the love object

As The Story Theatre Put’s It: On the eve of Ramona’s sold-out stadium tour, her best friend and trusted assistant Paula announces she is leaving to pursue her own artistry. Fearing the loss of her closest confidante, Ramona reveals that a sex tape she made is about to be released, tainting her image (and ticket sales) forever. Will Paula stay and clean up Ramona’s mess one more time or finally escape the oppressive celebrity machine for good? A contemporary adaptation of Euripides’ Hippolytus, the love object examines the hyper-sexualization of women celebrities, the power struggles of interracial friendship and the tragedies of late-stage capitalism, all through the bubblegum veneer of an early 2000s pop superstar.

TTS ALUMNI INCLUDE: Cat Christmas (BFA ACTING)

the love object closes: Nov. 3rd 2024

Tickets Can Be Found Here!

OH, HAPPY DAY!

As Steep Theatre puts it:

An unanswered question rings through the halls of St. Boniface High School: “Who will help me?” Happy Days Are Here (Again), a World Premiere commission by Steep ensemble member Omer Abbas Salem, examines man-made “divine” power, who wields it, and if they should be trusted.

“one of the most powerful new Chicago plays of this year, heck, most any year.” Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

“[a] uniformly fine cast…Kazemi’s sharp direction…Salem’s play also may well enrage you (or re-enrage you) about an evil problem that continues to dog religious institutions, Catholic or otherwise.” Kerry Reader, Chicago Reader

TTS Alumni/ Staff INCLUDE: John Duncan (BFA 24) , Rich Adrian Lazatin (BFA 24) , Azar Kazemi (Faculty)

Happy Days Are Here (Again) Closes Oct. 27th at The Steppenwolf Space

Living Newspaper Festival

As Jackalope puts it: It’s the 15th Annual! This year’s Living Newspaper Festival features five original 10-minute plays from a thrilling lineup of local and national playwrights – presented together in one electric evening at Jackalope Theatre in the Broadway Armory.

TTS Alumni Include: DeVaughn Loman (BFA ACTING 24), & one of the Playwrights Ike Holter.

Living Newspaper Festival Closes Sept. 16th 2024

Tickets Can Be Found Here.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Improv actor and comic Stephen Colbert flexes the hosting muscles he honed over nearly 1,500 episodes of the popular and critically celebrated “The Colbert Report” at the helm of this long-running late-night talk show.

TTS ALUMNI INVOLVED: Casey Campbell ( BFA ACTING O6) Voice Over Work

” For the last 2 and a half years, I have been the voice over for the Comedy Cold Opens for the show (ie, fake trailers, commercials or PSA’s).”

You Can Find The Late Show With Stephen Colbert HERE

(Live in Chicago during the DNC)

Coriolanus

A World Elsewhere ensemble presents its first production. Coriolanus. Written by William Shakespeare, adapted by Dan Haller, Zach Schnitzer and Fiona Walsh Calton and directed by Zach Schnitzer.

TTS ALUMNI/ STUDENTS/ FACULTY INCLUDE: Ethan Serpan (BFA 24), Ainsley Soane (BFA 24), Carter Shimp (BFA 24), Fiona Walsh Calton (BFA 24), Abby Meyers (BFA 24), Dan Haller (BFA 24), DeVaughn Loman (BFA 24), Cicely Galm (BFA 24), Josh Nett (BFA 24), Caleb Harbin (BFA 24), E.G. Canzano (BFA 25), Dylan C. Wack (MFA 24), Chris Anthony.

Tickets Can Be Found Here

Are You A Good Swimmer?

An enchanting artistic exploration of the journey of conception that is filled with vibrant and timeless imagery–this book is just as beautiful as it is educational. Beyond it’s visual appeal, You’re a Good Swimmer tells this story of conception without gendered terms, and by avoiding usual family dynamics which makes it the ideal picture book for families with adopted children, those who were born via IVF or surrogacy, or for children raised by non-parental caregivers.

Dive into the journey of life with You’re A Good Swimmer, a captivating picture book that answers the age-old question: Where do babies come from?

Book is available now for pre-order where ever books are sold! (https://bookshop.org/ , B&N, Target, Amazon etc..)

“You’re A Good Swimmer” , written by Christopher Rivas, Art By Ariel Boroff (Costume 2007) launching 07/16/24. [ published by Wheat Penny Press (an imprint of Row House Publishing) ]

DUMMY IN DIASPORA

Poetic, laughable, and raw coming-of-age tale of A Middle Eastern American boy, Essa, whose parents are refugees. Join Essa as he navigates sexuality, religion, the English language, and a nicotine demon that won’t leave him alone. In a one person show told between different ages throughout his life, Essa confesses to us the experience of growing up in a country that doesn’t have a place for him. A surprising new work, soon to be making its UK Premiere at Edinburgh Festival Fringe this coming August.

The Den Theatre is pleased to host Dummy in Diaspora on June 21-23, 2024 at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.

Closes June 23 @ 7:00pm

Tickets Here

ENTER LEGLAND

As RhinoFest puts it: After a standing ovation at the International Physical Theatre Festival, we are debuting our full production of “Enter LegLand”. Witness our distorted leg-creatures existing in a desert of lost words under the ever-watching free-trial of a censor god, who makes sure all content is EXACTLY PG-13, (never veering into the evils of PG-12 or PG-14.) Leaning on foundations in bouffon, drag, and sketch comedy, LegLand guides you through a dense and energetic world of absurdity. Incorporating bizarre props and costumes, surreal language, and warped video elements, we distort the traditional sketch comedy show into something that is both distasteful and delicious, lampooning whatever we can get our legs on.

ENTER LEGLAND Closes June 22nd 2024

TTS Alumni Includes: Daniel Gadaj (BFA ACTING 2017)

Tickets Can Be Found Here

I SELL WINDOWS

As ‘OUTSIDE IN THEATRE’ Puts It: Los Angeles, CA – Outside In Theatre & Bottle Tree Theatre are thrilled to announce production details for the world premiere of I Sell Windows by Kacie Rogers, a young black woman’s existential journey through a sudden loss, navigating the intricate interplay of grief, identity, and newfound purpose, all while being a window salesman. Directed by Jaquita Ta’le  with Shadow Puppetry created & performed by Brittaney Talbot with Perry Daniel and running for four weeks May 18 through June 17 at Outside In Theatre’s ArtBox studio space and then heading overseas to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August at Assembly’s Studio Four theatre where it will run August 1-25 at 4pm everyday

I SELL WINDOWS CLOSES: JUNE 17 2024

TTS Alumni Include: Jessica Hanna (BFA ACTING 93) Producing Artistic Director of the Outside In and Producer of this play.

Student Tickets Found Here

PRO-AM

As First Floor Theatre Puts It: Most careers don’t last longer than three months in Miami’s professional-amateur porn scene. But that’s about to change when rising star Chloe Kendall meets the driven trans performer Nastasia. The girls are doing it for themselves now, and for the first time, people won’t just be watching them – they’ll be paying attention.

TTS ALumni Include:  (MFA Directing 23) Rebecca Willingham, Director | (BFA Sound Design 22) Emily Hayman, Sound Designer | (BFA Acting 23) Ruby Vallejo, Understudy.

‘Pro-am’ Closes June 15th 2024 @ The Den Theatre.

You Can Find Tickets Here!