Since 2009, we’ve produced 14 events and utilized 391+ incredible artists from across the United States! This year's artists include:
Playwrights include: Shepsu Aakhu, Bret Angelos, Manny Buckley*, Darren Canady*, Neil Cohen, CPS students, Larissa FastHorse, Brian Hieggelke, M.E.H. Lewis, Rohina Malik, Wandachristine*, & Gwendolyn Whiteside*.
Directors include - Austin Cook*, Elyse Dolan, Keira Fromm, Arti Ishak, Lavina Jadhwani, Steve Key*, Lauren Lundy, Heather Meyers*, Suzanne Petri*, ...
Since 2009, we’ve produced 14 events and utilized 391+ incredible artists from across the United States! This year's artists include:
Playwrights include: Shepsu Aakhu, Bret Angelos, Manny Buckley*, Darren Canady*, Neil Cohen, CPS students, Larissa FastHorse, Brian Hieggelke, M.E.H. Lewis, Rohina Malik, Wandachristine*, & Gwendolyn Whiteside*.
Directors include - Austin Cook*, Elyse Dolan, Keira Fromm, Arti Ishak, Lavina Jadhwani, Steve Key*, Lauren Lundy, Heather Meyers*, Suzanne Petri*, Richard Shavzin*, Arianna Soloway*, & Alex St. John.
Actors include - Annelyse Ahmad, Charles Askenaizer, Sammie Becker, Stephanie Chavara, Dan Cobbler, Jazmin Corona, Ryan Czerwonko, Joe Dempsey*, Maddie DePorter, Britt DeVaney, Catherine Dildilian, Joe Foust*, Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Cale Haupert, Ashley Honore, Gary Houston, Melanie Keller, Linda Kimbrough, Jim Leaming, Tyler Meredith, John Mobley, Lily Mokekwu, EJ Murray, Angela (Anjee-O) Oliver, Emily Osborn, Alex Pelletier, Isabel Quintero, David Rhee, Sarah E. Ross*, David Simmons, Dwight Sora, Clayton Stamper, Adjora Stevens, Kaelan Strouse*, Trequon Tate, Alma Washington, Kylee Wellons.
* Ensemble or Artistic Affiliates of American Blues Theater.
Based on the 1930s WPA era program that brought Orson Welles, Arthur Miller and Clifford Odets into public attention, we present events that incorporate scripts from the original 1930s Living Newspaper juxtaposed with new material ripped from today’s headlines. Our annual festival cultivates new material and allows audiences to discuss topical issues together.
American Blues Theater serves social and service organizations through creative collaborations. The following organizations have been supported by RIPPED events since its inception in 2009: AgrAbility, Chicago Public Schools, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Illinois Farm Bureau, Lincoln Park Community Shelter, University of Chicago’s Urban Education Teachers Program, and Open Books.
