The Artistic Home Studio will present the 2026 edition of its annual CUT TO THE CHASE festival of new one act plays, from February 19-22, in the Crosby Stage at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Avenue. The program of six staged plays, by six different authors and helmed by six directors, carries the theme “I’m Still Here,” and will explore acts of perseverance in the face of change. Now in its 25th year, the festival has become a Chicago fan favorite, premiering new work from Chicago playwrights as well as well-known talent from across the country.
The show runs as one program running approximately 90 minutes in total, with the six plays — three World Premieres and three Chicago Premieres — performed back-to back. The plays, by Katherine Swan, Sarah Feedman, Rebecca Kane, Siah Berlatsky, Chris Widney, and Allie Costa; will be directed by Dan Evashevski, Nathan Short, Delia Ford, Patrick Thornton, Ted James, and Karla Corona. The actors performing the plays are Quinn Case, Emilie Soghomonian, Josh Volkers, Felicia Bixler, Bill Chamberlain, Leah Huskey, Laura Coleman, Martin Tebo, Michaela Voit, RJ Coleman, Jessica Lee McCluskey, Grace Patterson, Sarah Bailey, Larry Kennedy, Garrett Wiegel, Mary Mikva, Hannah Green and Ernest Henton. Intimacy and fight direction is by David Blixt.
The artistic team for CUT TO THE CHASE is led by Kathy Scambiatterra (Artistic Director, Producer) and Ted James (Curator, Producer); and additionally includes Kristin Collins (Casting Director), Eve Pahoresky (Stage Manager), Kevin Hagan (Scenic Designer), and Laura Coleman (Rehearsal Coordinator). The plays were selected by Kathy Scambiatterra, Michael Fischer, and Ted James; with the assistance of script readers Devon Carson, Laura Coleman, Annie Hogan, Ariana Lopez, Frank Nall, and Randy Rozler.
Tickets for CUT TO THE CHASE 2026 are $25 and will be on sale soon through The Den Theatre Box Office www.thedentheatre.com.
The Artistic Home performs at The Den Theatre and maintains an acting studio and rehearsal space at 3054 N. Milwaukee Avenue in the Avondale/Logan neighborhood.
CUT TO THE CHASE 2026 PLAYS
The Ark by Katherine Swan
A World Premiere
Directed by Dan Evashevski
Featuring Quinn Case, Emilie Soghomonian and Josh Volkers
Crowbar by Sara Feedman
A World Premiere
Directed by Nathan Short
Featuring Felicia Bixler, Bill Chamberlain and Leah Huskey
Help from the Pod by Rebecca Kane
A Chicago Premiere
Directed by Delia Ford
Featuring Laura Coleman, Martin Tebo and Michaela Voit
Odradek’s Emporium by Siah Berlatsky
A World Premiere
Directed by Patrick Thornton
Featuring RJ Coleman, Jessica Lee McCluskey and Grace Patterson
With fight direction by David Blixt
One of the Great Ones by Chris Widney
A Chicago Premiere
Directed by Ted James
Featuring Sarah Bailey, Larry Kennedy, Garrett Wiegel and Mary Mikva
With intimacy and fight direction by David Blixt
Remembrance by Allie Costa
A Chicago Premiere
Directed by Karla Corona
Featuring Hannah Green and Ernest Henton
LISTING INFORMATION
CUT TO THE CHASE 2026
Program of six staged one-act plays by Katherine Swan, Sarah Feedman, Rebecca Kane, Siah Berlatsky, Chris Widney, and Allie Costa
Directed by Dan Evashevski, Nathan Short, Delia Ford, Patrick Thornton, Ted James, and Karla Corona
February 19-22, 2026
Thursday and Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Sunday at 3:00 pm.
The Den Theatre, Crosby Stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
All seats $25.00
Tickets available soon at www.thedentheatre.com or by phone at 773-697-3830
More information at www.theartistichome.org
A staple of Chicago theater for 25 years, CUT TO THE CHASE presents six staged new plays — three world premieres and three Chicago premieres — as one fun night of theater. The plays all share the theme “I’m Still Here,” and celebrate perseverance in the face of change. With a cast of 19, this year’s CUT TO THE CHASE is a perfect taste of dynamic theater in an intimate space. The show runs as one program, with the six plays back-to-back, running approximately 90 minutes.
ABOUT THE ARTISTIC HOME
The Artistic Home, whose most recent production was its hit revival of Tracy Letts’ SUPERIOR DONUTS, is noted for their innovative and intimate presentations of rarely produced classics as well for developing new works. The company has been frequently honored in the Jeff Awards. For 2024, the company was named with two nominations for BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK. For 2023, they received nine nominations for WITCH and DYING FOR IT, including a nomination for Production of a Play (DYING FOR IT) and a win for Kevin Hagan’s scenic design of DYING FOR IT. In 2022, they received nine nominations and two wins – one for New Work (MALAPERT LOVE, written by ensemble member Siah Berlatsky) and one for Supporting Actor in a play (Todd Wojcik – in THE PAVILION). The company’s 2022 nominations also included two for Best Play production (MALAPERT LOVE and THE PAVILION). The Artistic Home was one of the big winners in the 2019 Jeff Awards, with four awards including Production of a Play, Director of a Play, Principal Performer in a Play, and Sound Design, all for REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT. Brookelyn Hebert won a Jeff as Principal Performer in a Play for the company’s 2020 production of ADA AND THE ENGINE. The company was nominated for Jeff Awards in 2019 for ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, and in 2018 for HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE.
Other memorable productions of recent years include 2017’s WEDDING BAND, BY THE BOG OF CATS and THE SCHOOL FOR LIES; their Jeff-nominated productions of THE SEAGULL, WATCH ON THE RHINE, MACBETH and THE LATE HENRY MOSS; and their 2013 Jeff Award-winner THE GODDESS. Other Artistic Home productions include the Jeff-Award-winning production of JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, which also received three After Dark Awards, the Jeff-Nominated SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, THE TALLEST MAN, LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY, NATURAL AFFECTION, FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS, AFTER THE FALL and PEER GYNT (which also received an After Dark award for Direction).
For more than 25 years, The Artistic Home has consistently produced compelling theatre in Chicago. First formed in 1998 with the belief that the actor is at the heart of great theater, the company strives to give birth to unforgettable moments; to touch audiences who are increasingly distanced from human contact; to readdress the classics and explore new works with passion.