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 De

Episode 26 – Jacqueline Stone

Jan 7th, 2018

“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

Episode 25 – DIY Theatre

Dec 10th, 2017

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 ins

Episode 24 – Ashley Ann Woods

Nov 12th, 2017

“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 (ak

Episode 23 – Calamity West

Oct 15th, 2017

“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 am

Episode 22 – Ireon Roach

Oct 1st, 2017

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

Episode 21: Transgender Actor Panel

Sep 17th, 2017

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 thei

Season 2 Teaser: Ireon Roach on Youth Theatre

Sep 3rd, 2017

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 wor

Season 2 Teaser: Transgender Actor Panel!

Aug 14th, 2017

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 questio

Re-release Episode 12: Not In Our House!

Aug 6th, 2017

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 s

Episode 1: Meridith Friedman Re-Release

Jul 23rd, 2017

As we chug along with production on Season 2 of Spiel Chicago coming out in September, here’s a look back at our very first episode. At the time, playwright Meridith Friedman was opening her show The Firestorm at Stage Left Theatre. This seas

Re-release Episode 9: The Runaways Lab Theatre!

Jul 9th, 2017

Only a couple of months until Season 2 of Spiel Chicago! Until then, we’re re-releasing some old favorites to tide you over. Here’s an interview with the Anna Helman and Olivia Lilley, directors of Mary Shelley Sees the Future produced by The

Bonus Episode: Chicago Theatre Marathon!

Jul 2nd, 2017

After the Reader exposé and subsequent closing of Profiles Theatre here in Chicago, playwright Cassandra Rose wanted to fill the vacuum left behind with something communal and reparative, something that would eliminate barriers to people tellin

Episode 14 – Avi Roque Pride Weekend Re-Release!

Jun 25th, 2017

Spiel Chicago is on Summer hiatus, but re-releasing a few episodes to get you excited for season 2! First up: Avi Roque! I first saw Avi in An Alamac for Farmers and Lovers in Mexico produced by The Jades. Avi is gender neutral and uses the p

Episode 20 – Laura Stephenson and Rinska Carrasco

Apr 30th, 2017

Rinska Carrasco is so pumped to direct a grim Latinx fairy tale at Halcyon Theatre and after talking with her, I’m super pumped to see it. I sat down with Rinska and Laura Stephenson, casting director for Halcyon Theatre to talk about their up

Episode 19 – Lavina Jadhwani

Apr 3rd, 2017

Lavina Jadhwani is a director, playwright and casting director who is fascinated by the art of the mash-up. She recently adapted Uncle Vanya for Rasaka Theatre Company, the midwest’s first South Asian American theatre company where she previou

Episode 18 – Lauren Sivak

Mar 19th, 2017

Growing up, Lauren Sivak always knew she would move to Chicago, she just didn’t know why. In 2009, she came for an education internship at American Theatre Company. Now she’s the Managing Director at 2nd Story, a storytelling collective locat

Episode 17 – Delia Kropp

Mar 5th, 2017

Actress Delia Kropp took a ten year hiatus from the Chicago theatre scene. When I asked her if that was hard she replied, "it was necessary." Delia is a transgender woman and has only in the last few years returned to auditioning--now as her

Episode 16 – Loose Chicks

Feb 20th, 2017

"I have had a long and interesting life," says producer Roberta Miles. She chronicles her experiences ("Sex gone wrong stories--I have a lot of those") in one woman show and in her monologues performed at Loose Chicks, a bi-monthly storytellin

Episode 15 – Erica Vannon

Feb 5th, 2017

Director Erica Vannon is drawn to the kind of work that makes you "giggle into a bit of horror." Or stand up and scream like you're at a football game. Or cry (a lot (if you're me)). She produces the impossible, like a devised opera performe

Episode 14 – Avi Roque

Jan 22nd, 2017

When I saw The Jades’ production of An Alamanc for Farmers and Lovers in Mexico last year, I was totally captivated by the actor who played San Cristobal: Avi Roque. I did a little research and learned that Avi is just as cool and interesting

13 – Maren Rosenberg

Dec 26th, 2016

Maren Rosenberg is a local performer who moved to Chicago after a stint as an artist in residence in the West Bank. Now her company, Escape Artistry, is opening a second location this year featuring five new room escape events. What is a room

12 – Not In Our House

Dec 12th, 2016

In June of 2015, actress Lori Myers heard–for the fourth time in two months–a story from yet another colleague about extreme abuses of power in the Chicago theatre community. Frustrated, she posted a now infamous Facebook post asking, “If your

11 – Kara Tesch

Nov 28th, 2016

Throughout her academic career Kara Tesch promoted herself as a costume designer. When she got to the world of professional theatre she found that her training has prepared her for a job she’d love even more. We discuss this along with her re

10 – Iris Sowlat

Nov 14th, 2016

The only question for which Iris Sowlat didn’t have a detailed answer was, “what do you do in your free time?” Iris is the definition of hustle and in the short time she’s been in Chicago, she worked or interned with Steppenwolf Theatre, Ameri