American Blues Theater, under the ongoing leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, continues its 40th anniversary season with the reimagined classic Come Back, Little Sheba by William Inge and directed by Associate Artistic Director Elyse Dolan. Come Back, Little Sheba runs February 6 - March 22, 2026, in the American Blues Theater Studio Theater at 5627 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago.
With only 31 seats per performance, the Studio Theater immerses the audience directly in the Delaney’s living room. This up-close, explosive, and deeply personal experience lets viewers feel every emotional beat as if they were part of the family drama unfolding on stage. Due to the limited seating in the Studio Theater, the press openings are scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM and Friday, February 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM.
Tickets, priced $34.50-$64.50, are on sale now the American Blues Theater box office, online at www.americanbluestheater.com, or by phone at (773) 654-3103.
The cast of Come Back, Little Sheba features ensemble members Philip Earl Johnson (Doc Delaney), Joslyn Jones (Mrs. Coffman), and Gwendolyn Whiteside (Lola Delaney); artistic affiliates Maya Lou Hlava (Marie), Cisco Lopez (Milkman), and William Anthony Sebastian Rose II (Postman / Elmo); and performers Justin Banks (Bruce), Ethan Serpan (Turk), and Zach Shultz (Ed & Voice).
Midwest town. Forced into marriage due to an unexpected pregnancy, former beauty queen Lola and recovering alcoholic Doc live a quiet life of heartbreak and regret until Marie, a young college student, becomes their boarder.
Director Elyse Dolan comments, "One of the great gifts of working in an ensemble theater is the level of earned trust between artists, and on a show like Come Back, Little Sheba, that trust is everything. This isn’t a mid-century museum exhibit. We want audiences to sit in the Delaneys’ parlor and experience the emotional wallop of this show firsthand. Though written 75 years ago, the struggles and pressures that Lola, Doc, and Marie face still feel deeply relevant today.”
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
WILLIAM INGE (Playwright) [b. 1913 – d. 1973] Inge was educated at the University of Kansas at Lawrence where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech and Drama in 1935. After graduation and a brief attempt at post-graduate studies, he worked a variety of jobs, including highway laborer, news announcer, and high school teacher, before returning to school and earning a Master of Arts Degree from the George Peabody College for Teachers in 1943. Upon earning his Masters, Inge moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he landed a job as the drama and music critic for the "St. Louis Times." During the course of his duties at the "Times," Inge was fortunate enough to come into contact with Tennessee Williams, who invited the young critic to attend with him a production of The Glass Menagerie. Inge was so inspired by Williams' play that he decided to try his hand as a playwright. After completing his first script, Farther Off From Heaven (1947), Inge sent a copy to Williams who recommended it for production. The play was produced by Margo Jones in Dallas, Texas. Inge's next literary effort, Come Back, Little Sheba (1950), earned him the title of "most promising playwright of the 1950 Broadway season," but his career was only beginning to gain momentum. He followed this success with Picnic (1952), which won him a Pulitzer Prize, the Drama Critics Circle Award, the Outer Circle Award, and the Theatre Club Award. Next came Bus Stop (1955), which he would later adapt into a popular film starring Marilyn Monroe, and two years later, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1957), a reworking of his first play, premiered on Broadway. By this time, critics were hailing Inge as another Tennessee Williams. Following The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, he won an Academy Award for his screenplay for "Splendor in the Grass" (1961).
ELYSE DOLAN (Director) is a proud ensemble member of American Blues Theater, where she is also the Associate Artistic Director. Favorite directing credits include the Chicago premiere of If/Then at Brown Paper Box Co. and Blackbird at Blank Theatre Company. Her work as a director and/or assistant director has been seen at American Blues Theater, Raven Theatre, Redtwist Theatre, The New Coordinates, Babes with Blades, Oracle Theatre, Broken Nose Theatre, Prop Thtr, Commission Theatre, and more. She has also led sessions of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company's “Master Class: Scene Study” class. Elyse holds a B.A. in English Literature and Theatre from Denison University.
