League of Chicago Theatres announces Jackalope Theatre Company
as 2015 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theatre Award Recipient
CHICAGO (April 6, 2015) – The League of Chicago Theatres announces Jackalope Theatre Company is the recipient of the 2015 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theatre Award. This is the ninth year of the award, which provides $5,000, consultation with Broadway In Chicago staff members, and a marketing package contributed by the Chicago Tribune that includes advertising support.
The award was created in 2007 to encourage, support and promote young theatres in Chicago that have demonstrated great ability and promise, artistic excellence and fiscal responsibility in business practices. Jackalope Theatre was selected from a group of five finalists by a majority vote of member companies of the League of Chicago Theatres.
“Chicago has such an extraordinary and vibrant theatre community, so to be selected for this honor by organizations we admire is a source of great pride and inspiration,” says Jackalope Managing Director Nate Silver. Adds Interim Artistic Director Gus Menary, “Thank you to the member organizations of the League, the other incredible finalists, Broadway In Chicago, and the League of Chicago Theatres staff. We are truly honored to receive this award.”
In addition to Jackalope Theatre, the Finalists for the 2015 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theatre Award were Filament Theatre, Pride Films and Plays, Route 66 Theatre, and Sideshow Theatre.
Applications for the award were accepted during February 2015. Eligible companies are members of the League of Chicago Theatres, have been incorporated at least 3 and no longer than 10 years, and have demonstrated artistic excellence, fiscal responsibility, community leadership, and potential for future growth.
A nomination committee comprised of Chicago theatre industry professionals and educators reviewed the applications and selected five finalists. The finalists were presented before the entire League membership for a final vote. The award recipient is determined by majority vote from the entire League membership. Each member company is permitted to cast one vote toward the finalist of their choice. The House Theatre of Chicago, Silk Road Theatre Project, the side project, Steep Theatre, The New Colony, Theatre Seven of Chicago, 16th Street Theater and Oracle Productions are previous recipients of the award.
About Jackalope Theatre Company
Jackalope cultivates theatre that manifests the adventure deeply rooted in the American mythos.
Most recently, Jackalope was honored to receive 4 nominations for the 2014/15 non-equity Jeff Awards. For Exit Strategy, Jackalope received nominations for Best Production, Best Ensemble, Best Director, and Best New Work.
Jackalope was founded in 2008, by three senior directing majors at Columbia College Chicago. Now comprised of fifteen actors, directors, designers, playwrights, and administrators, Jackalope has grown into a dynamic and well-respected arts organization. Based in Edgewater, Jackalope occupies two spaces on the Thorndale Corridor: The Frontier at 1106 W Thorndale and a theater within Broadway Armory Park.
In conjunction with Jackalope’s mission, the company seeks to produce both newly developed and established American plays of the utmost literary quality in collaboration with the most gifted young artists in Chicago. Jackalope actively seeks diverse voices from varying backgrounds, and strives to represent the myriad experiences of American culture through the stories they tell and the artists they work with. In addition to their main producing season, Jackalope recently launched The Pioneer Series, a continuous initiative to cultivate bold new work, produced by guest theatre companies in The Frontier.
Since 2008, Jackalope has produced eighteen shows, including eleven world premieres, produced five new play festivals, served an audience of more than 12,000, and collaborated with over 300 artists.
Jackalope Theatre Company is comprised of Kaiser Ahmed, Elana Boulos, Andrew Burden Swanson, Jon Cohen, Alexander Hand, William Kiley, Daniel Martinez, Gus Menary, Allison Raynes, Claire Sangster, Nate Silver, Danielle Stack, AJ Ware, Calamity West, and Patrick Whalen.
About Chicago theatre
Chicago theatre is a leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theaters to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 5 that have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. In 2012-13 alone, Chicago theatre companies produced more than 130 world premiere productions and adaptations. Each year, Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world.
About the League of Chicago Theatres
The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres which leverages its collective strength to promote, support, and advocate for Chicago’s theatre industry locally, nationally, and internationally. The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the art of theatre in the Chicago area through audience development and support services for theatres and theatre professionals.
