Trap Door Theatre

Trap Door Theatre is an American, Jeff Award-winning, avant-garde theatre company based in Chicago. Its focus is on European and original experimental material.

History
Trap Door Theatre, founded by Beata Pilch and Sean Marlow, was incorporated in 1990 as a nomadic company touring theatre in Stockholm, Berlin, Zakopane, and Paris. In 1994, Trap Door brought its European tradition to the United States, creating a permanent home for the company in Chicago. Trap Door Theatre is located in Bucktown in Chicago in a 900 sqft converted performance space which seats 45.

Ensemble

 * Maryam Abdi
 * Venice Averyheart
 * Dennis Bisto
 * Abby Blankenship
 * Marzena Bukowska
 * Holly T. Cerney
 * Gary Damico
 * Bill Gordon
 * David A. Holcombe
 * John Kahara
 * Lyndsay Rose Kane
 * Anna Klos
 * Emily Lotspeich
 * Miguel Long
 * David Lovejoy (Associate Managing Director)
 * Leslie Lund
 * Michael Mejia (Company Manager)
 * Emily Nichelson
 * Beata Pilch (Artistic Director, Co-Founder)
 * Chris Popio
 * Manuela Rentea
 * Ann Sonneville
 * Keith Surney
 * Nicole Wiesner (Managing Director)
 * Bob Wilson
 * Carl Wisniewski
 * Max Truax (Resident Director)
 * Kate Hendrickson (Resident Director)
 * Richard Norwood (Resident Light Designer)
 * Danny Rockett (Resident Sound Designer)
 * Zsófia Ötvös (Resident Makeup Artist)
 * Rachel Sypniewski (Resident Costume Designer)
 * Milan Pribisic (Resident Dramaturg)
 * Michal Janicki (Resident Graphic Designer)

Honorary Members include Tiffany Bedwell, Danny Belrose, Antonio Brunetti, Summer Chance, Dani Deac, Ewelina Dobiesz, Kristie Hassinger, Sean Marlow (Co-Founder), Kim McKean, Catherine Sullivan, Andrew Cooper Wasser, Michael Garvey, Bob Rokos, Tiffany Joy Ross, Wesley Walker, Michael S. Pieper, and Krishna Le Fan.

Notable productions

 * How to Explain The History of Communism to Mental Patients (March 2016, Romania: May 2016)
 * La Bête (March 2015)
 * First Ladies (March 2011)
 * Beholder (May 2008)
 * Nana (December 2002)
 * Lebensraum (March 2000)
 * Porcelain (March 2001)
 * Beholder (May 2008)
 * Emma (October 2007)
 * The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant (September 2006)
 * Old Clown Wanted (New York: November 2005; Chicago: November 2005; Romania: May 2007)
 * My Liver is Senseless
 * AmeriKafka
 * The Crazy Locomotive (New York: August 2005; Chicago: June 2005; Romania: May 2007)
 * Horses at the Window (March 2009 Romania: May 2009 Virginia, New York: November 2009)
 * Me Too, I am Catherine Deneuve (October 2010 Georgia, December 2010 Washington DC, April 2011 France, April 2012)

Awards and honors
Joseph Jefferson Award citations


 * Best Original Music (Danny Rockett, How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients)
 * Best Actor in a Principal Role (Kevin Cox, La Bête)
 * Best Costume Design (Rachel Sypniewski, La Bête)
 * Best Original Incidental Music (Ovidiu Iloc, The Word Progress on my Mother’s Lips Doesn’t Ring True)
 * Best Actress in a Principal Role (Nicole Wiesner, First Ladies)
 * Best New Work (Ken Prestininzi, Beholder)
 * Best Ensemble (Nana)
 * Best Supporting Actress (Sharon Gopfert, Lebensraum)
 * Best Supporting Actor (Eric Johnson, Lebensraum)
 * Best Ensemble (Lebensraum)
 * Best Ensemble (Porcelain)