Midwest Premiere of Memorabilia Via Teatro Vista at Filament Theatre May 30 - June 29, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

TEATRO VISTA 

ANNOUNCES CAST AND PRODUCTION TEAM FOR 

“MEMORABILIA”

 Jean Claudio (Salvador); Micah Figueroa (Salvador alternate)

Boleros, Clowns, Acrobatics, Juggling, Dance and Theatre Combine in Midwest Premiere From Chicago’s Premier Latine Theatre 

Teatro Vista, Chicago’s premier Latine theatre, today announced the cast and production team of the Midwest premiere of MEMORABILIA, created by Jean Claudio and directed by co-creator Raquel Torre, running May 30 - June 29, 2025. The production is co-presented and staged at Filament Theatre (4041 N. Milwaukee Ave.), a theatre whose focus is creating radical spaces for young people and families to play. Tickets ($35 - $65) on sale March 10, 2025 at www.teatrovista.org. 

You’re invited to experience the journey of Salvador, a frazzled inventor, who creates an apparatus to preserve his most beloved memories and maybe… just maybe, face the realities of the darker ones. With courage and foolishness, Salvador will walk you through his days of chaos, memories, and wonder. MEMORABILIA is a solo-show using old boleros, clown, acrobatics, juggling, dance, and theatre to tell a story with humor and heart.

MEMORABILIA is created and performed by renowned Chicago-based Boricua performer Jean Claudio, described by the Chicago Tribune as an “excellent circus-skilled performer” who is “funny, charming and the most poignant presence.” Claudio was recently seen in the title role of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's CORDUROY, the Goodman Theatre's LUCHA TEOTL and THE LIZARD Y EL SOL, and Teatro Vista Productions’ THE DREAM KING, winner of 8 Equity Jeff Awards. Helming the creative process as its director is co-creator Raquel Torre, who is Claudio’s partner in artistry and in life as well as the Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at the Goodman Theatre. 

The production team includes Michel Rodríguez-Cintra (Choreographer), Maydi Díaz (Stage Manager), Olivia Ellery (Assistant Stage Manager), Julie Jachym (Associate Producer / Production Manager), Lauren Nichols (Scenic Designer), Lonnae Hickman (Properties Designer), Conchita Avitia (Lighting Designer), Satya Chávez (Sound Designer / Composer), Liviu Pasare (Projections Designer), Sally Dolembo (Costume Design), Wendy Madrigal (Properties Consultant), Alonso Galue (Properties Consultant), Angelina Bill (Robotics Consultant), Stefanie Senior (Assistant Sound Designer), and Zuzel García (Assistant Lighting Designer). 

MEMORABILIA 

Production Details:

Created By: Jean Claudio

Directed By: Raquel Torre

Cast: Jean Claudio (Salvador); Micah Figueroa (Salvador alternate)

Creative Team: Michel Rodríguez-Cintra (Choreographer), Maydi Díaz (Stage Manager), Olivia Ellery (Assistant Stage Manager), Julie Jachym (Associate Producer / Production Manager), Lauren Nichols (Scenic Designer), Lonnae Hickman (Properties Designer), Conchita Avitia (Lighting Designer), Satya Chávez (Sound Designer / Composer), Liviu Pasare (Projections Designer), Sally Dolembo (Costume Design), Wendy Madrigal (Properties Consultant), Alonso Galue (Properties Consultant), Angelina Bill (Robotics Consultant), Stefanie Senior (Assistant Sound Designer), Zuzel García (Assistant Lighting Designer)

Dates: June 4 - 29, 2025 (Previews May 30 - June 3, 2025)

Press Opening: Wednesday June 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM

Schedule: Wednesdays through Saturdays 7:30 p.m.; Sundays 2 and 6 p.m.

Run Time: 75 minutes

Location: Filament Theatre (4041 N. Milwaukee Ave.)

