Regina Victor, J. Nicole Brooks, Yu Shibagaki and Erin Kilmurray/Photo: Joe Mazza | Brave Lux
As RSVPs started rolling in for this year’s Players photoshoot (a multi-day marathon that would not be possible without the grace and good cheer of Joe Mazza and Susan Ask of Brave Lux), a handful of folks wrote back saying they regretted they would have to miss the shoot because they would be out of town for work. These days, this is hardly unusual: a quick scan of the production credits of the artists on this list sees many working around the country as well as in a variety of media and roles. Meanwhile, Chicago has long been a mecca for artists looking to cut their teeth in the local style: a spirited and scrappy can-do ethos, which translates to hundreds of productions across the city at any given time. This is a central paradox of our performance communities: an abundance of both supply and demand. And while the pros to this symbiotic arrangement are too numerous to fully account for, the drawback is that we sometimes have difficulty holding onto the talent we already have as we import dancers, directors, designers and Dionysians of all stripes from abroad and, too often, scribes from beyond the grave. And while cultural exchange is an essential artery in the infrastructure of art-making and heedlessly embracing a politics of isolation would be a disaster for our city, what I’ve come to admire most about Chicago’s performance community is the collective chip on our broad shoulders. We can do it better, faster, cheaper as well as more affordably and accessible than anyone, anywhere, period. And while conversations around equity and representation purposefully persist, during this season of reflection and anticipation, poised as we are forever on the precipice of change and stasis, we arrive at an agreeable theme: gratitude. To the long-awaited revenant and lifelong resident alike, thank you for giving Chicago its most meaningful epithet of all: home. (Kevin Greene)
Players 50 2020 was written by Kevin Greene and Sharon Hoyer, with additional contributions by Amanda Finn, Ben Kaye, Erin Shea Brady, Zach Freeman and Hugh Iglarsh.
All photos by Joe Mazza | Brave Lux with photo assistance by Susan Ask
The Hall of Fame
These Chicagoans, or the roles they play, are so well-established and essential to the theater or dance world of Chicago that they are always near the top of the list.
Nathan Allen
Artistic Director, The House Theatre of Chicago
Nick Bowling
Associate Artistic Director, TimeLine Theatre Company
Alejandro Cerrudo
Choreographer
David Cromer
Director
Renée Fleming
Creative Consultant, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Gary Griffin
Director
Francis Guinan
Actor; Ensemble Member, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Carrie Hanson
Founding Artistic Director, The Seldoms
TJ Jagodowski and David Pasquesi
Comedians, TJ and Dave
Tracy Letts
Actor, Playwright; Ensemble Member, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Mick Napier
Founder, Artistic Director, Annoyance Theatre
Ron OJ Parson
Director; Resident Director, Writers Theatre; Resident Artist, Court Theatre
Julia Rhoads
Founding Artistic Director, Lucky Plush Productions
Nick Sandys
Artistic Director, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Kimberly Senior
Resident Director, Writers Theatre; Associate Artist, TimeLine Theatre Company
Michael Shannon
Actor; Ensemble Member, A Red Orchid Theatre
Chuck Smith
Resident Director, Goodman Theatre
Chay Yew
Director, Playwright; Artistic Director, Victory Gardens Theater
Mary Zimmerman
Director; Artistic Associate, Goodman Theatre
