Storefront Theater Productions

"'There wouldn’t be the Chicago theater scene without the storefront theaters,' according to Deborah Clapp, the Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres. 'We wouldn’t have the kind of talent that we have at places like Goodman and Steppenwolf and Chicago Shakes if we didn’t have the storefront theaters to develop that talent'" (Roesegg 1).

What is a store front theater? According to Backstage, "'Ask three artistic directors this question, and you’ll get three different answers. 'Small, non-Equity house.' 'Itinerant company.' 'A theater in a storefront.' The only aspect that everyone can agree on? It’s a place where adventurous and often—though not necessarily—young talent take impressive risks'"(backstage.com/news/spotlight/chicagos-storefront-theaters-are-hotbed-tale).

 

The Backstage Agora Crew visited the Raven Theater where Cody Estle is the Associate Artistic Director and has also worked with various theaters in the country.  Currently he is working on The Seagull by Anton Checkhov at the Raven, and in July he will be directing Between Riverside and Crazy at the Steppenwolf Theatre.

 

Mr. Estle gave the Backstage Chicago Crew a tour of the Raven Theatre. Students viewed the set of A House of Blue Leaves by John Guare.  The play takes place during Pope Paul VI visit to Queens, New York in 1965,  and it deals with the relationship of the songwriter Artie who wants to feel famous while his wife Bananas just wants to feel.

Students also explored  the performers' dressing room and imagined what it would be like to get ready for the stage.

Mr. Estle took us to a smaller stage and led the students in a mock monologue audition.  Students who were brave enough took the stage and were given constructive feedback by Mr. Estle on their performance.  They were then given an opportunity to perform their piece again with wonderful results.