Tickets: General Admission $45. Previews $35; each performance has a number of Teatro for All tickets for $20 available on a first come, first served basis. At a higher price, the Love Bomb package ($55 previews, $65 regular run) helps support Teatro Vista’s ticket accessibility programs and includes reserved seating and Teatro Vista memorabilia (see what we did there?) as a thank you for being a community champion.

Note: Taxes and fees not included.

Group rates available; contact boxoffice@teatrovista.org for details

Box Office: Visit www.teatrovista.org

ABOUT TEATRO VISTA 

Teatro Vista is Chicago’s largest, Equity-affiliated professional Latine theater company and one of the nation’s premier Latine arts organizations.The company’s primary focus is producing new works by Latine theater artists, including work from its own ensemble, a group of multi-generational, multi-ethnic and multi-disciplinary artists. 

Teatro Vista ensemble members include Charín Álvarez, Max Arciniega, Conchita Avitia, Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Ramón Camín, Jean Claudio, Lauri Dahl, Sandra Delgado, Melissa DuPrey, Adelina Feldman-Schultz, Johan H. Gallardo, Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel, Lonnae Hickman, Jon Lyon, Sonya Madrigal, Sandra Márquez, Eduardo Martinez, Ayssette Muñoz, Paloma Nozicka, Claudia Quesada, Marvin Quijada, Tommy Rivera-Vega, Gabriel Ruiz, Nate Santana, Denise Yvette Serna, Karla Serrato, and co-founder Edward Torres. 

In July, 2021, following a national search, Lorena Diaz was appointed Executive Artistic Director and Wendy Mateo was named Producing Artistic Director.

Teatro Vista’s Board of Directors includes Adela Cepeda, President; Jorge Lopez, Secretary; Julieta LaMalfa, Treasurer; and Carlos Candia, Rosa Escareño, Kareem Mohamednur, Iliana A. Mora, Alice Morado, Irma A. Ortiz, Travis Parr, Letticia Flores Poole, Adrian Rodriguez, and Carina E. Sanchez. 

Teatro Vista is supported by TVP Champions Purple Group and Gustavo Bamberger & Martha Van Haitsma and Alphawood Foundation, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Cultural Treasures, The Julian Grace Foundation, DCASE (Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events), Fidelity Charitable, The Field Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, The Joyce Foundation, The Latinos Progresando Excellerator Fund, People’s Gas Community Fund, The National Endowment for the Arts, The National Latinx Theatre Initiative, TCG’s THRIVE! Uplifting Theatres of Color- RECOGNIZE, The Tide Foundation, and the Walder Foundation. 

