Northlight Theatre

Northlight Theatre is a professional, non-profit theater company located in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Northlight Theatre produces five mainstage productions each year with a spectrum of work ranging from timely world premieres to refreshed classics. With this award, Northlight Theatre conducts research and convenes focus groups to obtain the input of community members as it works to enhance diversity among its staff, board and programming; and as it plans to move its location from Skokie to Evanston, Illinois.

Northlight Theatre produces at least five shows each year that include contemporary dramas, intimate musicals, and refreshed classics. It also develops new plays through its Interplay program, conducts arts education in Chicago Public Schools, and provides opportunities for audiences to engage with artists. More than 50,000 people attend its performances each year. This award recommends five years of renewed general operating support to Northlight Theatre.

In support of an artistic exchange with Ireland. Northlight's first co-production of a new work will premiere in Chicago and then at the Galway Arts Festival.

This grant provides renewed multi-year general operating support to Northlight Theatre, the largest regional theatre outside of downtown Chicago. It produces contemporary dramas, musicals, and refreshed classics. It introduces new work through its play development and reading program. Northlight has mounted over 185 productions including more than 40 world premieres, many of which were commissioned by, and first produced at Northlight. It has over 6,000 subscribers of which 80% renew each year, and presents to audiences of more than 60,000 annually. Northlight also offers educational programming that includes student matinees and the arts education in schools taught by thirty trained teaching artists.

In support of general operations (over five years).