The Den Theatre To Open The Bookspan Theatre in September 2016

The Den Theatre is pleased to announce the expansion into its newest space, The Bookspan Theatre, set to open in fall 2016. Named for respected arts educator, performance coach, director and performer Janet Bookspan, the 99-seat, fully adaptable theatre will open at 1335 N. Milwaukee Ave., adjacent to The Den's six other theatres and spaces. Haven Theatre Company will be the head resident company of the The Bookspan, set to inaugurate the space with the Chicago premiere of How We Got On by Idris Goodwin, directed by Jess McLeod from September 29 - November 12, 2016. Other companies expected to produce in the space during the 2016-17 season include Griffin Theatre and Route 66 Theatre Company.

"When I was approached with the opportunity to suggest a name for Haven Theatre's new home - the thought process took - without exaggeration - about three seconds," comments Haven Artistic Director Josh Sobel. "Janet was an influential force in the performing arts as a performer, director and educator, with a life and career embodied by thinking outside the box and nurturing others to reach their full potential. Bestowing the new space with her name is also a significant moment for me personally, as Janet was my aunt as well as one of my biggest artistic influences. As Haven launches this season with a commitment to nurturing the theatrical voices of the future, how fitting it feels to have Janet's name endowing this new venue with it her spirit, her memory and her legacy."

When Josh and Haven's Founder and Executive Director Carol Cohen brought the new name to the table and I learned about Janet, what she stood for, and how she positively impacted so many artists - it seemed like the perfect fit and the perfect gesture to begin our new relationship with Haven Theatre," comments The Den Theatre Artistic Director Ryan Martin. "I'm very excited to unveil The Den's second street-level theatre, expanding our imprint as a premier theater destination in Wicker Park. Like The Hypocrites next door in the Heath Main Stage, Haven brings yet another quality new aesthetic to our ever-growing space and we couldn't be more excited to have them."

About Janet Bookspan

Janet Bookspan was a force in the performing arts, particularly in the realm of opera. As a performer, she sang and narrated work at venues including Lincoln Center, Boston Symphony, New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. She directed productions around the world, including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Mexico's Cervantino International Music Festival, The Met's Opera Guild Finalists Concert, Caramoor Festival, Opera Delaware, Opera Columbus, and many others. Janet served as head of the Opera Department at S.U.N.Y. Purchase and served on the faculties of Juilliard, the Curtis Institute, the Manhattan School of Music, and Mannes. She gave master classes at universities across the U.S. and was a visiting professor at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Carnegie Mellon University and the Eastman School of Music. Janet coached for the New World Symphony in Miami and Florida Grand Opera's Young Artist Program. She collaborated with legendary theatre and opera artists such as Hal Prince and Luciano Pavarotti. Her husband Martin Bookspan, a critic and music authority, was the voice of "Live from Lincoln Center" for 30 years, from 1976 to 2006. Since her passing, the Manhattan School of Music continues to hold a memorial concert for children and families in Janet's name annually, building upon her life-long commitment to the next generation.

About Haven Theatre Company

Haven Theatre Company is one of Chicago's fastest rising companies. Last fall, Haven's sold-out run of Arlene Hutton's Last Train to Nibroc, received a coveted 4-star review from Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, who proclaimed the production "deserves to be the sleeper hit of the summer." Nibroc also received three Joseph Jefferson Award nominations (the company's first Jeff-eligible production) and received the prize for Best Principal Actress in a Play. In 2015, Haven launched "The Director's Haven," a unique initiative built to better support the career development and community visibility of directors at the very earliest stages of their professional journeys. Additionally, Haven has produced highly lauded productions of Deborah Bruce's The Distance (U.S. Premiere), Theresa Rebeck's Seminar (Chicago Premiere), Catherine Treischmann's Hot GeorgiaSunday (Chicago Premiere), Stephen Belber's Don't Go Gentle (Chicago Premiere) and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

About The Den Theatre

Artistic Director Ryan Martin opened The Den in back in 2010 with a single theatre space. Six years later, The Den boasts five intimate and unique theatres on two floors ranging from 50 - 200 seats, as well as two additional spaces primarily used for classes and rehearsals. The Den is also equipped with two bars enveloped by a never-ending field of lounge space for audiences and like-minded culture hounds to drink, talk, read, watch, think, listen and live. The Den is home to six resident theatre companies include First Floor Theater, Haven Theatre Company, The Hypocrites, Irish Theatre of Chicago, The New Colony and Red Theatre Chicago. Hundreds of other companies theatre from Chicago and beyond have also called The Den home, utilizing its theatres, studio space and easily convertible cabaret space to accommodate a stream of programming, including plays, musicals, film screenings, classical and jazz performances, dance, improv and stand-up, seminars and speaking engagements. For additional information, visit www.thedentheatre.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.