Matt Martin News

New Diorama Theatre in the UK announced an interesting new season: they won’t be producing any shows until 2023. The company wanted to give their artists the opportunity to rest away from the pressures of constantly producing.

A thought experiment from New Zealand examines a potentially new way to not only make arts funding more equitable, but transparent and with the opportunity for potential patrons to find projects to fund. This future thinking in the industry extends throughout the United States as well, as companies re-imagine what entry level programs look like.

Now, in a recent statement, Martin revealed that he will not be returning. In the statement, Martin wrote that he has 'decided that I need to take a break from nonprofit theatre administration and would not immediately return if asked.'

As calls for unpaid internships to come to an end continue, many are re-evaluating their budgets and business models - with some adjusting their production model, and others looking at the financial realities and closing their doors.

Actors’ Equity Association has issued a statement in response to recent events at Victory Gardens Theater.

Season of Concern, the emergency fund for Chicago theater artists, will present a one-night-only benefit performance of Jerry’s Girls, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, concepts by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento, and Jerry Herman, direction by Ken-Matt Martin, and musical direction by Nigel D. Robinson.

Season of Concern, the emergency fund for Chicago theater artists, will present a one-night-only benefit performance of Jerry’s Girls, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, concepts by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento, and Jerry Herman, direction by Ken-Matt Martin, and musical direction by Nigel D. Robinson. 

Victory Gardens Theater has announced the cast for the final show in its 2021/22 Mainstage Season, the regional premiere of cullud wattah, written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Lili-Anne Brown. cullud wattah runs June 11 – July 17, 2022 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Theatre Communications Group has announced the recipients of the second round of the 2021-22 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards. The awards, totaling $731,000, allow 16 productions extra time for the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, hoping to extend the life of the world premiere play after its first run.

Horton Records announces the signing of acclaimed roots music guitarist/singer Brad Absher and his band, the Superials, and will release their label debut album, Tulsa Tea.

Victory Gardens Theater presents the Ignite Chicago reading of Primary Trust, written by Eboni Booth and directed by Knud Adams.

Sideshow Theatre Company announced its 2022 season featuring the world premiere of Artistic Associate Brynne Frauenhoffer’s brash, incisive comedy Pro-Am, directed by Artistic Director Regina Victor, and a staged reading of Preston Choi's sci-fi post-apocalyptic dramedy Drive-In at the End of the World, directed by Artistic Associate Marti Lyons.

Victory Gardens Artistic Director Ken-Matt Martin ushers in a new age for the company with a play that trods familiar territory.

Chicago Theatre Week (#CTW22), an annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago during which visitors and residents can access value-priced tickets, returns for its 10th year and will take place February 17-27, 2022. 

Victory Gardens Theater presents the Ignite Chicago reading of exercise your demons: a play on the trauma of a gay male body written by Gage Tarlton and directed by Ryan Dobrin, with movement direction by Breon Arzell. exercise your demons: a play on the trauma of a gay male body will be presented on Saturday, February 19 at 3pm at Hardware Strength and Conditioning, 1834 W. Balmoral Ave, Chicago.

Victory Gardens Theater opens its 2021/22 Mainstage Season with Queen of the Night, written by travis tate and directed by Victory Gardens Artistic Director Ken-Matt Martin. 

Victory Gardens Theater presents two Ignite Chicago readings in December 2021. Tokens of Promise, by Ada A. and directed by Sydney Chatman, on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 3pm in partnership with ABJ Community Services/ABJ Arts, located at Trinity Episcopal Church, 125 E. 26th St, Chicago,  and The Bottoming Process, by Nicholas Pilapil and directed by Hutch Pimentel, on Friday, December 10, 2021 at 7pm, in the Richard Christiansen Theater at Victory Gardens, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago.   

Victory Gardens Theater opens its 2021/22 Mainstage Season with Queen of the Night, written by travis tate and directed by Victory Gardens Artistic Director Ken-Matt Martin. Queen of the Night runs January 29 – March 13, 2022 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. 

The Chicago Inclusion Project together with Victory Gardens Theater have announced a new season-long collaboration.

Victory Gardens Theater presents the Ignite Chicago reading of Mexodus, written by and featuring Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson, and directed by David Mendizábal.