American Blues Theater
American Blues Theater is a nonprofit, professional Equity theater company in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
History
American Blues Theater was founded in 1985. Richard Christiansen of the Chicago Tribune cited the theater as one of three companies in his editorial "Chicago Theater Forges New Standards of Glory."From 1997 to 2009, the company was led by artistic directors from outside of the ensemble. Under this leadership from 1997 to 2007, the theater's name changed to the American Theater Company, the mission statement was revised, and the business expanded significantly. In 2008, under new management, the ensemble theater practice was dismantled. After 18 months of talks with new management, every ensemble member before 2008 left the ATC in March 2009 citing "major administrative and artistic differences."
The ensemble immediately reformed under its original name of the American Blues Theater. The founding board members reconstituted the board, and ensemble member Gwendolyn Whiteside became the artistic director. Under her leadership, American Blues has expanded the ensemble and diversified its base of artists. Whiteside established the annual Blue Ink Award for playwriting, incorporated community service into the company's mission, and developed arts education programming for Chicago Public Schools, which serves just under 4,000 students annually. During her tenure, she secured the first endowment, first reserve fund, and first permanent artistic home in the company’s history.
After more than three decades as an itinerant theater, in 2022 American Blues Theater purchased a 17,965 sq ft property at 5627 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago to transform into its first permanent home. The venue includes a 137-seat proscenium and a 50-seat flexible studio. The renovated venue opened in November 2023.
Community service
American Blues Theater provides community service for not-for-profit organizations such as The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Chicago Public Schools, American Indian Center, HANA Center, Chicago Latina Moms, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the United Service Organizations. Since 2009, the theater has held food and book drives, distributed promotional tickets, and raised awareness for children's surgeries and health needs.Awards
The theater is a previous winner of American Theatre Wing's National Theatre Company Award.As of 2024, the theater and artists have 246 Jeff Awards and nominations, marking distinction in Chicago theater, and 44 Black Theater Alliance Awards.
Production history
More than half of the mainstage productions are world and Chicago premieres. The theater's new play development consists of a variety of programs, including world and Chicago premieres, the Blue Ink Award for playwriting, Blueprint play development, and the annual festival of short plays, The Ripped Festival.+ indicates World Premiere production
Season 1 Dogman's Last Stand by Rick Cleveland +
Season 2 Geography of a Horse Dreamer by Sam ShepardHawk Moon by Sam Shepard
Season 3 Summer Brave by William IngeThe Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill
Season 4 Bad Moon by Rick Cleveland +
Season 5 Desire Under the Elms by Eugene O'NeillPeacekeeper by Keith Reddin
Season 6 Monsters: Glimpses of Urban Lunacy +
Season 7 Monsters II: Visiting Hours +
Season 8 Food From Trash by Gary Leon Hill
Season 9 Monsters III: The El Ride +On the Waterfront by Budd Schulberg and Stan Silverman +
Season 10 Keely and Du by Jane MartinTom and Jerry by Rick Cleveland +The Homage That Follows by Mark Medoff
Season 11 The Flight of the Phoenix by Tim Hendrickson +Don't Disappoint Captain January by Joseph Urbinato +Stalag 17 by Donald Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski Train of Thought by Andrew Micheli +Toys in the Attic by Lillian Hellman
Season 12 A Stone Carver by William MastrosimoneScapin adapted from Molière by Bill Irwin and Mark O'DonnellBus Stop by William IngeThe Million Bells of Ocean by Edward Mast
Season 13 The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt WeillOne Day Only by Edward Mast +Pledge of Allegiance by Mark R. GiesserBelow the Belt by Richard DresserLa Tectonica de las Nubes/Cloud Tectonics by Jose Rivera +
Season 14 The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton WilderAmerican Buffalo by David MametMedea by Euripides, translated by Nicholas Rudall +The Mineola Twins by Paula Vogel
Season 15 Endgame by Samuel BeckettWorking by Stephen Schwartz and Nina FasoVick's Boy by Ben BettenbenderCatch 22 by Joseph Heller +
Season 16 A Lie of the Mind by Sam ShepardFlung by Lisa DillmanThe Trip to Bountiful by Horton Foote
Season 17 Quake by Melanie MarnichWhere Have You Gone, Jimmy Stewart? by Art Shay +Two Rooms by Lee BlessingThe Hairy Ape by Eugene O'Neill
Season 18 Tintypes by Scott Joplin, George M. Cohan, John Philip Sousa, and othersAngel City by Sam ShepardAmerican Dead by Brett Neveu +Strictly Dishonorable by Preston Sturges
Season 19 A View from the Bridge by Arthur MillerIt's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play adapted by Joe Landry from the film by Frank CapraKid Simple by Jordan HarrisonLiving Out by Lisa Loomer
Season 20 Orpheus Descending by Tennessee WilliamsIt's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by the American Blues Theater EnsembleSt. Scarlet by Julia JordanHeritage by Brett Neveu +
