Editor’s note: This story has been corrected since it was first published to reflect that Erica Daniels never served as executive artistic director for Victory Gardens. Chay Yew’s tenure was slated for the end of June 2020, and Daniels resigned before assuming the planned new role. The biggest story of the year in Chicago theater […]
Tag: Chay Yew
Posted inArts & Culture
Victory Gardens dismisses remainder of staff
The tangled recent history of Victory Gardens Theater became even more complicated this week with the mass dismissal of the remaining staff members in the wake of an attempt to unionize. It’s the latest development in a series of moves that has thrown the survival of the venerable Tony Award-winning regional theater—long a beacon for […]
Posted inTheater Review
Dreams of his father
Alaudin Ullah was on the cusp of something big. Well, what too often passes for something big when you’re an actor in Hollywood of South Asian ancestry—the chance to audition for the role of a terrorist in a blockbuster by a big-name director. But then Ullah got a call from his brother, telling him that […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Black Ensemble Theater scores big with MacKenzie Scott grant; Victory Gardens announces new playwrights ensemble
$5 million helps BET regain lost ground from COVID, while Ken-Matt Martin reignites a VG tradition.
Posted inArts & Culture
Ken-Matt Martin takes over at Victory Gardens
After a tumultuous year, the theater’s new artistic director is ready to listen as well as lead.
Posted inArts & Culture
The onstage season was short, but there was plenty of drama in 2020
Getting back to normal isn’t going to happen. And in many ways, it shouldn’t.
Posted inArts & Culture
Ghost Light: a roundup of offstage performing arts news and notes
Victory Gardens and Raven name new leadership; J. Nicole Brooks wins a prestigious playwriting grant.
Posted inArts & Culture
Victory Gardens playwrights ensemble resigns
Restructuring at the top causes an exodus—again.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
In a troubled time, Victory Gardens consolidates leadership and promotes from within
Erica Daniels will replace Chay Yew in the top job at Victory Gardens Theater.
Posted inArts & Culture
Packing follows one gay man’s journey to confront his midwestern ghosts
Scott Bradley’s solo show for About Face creates an important document of queer life.
Posted inArts & Culture
Dael Orlandersmith’s Lady in Denmark explores the legacy of Billie Holiday through one of her fans
But the music gets lost in a stew of melancholy.
Posted inArts & Culture
Victory Gardens’ Lettie is a blood-curdling masterpiece
Playwright Boo Killebrew has written one of the great Chicago plays of our generation.
Posted inArts & Culture
We’re Gonna Die, the Comedy Dance Collective, and 11 more new stage shows
A rock concert/play by Young Jean Lee and an iO revue inspired by dance-class trauma are among this week’s best bets.
Posted inArts & Culture
At Victory Gardens, A Wonder in My Soul is neither wondrous nor soulful
Strong acting can’t save Marcus Gardley’s new play.
Posted inArts & Culture
Roz and Ray, Turtle, and eight more new stage shows
A tables-turning HIV drama and a world premiere from Redtwist are among this week’s best bets.