Cody Estle

Next Act Theatre has announced the promotion of Libby Amato to the role of Managing Director. With almost 20 years of experience with the company, Amato's new position is effective immediately. Learn more about Amato's journey and her plans for the future of Next Act Theatre.

Next Act Theatre has hired two new staff members.

Raven Theatre has launched a national search for its new Artistic Director. Raven has engaged arts consultant and recruiter BLVE Consults to lead the search.

Next Act Theatre announced today that Kerri Kilbourne has been hired as its new Managing Director. Kilbourne was hired after a two-month national search and will assume the role on Wednesday, February 23, 2023. She is the first person in the position of Managing Director at Next Act Theatre since 2014.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago’s only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core, welcomes eight new ensemble members.

In the US, programs designed to help businesses and producers make it through the pandemic have been winding down or coming to an end over the last fiscal year - but audiences and funding aren’t yet back to their pre-pandemic levels, leaving leaders in a tough position to figure out how to get their institutions back on firm financial footing.

The Board of Directors of Raven Theatre has announced that Sarah Slight will serve as the theater’s Interim Artistic Director beginning December 1, 2022, as the theater conducts a search to replace Cody Estle, who is departing to serve as the Artistic Director of Next Act Theatre in Milwaukee.  

For many working in the entertainment industry, it can often feel like we’re living in a different economy than everyone else - the hours maintained have long been different from the rest of the working world, the day to day tasks, the workplace cultures. This week, different stories about how broader economic trends are showing up in the arts.

Next Act Theatre has announced that Cody Estle has been hired as its new Artistic Director. Estle was hired after a four-month national search and will assume the role on December 1, 2022. He will overlap outgoing Producing Artistic Director David Cecsarini before fully taking over leadership of the company in spring 2023.

Cody Estle will step down as Raven Theatre's Artistic Director at the end of November 2022, after serving as the company’s artistic leader since 2017. Estle will join Milwaukee’s Next Act Theatre as Artistic Director.

The League of Chicago Theatres Board of Directors announced the selection of Marissa Lynn Ford as the organization’s new Executive Director.

Northlight Theatre has announced its 2022-2023 season, opening with the buddy comedy The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle, directed by Cody Estle.

Recognizing a strong return to the spotlight over the 2021-2022 Equity theater season, the Joseph Jefferson Awards in Chicago announced its nominations for theater excellence. This year’s nominees include 201 theater artists across 38 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 43 companies.

The Joseph Jefferson Awards have announced this year's Equity nominations, including 201 theater artists across 38 categories.  The 54th anniversary Equity Jeff Awards will take place October 17, 2022, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook, IL. 

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, opens its 2022–2023 season with The Garbologists, written by Lindsay Joelle, directed by Cody Estle, featuring Tiffany Renee Johnson and Luigi Sottile.

Due to popular demand, Raven Theatre’s Chicago premiere of The Luckiest has added one additional week of performances, extending through Sunday, June 26, 2022 on Raven’s 85-seat East Stage, 6157 N. Clark St. (at Granville) in Chicago.

Raven Theatre, Chicago’s newest Equity-affiliated theatre, is concluding its 2021-22 Season with the Chicago premiere of Melissa Ross’ The Luckiest, a heartfelt and honest look at the journey of life, directed by Artistic Director Cody Estle.

Raven Theatre, Chicago’s newest Equity-affiliated theatre, is concluding its 2021-22 Season with the Chicago premiere of Melissa Ross’ The Luckiest, a heartfelt and honest look at the journey of life, directed by Artistic Director Cody Estle.

Raven Theatre has announced its 40th Anniversary Season, kicking off this fall with a fresh take on Noël Coward’s iconic 1930 comedy Private Lives, directed by Ian Frank.

Northlight Theatre has announced its 2022-2023 season, opening with the buddy comedy The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle, directed by Cody Estle; followed by Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, directed by Marti Lyons and more.