Our mission
The mission of Avalanche Theatre is to foster the development of new plays and playwrights through a collaborative coalition of theatre makers. We seek to create opportunities for diverse, innovative, and unconventional writers by creating exciting, community-building developmental performances and feedback sessions that enrich our audiences and allow for the growth of our artists. We strive to create a foundation on which the next generation of theatre writers can build.
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We also aim to be a play development resource for the entire Chicago theatre community - not only for playwrights looking to workshop their plays, but also as a partner for theatre companies to develop new productions.
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We are a strong, passionate collective of artists who provide a constructive and encouraging environment for the development of new plays, and who work to push the boundaries of what theatre can be.
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Writing tomorrow's classics, today.
Development successes
Black Bear Island by Karissa Murrell Myers (Next Draft Series, June 2023)
- 2024 Maxim Mazumdar New Play Award, Alleyway Theatre in Buffalo, NY.
- Workshop Production, Silk Road Rising & Northeastern Illinois University, April 17 to 27, 2024 in Chicago, IL
- Reading with Goodman Theatre's New Stages Festival, December 1 & 9, 2023 in Chicago, IL.
- Workshop with Renaissance Theatreworks Br!nk New Play Festival, May 18 to 19, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI.
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Homunculus by Andrew Piechota (Next Draft Series, October 2023)
- Best New Play (Finalist), Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago 2023
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Gut by Alexander Attea (Avalanche Workshop Reading, 2022)
- World premiere with Platform (a production company), September 23 to October 15, 2023 in Chicago, IL.
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The Bog Witch Variety Hour by Felix Abidor (Avalanche Workshop Reading, 2022)
- World premiere with Corn Productions, March 24 to April 22, 2023 in Chicago, IL.
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Radial Gradient by Jasmine Sharma (Avalanche New Play Summit, 2021)
- World premiere with Shattered Globe Theatre, January 27 to March 11, 2023 in Chicago, IL.