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Ann Filmer

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Ann Filmer directed Rohina Malik's Yasmina's Necklace for Goodman Theatre's 2017/18 Season. Ms. Filmer is a director and adaptor of new plays. She is founder and artistic director of 16th Street Theater, one of just five theaters in the country to be twice awarded a National Theatre Grant from the American Theatre Wing. For 16th Street Theater, she has developed and produced over 50 new plays in 10 years including directing the premieres of Yasmina’s Necklace, Into the Beautiful North (with Miguel Nuñez), Carroll Gardens, Merchild, Kita y Fernanda, Do-Gooder, Pinkolandia, The Ascension of Carlotta and Rohina Malik’s first play, Unveiled. Ms. Filmer has also directed at such theaters as Remy Bumppo Theatre Company (The Clean House),Victory Gardens Theater (Disconnect), A Red OrchidTheatre (Eric LaRue), Shattered Globe Theatre (The House of Blue Leaves), Emerald City Theatre (A Charlie Brown Christmas), Chicago Dramatists (The Age of Cynicism), Live Bait Theater (Us and Them), Stage Left Theatre (Spare Change), Circle Theatre (Golf) and The Aardvark (The Last Barbecue), among others. She has directed premieres by Will Dunne, Susan Hahn, Keith Huff, Laura Jacqmin, Aline Lathrop, Mia McCullough, Brett Neveu, Andrea Thome and Karen Zacarias. While Producing Director of Chicago Dramatists, she co-produced the National Showcase of New Plays, won an After Dark Award for her direction of The Liquid Moon and edited the anthology New Plays from Chicago. She also founded The Aardvark Theater Collective and Estrogen Fest (with Joanie Schultz and Marilyn Campbell) and was the associate artistic director for Writers Theatre in Glencoe. She adapted and directed the tetralogy: ThisTrain, Stations Lost, Nickel History and Midnight City, by and starring renowned visual artist Tony Fitzpatrick at The Steppenwolf Garage. Stations Lost also played in Brooklyn at The Boiler and toured to Brown University. Ms. Filmer was named on Newcity’s list of The Players:“50 people who really perform for Chicago.”

Ann Filmer News


Goodman Theatre Announces Jamal Howard as the 2023 Michael Maggio Directing Fellow


Goodman Theatre has announced Jamal Howard (he/him) as the 2023 Michael Maggio Directing Fellow. A Chicago-based director and choreographer, Howard is the co-artistic director of New American Folk Theatre and an associate company member with TUTA Theatre.

Goodman Theatre Announces Artistic Updates


With two major revivals on stage helmed by Artistic Collective members—August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean directed by Resident Director Chuck Smith (through February 27) and Manilow Resident Director Mary Zimmerman's The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (February 11 – March 20)—the Goodman announces several artistic updates as its 2021/2022 “Homecoming” Season continues.

Goodman Theatre Announces the 2021 NEW STAGES FESTIVAL


The Goodman announces its six-project line-up of the 17th annual New Stages Festival, running December 1-19.

Shrewd Productions Will Present World Premiere of ALABASTER


A darkly comic southern drama about love, art and the power of healing. After a tornado barrels through North Alabama leaving nothing but death and destruction, only June and her wisecracking pet goat Weezy live to tell the tale. When Alice, a prominent photographer, arrives to take pictures of June's scars, all are tipped to the breaking point in this beautiful story of life after death.

16th Street Theater Announces The Rolling World Premiere Of Audrey Cefaly's ALABASTER


16th Street Theater announces the rolling world premiere of Audrey Cefaly's ALABASTER directed by Ann Filmer performing January 30 a?" March 1, 2020 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn. Press opening is Thursday, February 6 at 7:30 PM. 

16th Street Theater's 2020 Season Thirteen Announced


16th Street Theater announces Season Thirteen 2020: Redemption featuring two National New Play Network (NNPN) rolling world premieres by playwrights Maya Malan-Gonzalez and Audrey Cefaly, one world premiere by Julie Marie Myatt in collaboration with MC-10 Playwrights' Ensemble, one Chicago premiere by Lisa Langford co-produced with Pegasus Theatre Chicago with director Ilesa Duncan at the helm, and two true tales by Chicago writer/performers Steven Strafford and Debbie Baños.

14th Annual MFA Playwrights Workshop Launches New Work Next Week In Washington D.C.


National New Play Network, the country's alliance of nonprofit theaters that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays, in association with the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and Stanford University's National Center for New Plays, announce the 14th Annual MFA Playwrights' Workshop. The Kennedy Center will host more than 60 theater-makers from July 27-August 4, 2019 as part of the week-long Workshop featuring new works by graduate students or recent MFA graduates from the University of California, San Diego, Iowa Playwrights' Workshop, Boston University, National Theatre School of Canada, and Brown University. 

