The Artistic Home’s 2025-26 season - its 25th - will begin in New York City before returning home to Chicago dramatically as well as physically for Tracy Letts’ SUPERIOR DONUTS, set in Uptown. The season will continue with the company’s annual CUT TO THE CHASE festival of one act plays and conclude with the US Premiere of a 21st Century drama from Ireland. Artistic Director Kathy Scambiatterra announced plans for the full season today.
The occasion for the company’s season-opening NYC sojourn will be a remount of its 2022 hit, MALAPERT LOVE, by Chicago playwright Siah Berlatsky. This modern response to the tropes, style and structure of Shakespeare’s comedies was premiered by The Artistic Home in 2022 and won the 2023 Jeff Award for New Work, along with nominations for Production of a Play, director Julian Hester, and performances by Emilie Rose Danno and Frank Nall. MALAPERT LOVE will be performed off-off-Broadway from October 16 until November 9 at The Tank, a theater that selects emerging artists to perform in their space from hundreds of submissions by theaters across the country.
Overlapping with MALAPERT LOVE for one week will be The Artistic Home’s production of SUPERIOR DONUTS, playing at The Den Theatre in Chicago from November 2 through December 6. This comedy drama, which premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre in 2008 and transferred to Broadway in 2009, is set in a run-down donut shop in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. The owner, Arthur Przybyszewski, is a former 1960’s radical whose routine is challenged when he hires Franco Wicks, a young African American man who has ideas for upgrading the shop. SUPERIOR DONUTS will be directed by ensemble member John Mossman, who won a Jeff award for his direction of the company’s REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT and boasts three Jeff Award acting nominations. Also a filmmaker, Mossman directed and co-wrote the award winning feature film INTO THE WAKE, wrote and directed GOOD GUY WITH A GUN, and has written and directed several short films that have won top awards at numerous international film festivals. SUPERIOR DONUTS will open to the press on Thursday, November 6 at 7:30 pm, following previews from November 2. It will play through December 6 at The Den Theatre at 1331 N. Milwaukee Avenue.
The company will return in February 2026 with its annual festival of one act plays, CUT TO THE CHASE. A staple of Chicago theater for over two decades, CUT TO THE CHASE presents as one fun night of theater a number of new plays chosen from hundreds of submissions by writers from across the country. The plays are performed back-to-back, running approximately 90 minutes. CUT TO THE CHASE is a perfect taste of dynamic theater in an intimate space. Ensemble member Ted James will curate the festival, which will be directed and performed by ensemble members and other theatre artists. CUT TO THE CHASE will be performed for one weekend only, from February 19 to 22, at The Den Theatre.
Completing the season will be the US premiere of THE SUGAR WIFE, a drama from Ireland by Elizabeth Kuti. It premiered at the Rough Magic Theatre Company in Dublin in 2005, was staged in London in 2006, and was revived in 2024 at Dublin’s prestigious Abbey Theatre. Set in 1850, the play follows a Quaker woman who is torn between her work with the city’s poor and her husband’s prospering business built on the exploitation of the poor. They are visited by an English philanthropist and an African American tainted by the horrors of America’s deep south. The visit begins with the best of intentions; but a collision is unavoidable. THE SUGAR WIFE will be performed from April 2 through May 3 at Theatre Wit, 1229 W. Belmont. Company member and Jeff Award winner Kevin Hagan will direct.
Tickets will be on sale through the venues approximately one month before each opening.
LISTING INFORMATION
MALAPERT LOVE
By Siah Berlatsky
Directed by Julian Hester
October 15 - November 9, 2025
Performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:00 pm, Sundays (beginning October 26) at 3:00 pm, and Monday, November 3 at 7:00 pm
The Tank Theatre
312 W. 36th St., New York, NY 10018
212-563-6269
Tickets: $28 - $53 (includes $3.00 service fee), available at www.thetanknyc.org
The Winner of Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work, MALAPERT LOVE is a queer reimagining of Shakespeare's comedies from 21-year old playwright Siah Berlatsky. Featuring the play's original cast from Chicago's award winning Artistic Home theater company, MALAPERT LOVE takes audiences to a farcical, faraway kingdom where personas are concocted, plots are hatched, and paint thinner is sniffed – all for unrequited love!
SUPERIOR DONUTS
By Tracy Letts
Directed by John Mossman
November 2 - December 6, 2025
Previews Sunday, November 2 at 3:00 pm; Tuesday November 4 and Wednesday, November 5 at 7:30 pm
Press Opening Thursday, November 6 at 7:30 pm
Regular run performances Thursdays*, Fridays, and Saturdays** at 7:30 pm; and Sundays*** at 3:00 pm
* No performance Thanksgiving Day, November 27
** Additional matinee Saturday, December 6 at 3:00 pm
*** Sunday, November 30: Performances at 1:00 pm (special coffee and donuts) and 5:00 pm
The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
Ticket prices Regular performances: $35 general, $20 students/seniors; previews $20 all seats
Tickets available at www.thedentheatre.com, or by phone at 773-697-3830
More information at www.theartistichome.org
Arthur Przybyszewski owns a decrepit donut shop in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks, a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better. This comedy-drama by Tony Award® and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Tracy Letts explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship.
