Free Shakespeare in Chicago – Jan 16
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Looking for free theater in Chicago? Look no further as New Leaf Theatre Company invites you back into its home on January 16th at 1:00 pm for their fifth free Treehouse Reading – this time they have moved into classical free theater waters by creating a stream-lined version of Shakespeare’s mystical romance – William Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale”.
Working with dramaturg and adaptor Benno Nelson of the New Colony, Jess Hutchinson adapted the text and doubled – sometimes tripled – the roles. They have assembled a cast of new friends and old favorites from seasons past to tackle this story of love, deception, and exits pursued by bears. New Leaf has been curious to see how a classic text will resonate in their theater home as they think about next season and beyond!
It all takes place in the New Leaf space at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center – 2045 N. Lincoln Park West – and is free and open to the public.
Free Theater in Chicago
January 16 - 1pm – THE WINTERS TALE
by William Shakespeare | adapted by Benno Nelson and Jessica Hutchinson | directed by Jessica Hutchinson
Lincoln Park Cultural Center
2045 N. Lincoln Park West
New Life Theater is
Jared Moore, Michelle Lilly O’Brien, Kyra Lewandowski, Jessica Hutchinson, Nick Keenan, Marsha Harman, Marni Keenan
The NEW LEAF MISSION
New Leaf Theatre creates intimate, animate theatrical experiences that renew artist and audience.
We believe that the process of creating theatre and the product that we create bring innumerable opportunities for deep personal engagement with one another and with the challenges that we face as human beings. We want our collaborators to leave our process with a refreshed sense of purpose and commitment to their craft. We want audiences to leave our productions eager to look at the world through a new lens.
During a performance, the actors and audience inhabit the space together, living through a communal experience infused with life and soul and vigor. Our journeys in life and on stage are seldom easy. Sometimes we have to go through a dark tunnel before we find the light. Renewal does not guarantee a happy ending; it rather offers the possibility of a new beginning.
NEW LEAF VALUES
Our core values of growth, connection, and honesty guide us as we work to live out our mission and look toward realizing our vision. From our business practices to rehearsals to performances, we seek opportunities for growth – from both our successes and our failures. The connections within and among the company, our collaborators, the artists and audience members, and the community at large are essential to our growth. Running through all we do is our pursuit of honesty. Whether portraying a moment on stage that illuminates our human condition, creating a marketing piece, or resolving conflict within the company, honesty is our touchstone; it is what allows us finally to connect and to grow.
New Leaf Theatre will reawaken personal connections in order to confront our increasing disengagement and rediscover – together with our audience – a piece of our shared humanity.
Jessica Hutchinson
Artistic Director
In addition to directing and producing for the company, Jessica spearheads our board development efforts and heads our season selection process. Jessica holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. After working in the Education Department at the Goodman Theatre, she served as Learning Programs Manager at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and joined the faculty at the National High School Institute (“Cherubs”) at Northwestern University in 2008.
Marsha Harman
Business Manager
Artist in Residence
Marsha has worked on New Leaf productions as an actor, dramaturg, and music director, while also serving as Business Manager and New Leaf’s grant writer. Around Chicago, she has acted with Griffin and Lifeline Theatres. She spends six weeks each summer with the Bakerloo Theatre Project, a classical theatre company in upstate New York. Marsha holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Drew University, and an M.A. in Theatre History and Criticism from The Catholic University of America.
Marni Keenan
Artist in Residence
Marni has served New Leaf as a stage manager, production manager, set and props designer, and is our current box office manager. Marni has worked as a scenic painter and props creator for several Chicago theatres, including Raven, TimeLine, and Pegasus Players. Marni has a B.F.A. in Theatre Design/Technology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Nick Keenan
Artist in Residence
Nick serves as New Leaf’s production manager, sound designer, and webmaster. His over 100 sound design credits in Chicago include work with Court, Next, Chicago Dramatists, Dog & Pony, the side project, Greasy Joan & Co., the Neo-Futurists, Metropolis, Raven, Apple Tree, Rivendell, A Red Orchid, and assistant designs at the Goodman and Chicago Shakespeare. Nick has been a faculty member at the National High School Institute (“Cherubs”) at Northwestern University since 2003 and is a sound operator at the Goodman Theatre. Nick’s online innovation projects for theater include the national job search page Backstagejobs.com, the Chicago Theater Database, and his blog, Theater for the Future. Nick earned a B.A. in Theater from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Kyra Lewandowski
Artist in Residence
Kyra has worked with New Leaf as an actor, choreographer and director. As an actor she has worked at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Boulder Fringe Festival, Brown Couch Theatre, Chicago Scriptworks at Silk Road, Hell in a Handbag, New Theater Collective and Rasaka Theatre. As a director she has worked with Collaboraction, 20% Theatre, The Side Project and Infusion theatre. In 2010 Kyra will be directing at WNEP Theatre, Village Players Theatre and New Leaf. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO and made her Chicago stage debut in As it is in Heaven with New Leaf Theatre in 2005 which led her to becoming a company member.
Jared Moore
Artist in Residence
Jared is an accomplished lighting designer who has lit more than 100 shows in Chicago – in a variety of genres. Jared is also resident designer/artistic associate with the Hypocrites and Nomi LaMad Dance Inc, and has
designed for Redmoon, Noble Fool, ATC, Bailiwick Repertory, Porchlight, The Side Project, Metropolis, City Lit, Circle, White Horse, Theo Ubique, Infamous Commonwealth, Pyewacket, L’Opera Piccola, Adventure Stage, Backstage, & the Chicago Academy for the Arts. His work has earned four Non-Equity Jeff Awards for Lighting Design, as well as several After Dark Awards. Jared holds a B.F.A. in Theatre and Design from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia.
Michelle Lilly O’Brien
Artist in Residence
Michelle has stage managed and designed scenery for several New Leaf shows, and has also worked with Stage Left, Lifeline, and Griffin. Michelle spent a season as a teaching artist in Lifeline’s educational outreach program, and works full-time as the Technical Assistant in the scenery department at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. She also designs scenery downstate at the Springfield Muni, where she has done several musicals over the past few years. Michelle holds a B.A. in Theatre and English from Truman State Un
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