05/04/2026
American Theatre magazine, The Understudy, and Pocket Theatrics have announced Re:working Chicago Theatre, a monthly roundtable series, beginning in July and concluding in November, that will platform the diverse Chicago voices, work, and methods happening outside traditional institutional recognition, fostering genuine, lively interconnection across Chicago’s diverse theatrical landscape.
Chicago theatremakers keep working long after ghost lights flicker on; quiet questions keep them up. What is the role of theatre in an aching time? How are artists reenergizing the spaces that have transformed or disappeared? How will the industry change or survive the age of AI? Which business models are better equipped to avoid worker burnout and theatre closure? This post-pandemic community has been reshaping itself and is ready to congregate and confront the issues currently faced by professionals of each specialization.
Re:working is a new space to discuss and share perspectives to move the Chicago theatre scene forward. Each roundtable will be facilitated by Gabriela Furtado Coutinho, a Chicago actor, playwright, cultural strategist, and the digital editor of American Theatre, with four to six featured participants each month.
Re:working will include both a live and virtual audience, with recordings available online through American Theatre and The Understudy channels. Each evening will include time before and after for participants and attendees to connect. The Understudy Coffee and Books in Andersonville will host the roundtables, each centering a designated topic and highlighting Chicago artists.
Nominate panelists through the link in .theatrics bio and read more about the program on AmericanTheatre.org
📸: .champagne