JUSTIN BANKS (Bruce) feels right at home back at American Blues Theater! His other two appearances at American Blues are Chuck Smith’s directed Golden Leaf Ragtime Blues and the holiday tradition, It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! Other credits include Black Card (The Edge Theater), Black By Popular Demand U/S (The Second City Chicago), and The Minority Report: What Had Happened Was… (The Second City Chicago). Justin is also a recent Bob Curry Fellow at The Second City Chicago. He is represented by Gray Talent Group.
MAYA LOU HLAVA (Marie) is a proud artistic affiliate of American Blues Theater last seen in Things With Friends. Additional Chicago credits include, Prayer for the French Republic (Northlight Theatre); Little Mermaid, Christmas Carol, Shrek, White Christmas and Bye Bye Birdie (Drury Lane Theatre); The Penelopiad (Goodman Theatre); Happy Days Are Here (Again) and Zurich (Steep Theatre); The Best Damn Thing (The Understudy Cafe); Dory Fantasmagory and Last Stop On Marketplace (YPPT/Greenhouse Theater); Spring Awakening (Porchlight Theater); Act 5, The Killing Game and The Nether (A Red Orchid Theatre); Oklahoma (Marriott Theatre); Violet (Griffin Theater); Trevor (Writers Theatre); The Secret Garden (Court Theatre); Jane Eyre (Lifeline Theatre); The Wheel (Steppenwolf Theatre); Film and Television credits include – Will Trent, The Perpetrator, Chicago Med, The Chi, and The Big Leap. Maya is represented by Stewart Talent.
PHILIP EARL JOHNSON (“Doc” Delaney) is a proud ensemble member of American Blues Theater. He joined the company following his performance of Joe Alsop in The Columnist (Jeff Award nomination for Production-midsize). His most recent American Blues performance was Stine in the thriller, On Clover Road (Jeff Award nomination for production-midsize). CHICAGO performances include: Autolycus in The Winters Tale, Stockmann in An Enemy off the People, Willis in Talking Pictures and Chris in Brutality of Fact at The Goodman Theater; Kurt in The Dance of Death, Peter in Old Glory at Writers Theater; Tartuffe in Tartuffe, Tom in Skylight, Gabriel in James Joyce’s The Dead, Jesus in The Passion of Christ at Court Theater; Narrator in A Christmas Story at The Paramount Theater; Man #2 in The Big Meal (Joseph Jefferson Award-Best Ensemble), Max in The Royale at American Theater Company; Picasso in Picasso at the Lapine Agile, Steppenwolf Theater; Robert Nichols in Danny Casolaro Died For You at Timeline Theater; Slupianek in The Conquest of the South Pole at Famous Door; Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights at Bailiwick. NATIONAL TOUR: Joe Pitt in Angels in America: Parts 1 and 2. REGIONAL: Jamie in The Moon For The Misbegotten at The Laguna Playhouse and spent 10 summers at The Illinois Shakespeare Festival playing many roles with Petrucchio in Taming of the Shrew, Cyrano in Cyrano De Bergerac and Jack Absolute in The Rivals among his favorites. FILM: The Out of Towners, Thrill Ride and the yet to be released The Up and Comer. TELEVISION: Empire, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Early Edition. He spends most of his time doing solo comedy shows at festivals around the country and stand up in the Chicago/Milwaukee area. He and his wife have four kids and live in the Chicago area. Thank you for supporting live entertainment.
