Chicago Reader: It’s a fool’s exercise, listing the Chicago theaters that have come and gone over the past quarter century. I tried but gave up when I hit 24 at 17 years in. From Angel Island to Zebra Crossing, it’s a list that speaks to the ephemeral nature of both the art form and the waves of artists that come and go in a brutal business.
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As someone who plans to move to the Chicago area next year, with Evanston as a potential home neighborhood, its good to know that there is theater growing in that area. I was really moved by what B.J. Jones said regarding community engagement. One of my biggest reasons for wanting to continue theater is to get the opportunity to work on shows where I get to see myself on stage. I was lucky enough to see a couple shows right before the pandemic about Latine stories and seeing yourself on stage like is just so moving that it keeps me in this industry. I want other people like me to get that same opportunity and so I find the work of Jones very inspiring. Hopefully come 2024 they’re looking for a technical director. I did notice that the building will have rehearsal rooms but not listed was a scene shop. I don’t know if that was omitted from the list because its not interesting for an article or because there’s a space elsewhere with those resources but I’ve heard less than ideal things about how Chicago theaters get their sets built so we’ll see.
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