|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR MISSION
New Leaf Theatre creates intimate, animate theatrical experiences that renew artist and audience.
We believe that the process of creating theatre and the product that we create bring innumerable opportunities for deep personal engagement with one another and with the challenges that we face as human beings. We want our collaborators to leave our process with a refreshed sense of purpose and commitment to their craft. We want audiences to leave our productions eager to look at the world through a new lens.
During a performance, the actors and audience inhabit the space together, living through a communal experience infused with life and soul and vigor. Our journeys in life and on stage are seldom easy. Sometimes we have to go through a dark tunnel before we find the light. Renewal does not guarantee a happy ending; it rather offers the possibility of a new beginning.
OUR VALUES
Our core values of growth, connection, and honesty guide us as we work to live out our mission and look toward realizing our vision. From our business practices to rehearsals to performances, we seek opportunities for growth - from both our successes and our failures. The connections within and among the company, our collaborators, the artists and audience members, and the community at large are essential to our growth. Running through all we do is our pursuit of honesty. Whether portraying a moment on stage that illuminates our human condition, creating a marketing piece, or resolving conflict within the company, honesty is our touchstone; it is what allows us finally to connect and to grow.
OUR VISION
New Leaf Theatre will reawaken personal connections in order to confront our increasing disengagement and rediscover - together with our audience - a piece of our shared humanity.
In order to fulfill our mission of renewal on a larger scale, we must enable ourselves, our collaborators, our friends, our neighbors, our city to connect with one another and the world at large. Our understanding of community has changed dramatically in the last century, but we believe the possibility of true connection still lies within us. The shared experience of performance offers a visceral reminder of what it is to come together, and creates an opportunity to re-enter the world with a renewed sense of our common humanity.
Jessica Hutchinson
Artistic Director
In addition to directing and producing for the company, Jessica spearheads our board development efforts and heads our season selection process. Jessica holds a B.A. in Theatre Performance from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. After working in the Education Department at the Goodman Theatre, she served as Learning Programs Manager at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and joined the faculty at the National High School Institute ("Cherubs") at Northwestern University last summer.
Marsha Harman
Business Manager
Artist in Residence
Marsha has worked on New Leaf productions as an actor, dramaturg, and music director, while also serving as Business Manager and New Leaf's grant writer. Around Chicago, she has acted with Griffin and Lifeline Theatres. She spends six weeks each summer with the Bakerloo Theatre Project, a classical theatre company in upstate New York. Marsha holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Drew University, and an M.A. in Theatre History and Criticism from The Catholic University of America.
Marni Keenan
Artist in Residence
Marni has served New Leaf as a stage manager, production manager, set and props designer, is our current box office manager. Marni has worked as a scenic painter and props creator for several Chicago theatres, including Raven, TimeLine, and Pegasus Players. Marni has a B.F.A. in Theatre Design/Technology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Nick Keenan
Artist in Residence
Nick has served as New Leaf's production manager, sound designer, and webmaster. His over 100 sound design credits in Chicago include work with Dog & Pony, the side project, Greasy Joan & Co., the Neo-Futurists, Metropolis, Raven, Apple Tree, Rivendell, A Red Orchid, and assistant designs at the Goodman and Chicago Shakespeare. Nick is a long-time faculty member at "Cherubs," and is a sound operator at the Goodman Theatre. Nick's online innovation projects for theater include the national job search page Backstagejobs.com, the Chicago Theater Database, and his blog, Theater for the Future. Nick earned a B.A. in Theater from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Kyra Lewandowski
Artist in Residence
Kyra brings her acting, dance, and choreography experience to New Leaf. She recently began exploring directing as well; she served as assistant director for Six Years and has directed for The Side Project. Kyra has a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Jared Moore
Artist in Residence
Jared is an accomplished lighting designer who has lit more than 100 shows in Chicago - in a variety of genres. Jared is also resident designer/artistic associate with the Hypocrites and Nomi LaMad Dance Inc, and has
designed for Redmoon, Noble Fool, ATC, Bailiwick Repertory, Porchlight, The Side Project, Metropolis, City Lit, Circle, White Horse, Theo Ubique, Infamous Commonwealth, Pyewacket, L'Opera Piccola, Adventure Stage, Backstage, & the Chicago Academy for the Arts. His work has earned four Non-Equity Jeff Awards for Lighting Design, as well as several After Dark Awards. Jared holds a B.F.A. in Theatre and Design from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia.
Michelle Lilly O'Brien
Artist in Residence
Michelle is our newest company member. She has stage managed and scene designed several New Leaf shows, and has also worked with Stage Left, Lifeline, and Griffin. Michelle spent a season as a teaching artist in Lifeline's educational outreach program, and works full-time as the Technical Assistant in the scenery department at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. She also designs scenery downstate at the Springfield Muni, where she has done several musicals over the past few years. Michelle holds a B.A. in Theatre and English from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri.
The Lincoln Park Cultural Center
2045 N. Lincoln Park West | Chicago, IL
Our home in Lincoln Park is a registered Chicago Landmark, designed in 1926 by Edwin H. Clark. As one of the hubs of the Chicago Park District in Lincoln Park, the LPCC is a hotbed of community activity year round. In addition to a unique theatrical venue, the LPCC boasts a early childhood center, lapidary and stained glass shop, a ceramics studio, a game room, a dance studio, a full service woodshop and a wide variety of cultural and community classes and activities. New Leaf is proud to be the resident theater company of the LPCC, and shares the auditorium with other cultural institutions such as the Arts at Large Wednesday Night Concert Series.
|
|
|
|
|
