The House Theatre of Chicago announces its 20th Anniversary Season, “The House Reimagined” with live productions taking place at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St, and all new digital content being presented online.
The 2021-2022 season features one world premiere, one North American premiere and a brand new channel for virtual content, combining a diverse slate of epic stories and stagecraft with new ways to engage with the theatrical community.
The season opens with a brand-new adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s winter fable The Snow Queen, written by Artistic Director Lanise Antoine Shelley, directed by Amber D. Montgomery, with magic by Dennis Watkins and puppets by Jesse Mooney-Bullock. A story of magic, redemption, and hope, The Snow Queen is a heartfelt fantasy adventure with a host of vivid characters, heroes, and animals, in which the titular heroine must confront and undo mankind's heartache that is ravaging the earth, and undo the pain that she has woven. The Snow Queen plays at The Chopin November 12, 2021 to January 2, 2022. Press opening is Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.
As an extension of the live production, The House has created three animated short films that focus on the three puppet characters in the show.
In the spring, The House will premiere The Tragedy of King Christophe, by West Indian playwright and poet, Aimé Césaire, translated from French by Paul Breslin and Rachel Ney, and directed by Lanise Antoine Shelley. Set in a period of uncertainty after the Haitian Revolution of 1804, the play follows the true story of Henri Christophe, a general in Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ army who declared himself king in 1811. This poetic recount of the first King of Haiti illuminates the Haitian countryside with music and dance. The Tragedy of King Christophe plays at The Chopin from April 22 to May 29, 2022. Press opening is Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
The online launch of The Rumpus Room will include three initial offerings released in 2021: Preset (The House’s behind-the-scenes podcast), Dracula (An audioplay), and The Snow Queen Animated Prologues. The House is now accepting Rumpus Room submissions for 2022 at thehousetheatre.com/rumpus-room.
Artistic Director, Lanise Antoine Shelley, remarked "Internally we have called this season our ‘Season of Curiosity’ where we listen, learn, grow, and make space for transformation. I am elated to finally extend that invitation to our audiences and community, where we can once again create together, but in new ways. This curiosity has led The House to a reimagining that merges the old with the new. The House is now open!”
Lanise Antoine Shelley, Artistic Director, The House Theatre of Chicago
Single tickets for the 20th Anniversary Season go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. Members and donors enjoy early access and discounted tickets all season long. To purchase tickets, for more information, or to donate, please visit thehousetheatre.com or call the box office at (773) 769-3832.
All audience members attending live performances must wear a mask and provide proof of vaccination or negative test certification upon entry. The House and its performers, backstage crew, and staff will comply with vaccination requirements and testing protocols to further ensure the safety of all guests and company members.
For more information, visit thehousetheatre.com or follow The House on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
In Other News: The House introduces new Inspiritus artistic leadership fellowship, announces new board leadership
Along with revealing its 20th Anniversary Season, The House announces the creation of a new artistic leadership fellowship designed to foster the next rising leaders of Chicago’s artistic community.
Called The Inspiritus Fellowship, the program spans a full season and creates an advanced mentorship opportunity with Artistic Director Lanise Antoine Shelley and Managing Director Erik Schroeder. The Inspiritus Fellow receives a stipend of $1,500. Applications are now being accepted through September 24, 2021 at thehousetheatre.com/inspiritus.
The House Board of Directors also announces the election of Renee Duba to the post of President, Tim Irwin as Treasurer, and James Adair as Secretary. Former President David Shapiro and Former Secretary Samantha Lidecka will remain members of the board.
"I am thrilled to step up into the role of president to support Lanise's inaugural season as Artistic Director,” said Renee Duba. “I'm grateful to David Shapiro for his tireless work as president for nearly a decade, laying a strong institutional foundation for The House. The challenges we've faced over the last 17 months have been tough, but we weathered the storm and will re-emerge with new strength, bravery and vitality, re-imagining our mission and programs that will better reflect our community. We have already started the work necessary to erase boundaries that only served to separate us, freeing the creative energy to be inclusive, and as diverse as our city.”
Behind-the-Scenes: More details about The House Theatre of Chicago’s 2021-22, 20th Anniversary Season
The Snow Queen
- Adapted by Lanise Antoine Shelley
- Directed by Amber D. Montgomery
- Scenic and Costume Design by Sully Ratke
- Lighting Design by Trey Brazeal
- Sound Design and Composition by Olanrewaju Adewole and Kevin O’Donnell
- Video Design by Liviu Pasare
- Magic Design by Dennis Watkins
- Puppet Design by Jesse Mooney-Bullock
- Properties Design by Caitlin McCarthy
- Creative Producer Hallie Gordon
- Dramaturg Derek Matson
- Accessibility Coordinator Molly Brennan
- Animation by Matthew Yee
- November 12, 2021 - January 2, 2022
- PRESS OPENING: Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.
