Jacqueline Stone Named TUTA Theatre Chicago Artistic Director

Zeljko Djukic, who in 2001 co-founded TUTA Theatre Chicago as Artistic Director, is moving into a new role as Founding Director, with co-founder and longtime TUTA Ensemble Member, Jacqueline Stone, assuming the role of artistic director September 1. 

Zeljko Djukic, who directed more than 18 TUTA productions in the past ten years, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture at Drama Arts School in Belgrade, Serbia during the 2012-13 academic year, according to the United States State Department and the J. William Foreign Scholarship Board.  Djukic will teach Modern American Drama.  Outside of TUTA, Djukic directed Kushner’s Homebody/Kabul at The National Theatre in Belgrade, which is about to celebrate its third year of performances.  Djukic will maintain a close association with TUTA and plans to continue to direct and teach classes in upcoming seasons upon his return to the United States. 

Jacqueline Stone, a co-founder, has appeared in more than 13 TUTA productions, most recently Fulton Street Sessions, Baal, The Wedding and Uncle Vanya.  Over the last 10 years she has also served as TUTA’s executive director, and has been heavily involved in the operations of the organization.  Stone is the co-founder of Sirens, the longest running all-female improv performance group in the country and with them has created and performed in more than 300 original shows.  She has served as adjunct faculty at both The Second City and Columbia College, and is the education director at Emerald City Theatre Company.  Outside of TUTA, she has directed and performed at Chicago Dramatists, Millennium Park, The Second City, New Leaf, Backstage, 20% and many more.  Stone’s affiliation with TUTA continues during the company’s 11^th season, directing the US premiere of Miodrag Stanislavljevic’s The Silent Language, a dark Balkan fairy tale for all ages, in April 2013. 

Says Djukic, “Jackie [Stone] has the unique strength of being able to lead a group of people through an artistic adventure without being doctrinaire.  Her ability to listen, to hear everyone’s opinion and then make her own choice reflects a strong directorial nerve and a successful artistic leader.  I strongly believe that our theatre community will be well served by this exceptional leader, educator and artist working at TUTA.” 

Says Stone, “I could not be more honored and exhilarated to step into this enormous role.  I have spent the last 18 years artistically and organizationally collaborating with Djukic, my mentor and friend, and I feel a strong passion to carry on his tradition of taking risks with our artistic collaborators while maintaining our mission and vision to expand American audiences’ exposure to innovative international work.” 

TUTA’s latest production, The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter, directed by Zeljko Djukic runs July 19 – August 18 at TUTA Studio Theatre, 2010 W. Fulton Ave, Chicago.  The performance is standing room only and extremely limited.  Reservations are highly recommended. To reserve tickets call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006 (24 Hours) or on-line at www.brownpapertickets.com.  For additional information www.tutato.com