Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Artistic Director Braden Abraham, continues its 2024/25 Season with Frida...A Self Portrait, starring acclaimed writer and performer Vanessa Severo as both herself and legendary Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, directed by Joanie Schultz. Frida...A Self Portrait will run January 23 – February 23, 2025 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The Press Opening is Friday, January 31, 2025 at 7:30pm.
Tickets are on sale at Writers Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe; 847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org.
Iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo was a woman who lived boldly, loved wildly, and painted prolifically in order to see herself and the world around her more clearly. Witness this extraordinary figure come to life onstage through playwright and performer Vanessa Severo, who brings breathtaking physicality and raw honesty to this stunningly creative production. With music and movement, Vanessa cracks open a powerful portal between herself and Frida, uncovering insights into the painter's physical limitations, complex love life, addictions, and, of course, the beauty in her art.
Artistic Director Braden Abraham comments, "Vanessa and Joanie have crafted an intimate theatrical experience that transcends the traditional stage biography, creating a rich tapestry that honors Kahlo's complex legacy while simultaneously exploring the universal themes of identity, pain, and artistic expression."
In an interview with Cincinnati Playhouse, Vanessa Savero explained, "The concept of self-portraiture is such a tricky and blurred presentation today. In a world of selfies, filters and displaying our 'best lives' on social media, we have lost the concept of what real expression is. In looking at Frida Kahlo's self portraits, we find a woman unapologetically showing her pain and her current state of being. It can be uncomfortable and also unnerving for the viewer, yet on the other hand, we see something in ourselves relating to her state of being. When I decided to write Frida...A Self Portrait, I found that I could not just tell her story without telling my own. I had to present my own self portrait in order to honestly connect with hers."
Frida...A Self Portrait has been touring to theatre companies across the country to rave reviews. It has previously played at Indiana Repertory Theatre, GEVA Theatre Center, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Portland Center Stage, and Kansas City Repertory Theatre.
Vanessa Severo (Writer / Performer) Vanessa has studied at Missouri State University, as well as The American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco. She is the recipient of the TCG 11th Round of the Fox Foundation resident Actor Fellowships, 2017, including the Carlsbad, CA Artist in Residency, 2022, as well as the winner of Dramatist Guild Grant 2022. She is certified in Suzuki Method, and Viewpoints under the instruction of Ellen Lauren, SITI Company. She is the playwright and actor of Frida...A Self Portrait (2020 Kilroys List). Other original works include: Dracula (World Premiere at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, 2024), Rubik (World Premiere, Spinning Tree Theatre, 2024), Sueno de Agua (World Premiere, Kansas City Repertory Theater 2022). Website: VanessaSevero.com
Joanie Schultz (Director) currently serves as Associate Artistic Director of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Her work has been seen in Chicago and regional theatres including The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Steep Theatre, Remy Bumppo, Portland Center Stage, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Everyman Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Studio Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, GEVA Theater Center, Indiana Repertory Theatre, LaJolla Playhouse, and Philadelphia Theatre Company. She has directed and assistant directed opera from the site specific to the grand stage with Chicago Opera Theater, the Bayview Music Festival, the Chicago Cultural Center, and New Millennium Orchestra. In 2017-18, Joanie was Artistic Director of WaterTower Theatre in Dallas, Texas, where she produced new and inclusive programming from community partnerships to world premiere plays. Prior to that, Joanie served as Associate Artistic Producer at Victory Gardens Theater, as part of the TCG/Mellon Foundation Leadership U One-on-One Fellowship. She was also a Drama League Fellow; The Goodman Theatre Michael Maggio Director Fellow; the SDSF Denham Fellow; and member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Directors Lab. She is an ensemble member at Steep Theatre Company and an artistic cabinet member at Studio Theatre in Washington DC. Joanie has taught through her own studio, Steep Theatre, and Steppenwolf Theatre, along with Columbia College Chicago, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Roosevelt University. She holds a B.A. in Theater Directing from Columbia College Chicago and an M.F.A. in Theater Directing from Northwestern University. For more information on Joanie's work, go to www.joanieschultz.com.
FACT SHEET / Frida...A Self Portrait
Title: Frida...A Self Portrait
Written and performed by: Vanessa Severo
Directed by: Joanie Schultz
Design Team: Jacqueline Penrod (scenic designer), Rachael Cady (lighting designer), Katherine Davis (costume designer) and Thomas Dixon (sound designer)
Dates: First performance: January 23, 2025
Press opening: Friday, January 31, 2025 at 7:30pm
Closing performance: February 23, 2025
Performance Schedule:
Wednesdays: 3:00pm (February 5 & 19 only) and 7:30pm
Thursdays: 7:30pm
Fridays: 7:30pm
Saturdays: 3:00pm (except January 25) and 7:30pm
Sundays: 2:00pm and 6:00pm (January 26 only)
Open Captioned Performance: Thursday, February 13 at 7:30pm
ASL-Interpreted Performance: Saturday, February 15 at 3:00pm
Location: Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre; 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe
Prices: Tickets begin at $35.