- Chopin Upstairs Mainstage Theatre, 1543 W. Division Street, Chicago
The House introduces a new wintertime tradition with a reimagination of Hans Christian Anderson’s beloved fable. Lanise Antoine Shelley’s new adaptation focuses on the Snow Queen, her seasonal relationships with the earth, and the power she is learning to wield. When she shares her magical mirror with cousins Kai and Quin, her world is thrown into chaos, triggering a race against time to undo the ravaging of the earth. In this heartfelt adventure, the Snow Queen must confront mankind's heartache and undo the pain that she herself has woven, in a story infused with The House’s hallmarks of magic, puppetry, and music. The Snow Queen is a tale of redemption and hope -- and ultimately -- a celebration of all seasons.
The Snow Queen production sponsors are Scott Hughes, David Shapiro and Timothy Sherck.
The Tragedy of King Christophe
- By Aimé Césaire
- Translated from the French by Paul Breslin and Rachel Ney
- Directed by Lanise Antoine Shelley
- April 21 to May 29, 2022
- PRESS OPENING: Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
- Chopin Upstairs Mainstage Theatre, 1543 W. Division Street, Chicago
Written in 1963 by West Indian poet and activist Aimé Césaire, The Tragedy of King Christophe is set in the period of upheaval after the Haitian Revolution in 1804. It follows the true historical figure of Henri Christophe, a general in Jean-Jacques Dessalines army who was elected president but chose to be named King. Christophe declared himself king and ruled the northern part of Haiti until 1820. Shelley’s staging of this story explores the tragedy of Christophe’s transformation from a charismatic leader fighting against the oppression of his people to his unfortunate unraveling. The Tragedy of King Christophe will be an unabashed homage to the changing of guards, as well as an elegant display of epic storytelling vibrant with dance and music.
The Rumpus Room: A Digital Adventure
The Rumpus Room is a new digital platform designed to explore virtual storytelling in all of its many forms. The platform launches this fall with:
Preset
- Behind the scenes of production of The Snow Queen
- Hosted by Lanise Antoine Shelley
- Online beginning September 27, 2021
Get a peek behind the scenes of the creation of The Snow Queen by listening in on conversations with members of the creative team on The House’s podcast.
Dracula: A Serial Audio Play
- Commissioned by Board Member David Shapiro
- Script by Kara Davidson
- Score by Kevin O'Donnell
- Online beginning October 1, 2021, with new episodes released every week
Inspired by the classic novel by Bram Stoker, this new re-imagined serial audio play will be presented in 10 episodes with an original score developed in tandem with the script. Emulating the epistolary style of the novel, the episodes flow through varying perspectives of the narrative, including characters both familiar and forgotten.
The commission of Dracula: A Serial Audio Play was underwritten by David Shapiro.
The Snow Queen Animated Prologues
- Directed by Lanise Antoine Shelley
- Story by Lanise Antoine Shelley and Matthew Yee
- Animation by Matthew Yee
- Illustrations by Sully Ratke
- Sound Design and Composition by Olanrewaju Adewole and Kevin O’Donnell
- Online beginning November 1, 2021
Audiences are invited to take a peek into the rich world of The Snow Queen with a trio of animated shorts featuring characters from the stage play. This collection of online prologues will engage The House’s audience, build anticipation for the live production, and create an at-home option for families that prefer not to attend in-person performances before the end of 2021, but still want The House to be a part of their holiday traditions.
Looking ahead to 2022, artists of varying disciplines are invited to submit for a virtual residency that spans from a few weeks to an entire season. The House is particularly interested in hosting podcasts, audio plays, films, recorded readings, music, and other digital content that exemplify courageous storytelling. To submit, visit thehousetheatre.com/rumpus-room.
The House Theatre of Chicago 20th anniversary season sponsors include ComEd (lighting sponsor), Greg and Mary Ann Jordan (accessibility program sponsors), and The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Latham & Watkins LLP, The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at Prince, The Shubert Foundation, and SLOAN. The House Theatre of Chicago is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
About The House Theatre of Chicago
The House Theatre of Chicago is Chicago's premier home for intimate, original works of epic story and stagecraft. Founded in 2001, The House is driven by a curiosity for innovative storytellers, and aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular artform.
The House was started by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has won 24 Joseph Jefferson Awards, became the first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007, and was awarded a 2014 National Theatre Company Grant by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. The 18th season of original work concluded in March 2020 with the world premiere punk rock musical Verböten, which was awarded the 2021 ATCA/Steinberg New Play Citation.