JOSLYN JONES (Mrs. Coffman) is a proud ensemble member of American Blues Theater. American Blues credits: Flyin’ West, The Commons, Ripped Festivals, and Blue Ink Festivals. Other production credits include: Steel Magnolias (Theatre at the Center); Intimate Apparel (Theatre Squared); ANDROMEDA (Theatre Squared); The Project(s) (American Theater Company) Jeff Nomination, Best Production; The Delany Sisters: Having Our Say – The First Hundred Years (Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre); Once On This Island (Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre); 12 Ophelias (Trap Door Theatre); Weekend (TimeLine Theatre), Bourbon At The Border (Eclipse Theatre) BTAA Nomination, Featured Actress; Escape (Live Bait Theatre); Flyin’ West and RAISIN (Court Theatre), Bee-Luther-Hatchee (The University Of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign); Fabulation: Or, The Re-Education of Undine (Next Theatre); Relevant Hearsay (MPACCT: Theater on the Lake); Bee-Luther-Hatchee and Smokey Joe’s Café (Open Door Theater); Meshuggah Nuns! (Chicago Jewish Theatre); The Kurt Weil Revue: Songs of Darkness and Light (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre), Jeff Nomination, Best Musical Production; To Kill A Mockingbird (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre); Readings include: The Last Senior Home in Bronzeville (The Chicago Cultural Center and Definition Theatre w/ The Goodman Theatre); Slippin’ Through The Cracks: The Blues Journey of Bobby Rush (The Goodman Theatre). 2002 Class of The School at Steppenwolf. She has understudied: Having Our Say and Crumbs From The Table of Joy (Goodman Theatre); Film: Cherry, directed by the Russo Brothers with Tom Holland as her scene partner; Television: South Side-Mrs. Odom (HBO Max); Chicago PD (NBC). Joslyn is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. https://linktr.ee/JoslynJones
CISCO LOPEZ (Milkman) is a proud artistic affiliate of American Blues Theater. He returns to American Blues Theater after appearing as Buster in Misery and Ritchie Valens in Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story! Chicago credits include LUCHA TEOTL (Goodman Theatre); Merrily We Roll Along, Woman of the Year, New Faces Sing Broadway 2001, In the Heights (Porchlight Music Theatre); Bonnie & Clyde (Kokandy); and In To America, Letters Home (Griffin Theatre) among others. TV credits: Chicago PD. Film credits: Boystown, Closet Memories. He holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Baylor University and is represented by Shirley Hamilton.
WILLIAM ANTHONY SEBASTIAN ROSE II (Postman / Elmo) is a proud artistic affiliate of American Blues Theater, last seen in American Blues Theater’s Jeff Award-winning production of Fences. Chicago credits include: A Tale of Two Cities (Shattered Globe Theater); The Love Object (The Story Theater); Inanimate and The Whistleblower (Theater Wit); Tambo & Bones – Jeff Award for performance in a Principal Role in a play (Refracted Theater Company); A Mile in the Dark (Rivendell Theater); The Tragedy of King Christophe – Black Theater Alliance Award Winner Best Leading Actor in a Play (The House Theater). Regional credits: Oak (Urbanite Theater); A Christmas Carol (Farmers Alley Theater).
ETHAN SERPAN (Turk) is thrilled to be making his debut with American Blues Theatre! In 2025, Ethan completed the conservatory program at The Second City, and has been training as an intimacy coordinator through IPTC. Past theatre credits include Coriolanus (Atheneum); The Girl on the Train (Folks Operetta); and Goosebumps The Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium (DePaul) DePaul BFA Acting ‘24 ethanserpan.com
ZACH SHULTZ (Ed & Voice) is thrilled to be a part of Come Back, Little Sheba. Previous American Blues credit – four years with Its a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! – going on numerous times as Harry & others and Potter/Clarence. His other Chicago theatre work includes Four Loves Festival with Chicago Dramatists and you can see him regularly as a Wendella boat tour guide on the Chicago river! His film work includes the roll of Ernie in “Itchy Fingers” and Jerry in the short film “Holy Hell”. Zack would like to thank the whole American Blues family for all of their hard work and for being so welcoming!
GWENDOLYN WHITESIDE (Lola Delaney) is a proud ensemble member of American Blues Theater and has served as Executive Artistic Director since 2010. She’s produced over 60+ shows and secured the first operating reserve, endowment, and permanent home at American Blues. Outside of Blues’ stage, she’s worked with Lookingglass, Northlight, About Face, Indiana Repertory, and Lankershim Arts / HBO. She enjoys $4.28 residual checks from several tv shows from the early 00s. Education: Kellogg Executive Scholar in Nonprofit management (Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University); The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA); Northwestern University (BS). Awards: 16 Jeff Awards & nominations for work as producer & director; 5 Jeff Awards & nominations for acting (solo performance, supporting actor, & ensemble), 2 After Dark Awards (ensemble), & 1 Broadway World Chicago (lead actor); Newcity Players’ List – Hall of Fame; “Chicago Theatre Worker You Should Know” by American Theatre.
