Phil Timberlake News

Lifeline Theatre has revealed its 2023-24 season of Big Stories, Up Close. It’s an exciting year of unforgettable stories brought to life, from beloved classics to modern titles.

Lifeline Theatre will welcome Addoris Davis as Production Manager and John Craig as Operations Manager, beginning in May 2023.  Reporting to Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan and working in partnership with the Operations Manager, Davis will be responsible for managing the overall production of all of Lifeline’s programming.  

Lifeline Theatre welcomes Paige Keedy as Production Manager, Nathan Crawford as Operations Manager/Accessibility Coordinator, and Merissa Stewart as Education Director, beginning in Summer 2022.  Reporting to Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan and working in partnership with the Operations Manager, Keedy will be responsible for managing the overall production of all of Lifeline's programming. 

Lifeline Theatre announced their 2022-23 season of Big Stories, Up Close. It’s a monumental year of unforgettable stories brought to life, from beloved classics to modern titles. The 2022-23 MainStage season features the Midwest premiere sequel Miss Holmes Returns, followed by a retelling of Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland’s From the Mississippi Delta.

First Folio Theatre will present Jane Austen's EMMA by Phil Timberlake, previewing March 23rd, 24th, and 25th, opening March 26th, and running through April 24th, 2022.

The Theatre School at DePaul University has announced that Omer Abbas Salem has been awarded the 2021 Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre. Salem will be writing a play for families and young audiences that focuses on assimilation, a major theme in his work.

​​​​​​​Lifeline Theatre welcomes Amelia Ablan to her new staff position as Production Manager, beginning June 2021. Reporting directly to Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan and Managing Director Allison Cain, Ablan will be responsible for overseeing the production processes for the company, collaborating closely with directors and the Artistic Director to fulfill the production needs for Lifeline's future live and digital programming.  Ablan succeeds Jennifer McClendon, who served as Production Manager since 2016, now heading to Providence, Rhode Island to Trinity Repertory Company as their new Producing Director.

The Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre was established at The Theatre School to honor the memory of the Rev. Donald Cunningham, a Chicago priest, playwright, and lover of theatre. The Cunningham Commission was established by an endowment gift from the Cunningham family and is presented annually. Playwrights from the Chicagoland area and alumni of The Theatre School are eligible to apply each year.

First Folio Theatre has announced that they are postponing their first two scheduled productions of the 2020-2021 season.

To accommodate ticket demand Lifeline Theatre announces ten added performances of its Jeff Recommended and critically-acclaimed production of Jane Austen's Emma. Adapted by ensemble member Phil Timberlake and directed by ensemble member Elise Kauzlaric. After a successful experiment in matchmaking, Emma Woodhouse is convinced she can do no wrong. So the high-spirited socialite inserts herself in the love lives of everyone around her, meddling despite their wishes, and leaves a tangle of heartbreak in her wake. To restore happiness to her fractured world, Emma must swallow her pride and learn to value the needs of others over her own desires. Navigate the blunders of the heart in this world premiere adaptation of the 1815 romantic comedy by Jane Austen. The production runs approximately two hours with one intermission. The novel is on sale in the lobby.

'I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.' So Jane Austen famously prefaced the vivacious Emma Woodhouse, whom she describes as 'handsome, clever, and rich' in the opening words of her 1815 novel. Indeed, Emma, the meddlesome, would-be matchmaker is arguably the most controversial among Austen's canon of beloved protagonists. Yet, love or hate the leading lady, EMMA features many of Austen's most amusing supporting characters, and here is where Lifeline Theatre's production of this romantic comedy thrives.

Lifeline Theatre presents Emma, adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Phil Timberlake and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Elise Kauzlaric. Making his Lifeline playwriting debut, Timberlake joins Kauzlaric, director of 2012's Pride and Prejudice and 2016's Northanger Abbey (Non-Equity Jeff nomination: Best Production-Musical), for a fresh, intimate look at this beloved Austen romp. After a successful experiment in matchmaking, Emma Woodhouse is convinced she can do no wrong. So the high-spirited socialite inserts herself in the love lives of everyone around her, meddling despite their wishes, and leaves a tangle of heartbreak in her wake. To restore happiness to her fractured world, Emma must swallow her pride and learn to value the needs of others over her own desires. Navigate the blunders of the heart in this world premiere adaptation of the 1815 romantic comedy by Jane Austen. The production runs approximately 2 hours with an intermission. The novel will be on sale in the lobby.

Lifeline Theatre welcomes ensemble member Andres Enriquez to his new staff position as casting director, beginning February 2018. Reporting directly to Artistic Director Dorothy Milne and Managing Director Allison Cain, Enriquez will be responsible for overseeing the audition processes for the company, collaborating closely with directors to fulfill the casting needs for Lifeline's three MainStage and three KidSeries productions every season.

Lifeline Theatre Artistic Director Dorothy Milne and the artistic ensemble announce their 2018-19 season of Big Stories, Up Close. It's another year of unforgettable stories brought to life, from beloved classics to modern titles.

Lifeline Theatre is proud to announce six new members of its artistic ensemble: Bilal Dardai, Andr s Enriquez, Diane D. Fairchild, Anthony Kayer, Martel Manning, and Michael McKeogh. Lifeline's ensemble determines the company's artistic programming and provides leadership, support, and counsel in the play development process.

The Theatre School at DePaul University will present Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, and directed by Cameron Knight on the Fullerton Stage at The Theatre School at DePaul University. The production opens today, November 4th, and runs through Sunday, November 13, 2016. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on November 2 and 3 at 7:30 PM. 

The Theatre School at DePaul University will present Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, and directed by Cameron Knight on the Fullerton Stage at The Theatre School at DePaul University. The production opens on Friday, November 4th, and runs through Sunday, November 13, 2016. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on November 2 and 3 at 7:30 PM. 

The Theatre School at DePaul University is pleased to present God's Ear by Jenny Schwartz, and directed by Andrew Peters (MFA Directing, Class of 2016) on the Fullerton Stage at The Theatre School at DePaul University.  The production opens on Friday, February 12, and runs through Sunday, February 21, 2016. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on February 10 and 11 at 7:30 PM.  

The Theatre School at DePaul University is pleased to present In the Blood by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Nathan Singh (MFA Directing candidate, Class of 2017) in the Sondra & Denis Healy Theatre at The Theatre School building, located at Racine and Fullerton in Lincoln Park.

Lifeline Theatre welcomes Jessica Wright Buha to its artistic ensemble, the body which determines the company's artistic programming and provides leadership, support and counsel in its play-development process.