MC-10 Playwrights Find Home at 16th Street Theater


16th Street Theater is the new home of Chicago's MC-10 Playwrights' Ensemble, a collection of ten of the country's most sought-after established and mid-career Chicago playwrights and theatre-makers.

Julie Ganey's GOOD ENOUGH Gets World Premiere at 16th Street Theatre


16th Street Theater announces the world premiere of GOOD ENOUGH written and performed by Julie Ganey, directed by Megan Shuchman, with Donna Miller on cello, March 14 - April 20, 2019 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn with a press opening of Thursday, March 21 at 7:30 PM.   

Chicago-Based Director Sydney Chatman Named 2019 Michael Maggio Fellow At Goodman Theatre


Goodman Theatre announces Sydney Chatman as the recipient of the 2019 Michael Maggio Directing Fellowship, an honor reserved for early-career Chicago-based directors. Chatman will gain complete access to the artistic process at the Goodman-from early research and design through the casting and rehearsal process to the opening night. The annual fellowship was established in 2002 to honor the memory and artistry of Goodman Associate Artistic Director Michael Maggio (1951 - 2000) who directed a total of 22 productions at the Goodman and more than 60 productions around the country.

Cast Announced For SMALL JOKES ABOUT MONSTERS


16th Street Theater announces the Midwest premiere of SMALL JOKES ABOUT MONSTERS by Steven Strafford directed by Kristina Valada-Viars January 10 - February 16, 2018 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn with a press opening of Thursday, January 17 at 7:30 PM.

The Old Globe Celebrates New Voices In The Community


The Old Globe announces its inaugural New Voices in the Community series: free public performances at libraries across San Diego County, followed by conversations with the playwrights and experts in the community. The first New Voices in the Community features three solo shows by women: Hold These Truths by Jeanne Sakata, "A" Train by Anne Torsiglieri, and Unveiled: A One-Woman Play by Rohina Malik.

16th Street Announces 2019 Season Twelve: Shadows & Light


16th Street Theater announces their Season Twelve 2019: Shadows and Light featuring three new plays by Chicago authors Steven Strafford, Julie Ganey and Loy A. Webb, as well as a one-nighter of The South Side by WBEZ's Natalie Moore and a new play series curated by 16th Street's 2018-2019 NNPN Producer-in-Residence Nancy Garcia Loza.

Cast Announced For Premiere Of KOALAS at 16th Street Theater


16th Street Theater announces the cast of the world premiere of playwright-in-residence J. Joseph Cox's KOALAS directed by Josh Sobel September 20 - October 27, 2018 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn with a press opening of Thursday, September 27 at 7:30 PM.

Aline Lathrop's THE HERO'S WIFE Premieres At 16th Street


16th Street Theater announces the opening of the premiere of Aline Lathrop's THE HERO'S WIFE directed by Ann Filmer and Miguel Nuñez July 12 - August 18, 2018 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn with a press opening of Today, July 19 at 7:30 PM.

Aline Lathrop's THE HERO'S WIFE Premieres At 16th Street


16th Street Theater announces the opening of the premiere of Aline Lathrop's THE HERO'S WIFE directed by Ann Filmer and Miguel Nuñez July 12 - August 18, 2018 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn with a press opening of Today, July 19 at 7:30 PM.

CPT's Raymond Bobgan Elected President Of NNPN Board Of Directors


Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is proud to announce that the National New Play Network (NNPN), an alliance of professional theatres that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays, has appointed Raymond Bobgan, CPT Executive Artistic Director, as President of the Board of Directors. Raymond was elected to the Executive Committee in 2016 as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. Raymond also served as Co-Chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee. Because of his work with the EDI Committee, Raymond became heavily involved in NNPN's strategic planning process, which will be completed in December 2018.

Aline Lathrop's THE HERO'S WIFE Premieres At 16th Street


16th Street Theater announces the opening of the premiere of Aline Lathrop's THE HERO'S WIFE directed by Ann Filmer and Miguel Nuñez July 12 - August 18, 2018 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn with a press opening of Thursday, July 19 at 7:30 PM.

16th Street's Benefit B.A.S.H. Call For Letters From Heroes


16th Street Theater announces its annual Benefit B.A.S.H. (Berwyn Art Starts Here) on Saturday, July 7 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Rd in Berwyn.  Live music under the tent, delicious food, silent auction and raffles for fabulous experiences. This year's theme is Letters from Our Heroes and we invite all to submit their own treasured letters, written in any language, by their heroes to be read by actors at the event.

New Leadership Announced At 16th Street Theater


Marissa McKown has joined the leadership staff at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater as Managing Director, joining founding Artistic Director Ann Filmer.  Marissa replaces outgoing Managing Director Maeli Goren who will be headed off to grad school at Yale to pursue an MFA in directing.

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