CUT TO THE CHASE 2026
An evening of one-act plays curated by Ted James
February 19-22, 2026
Curtain times TBA
The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
All seats $22.00
A staple of Chicago theater for over two decades, CUT TO THE CHASE presents new plays as one fun night of theater. The show runs as one program, with the plays performed back-to-back, running approximately 90 minutes. CUT TO THE CHASE is a perfect taste of dynamic theater in an intimate space.
THE SUGAR WIFE
By Elizabeth Kuti
US PREMIERE
Directed by Kevin Hagan
April 2 - May 3, 2026
Performance dates and curtain times TBA
Theatre Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave, Chicago
www.theatrewit.org
Dublin, 1850: The delicate balance at the heart of an affluent Dublin couple’s marriage and family business is challenged when two visitors come to Ireland to speak to the public about trade, money and slavery. Exploring the dark side of global commodities like sugar, the play asks the question: if your wealth is built on exploitation, can it really be used to build a better world?
DIRECTOR BIOS
Julian Hester (He/Him, Director, MALAPERT LOVE) previously directed THE PAVILION for The Artistic Home, where his direction of the original production of MALAPERT LOVE earned him a Jeff Award nomination for Direction of a Play. He has appeared in The Artistic Home productions of LES PARENTS TERRIBLES, THE SEAGULL, MACBETH, THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE, INTERROGATION, and THE LATE HENRY MOSS, for which he received a Jeff Nomination for Actor in a Supporting Role. He also has worked around Chicago at Chicago Shakespeare, Chicago Dramatists, Theater Wit, Arc Theatre, and Prop Theater. He is a graduate of DePaul University.
John Mossman (He/Him, Director, SUPERIOR DONUTS) is co-founder of The Artistic Home, where he directed REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT, winner of four Jeff Awards including Direction of a Play, Production of a Play, Performer in a Principal Role - Play, and Sound Design. He also directed the hit production of BY THE BOG OF CATS and adapted and directed the world premiere of Paddy Chayefsky's Oscar nominated screenplay THE GODDESS, for which he received an equity Jeff Award for New Adaptation. John’s other Artistic Home productions include directing the Jeff Nominated JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL, MARISOL, and the acclaimed revival of William Inge's NATURAL AFFECTION. Other productions include LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY, the revival of Clifford Odet's CLASH BY NIGHT, Beth Henley's THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST, and RIDERS TO THE SEA by J.M. Synge. He directed THE SHADOW OF A GUNMAN for Seanachai Theater, for which he was named one of the top Directors of 2011 by WBEZ; and JULIUS CAESAR for Lakeside Shakespeare Theater.
Also a filmmaker, Mossman directed and co-wrote the award-winning feature film INTO THE WAKE, wrote and directed GOOD GUY WITH A GUN, and has written and directed several short films that have won top awards at numerous international film festivals, including the Artistic Home-produced SPACEMAN DAN'S 243RD FLIGHT. He directed the short films DRAGGAGE and JELL-OHH LADY, featured in the American Cinematheque Series at LA's Egyptian Theater, for which he received the Best Director of 2002 award at the Midwest Independent Film Fest. Documentaries include THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS CRAZY, which received a Telly and a Voice Award for its portrayal of teenagers struggling with mental illness. His feature film GOOD GUY WITH A GUN was released in 2022, and his film LINE COOKS is currently in production. His many roles as an actor include Jeff Award nominations as Performer in a Principal Role for PEER GYNT and HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE; and Performer in a Supporting Role for ADA AND THE ENGINE, all with The Artistic Home.
Ted James (He/Him, Curator, CUT TO THE CHASE) is an award-winning director, writer and actor. He recently directed the Chicago premiere of Will Eno’s INTERMISSION as part of the Artistic Home’s CUT TO THE CHASE festival, which he also curated. His stage producing credits include the Chicago premiere of Theresa Rebeck’s WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST at Compass Theatre. Ted’s one-act plays have been produced twice as part of CUT TO THE CHASE. As an independent film director, his work has screened at many prestigious festivals, including The Chicago International Film Festival. Ted’s TV field producing work has routinely aired on CBS, NBC, ABC, and many other networks. His TV writing has aired on NBC NIGHTLY NEWS, THE TODAY SHOW, CNN, and MSNBC. Stage acting credits include WELLESLEY GIRL, WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST (Compass Theatre), THE SCHOOL FOR LIES, THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (u/s), WATCH ON THE RHINE (u/s) (The Artistic Home), DREAMS OF THE PENNY GOD, DIANA OF DOBSON’S, THE EMPEROR OF THE MOON (Halycon Theatre) and many others. Ted is a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association.