Shattered Globe’s Midwest Premiere of Jump April 19-June 1 at Theater Wit

 Shattered Globe’s 33rd season finale

Jump

a Midwest premiere bridging heartbreak and hope, debuts 

April 19-June 1 at Theater Wit

Shattered Globe’s 33rd season finale, Jump, a Midwest premiere bridging heartbreak and hope, debuts April 19-June 1 at Theater Wit (top, from left) Jazzma Pryor plays Fay and Jennifer Glasse is Judy in Jump, a Shattered GlobeTheatre Midwest premiere. Jump is written by (bottom, from left) Charly Evon Simpson, directed by AmBer Montgomery, and features SGT Ensemble Member Jazzma Pryor as Fay, Jennifer Glasse as Judy, Jeffrey Kurysz as Hopkins and Alfred Wilson as Dad.   Shattered Globe has been a favorite of ours for decades, here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows. They're known for exploring drama from bold, challenging perspectives, and we're here for it. We're very much looking forward to seeing their 33rd season finale, Jump. It's always a joy to see a premiere, and we couldn't agree more with their mission statement: "Shattered Globe’s values are rooted in a commitment to racial equity, respect for all artists and support for the ensemble, while creating new opportunities to amplify traditionally marginalized voices and collaborate in all aspects of our work." I'll be out for the press opening, April 22nd, so check back soon for my full review. Experience the magic of hope, healing and the promise of human connection when Shattered Globe Theatre presents Jump, a Midwest premiere by Charly Evon Simpson, directed by SGT associate artistic director AmBer Montgomery. Performances are April 19-June 1, 2024 at Theater Wit.  Meet Fay and Hopkins, two strangers looking for solace on a bridge over dark waters. Fay gives Hopkins hope. Hopkins helps Fay grieve for her mother and the loss of her childhood home. Lights flicker and vapes fall from the sky as two strangers explore the idea of survival. As they dive into swift currents of loss, grief, mental health and family relations, Fay and Hopkins also have wonderful moments of humor, warmth and magical realism, reminders that one one way to deal with grief is to find connections with others.  The cast for Jump, Shattered Globe’s 33rd season finale, features Ensemble Member Jazzma Pryor as Fay, and Jennifer Glasse as Judy, Jeffrey Kurysz as Hopkins and Alfred Wilson as Dad. The Jump production team includes Regina Garcia and Lindsay Mummert (co-scenic designers), Rachel Lambert (costume designer), Levi Wilkins (lighting designer), Christopher Kriz (sound designer), Jamie Auer (props designer), Cassidy Wray (production stage manager) and Becca Smith (production manager).  “I've been looking forward to working on this play for over a year now,” said AmBer Montgomery, director of Jump and Shattered Globe’s associate artistic director. “At the heart of this production is our brilliant playwright, Charly. She's masterfully navigated the complexities of grief, family dynamics, and friendship, combining these heavy themes with an element of whimsy and magic. We have a fantastic cast who all share such personal relationships to this story. We can't wait to share this story with Chicago.” The first preview, Friday, April 19 at 8 p.m., is Pay-What-You-Can. Previews continue Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 21 at 3 p.m. Previews are $10-$25.  Performances continue through June 1: Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. Exception: No show Thursday, April 25 or Thursday, May 16. There is an added matinee on closing day, Saturday, June 1 at 3 p.m. Shattered Globe is a resident company at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago’s Lakeview community. Tickets to regular performances are $15-$52. Purchase tickets online at sgtheatre.org, by calling the Theater Wit box office, (773) 975-8150, or in person at Theater Wit. For group discounts, email groupsales@shatteredglobe.org or call (773) 770-0333. Shattered Globe also offers a waived ticket program to ensure maximum accessibility. Access: Theater Wit is wheelchair accessible, and all patrons with mobility needs are invited to purchase access tickets with the code ACCESS20 at Theater Wit’s checkout page. Please also email boxoffice@theaterwit.org to make sure SGT can reserve the right seat for your access needs. Assisted Listening Devices are available for all performances.  Audio Description and a Touch Tour will be offered on Friday, May 3. The Touch Tour begins at 6:45 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Open Captions will be provided at the Sunday, May 26 matinee.  