Notes of Interest
- This is the 75th anniversary of William Inge’s Come Back, Little Sheba.
- Philip Earl Johnson and Gwendolyn “Wendy” Whiteside are back together on stage after their award-nominated work in On Clover Road. Their long-time collaboration brings a level of trust and honesty that makes the performances feel effortless and electric.
- Wendy Whiteside really immersed herself in the role of Lola, changing her daily habits, physical appearance through weight gain and posture, and energy to match the character. She used these choices to show what it’s like to live under repression and limited options, letting audiences feel the weight of Lola’s story.
- The show is happening in American Blues Theater’s black box Studio, with only 31 seats each night. This intimate space puts the audience right inside the Delaneys’ home, so every moment of the story hits up-close and personal.
- The cast shows off American Blues Theater’s strong ensemble spirit, bringing together longtime company members and returning collaborators. These artists know each other’s work inside and out, which makes for seamless chemistry on stage.
- This marks Philip Earl Johnson’s first stage performance since 2019, even as he’s also keeping busy with his next stand-up comedy special and a book in progress.
- Additional information, interviews with the director and cast members, and the Backstage Guide is available at: https://americanbluestheater.com/category/come-back-little-sheba/.
FACT SHEET / Come Back, Little Sheba
Title: Come Back, Little Sheba
Written by: William Inge
Directed by: Associate Artistic Director Elyse Dolan
Featuring: The cast of Come Back, Little Sheba features ensemble members Philip Earl Johnson (Doc Delaney), Joslyn Jones (Mrs. Coffman), and Gwendolyn Whiteside (Lola Delaney); artistic affiliates Maya Lou Hlava (Marie), Cisco Lopez (Milkman), and William Anthony Sebastian Rose II (Postman / Elmo); and performers Justin Banks (Bruce), Ethan Serpan (Turk), and Zach Shultz (Ed & Voice).
Dates: February 6 - March 22, 2026
Press Openings: February 12, 2026 at 7:30pm and February 13, 2026 at 7:00pm.
Schedule:
Wednesdays: 2:00 PM (except February 11); 7:30 PM (February 11 only)
Thursdays: 7:30 PM
Fridays: 7:30 PM (except Feb 13 @ 7:00 PM)
Saturdays: 3:00 PM (February 21 & March 7 only); 7:30 PM (February 7, 14 & 28, March 14 & 21)
Sundays: 2:30 PM
Location: American Blues Theater, Studio Theater, 5627 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago
Ticket prices: $34.50 - $64.50 (no hidden fees)
Box office: Buy online at www.americanbluestheater.com or by calling (773) 654-3103.
Special Access Events
Tickets: $34.50 – call theater for special rate
Touch Tour: Sunday, February 22 at 1:30 PM
Audio Described Performance: Sunday, February 22 at 2:30 PM
American Sign Language-Interpreted Performance: Friday, February 27 at 7:30 PM
Public Programming and Special Events
American Blues Theater is excited to offer audiences even more ways to engage with artists, neighbors and the larger community through its two programs The Commons and @Home Accessibility Series.
The Commons features readings, live concerts, open mics, game nights, town halls and more at American Blues. The @Home Accessibility Series features readings, live concerts, and town halls from the comfort of home via Zoom. For the most up-to-date programming schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.americanbluestheater.com. Additional programming will be announced throughout the season.
About American Blues Theater
Winner of the prestigious National Theatre Company Award from American Theatre Wing (Tony Awards). American Blues Theater is an Ensemble of artists committed to producing new and classic diverse stories that ask the question: “What does it mean to be American?”
The diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second-oldest professional Ensemble theater in Chicago. As of 2025, the theater and artists received 246 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and 44 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. The artists are honored with Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades.