Stage Left Theatre announces the cast for the upcoming production of IN THE BACK / ON THE FLOOR - a world premiere by playwright Ken Green and directed by Rachel Van. The new play examines the issues that minimum wage workers face through the lives of employees at a big-box retail store. Performances take place at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642. Press opening is Friday, April 28, 2023. The show runs through May 28th. THE CAST JORGE AGUILAR (Carlos) is a Mexican-American Actor from Chicago, IL. He began his training at The Second City Training Center (Chicago) compl ..read more

If you are like me, one of the reasons I go to the theatre is to engage myself in the questions facing our world. This past week, my concerns were once again put to the test as I watched our election cycle. I have found it unsettling how many candidates ran for public office who based their campaigns on fraudulent principles that undercut the trust in our sacred institutions. They cast doubt on elections unless they win and lambast scientists unless they can make a profit off them. Now that the election has taken place, my concern persists knowing that some of these same candidates won. What ..read more

Stage Left Theatre announces its 41st Season In-Person Performance Planned for 2022-23 Season at Chicago Dramatists. Chicago, September 21, 2022– Stage Left Theatre is pleased to announce the programming for its 41st season. The season begins with MAN OF THE PEOPLE by Dolores Díaz and directed by Anna C. Bahow performing October 25 through November 20, 2022 at Chicago Dramatists. Stage Left will continue its monthly OFF STAGE LEFT online readings of new works on the third Monday of select months, featuring diverse and exciting playwrights. The season will continue in the Spring with an in-pers ..read more

Dear Friend of Stage Left Theatre, I am delighted to tell you that Stage Left Theatre is launching into 2022, our 40th Season, with gusto and enthusiasm. Stage Left has been undaunted by the challenges of the last 20 months. We have continued in our mission to present a diversity of socially and politically relevant stories. We are determined to continue and thrive. We want to make this year our very best year yet. To do that WE NEED YOUR HELP. Stage Left Theatre’s board and ensemble are grateful to our patrons who have encouraged the company through their unwavering dedication and support, pa ..read more

Stage Left Theatre is delighted to announce Bobbi Masters as our new Artistic Director. She has worked both in front of the house and backstage throughout her career in theater, and those roles have given her the insight, qualifications and well-earned expertise in preparation for this role. One of the guiding principles at Stage Left is to create and share artistic visions which inspire debate and curiosity within the audience. “I believe that the best theatre challenges us and provokes thought - there’s nothing quite like that spirited discussion after a great show," says Masters. She is loo ..read more

General Audition Notice $500 stipend / Non-Equity Stage Left Theatre--- Founded in 1982, Stage Left Theatre is dedicated to developing and producing plays that inspire debate. Click here to learn more about our mission, values, and history. Seeking: We are currently seeking female-identifying actors (that can play ages 20-30) for the virtual production of Crystal Skillman’s one-person show, OPEN. Rehearsals will be in the evenings (and select weekends dependent on availability) meeting virtually and in-person beginning October 4. Performances will be live streamed in a closed studio and ..read more

The operations of Stage Left Theatre take place the stolen lands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi Nations, and the Illinois Confederacy: the Peoria and Kaskaskia Nations. Many other nations also call this region their home including the Myaamia, Wea, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Thakiwaki, Meskwaki, Kiikaapoi, and Mascouten. They used this land as a center for to gather, trade, and maintain kinship ties. One of the largest urban American Indian communities in the United States still resides in Chicago as does the country’s oldest urban-based Native membership commun ..read more

The submission deadline for DrekFest 2019 is SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10th All entries must be RECEIVED by the entry deadline. Finalists will be chosen to compete for cash prizes MONDAY, DECEMBER 9 th , 2019 At The ComedySportz Theatre Chicago 929 W. Belmont in Chicago You snow the drill! Stage Left presents DrekFest, a search for the WORST 10-minute play! We’re on a mission to expose bad writing for what it really is: damn funny. We are not out to make fun of writers or those who love them. We ask good writers to intentionally write awful plays so that we may laugh at them. So, get ready to SLEIGH ..read more

Our newest Board member is also an Emeritus Ensemble Member with a long history at SLT. Melissa Lindberg is currently an administrator at the University of Chicago. She worked on her first show with Stage Left in 1985. She was an original cast member of the Neo-Futurists’ show “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.” She has a PhD from Tufts University in Theatre History, Literature, and Criticism. She volunteered for Northside Democracy for America for many years, serving as both Chair and Co-Chair. She sat down for a chat with us about what Stage Left means to her. SLT: What did you know a ..read more

Greetings! I’m Stephen Gawrit, a sound designer and composer for theater in the Chicagoland area. I’ve been a theatre artist for most of life, starting my professional training at the Chicago Academy for the Arts in 2000. I spent the early years of my career working primarily as an actor, and during that time, found I had an innate ability to hear the melody of the play. After I wrote my first musical in 2010, I started digging into composing incidental music and general sound design for theater; it was a natural fit. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to sound design over thirty plays. Befo ..read more