Use code ACCESS20 for $20 tickets to take advantage of these accessibility offerings. Note (at press time): Masks are optional but encouraged for most performances and will be mandatory at three designated performances to be announced. Visit sgtheatre.org for more information, including content warnings, news of special events, accessible ticket options and SGT's full mask policy. Find and follow the company on social media @shatteredglobe on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  Playwright and director biographies Plays by Charly Evon Simpson (playwright, she/her) include Jump, Behind the Sheet, form of a girl unknown, it’s not a trip it’s a journey, sandblasted,and more. Her work has been seen and/or developed with The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Vineyard Theatre, WP Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Lark, Page 73, Ars Nova, Chautauqua Theater Company, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Salt Lake Acting Company, The Fire This Time Festival, National New Play Network through its NNPN/Kennedy Center MFA Playwrights Workshop and National Showcase of New Plays, and others. Simpson was named the 2019-20 recipient of the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award from the Vineyard Theatre, co-recipient of the Dramatists Guild’s Lanford Wilson Award, was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award, and had two of her plays on the 2019 Kilroys List. Jump is the first recipient of the David Goldman Fund for New Plays. She has received commissions from Manhattan Theatre Club/Sloan, EST/Sloan, South Coast Repertory, Barnard College, and more. She’s currently a core writer at The Playwrights’ Center and a resident of New Dramatists. She is a former member of WP Theater’s 2018-2020 Theater Lab, SPACE on Ryder Farm’s The Working Farm, Clubbed Thumb’s 17/18 Early Career Writers’ Group, Ensemble Studio Theatre's Youngblood, The Amoralists’ Wright Club, and Pipeline Theatre’s PlayLab. She has also worked for HBO, on the second season of Industry, among other projects. Before that, she worked on Showtime’s American Rust. She received her BA from Brown University, a master’s in Women’s Studies from University of Oxford, New College, and her MFA in Playwriting from Hunter College, where she studied with Annie Baker, Brighde Mullins and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.    AmBer Montgomery (director, she/her) is a director, educator and multi-disciplinary artist from Detroit, Michigan. She is Shattered Globe Theatre’s associate artistic director, where she recently served as lead producer forRadial Gradient and directed Rasheeda Speaking, earning her a Jeff nomination for Best Director. Other directing credits include The Snow Queen(The House Theater), Countess Dracula (Otherworld Theater) and hippolytos (Story Theatre New Play Festival). Her associate and assistant directing credits include Sheepdog (Shattered Globe), School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play (Goodman Theatre), LINDIWE (Steppenwolf Theatre), Too Heavy for Your Pocket (TimeLine Theatre), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Writers Theatre), Measure for Measure (American Players Theater) and First Love is the Revolution (Steep Theatre). She was awarded a 2020 FAIR Assistantship at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and a 2018 Fellowship at Steppenwolf Theatre. She has attended training programs at the Globe Theater in London and LISPA (now Arthaus Berlin). Originally trained as an actor, Montgomery holds a BFA in Acting from the University of Minnesota Guthrie Theater Actor Training Program.  About Shattered Globe Theatre Shattered Globe Theatre was born in a storefront space on Halsted Street in 1991. Since then, SGT has produced more than 80 plays, including nine American and world premieres, and garnered an impressive 44 Jeff Awards and 118 Jeff Award nominations, as well as the acclaim of critics and audiences alike.  Shattered Globe Theatre, guided by Producing Artistic Director Sandy Shinner, seeks to discover new connections between story, artist and audience by exploring drama from bold, challenging perspectives, and continuously redefining what it means to be an ensemble theatre.  Shattered Globe’s values are rooted in a commitment to racial equity, respect for all artists and support for the ensemble, while creating new opportunities to amplify traditionally marginalized voices and collaborate in all aspects of our work. Through initiatives such as the Protégé Program, Shattered Globecreates a space which allows emerging artists to grow and share in the ensemble experience. Shattered Globe Theatre’s Ensemble has 30 members: Judy Anderson, Louis Contey, David Dastmalchian, Demetra Dee, Joe Forbrich, Christina Gorman, Daria Harper, Tina M. Jach, Rebecca Jordan, Steve Kleinedler, Vivian Knouse, AmBer Montgomery, Tina Muñoz Pandya, Eileen Niccolai, Jazzma Pryor, Hailey Rakowiecki, Deanna Reed-Foster, Linda Reiter, Nate Santana, Drew Schad, Adam Schulmerich, Leslie Ann Sheppard, Sandy Shinner, Joe Sikora, Roger Smart, Shelley Strasser, Devonte E. Washington, Sarah Jo White, Joseph Wiens and Brad Woodard. SGT’s Artistic Associates now number 20 including Daniela Colucci, Mikey Gray, Lawrence Grimm, Darren Jones, Christopher Kriz, Jason Lynch, Elizabeth Margolius, Kelsey Melvin, Tim Newell, Jane Nix, Aila Peck, Steve Peebles, David Antonio Reed, Jasmine Cheri Rush, Angie Shriner, Abbey Smith, Becca Smith, Michael Trudeau, Ayanna Wimberley and Austin Winter. Shattered Globe Theatre is partially supported and funded by generous grants  from the Bayless Family Foundation, the Shulman-Rochambeau Charitable Foundation, Brenda and James Grusecki, Carol P. Eastin, a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council. Visit sgtheatre.org for subscriptions, tickets and information, and follow the company @shatteredglobe on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Midwest Premiere of The Brightest Thing in the World Via About Face Theatre March 14-April 13, 2024

