HAVEN THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES THE DIRECTOR'S HAVEN, AN EMERGING DIRECTOR'S SHOWCASE, OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 4

CHICAGO– Haven Theatre Company and Artistic Director Josh Sobel are proud to announce The Director’s Haven, an emerging director’s showcase, October 24 – November 4, at Collaboraction, Room 300 in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. The Director’s Haven, dedicated to putting early-career directors at the forefront, consists of three one-act plays produced in repertory, each helmed by one of Haven’s pilot year emerging directors. The productions include Weird Kids directed by Monty Cole; Carrie and Francine directed by Arianna Soloway and Jane Doe 232 by JD Caudill. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at http://thedirectorshaven.brownpapertickets.com. For more information on The Directors Haven or Haven Theatre Company, visit HavenTheatreChicago.com.

In addition to offering the highest-quality productions on stage, most recently Arlene Hutton’s Last Train to Nibroc, Haven Theatre is also investing in the next generation of Chicago’s artistic voices. The Director’s Haven gives directors in the earliest stages of their professional careers a rare opportunity to take risks, hone their crafts and talents and share their vision through a fully staged production of a short play. Giving directors support to produce during their formative years, which includes a full design team, budget, marketing support and more, allows these artists to create quality work as well as provides a platform to further their artistic visibility through the creation of said work.

In keeping with the goal of nurturing new artistic voices, each director is also partnered with a Mentor in the form of an established director from the Chicago theater scene. These Mentors, identified by the directors along with Sobel, serve as resources and sounding-boards through each director’s individual creative process.

“It has been a concern of mine for years that there is a distinct lack of opportunities aimed at nurturing and supporting emerging directors,” lamented Sobel. “All too often, young artists set up a home base in a city, and find a lack of structure and a lot of closed doors. There is no audition model for directors. Companies often stick to their pre-existing roster of directors, and only rarely post opportunities to apply for jobs. There are very few classes or workshops focused on creating on-its-feet work as a director. The options then become hoping that a meeting over coffee garners enough trust to lead to an opportunity (which is rare), hoping that assisting on productions will eventually grow to something more (which can be inconsistent), or sinking a heap of money into self-producing or starting a company (which not every young artist can afford to do). And while there are a handful of competitive programs out there, there are only a handful, and many of them still look for a certain amount of professional directing experience before they will fully consider an application. Haven aims to fill this hole in early career-building by championing the next generation of directors, showcasing their craft and better connecting them with the Chicago theatre landscape through their work,” said Sobel.

The Directors Haven showcases the following productions, directors and mentors for it’s inaugural year:

The Director’s Haven

Previews: Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m.

Opening night: Monday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Regular run: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 6:30 p.m.

Closing: November 4

Regular Ticket Prices: $10

Weird Kids

By Alex Lubischer

Directed by Monty Cole

Mentored by Max Truax, artistic director of Oracle Theatre

October 24 – November 4

The sleepy town of Elm Creek, Michigan is about to unveil a billboard commemorating its sole celebrity— a TV star and voice of a generation, Kristen Prescott— just in time for her 10-year high school reunion. But the disappearance of a prized corgi sends its owner, local video store manager Packer Healy, into full-on conspiracy theory mode (with the help of his intern, Horatio). All clues point to Kristen and mounting evidence gets weirder and weirder in this new play about getting even, growing up and aliens!

About Monty Cole

Monty Cole is the artistic programs manager at Victory Gardens Theater where he coordinates casting, the Access Project and line produces the theater’s productions and events. Cole has served as founding artistic director for Fireseed Theatre Company in Boston and co-founded the Chicago Commercial Collective. He has assistant directed We Three at Side Project, The Pied Piper at Strawdog Theatre and The Gospel of Lovingkindness at Victory Gardens Theater. Recently, Cole directed a reading of Dianne Nora’s new play Western Country at SoHo Rep in New York. In January 2016, he will direct an all black, male production of The Hairy Ape at Oracle Productions. He has also worked with Rough House Theatre, Next Theatre Company, The House Theatre of Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Royal George Theater and The Lyric Stage of Boston.

Carrie & Francine

By Ruby Rae Spiegel

Directed by Ariana Soloway

Mentored by Jonathan Berry, ensemble member at Steep Theatre, artistic associate at Griffin Theatre and artistic producer at Steppenwolf Theatre Company

October 24 – November 4

A story about coming of age in America at a time when girls are made to believe they need to grow up fast.

About Arianna Soloway

Arianna Soloway last worked with Haven Theatre as assistant director of Seminar. She has a BFA in directing from Columbia College where she directed The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek and July 7, 1994. She is an artistic affiliate at American Blues Theater and designed props for Hank Williams: Lost Highway, It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, American Myth, and Grounded and assisted with props for Collected Stories and Illegal Use of Hands. Most recently, she directed Guardians at Mary Arrchie Theatre where she also designed props for The Glass Menagerie.

Jane Doe 232

By Mark Joenks

Directed by JD Caudill

Mentored by Megan Shuchman, Associate Education Director for Steppenwolf for Young Adults

October 24 – November 4

After a violent episode, Chloe is held for court-ordered psychiatric evaluation. Completely disconnected from reality, claiming to be haunted by the spirit of a young girl, she must prove to her court-appointed psychiatrist, Brewster, that she is not crazy - but is the young girl Chloe sees real? As Chloe begins piecing together reality and the truth behind the spirit, she quickly realizes that the secret she fights so hard to discover may destroy the only person who can save her.

About JD Caudill

JD Caudill is a Chicago-based director and dramaturg. He moved in 2014 from Ohio following his graduation from Bowling Green State University, where he studied Directing, Musical Theatre and Psychology. Since being here, he has directed Can Cause Death at Arc Theatre’s ArciTEXT 2015, assistant directed Merchild and, Agreed Upon Fictions at The 16th Street Theatre, Stanley in the Name of Love at The New Colony, The Foreplay Play at Realize Theatre Group at RhinoFest, Sure Thing at Hobo Junction and Milk Like Sugar at Stage 773 and was dramaturg on The Charisma of Flying Saucers as part of Polarity Ensemble’s 2015 Dionysus Cup.