Kevin Hagan (He/Him, Director, THE SUGAR WIFE) is a graduate of the College of Art and Design at Louisiana State University and received a Master of Fine Arts degree in scenic design from the Theatre School, DePaul University. Kevin is a founding member of Timeline Theatre Company and for over a decade was the resident scenic designer at Shattered Globe Theatre, where he also made his Chicago directing debut. Recent Chicago design credits include ROCK N’ ROLL and REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT for The Artistic Home; NEW COUNTRY for Fair Trade Productions; ROSE for The Greenhouse Theater; ARCADIA for Promethean Theater Ensemble; OUR LADY OF 121ST STREET (Jeff Nomination for Best Scenic Design); NATURAL AFFECTION and BUS STOP for Eclipse Theatre Company where he also directed the Eclipse productions of AH, WILDERNESS! and HAUNTING JULIA.
PLAYWRIGHT BIOS
Siah Berlatsky (She/Her, Playwright, MALAPERT LOVE) is a Chicago-based actor, poet and playwright. She has performed her poems with Cabinet of Curiosity and Bussy Talks: A Gender Performance, and has acted in productions with Citadel Theater, Crew of Patches, Black Cat Theatre, and others throughout the city. She is currently an ensemble member at The Artistic Home Theatre Company, where her first play, MALAPERT LOVE, was produced in 2022, winning a Jeff Award for best new work. The Artistic Home has also held development readings of Siah’s two other full-length plays, COMPANY’S COMING and GALAHAD MANOR, and has produced two of her short plays, “Rot!” and “Psychoanalysis!” in their CUT TO THE CHASE short plays festival.
Tracy Letts (Playwright, SUPERIOR DONUTS) is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He started his career at the Steppenwolf Theatre before making his Broadway debut as a playwright for AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (2007), for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. As an actor, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for the Broadway revival of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (2013). As a playwright, Letts' works include KILLER JOE, BUG, MAN FROM NEBRASKA, AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, SUPERIOR DONUTS, an adaptation of Chekov’s THREE SISTERS, THE STRETCH, MARY PAGE MARLOWE, LINDA VISTA, and THE MINUTES. Letts has adapted three of his plays into films: BUG and KILLER JOE, both directed by William Friedkin: and AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, directed by John Wells.
Elizabeth Kuti (Playwright, THE SUGAR WIFE) is a playwright and lecturer in drama. Her play THE SUGAR WIFE won the 2006 Susan Smith Blackburn Award. Her plays include: FISHSKIN TROUSERS (Finborough Theatre, 2013; revived at Park Theatre, London, 2017); THE SIX-DAYS WORLD (Finborough Theatre, London, 2007); and THE SUGAR WIFE (Rough Magic, Project Arts Centre, Dublin, 2005; Soho Theatre, London, 2006; Abbey Theatre, Dublin, 2024).She teaches drama and playwriting at the University of Essex; and is a long-term collaborator with director Robert Price, with whom she founded Lubkinfinds Theatre.
ABOUT THE ARTISTIC HOME
The Artistic Home is noted for their innovative and intimate presentations of rarely produced classics as well for developing new works. The company has been frequently honored in the Jeff Awards. For 2024, the company was named with two nominations for BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK. For 2023, they received nine nominations for WITCH and DYING FOR IT, including a nomination for Production of a Play (DYING FOR IT) and a win for Kevin Hagan’s scenic design of DYING FOR IT. In 2022, they received nine nominations and two wins – one for New Work (MALAPERT LOVE, written by ensemble member Siah Berlatsky) and one for Supporting Actor in a play (Todd Wojcik – in THE PAVILION). The company’s 2022 nominations also included two for Best Play production (MALAPERT LOVE and THE PAVILION). The Artistic Home was one of the big winners in the 2019 Jeff Awards, with four awards including Production of a Play, Director of a Play, Principal Performer in a Play, and Sound Design, all for REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT. Brookelyn Hebert won a Jeff as Principal Performer in a Play for the company’s 2020 production of ADA AND THE ENGINE. The company was nominated for Jeff Awards in 2019 for ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, and in 2018 for HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE.
Other memorable productions of recent years include 2017’s WEDDING BAND, BY THE BOG OF CATS and THE SCHOOL FOR LIES; their Jeff-nominated productions of THE SEAGULL, WATCH ON THE RHINE, MACBETH and THE LATE HENRY MOSS; and their 2013 Jeff Award-winner THE GODDESS. Other Artistic Home productions include the Jeff-Award-winning production of JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK, which also received three After Dark Awards, the Jeff-Nominated SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH, THE TALLEST MAN, LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY, NATURAL AFFECTION, FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS, AFTER THE FALL and PEER GYNT (which also received an After Dark award for Direction).
For more than 27 years, The Artistic Home has consistently produced compelling theatre in Chicago. First formed in 1998 with the belief that the actor is at the heart of great theater, the company strives to give birth to unforgettable moments; to touch audiences who are increasingly distanced from human contact; to readdress the classics and explore new works with passion.