American reimagining of Chekhov's THREE SISTERS. Her recent direction of Jen Silverman's THE MOORS was named one of the best plays in the Bay Area in 2024 by THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE.
 
Christian Reda (Screenwriter, NOCTURNAL ADMISSIONS) is an accomplished screenwriter with a diverse portfolio spanning multiple genres. His works include THE ISLAND HOUSE (horror/thriller), LADY IN A JAM (action/romance), SIX NIGHTS TO DESTINY (sci-fi/romance), and NOCTURNAL ADMISSIONS (romantic melodrama/thriller).

David Atfield (Writer, SCANDALOUS BOY) David Atfield is an Australian stage writer and director, based in Canberra, where he has been Writer/Director/Producer at The Street Theatre since 2018, and Writer/Producer at Canberra Theatre Center since 2021. David moved to Canberra in 1992 to work with Company Skylark, writing and directing plays for them, and later that year formed BITS (A Break In the Silence) Theatre Company. His plays include LOVELY LOUISE, about silent film star Louise Lovely, PINK TRIANGLES, a play about the Nazi persecution of homosexual men. In 2000 he directed a production of it, again at the Street Theatre. Other plays include CLEAN, EXCLUSION, and CHIAROSCURO.  His 2014 production of SCANDALOUS BOY was named one of the top five productions of the year by THE CANBERRA TIMES and the script was short-listed for the Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation Playwriting Award, New York
 
Benjamin Mills (Director, SCANDALOUS BOY) is an actor, designer, director, and Chicago theatre jack of all trades. His design work has been seen at Theatre L'Acadie, Open Space Arts, and Big Noise Theatre. Most recently seen on stage in SPRING AWAKENING, GREY GARDENS THE MUSICAL, THE LEARNED LADIES, BONNIE AND CLYDE THE MUSICAL, and a three-show tour with Great Works Touring Theatre. Benjamin is a Company Member/Resident Costume Designer with Theatre L'Acadie. SCANDALOUS BOY marks Benjamin's Chicago directorial debut.
 
OPEN SPACE ARTS, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is dedicated to combating homophobia and transphobia through the transformative power of creativity and cultural expression. Our mission is to foster inclusivity, promote understanding, and empower marginalized communities by utilizing various artistic mediums to challenge discriminatory beliefs and attitudes. OSA won some of the top honors in the Joseph Jefferson Awards for work produced in 2024, including Production of a Play – Short Run (COCK), Direction of a Play – Short Run (Michael D. Weber- LIGHT SWITCH), Performer in a Principal Role – Short Run  (Philip Andrew Monnett – LIGHT SWITCH), and Performer in a Supporting Role – Short Run (Sonya Robinson – COCK) .

Additionally, Open Space Arts has produced SUNSETS: TWO ACTS ON A BEACH, ROSENBERG, MASSAGE THERAPY, MERCY KILLING, MR. PARKER, "it's been ten years since everyone died. a play about final girls." and THE KRAMER PROJECT in live performances. OSA also produces the Queer Expressions Film Fest, a hybrid fest of streaming and in-person events, which runs from November 1 to July 1 annually. Open Space Arts is led by David Zak.