SHOWS

Directors on Directing: The Female Voice

Presented by DirectorsLabChicago

Monday, June 14
9:00 PM — 10:30 PM
Claudia Cassidy Theater
FREE

DirectorsLabChicago brings a frank and in-depth conversation with some of the city’s most prominent female stage directors as they discuss their varied approaches to their work.

This program is presented in conjunction with the sixth annual DirectorsLabChicago taking place
June 14-20 at the Chicago Cultural Center

Panelists will include: 
Amy Hutchinson
Associate director for four productions at the Lyric Opera since 2003, most recently Faust (2009-10), Die Fledermaus  (2006-07);  Aida, Tosca  (both 2004-05).  Among Hutchison’s productions nationwide have been Turandot  (Orlando),  Carmen  (Milwaukee, Kansas City),  La Traviata (Costa Mesa),  Don Pasquale  (Indianapolis),  Help, Help, the Globolinks  (Madison, available on CD) and, in Chicago, Faust  (DuPage Opera Theatre),  Transformations  (DePaul University), and both Gallantry and The Telephone (Opera Moda). She has directed Hänsel und Gretel  for the Indianapolis, San Diego, Canadian, and Baltimore opera companies, and Bolcom’s A View from the Bridge  for Washington National Opera and Portland Opera. Hutchison has staged Porgy and Bess  throughout America and at La Scala, the Opéra National de Paris, the Teatro La Fenice, and in Düsseldorf, Lucca, and Tokyo. Hutchison was director of Baltimore Opera’s Studio Artist Training Program in 2000. Her work with Lyric Opera’s Ryan Opera Center includes directing Don Giovanni.  As director of opera for Princeton’s renowned Westminster Choir College, she created productions of Xerxes, Die Zauberflöte, Dido and Aeneas, and La clemenza di Tito.

Sydney Chatman
Ms. Chatman is a director, educator, producer and founder of The Tofu Chitlin’ Circuit (“TCC”), located in the Bronzeville district of Chicago.  TCC is a conservatory that allows directors, playwrights, and designers to create works that speak to their community at large.  TCC’s collection of artists are seeking to break the norms of what is considered “conventional theater.”  By no means do they have all of the answers, which is why they have developed monthly artist talks called The A La Carte. Each month is denoted by its delectable edition (Black eyed peas, candied yams, collard greens, etc.). 

Ms. Chatman is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center’s Directors Lab in New York.  Her directing credits include St. James Infirmary (Assistant Director to Harry Lennix), Drip!, The Dear Cora Trilogy with Cheryl Lynn Bruce (Assistant Director), Safia Bernard’s Relationship Games, Let the Circle be Unbroken, Heads, Poof!, Sugar Mouth Sam Don’t Dance No More, For Colored Girls, Beulah’s Land,and The Mojo and the Sayso.  She is a former artistic associate with Congo Square Theatre, and is the performing arts instructor at University of Chicago Charter School where she has written and directed countless performances. 

Kimberly Senior
Most recently, Kimberly directed Uncle Vanya at Strawdog where she is an Artistic Associate and previously directed Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters, Fuddy Meers, and Knives in Hens. In addition, Kimberly directed All My Sons for TimeLine Theatre and The Pillowman for RedTwist. She is an Artistic Associate with Next, where she recently directed the midwest premiere of J.T. Rogers’ play The Overwhelming and Keith Bunin’s The Busy World is Hushed for the company’s 2007-08 season. She is the founder and company member emeritus of Collaboraction Theatre Company, where she directed and/or produced over 30 plays and theatrical experiences, most notably the company’s lauded Sketchbook festival for seven years. Kimberly also serves as an Artistic Associate with Chicago Dramatists (Feast, world premiere.) Other directing credits include Dolly West’s Kitchen at TimeLine; Young Playwrights Festival at Pegasus Players; Narniafor Emerald City Theatre Company; the world premiere musical Electronic Baby, BobKat Productions; Bold Girls, Seanachai; the midwest premiere of Patty Red Pants, Blackbird Productions; and the world premiere of Mouse Cop, Noble Fool Theater. In addition, she has directed for Adventure Stage Chicago, Estrogen Fest, Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Shakespeare’s Motley Crew, Northlight Theatre, Roadworks Productions, Northwestern University, College of DuPage, Oakton Community College, National Louis University, and WFMT Radio, among others. As an educator, Kimberly spent ten years as both an administrator and Resident Artist with Steppenwolf for Young Adults. In addition, Kimberly either ran programs or taught for Court Theater, Northlight Theater, Redmoon Theater, Roadworks Productions, Victory Gardens, Metropolis, Act One Studios, and Acting Studio Chicago. Currently she is adjunct faculty at DePaul University where she teaches Theatrical Collaboration and Columbia College where she teaches Chekhov, Dramaturgy and Text Analysis. Kimberly has served as Program Director and as a dramaturg for Steppenwolf’s First Look Repertory of New Work.

DirectorsLabChicago was founded in 2005 by Chicago-based directors Elizabeth Margolius and Karin Shook as a result of their experience with the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab in New York City. Both felt that Chicago would be an ideal and unique setting for directors from all over the world to collaborate, experiment, and exchange practical information. Their initial announcement to the local theatrical community garnered replies from over one hundred emerging and established directors with a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. Such profound enthusiasm confirmed their suspicions that directors would benefit from a place to meet, work, share ideas, and socialize; and so, in July 2005, immediately upon their return from New York, the planning began.

Click here to download the DirectorsLabChicago 2010 application.