Victory Gardens Will Take Part in THE GHOSTLIGHT PROJECT

Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels announce Victory Gardens Theater's participation in The Ghostlight Project, an evening of advocacy at theater companies across the country.

On January 19, 2017, at 5:30pm, members of the theater community-including Regional, Broadway, high school, college, and community theaters-will join together as a symbol of solidarity, hope and a shared commitment to greater inclusion, participation, and compassion in our theaters and our communities. Several Chicago theaters are participating, including Victory Gardens, Goodman, Steppenwolf and Northlight, among others.

Victory Gardens, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave, is opening its doors to all theater companies, artists and community members beginning at 5:00pm for a community gathering. A light will shine at 5:30pm to symbolize the values of The Ghostlight Project and participants will be invited to pledge their commitment to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, gender identity, sexual identity, or dissident actions in the coming years. The lights will symbolize hope and a belief that, through action, change is possible.

"From Marcus Gardley's An Issue of Blood to Luis Alfaro's Mojada, from our public programs on immigration to our We Must Breathe event in response to police brutality, Victory Gardens has always been your home to celebrate, dialogue, to challenge and evolve our roles as active citizens. This year will not be any different. We continue to be your town hall and public square, your space for all voices," comments Chay Yew. "We welcome all of Chicago, our neighbors and artists, members of every community, friends and family to join us for a moment of silence to reflect on ways to continue to unite our city and country. Come one, come all, Victory Gardens is your home."

Lisa Peterson, a founder of The Ghostlight Project states, "It's amazing to watch so many theater communities pull together and organize themselves! It means the event on January 19 will have some impact, and mostly we hope it will inspire us all to stay active and vigilant as a community, across the country, in times to come."

For more information about The Ghostlight Project, visit theghostlightproject.com.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels, Victory Gardens is dedicated to artistic excellence while creating a vital, contemporary American Theater that is accessible and relevant to all people through productions of challenging new plays and musicals. Victory Gardens Theater is committed to the development, production and support of new plays that has been the mission of the theater since its founding, set forth by Dennis Za?ek, Marcelle McVay, and the original founders of Victory Gardens Theater.

Victory Gardens Theater is a leader in developing and producing new theater work and cultivating an inclusive Chicago theater community. Victory Gardens' core strengths are nurturing and producing dynamic and inspiring new plays, reflecting the diversity of our city's and nation's culture through engaging diverse communities, and in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, bringing art and culture to our city's active student population.

Since its founding in 1974, the company has produced more world premieres than any other Chicago theater, a commitment recognized nationally when Victory Gardens received the 2001 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater includes the Za?ek-McVay Theater, a state-of-the-art 259-seat mainstage and the 109-seat studio theater on the second floor, named the Richard Christiansen Theater.

Victory Gardens Ensemble Playwrights include Luis Alfaro, Philip Dawkins, Marcus Gardley, Ike Holter, Samuel D. Hunter, Naomi Iizuka, Tanya Saracho and Laura Schellhardt. Each playwright has a seven-year residency at Victory Gardens Theater.

The Playwrights Ensemble Alumni includes Claudia Allen, Lonnie Carter, Steve Carter, Gloria Bond Clunie, Dean Corrin, Nilo Cruz, Joel Drake Johnson, John Logan, Nicholas Patricca, Douglas Post, James Sherman, Charles Smith, Jeffrey Sweet and Kristine Thatcher.

For more information about Victory Gardens, visit www.victorygardens.org. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/victorygardens, Twitter @VictoryGardens and Instagram at instagram.com/victorygardenstheater.