PJ Paparelli Archives - Chicago Reader

Daytime rendering of planned exterior of new American Blues Theater space, with a man on bicycle across the street and people walking by the entrance.

A new home for American Blues

by Kerry Reid March 23, 2022March 25, 2022

Like almost every long-running Chicago theater company, American Blues Theater has been through its share of ups and downs. Founded in 1985, ABT has long carried the banner for the classic Chicago-style ensemble, and they went Equity in 1988. They lost some money on a production of Keith Reddin’s Peacekeeper in 1990, but by 1993, […]

Arts & Culture

Lanise Antoine Shelley is opening up the House

by Kerry Reid March 11, 2021September 22, 2021

The new artistic director wants to take ‘amazing feats of storytelling’ into more diverse realms; Rick Bayless wants to give more money to local theaters.

Arts & Culture

Something Rotten, The Project(s), and eight more new stage shows to see now

by Chicago Reader July 19, 2017August 18, 2021

A touring Broadway hit and a youth revival from American Theater Company are among this week’s best bets.

News & Politics

The National Public Housing Museum’s long journey home

by Maya Dukmasova July 5, 2017August 18, 2021

After 20 years of battling for its building, the nascent institution’s most significant challenges lie ahead.

Arts & Culture

After a life-changing transition, Will Davis sets out to transform a Chicago theater

by Novid Parsi December 30, 2016August 18, 2021

American Theater Company’s fresh-faced artistic director credits his gender transition with a creative awakening. Now the 33-year-old looks to turn the venerable North Center playhouse into a place of “wild theatricality.”

Arts & Culture

Chicago theater was true to our times in 2015

by Tony Adler December 23, 2015August 18, 2021

Theater Wit’s Bad Jews and the Goodman’s Stop. Reset. are among our senior theater critic’s favorites of the year.

Arts & Culture

Post-PJ Paparelli, ATC goes bold with Fulfillment, provocateur playwright Thomas Bradshaw’s latest

by Zac Thompson September 9, 2015August 18, 2021

American Theater Company suffered a major loss in May, when artistic director PJ Paparelli died at age 40 after a car accident in Scotland, just weeks after the opening of The Project(s), his acclaimed documentary-theater piece about public housing in Chicago. ATC is dedicating its 2015—’16 season to the writer-director’s legacy, but don’t expect a […]

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