Box Office: The Box Office is located at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe; 847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org
Frida...A Self Portrait Events
Family Matinee
Saturday, February 8 at 3pm
Going to the theatre just got a little bit easier for parents and caregivers. Parents and caregivers can see the 3pm matinee of the production while their young ones engage in active creative play with WT Education's professional teaching artists.
The Final Word Audience Discussion
Sunday, February 23 at 12pm
Join WT Artistic staff and fellow audience members for a conversation about the themes and production elements of the show.
Upcoming Education & Engagement Programs
Show & Tell Storytelling
Tuesday, February 4, March 18 and April 15 at 7pm
Enjoy an engaging evening of storytelling at our monthly Show & Tell series. Each event features talented professional storytellers and celebrates unique themes in a relaxed environment. Tickets are Pay What You Can.
Pop-Up Day Camps
February 17 and April 21, 9am-3pm
When school is off but you're not, WT Education is here to help. Young people ages 7-11 just might catch the theatre bug on this day-long creative adventure.
Wake Up Words Family Playtime
Sunday, February 2 and March 9
Stories jump off the page on select Sunday mornings at Writers Theatre. Each Playtime pairs a favorite story with another art form and is a unique opportunity for young children and their families to create together. Designed for ages 3-6 and their parents/caregivers, siblings welcome.
NOTES OF INTEREST:
- Frida...A Self Portrait arrives at Writers Theatre for its seventh full-length production, after acclaimed runs in Indianapolis, Rochester, NY, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Portland, OR, and Kansas City.
- Several of Frida Kahlo's iconic paintings are referenced and evoked in the staging and design of the play, including Frieda and Diego Rivera (1931), The Broken Column (1944), Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress (1926), Memory, the Heart (1937), The Two Fridas (1939), and Self Portrait with Cropped Hair (1940).
- Severo performed a shorter version of the play several times starting in 2014. A fellowship from Theatre Communications Group allowed her to travel to Mexico City and further research Kahlo's life. Joanie Schultz subsequently began collaborating with Severo as director, and the new full-length version of Frida had its world premiere at Kansas City Repertory Theatre in 2019.
- La Casa Azul, the Kahlo family home in Coyacán, Mexico City, Mexico, became the Museo Frida Kahlo in 1958. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico City.
WRITERS THEATRE 2024/25 SEASON
The remainder of the season includes Brian Friel's touching Irish drama Translations, directed by Braden Abraham, and the World Premiere of Madhuri Shekar's Dhaba on Devon Avenue, directed by Chay Yew and produced in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company.
Flex subscriptions are $260 (4-pack), $325 (5-pack) or $360 (6-pack). Season package subscribers receive exclusive benefits including complimentary ticket exchanges by phone and mail (upgrade fees may apply), access to special play readings and lectures, special "subscriber-rate" prices on additional tickets, discounts at the bar, 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.
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
WT offers Open Captioning on select dates for each production. Please visit writerstheatre.org/accessibility for more information.
Throughout the season, Writers Theatre offers a variety of audience enrichment and special programming. This includes regularly occurring offerings like the Family Matinee Series, The Green Room artist interview series and podcast, and The Final Word Audience Discussion Series. Please visit writerstheatre.org/events for a full listing of upcoming offerings.
ABOUT WRITERS THEATRE
Writers Theatre boldly looks to the future as it begins its 33rd season. Having captivated audiences for years with its dedication to creating the most intimate theatrical experience possible, the theatre is now a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence, being called "America's finest regional theater company" by The Wall Street Journal. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Braden Abraham and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, the company is charting a path forward for the next 30 years.
Since its founding in 1992, Writers Theatre has stayed true to its core values: valuing the power of the written word and uplifting the artists who bring that word to life. The company has produced over 140 productions—everything from inventive interpretations of classics to groundbreaking new work. In 2016, Writers Theatre opened a new, state-of-the-art facility designed by the internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects. The new facility has allowed the Theatre to accommodate its growing audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy.
Writers Theatre now welcomes more than 60,000 patrons each season and has helped establish the North Shore of Chicago as a premier cultural destination. Through its Literary Development Initiative, which has been responsible for the nurturing and premiering of over 30 world premieres, the theatre has established itself as a major originator of new theatrical works. Serving as an extension of the Writers Theatre mission, WT Education programs engage an average of 10,000 students each year with active learning opportunities centered around the written word.
