16th Street Theater, a part of the North Berwyn Park District, is proud to welcome Barbara Harris into the newly created position of Managing Director. With the addition of Harris, Berwyn's acclaimed Equity theater led by founder/Artistic Director Ann Filmer has doubled its staff. "We are in awe of the experience Barbara brings to 16th Street," states Filmer. "I look forward to working with Barbara as my creative associate in leading 16th Street through our Season Four and beyond."
Barbara Harris, the former General Manager of Victory Gardens Theater, stated, "Under Ann's direction, 16th Street Theater has made remarkable strides in its first four seasons both artistically and in audience development. I am very delighted and honored to have the opportunity to partner with Ann to continue growing and developing this vibrant organization."16th Street also welcomes 11 Associate Artists into the fold: Playwrights Marilyn Campbell (The Beats), Robert Koon (Menorca) and Rohina Malik (Unveiled); actors Kirsten D'Aurelio, Stephanie Diaz, Jessica Mondres and Miranda Zola; and designers Barry Bennett, Jesse Gaffney, Kurt Sharp and Mac Vaughey.This is a very exciting time for 16th Street having become a finalist for Broadway in Chicago's Emerging Theater Award and being one of thirty Chicago arts organizations participating in Chicago Community Trust's 4-year SMART Growth grant program.Barbara Harris BIO
Barbara Harris comes to 16th Street Theater from Victory Gardens Theater where she was General Manager and also ran the Training Center program providing classes in playwriting and acting for beginners through professional level.
Prior to that Barbara was the Director of Education at Apple Tree Theater in Highland Park where she ran the Performing Arts Workshop serving children through adults and also was the Managing Artistic Director of the Theater for Young Audiences. She also is a certified Montessori teacher and together with fellow educators and parents established the Alexander Graham Bell Montessori School in Mount Prospect which serves hearing and hearing impaired students where she served for several years in the capacity of Executive Director of that non-profit organization. Barbara has also worked around the Chicagoland area as an actor, director, and designer. 16TH STREET THEATER
Recognized by the Chicago Reader as Chicago's Best Emerging Theater 2009, 16th Street Theater exists to tell the stories of ALL in our community and is located 17 minutes from downtown Chicago at the Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th Street, Berwyn, IL 60402. Just west of Ridgeland, the theater is one mile southwest of the Austin exit off the Eisenhower Expressway/290 and the Austin Blue line. There is free parking in the lot one block west at 16th and Gunderson. Go to www.16thstreettheater.org to subscribe to Season Four, purchase tickets or for more information.
