Kane Repertory Theatre, located in St. Charles, Illinois, was founded in 2019 by Dan Krimer and Avery Bowne after they graduated from the MFA Acting program at Northern Illinois University. As the pandemic started turning the theatre industry upside down, Dan and Avery decided to use the unconventional circumstances to start workshopping new plays, opening submissions to playwrights hoping to develop their work — and as a result, The New Play Lab was born.

Dan and Avery have worked hard to build the Kane Rep and have been successful in creating opportunities to connect playwrights, actors, and virtual audiences over the past few months. Starting a theatre company from the ground up is no easy feat, and we talked about the importance of mentorship, learning how to shape and execute a vision, and why being a flexible creative organization is so important. I’m excited to see where the Kane Rep goes as they wrap up Cycle 3 of the New Play Lab.