League of Chicago Theatres Launches Storefront Playwright Project

In the inaugural Storefront Playwright Project, the League of Chicago Theatres will provide window space at Expo 72 for emerging and established playwrights to work on a current writing project in view of the public in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. From a large screen in a window facing the sidewalk, the public will be able to read what the playwright is writing and watch the creation of the next great Chicago play in real time. The Storefront Playwright Project will take place at Expo72 located at 72 E. Randolph St. in downtown Chicago, December 4 – 22, 2012, Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Storefront Playwright Project aims to support the playwriting community, increase awareness of emerging and established playwrights, and encourage audiences to engage more deeply with Chicago theatre and the creative process of writing a new play for the theatre. The League of Chicago Theatres will collect contact information from interested visitors who want updates on future developments of the playwrights' work.

"We were invigorated by the success of Write Out Front: A Playwright Happening in New York and decided to sponsor a similar program in Chicago," says Deb Clapp, Executive Director of The League of Chicago Theatres. "Chicago is the home to more world premiere plays than any other city. The Storefront Theatre Project gives us the opportunity to support our playwrights while giving visibility to playwrights, the art of playwriting and the active new play scene in Chicago."

Playwrights selected for the project will receive a stipend of $50 per day for a four hour time slot (10 a.m. – 2 p.m. or 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.) and will be promoted through on-site signage and social media, as well as on ChicagoPlays.com. Participating playwrights already include Philip Dawkins, Sarah Gubbins, Ike Holter, Randall Colburn, Elaine Romero, Doug Post, Reginald Edmund and Emilio Williams. Interested playwrights should contact ben@chicagoplays.com for more information.

The League of Chicago Theatres' Storefront Playwright Project is based upon Write Out Front: A Playwright Happening, created by playwright Micheline Auger. Write Out Front was held at New York's Drama Bookshop, from August 13 to September 1, 2012, and hosted 71 playwrights, over the three-week/142-hour period.