Victory Gardens Welcomes Four New VG Ensemble Playwrights

Artistic Director Chay Yew and Executive Director Jan Kallish announce the appointment of the new Victory Gardens Ensemble Playwrights: Philip Dawkins, Marcus Gardley, Samuel D. Hunter and Tanya Saracho. These emerging playwrights, who will be with Victory Gardens for a seven-year residency, are a Chicago-based and nation-wide group of diverse artists.

The new ensemble reaffirms Victory Gardens’ mission of nurturing and producing new work for the American Theater. The addition of new artists is aligned with the theater’s vision of supporting artistic risk-taking, collaborations that develop new work, and a long-term commitment to playwrights. The reinvigoration of the Playwrights Ensemble with this unique group of writers reinforces Victory Gardens as a home for playwrights and new work.

During the seven year residencies, VG aims to develop and produce the playwrights’ new plays; the artists will be deeply involved in the everyday life and business of the organization. As members of VG, the Playwrights will engage audiences throughout Chicago’s diverse communities and will participate in VG’s highly respected educational programs. VG will collaborate with the playwrights to create Chicago-based work.

After the seven-year residency, the playwrights will immediately join the Alumni, whereby they will still maintain an artistic relationship with Victory Gardens.

“This has always been a dream for me as a playwright. As the new Artistic Director of a theatre that has devoted itself to the American playwright, I'm hoping to amplify the definition of the ‘artistic home’ for our country's writers,” says Chay Yew. “These are also some of the most remarkable theatrical voices in our country. Along with Jan Kallish and the entire VG family, I am honored that they have decided to make Victory Gardens their home.”

The Playwrights Ensemble of the past 16 years will maintain an artistic home at Victory Gardens and will graduate to Alumni status.

Chay Yew adds, “Former Artistic Director Dennis Zacek has bestowed upon these wonderful playwrights a tremendous gift for the last sixteen years. This ensemble has written a significant body of great plays while at Victory Gardens. They have been teachers and mentors to generations of playwrights. It is very exciting to pass the baton to a new generation.”

VG Ensemble Playwrights Alumnus John Logan comments, “When I was starting out as a playwright in Chicago, Victory Gardens provided an invaluable home for me and my work. Being in an Ensemble of other writers gave me a chance to discuss and develop ideas, to learn about how plays work, as well as to commiserate over the ups and downs of the theatre business. I learned so much of what I know there on Lincoln Avenue alongside my fellow Ensemble members. I'll always be grateful to them and to Dennis Zacek for their support.”

The Victory Gardens Playwrights Ensemble Alumni are Claudia Allen, Dean Corrin, Lonnie Carter, Steve Carter, Gloria Bond Clunie, Nilo Cruz, Joel Drake Johnson, John Logan, Nicholas A. Patricca, Douglas Post, James Sherman, Charles Smith, Jeffrey Sweet and Kristine Thatcher.

VG Ensemble Playwrights Alumnus Nilo Cruz says, “Victory Gardens provided a nurturing and supportive artistic home for me when I was an ensemble member. Now, with new artistic director Chay Yew, I'm very excited to see this great American theatre tradition continue with a new and diverse generation of ensemble playwrights. As an alumnus playwright, I'm eager to continue my relationship with Victory Gardens and passionately support Chay and the wonderful new ensemble playwrights.”

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