Spiel Chicago

On this episode of Spiel Chicago I speak with two artists about their upcoming projects.  Spark at 20% Theatre Company follows three sisters living in the US, caught in the mess of a recent war’s aftermath. I spoke on the phone with director Denise Serna about how the play explores how poverty affects the dynamics…

“The reason that I do theatre for young audiences is because I’m trying to save theatre.” Jacqueline Stone is the artistic director of Emerald City Theatre, which serves audiences from 0-13 all around the city of Chicago.  She has a passion for providing very young people with high quality, impactful and fun theatre to set…

Artist as Producer: This week on Spiel Chicago, we discuss DIY Theatre!  This is a special panel episode, with guests Savannah Reich, Denise Serna, Olivia Lilley and Katherine Lamb, each bringing a unique perspective on DIY theatre, theatre institutions, sustainability and how to get started putting your own work into the world.     Discussed…

“If people don’t know I’m a feminist when they meet me, they’re gonna learn pretty quickly.” Ashley Ann Woods is a scenic designer and company member at 20% Theatre Company.  Last Summer, we discussed her recent transition to freelance work (aka, being her own boss), how her feminism affects the projects she chooses and about…

“The great thing about theatre is that … we get to watch things go really, really badly for other people.” Playwright Calamity West says she is always trying to write parables, stories we can learn from.  We sat down to discuss her work, how amazing playwright Annie Baker is and how theatre can respond to…

Ireon Roach is a prize-winning poet, a founding ensemble member of The Yard Theatre and the winner of the 2016 August Wilson Monologue contest–and all before leaving for college this Fall. Ireon sat down with me to discuss her experiences as a young actor working in Chicago’s educational and professional theatre settings, as well as…

The burgeoning discussion about transgender inclusion in Chicago Theatre is encouraging.  It’s great to see large institutions like Steppenwolf and The Goodman Theatre beginning to have important conversations about trans representation on their stages.  But for the people living this struggle, those conversations can a little, well … basic.   In this episode, Avi Roque…

Ireon Roach is one of Chicago’s most promising young artists. She is a founding ensemble member of The Yard Theatre, an award winning slam poet and the 2016 winner of the August Wilson Monologue contest. I sat down with Ireon to discuss her work and what young artists have to contribute to the Chicago Theatre…

What is it like to audition as a non-binary person?  What does transitioning mean for your acting career?  What should theaters do to make sure transgender experiences are being represented authentically?  Season 2 explores all of these questions and more in an interview with Chicago actors Jojo Brown, Theo Germaine, Charlie Baker, guest hosted by…

2016 was a wild year for Chicago Theatre.  With The Reader’s expose of long term abuses occurring at Profiles Theatre, a major discussion began about conduct and safety for non-union artists.  Two Chicago actresses, fed up with the horrifying stories they’d heard over their careers, started Not In Our House, a movement to empower artists…