Scream for Ireland

03/19/2026

With preview and opening DONE let’s learn more about our crew! Next up, Audrey on costumes!

Audrey is a costumer from Chicago with a background in performance art and drag. Grizel’s story resonates with her in this moment as an important demonstration of the way the written record of truth can be twisted.

03/18/2026

03/18/2026

Now showing

Grizel Steevens was born in 1653 Wiltshire England and moved with her family to Ireland while she was still a child as her father, John, who acted as a rector in a local church in Athlone. She was very close with her twin brother, Richard, a well-regarded Dublin physician. When he died he left his sister a monthly allowance of 606 pounds (roughly 110,000 dollars in todays month) and wished upon her death the remainder of the money be used to build a charity hospital. Grizel wanted to make sure her brothers wishes actually happened so took a significant cut to her monthly allowance, moved to Dublin, and dedicated the remainder of her life to building the hospital, sending letters, reviewing contracts, etc, completing the hospital in her life time and, one of the first types of institutions of its kind. However, Grizel’s story is mostly lost to history, even to those in Ireland. If you have heard her story, it is mostly likely through the Irish folklore story of “Dublin’s pig faced lady”.

🎟️ Ticket link in bio

03/18/2026

Preview went great! Here’s what some of our audience had to say. Have you got your tickets yet for opening night tonight?

03/12/2026

How could we see a play if the lights aren’t even on? Introducing our sound and lighting hero William Chorski!

“This play struck 2 chords within myself. One, that Grizel is attached to deep Irish legend and two, It touches upon the classic line “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. My background includes; Music/lights tech at Bub City, performing onstage at Electric Forest, and trained on piano/violin Suzuki Method. The arts have given me friends/work/family/legacy that I can be proud of now and years to come.”

Less than one week until opening! Be sure to grab your tickets!

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03/11/2026

Let’s meet more behind the scene folx adding to the magic! Our wonderful Set Designer, LUCIE!

Lucie Greene (she/her) is a Chicago-born theatrical designer and musician. She studied theater and performance studies at Grinnell College and returned to Chicago two years ago and has since worked on shows at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Children’s Theater,
Court Theater, Broadway Playhouse, Steppenwolf, Drury Lane Theater, and the Marriott Theater. Her work can be seen at luciegreenedesign.com as well as on her instagram . She is thrilled to be a part of the Grizel team and to help bring this strange and moving story to life!

03/10/2026

Next up in our crew the ghost of Grizel, also known as Griselda and Grizell (though Grizel was what she wrote on her will that’s what we’re going with)

Grizel a philanthropist and a benefactor of the first public hospital, Dr Steevens’ Hospital in Dublin. For a time it was commonly known as “Madame Steevens’ Hospital”. Grizel was born in 1653 to John and Constance, and had a twin brother Richard Steevens. Because of her kindness, wealth and age, it was a common rumour that she had the face of a pig. Because of this, the line is often blurred between the myth of the folklore and.. her actual life. Grizel is delighted to have a show address that fact that she indeed, does not, nor never had, the face of a pig.

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03/10/2026

Let’s meet our wonderful director AL!

AL SMART is an honorary Chicagoan of 8 years. They studied and gained an early interest in Clown while attending Pioneer Valley Performing Arts in South Hadley, MA as a high school student. After graduating with a BA in Performance Studies from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, they continued to create work as a director, performer, producer, and sometimes writer here in Chicago, IL. Before premiering Grizel at the Edge Theatre, AL SMART had worked with The Annoyance Theatre, The Lincoln Lodge, Bughouse Theatre, THE CONSPIRATORS, Theatre Momentum, and most importantly throughout it all - their friends. AL SMART is happy to welcome you tonight to Grizel, and hopes that you enjoy the serious and the unconventional.

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03/09/2026

Meet Saoirse!

Saoirse Siné is an Irish performer and creative who relocated to Chicago in 2023. “Grizel” was originally created as part of her MA thesis in 2018 focusing on telling a Story of the past with a postmodern lense. Originally a 20 minute show, Saoirse received funding from her local council to expand it into a full script in 2020 and the script was then developed more after feedback from an online reading. Since then, the script has had new life breathed into by the new creative team. She is really excited to present this version of the script in honour of St Patricks day to Chicago residents and the world premiere of “Grizel: Ireland’s Pig-Faced Lady” in it’s entirety.

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