The (W)rites of Summer

About This Show

The (W)rites of Summer is a new play festival like you've never seen before. Featuring three elevated staged readings of world-premiere plays by local Chicago playwrights–as well as workshops, volunteer opportunities and community-building events–The (W)rites of Summer celebrates the work of over 30 local theatre artists and kicks-off The Story Theatre's fourth season. Think "summer festival" meets "new play showcase." 

The three world-premiere plays featured in The (W)rites of Summer include: light: A Lyric Noir by Lena Barnard (July 20); The Housing Situation on Neptune by NJ Draine (July 21); and the live in(n) by Gloria Imseih Petrelli (July 21). 

Cast & Crew

Full cast & additional artists to be confirmed

light: A Lyric Noir
Producer: Ayanna Bria Bakari
Director: Halena Kays
Playwright: Lena Barnard
Sound Designer: Jake Sorgen
Beverly: Wren
Alice: Sarah Rachel Schol
Sabrina: Brianna Buckley
Fred: Sam Boeck
Live Accompaniment: Jake Sorgen
Stage Directions: Harper Leander

The Housing Situation on Neptune
Producer & Director: Terry Guest
Playwright: NJ Draine
Sound Designer: Peter Clare
Alma: Charence Higgins
Kiki: Cat Christmas
Isaac/*69: Raphael Diaz
Rainbow: Brenna DiStasio
Garrett Hobbs: Paul Michael Thomson
Nadia: Malia Hu
Trinity: LaKecia Harris

the live in(n)
Producer: Paul Michael Thomson
Director: Maiya Corral
Playwright: Gloria Imseih Petrelli
Sound Designer: Aidan Eubanks
Hala: Omer Abbas Salem
Bruna: Yourtana Sulaiman
Chimalli: Jocelyn Zamudio
Anders: Jordan Dell Harris
House/Stage Directions: Cassidy Slaughter-Mason

Festival Producer: Brenna DiStasio
Festival Production Manager: Lucy Whipp
Festival Stage Manager: Cassidy Wray

From The Story Theatre

This new play festival builds on The Story Theatre's mission to develop and produce new plays by the most exciting new voices in the Chicago theatre community. The (W)rites of Summer will deliver what our audiences have come to expect from The Story: thoughtful, detailed new works from diverse, considered perspectives that ask questions rather than supply answers. Since 2018, The Story has been investing in and providing a platform for emerging playwrights in Chicago's storefront scene. You may have heard about our sold-out runs of Leave Me Alone! by Paul Michael Thomson, At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen by Terry Guest, or the recently Jeff Award-lauded Marie Antoinette & the Magical Negroes by Terry Guest. Other plays we have developed include: Fires, Ohio by Beth Hyland; Big Kids by Isabel Thompson; and A Laying on of Hands by Mallory Raven-Ellen Backstrom. The Story Theatre is run by a Governing Ensemble, rather than a single artistic or executive director at the top. We are proud to be innovators and leaders in the Chicago storefront community's conversation about what art-making is possible through nonhierarchical leadership. We are so grateful for every supporter of our work and we cannot wait to meet you at The (W)rites of Summer.

Artist Links: www.thestorytheatre.org//@thestorytheatre