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List:  

Adult Shows With Family Themes On Our Radar 

About Face Theatre to produce

the Midwest premiere of 

The Brightest Thing in the World

directed by Keira Fromm

March 14-April 13, 2024

About Face Theatre continues its 29th season with the Midwest premiere of The Brightest Thing in the World by Leah Nanako Winkler, directed by AFT Artistic Associate Keira Fromm. The show will run March 14 through April 13, 2024, at The Den Theatre. The Brightest Thing in the World starts as a bubbling romantic comedy between barista Lane and her regular Steph, charting their growing relationship as they encounter real-world challenges like teen pregnancy, parenting, and addiction. This play is a celebration of love, family, and the people in our lives who shine the brightest.

THE BRIGHTEST THING IN THE WORLD

Written by Leah Nanako Winkler

Directed by AFT Artistic Associate Keira Fromm

March 14 – April 13, 2024 | 

I'll be out for the press opening, Friday, March 22, so check back soon after for my full review. 

All performances will take place at The Den Theatre, 1331 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago

 

Showtimes: Thurs and Fri at 8:00pm, Sat at 3:00pm and 8:00pm, Sun at 3:00pm

Please note: There is no matinee performance on Saturday, March 16

Open Captioning performances: Dates TBD.

Masks Required performances: Saturday matinees on March 30 and April 6 will require every attendee to wear a mask.

Pay-what-you-can tickets ($5 – $35) on sale now at The Den Theatre box office or About Face Theatre’s website.

 

TICKETS

Tickets are on sale now online at AboutFaceTheatre.com, by calling 773.697.3830, or in-person at The Den Theatre box office. Ticket prices range from $5 to $35.

AFT offers a ticket pricing system that allows each patron to decide the price that they can comfortably afford to pay for a ticket. Ultimately, About Face wants everyone who wants to attend a show to be able to do so. Please note: there are limited quantities available at each pricing level. 

THE PLAY

Charmingly free-spirited barista Lane is determined to win over her new regular, the reserved and intellectual Steph. Delightful romantic comedy ensues with poetry, homemade desserts, and sparks flying. But both women are carrying life-changing secrets involving addiction, past relationships, and family. What happens when the giddy romance wears off and Lane and Steph must do the work of building a lasting relationship out of honesty, compassion, and courage? The Brightest Thing in the World is a funny, heartfelt new play delving into the people we think we know and the people we know we love.

“I love Leah Nanako Winkler’s use of language and the smart, messy, recognizable women at the center of the story,” says director Keira Fromm. “She has created a play that manages to be both a funny queer rom-com and a devastating portrait of addiction and the ways we’re all constantly in a state of recovery.”

The Brightest Thing in the World was commissioned by Yale Repertory Theatre in 2019, where it received its world premiere in 2022.

 

CAST

Blakewell (Della)

Claire Kaplan (Lane)

Jojo Brown (Steph)

 