Season 21 The Dark at the Top of the Stairs by William IngeIt's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by the American Blues Theater EnsembleOklahoma! by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein IIHalf of Plenty by Lisa Dillman +
Season 22 I Do! I Do! by Tom Jones and Harvey SchmidtIt's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play by the American Blues Theater EnsembleAugusta by Richard DresserSpeech & Debate by Stephen Karam
Season 23 People's Temple by Leigh FondakowskiCelebrity Row by Itamar MosesIt's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play by the American Blues Theater EnsembleTopdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori ParksTrue West by Sam Shepard
Season 24 It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph! by the American Blues Theater Ensemble +Tobacco Road by Jack Kirkland
Season 25 It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph! by the American Blues Theater EnsembleRantoul and Die by Mark Roberts
Season 26 Waiting for Lefty by Clifford OdetsIt's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph! by the American Blues Theater Ensemble
Season 27 Illegal Use of Hands by James Still +It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph! by the American Blues Theater EnsembleCollected Stories by Donald Margulies
Season 28 Hank Williams: Lost Highway by Randal Myler and Mark HarelikIt's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! by the American Blues Theater Ensemble +American Myth by Christina GormanGrounded by George Brant
Season 29 Hank Williams: Lost Highway by Randal Myler and Mark HarelikNative Son adapted by Nambi E. Kelley +It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater EnsembleYankee Tavern by Steven DietzSide Man by Warren Leight
Season 30 The Rainmaker by N. Richard NashIt's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! by the American Blues Theater EnsembleLooking Over the President's Shoulder by James StillLittle Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken
Season 31 Dutchman by Amiri Baraka & TRANSit by Darren Canady +It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater EnsembleThe Columnist by David Auburn
Season 32 Beauty's Daughter by Dael OrlandersmithIt's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater EnsembleSix Corners by Keith Huff +Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story by Alan James
Season 33 Flyin' West by Pearl CleageIt's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater EnsembleOn Clover Road by Steven DietzThe Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by Celeste LecesneThe Spitfire Grill by James Valeq & Fred Alley
Season 34 Five Presidents by Rick ClevelandIt's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater EnsembleRoan @ The Gates by Christina Telesca
Season 35 It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble
Season 36 It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater EnsembleStand Up If You're Here Tonight by John Kolvenbach
Season 37 Fences by August WilsonAlma by Benjamin Benne +It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater Ensemble
Season 38 It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater EnsembleThe Reclamation of Madison Hemings by Charles SmithThe Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly
Season 39 Misery by William GoldmanThe Last Wide Open by Audrey CefalyIt's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater EnsembleGolden Leaf Ragtime Blues by Charles Smith
Season 40 Things With Friends by Kristoffer Diaz + It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago by the American Blues Theater EnsembleCome Back, Little Sheba by William IngeAlways...Patsy Cline by Ted Swindley
Blue Ink Award for playwriting
American Blues Theater's nationally renowned Blue Ink Award for playwriting was created in 2010 to support new work. Each year the theater accepts worldwide submissions of original, unpublished full-length plays. The winning play is selected by the artistic director and the theater's Ensemble.Since inception, 15 Award winners, 172 finalists, and 258 semi-finalists have been named. Recent winners include:2025 – You Should Be So Lucky by Alyssa Haddad-Chin2024 – The Conquered by Ken Urban | world premiere American Blues Theater, Chicago 2026-20272023 – Things With Friends by Kristoffer Diaz | world premiere American Blues Theater, Chicago, 20252022 – The Reapers on Woodbrook Avenue by Mardee Bennett2021 – Refugee Rhapsody by Yussef El Guindi2020 – Recent Unsettling Events by Andrea Stolowitz2019 – Alma by Benjamin Benne | world premiere American Blues Theater, Chicago, 2022; Center Theater Group, L.A., 20222018 – Welcome to Matteson! by Inda Craig-Galván | world premiere New Jersey Repertory Company, 2023; Congo Square Theatre, Chicago, 2023.2017 – Hype Man by Idris Goodwin | world premiere Company One, Boston, 20182016 – The Wind and the Breeze by Nathan Alan Davis | world premiere Cygnet Theatre, San Diego, 20182015 – Other Than Honorable by Jamie Pachino | world premiere Geva Theatre Center, NY, 20172014 – Comden Mall Community Activists by Douglas Post2013 – Graveyard of Empires by Elaine Romero | world premiere 16th Street Theater, Chicago, 20152012 – American Myth by Christina Telesca | world premiere American Blues Theater, Chicago, 20142011 – American Home by Stephanie Walker | world premiere, Pasadena, CA, 2017