PRODUCTION TEAM

Dramaturg, Casting Director        Catherine Miller

Choreographer                              Jenn Freeman

Intimacy & Violence Designer     Sheryl Williams

Assistant Director                         Aimy Tien

Scenic Designer                           Sotirios Livaditis

Lighting Designer                         Conchita Avitia

Sound Designer                           Christopher Kriz

Costume Designer                       Gregory Graham

Properties Designer                     Amanda Herrmann

Technical Director                        Becca Venable

Stage Manager                            Jean Compton

Assistant Stage Manager            B Valek

Production Manager                    Audrey Kleine

Keira Fromm (she/her): director

Keira is a Chicago-based, Jeff-award nominated director. She is also an Artistic Associate with About Face Theatre where she directed Bull in a China Shop, Significant Other, Bright Half Life, and A Kid Like Jake. Other directing credits include: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre), The Moors, A Phoenix Too Frequent, and A Doll’s House (American Players Theatre), The Last Match (Writers Theatre); At the Wedding and Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (TheatreSquared); Top Girls and hang (Remy Bumppo); The Columnist (American Blues Theater); Charles Ives Take Me Home (Strawdog); The How and the Why (TimeLine Theatre); Broadsword (The Gift Theatre); and Fallow (Steep Theatre.) She received her MFA from DePaul University, her BFA from Boston University, is an alumna of Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, and a member of SDC, the professional directors union. Keira will be directing The Liar at American Players Theatre this upcoming summer. www.keirafromm.com

Cyd Blakewell (she/her): “Della”

Cyd was most recently seen in Northlight Theatre’s Birthday Candles. She is a proud ensemble member of The Gift Theatre. Gift Theatre credits: The Locusts, Pillowman, Doubt, A Life Extra Ordinary, Good For Otto, Body + Blood, Broadsword, Mine, and TEN. Other Chicago credits: The Snare (Jackalope); Balm In Gilead and Port (Griffin); Buddy Cop 2, breaks & bikes, and Milk Milk Lemonade (Pavement Group); Sweet Confinement and Ivanov (SiNNERMAN Ensemble); Orange Flower Water (Interrobang); Lies & Liars and Mimesophobia (Theatre Seven); Rewind (The Side Project). Last summer she wrapped on a short film called Fairground and can also be seen in Jeri’s Grille. Next, you can see her in the World Premier of Obliterated by Andrew Hinderaker, co-starring Michael Patrick Thornton. Cyd got her BFA from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX and is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf. She is represented by Promote Talent Agency.

Jojo Brown (she/her): “Steph”

Jojo Brown is a stage and screen actor who was born and raised in Chicago. Off-Broadway credits include CHARM and 7 Minutes. Television credits include her recurring role as Mindy on Freeform's “Single Drunk Female” and appearances on NBC, Showtime, Comedy Central, FX, and Paramount Plus.

Claire Kaplan (she/her): “Lane”

Claire is a theater-maker, actor, and teacher from Long Beach, CA. Regional credits include South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, and East West Players. Claire is co-artistic director of The West, an experimental theatre company formerly based in LA, now creating work in Chicago and Berlin. She is directing Theatre Unspeakable's touring show introducing Shakespeare to kids and is teaching devised theater at UIC. She recently helped create the musical world for Backroom Shakes' The Winter's Tale.

Leah Nanako Winkler (she/her): playwright

Leah Nanako Winkler is an award-winning playwright and TV writer from Kamakura, Japan, and Lexington, Kentucky. Her plays include God Said This, Two Mile Hollow, Kentucky, Hot Asian Doctor Husband, and The Brightest Thing in the World, as well as many short plays all produced Off-Broadway and regionally. Accolades and fellowships: Yale Drama Series Prize, Mark O’Donnell Prize from The Actors Fund and Playwrights Horizons, Audible’s Emerging Playwrights Fund, Jerome New York Fellow at the Lark, Francesca Primus Prize, and a 2020 Steinberg Playwright Award. She is published by American Theater Magazine, Nanjing University’s Stage and Screen Reviews, Yale University Press, Backstage, Smith and Krauss, Samuel French, and Dramatists Play Service. TV credits include Michael Moore’s TV NATION, New Amsterdam, A24’s Ramy on Hulu (where she along with the other writers won a Peabody Award), Love Life on HBO MAX, and currently on projects at Apple, Warner and Amazon.

ABOUT FACE THEATRE advances LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance. AFT envisions an affirming and equitable world in which all LGBTQ+ individuals are thriving and free from prejudice and discrimination. About Face Theatre is also dedicated to being an intentionally and increasingly anti-racist organization. Due to the intersectionality of our identities, we understand our work to advance LGBTQ+ equity as directly connected to movements for racial justice.