The Artistic Home announced today it will stage Tracy Letts’ Chicago-set SUPERIOR DONUTS for a five-week run. 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. The play was also developed as a weekly television series for CBS that starred Judd Hirsch and ran for two seasons. 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. Mossman also boasts three Jeff Award acting nominations and is a filmmaker. He 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.
Mossman’s cast, announced today, will include a mix of Artistic Home ensemble members and newcomers. The role of Arthur Przybyszewski will be played by Scott Westerman*, the Chicago actor/director/filmmaker who appeared as James Whale in 2024’s GODS AND MONSTERS for Book and Lyrics Theatricals. Appearing as Franco Wicks will be John N. Williams, who recently performed in HAIRSPRAY at Beverly Arts Center. Max Tarasov, the owner of a neighboring appliance store who wants to acquire Arthur’s space for expansion of his own business, will be played by Reid Coker* (of the company’s DYING FOR IT). Cast as Randy Osteen, a neighborhood beat cop who takes a liking to Arthur, is Kristin Collins,* last seen in The Artistic Home’s production of WITCH.
The cast also includes Kevin Aoussou (Officer James Bailey), Barbara Roeder Harris (Lady Boyle), Adam Schulmerich (Luther Flynn), Michael Bayler (Kevin Magee), and John Wehrmann (Kiril Ivakin). Understudies are Harold Lloyd (u/s Franco Wicks), Nate Vangine (u/s Officer James Bailey), Mary Mikva (u/s Lady Boyle), John Dooley (u/s Luther Flynn), Christopher Willumsen (u/s Kevin Magee).
* indicates Artistic Home Ensemble member.
Row One L-R: Scott Westerman, John N. Williams, Reid Coker, Kristin Collins
Row Two L-R: Kevin Aoussou, Barbara Roeder Harris, Adam Schulmerich, Michael Bayler, John Wehrman
Row 3 L-R. Mary Mikva, Chris Willumsen, Harold Lloyd, John Dooley, Nate Vangine
The SUPERIOR DONUTS production team includes Kevin Hagan (Scenic Design), Rachel Lambert (Costume Design), Petter Wahlbäck (Sound Design and Original Music), Ellie Fey (Lighting Design), Randy Rozler (Properties Design), and David Blixt (Violence Design).
Previews are Sunday, November 2 at 3:00 pm, Tuesday, November 4 at 7:30 pm, and Wednesday November 6 at 7:30 pm. Beginning with the press opening on Thursday, November 6, the regular performance schedule will be Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm. There will be two performances on Sunday, November 30: a matinee at 1:00 pm at which coffee and donuts will be served, and an early evening performance at 5:00 pm. There will be a matinee on Saturday, December 6 at 3:00 pm. There will be no performance on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27.
The Artistic Home performs at The Den Theatre and also maintains an acting studio and rehearsal space at 3054 N. Milwaukee Avenue in the Avondale/Logan neighborhood. Tickets are $35 general, $20 student, and $20 for previews and are on sale at www.thedentheatre.com.
* Artistic Home ensemble member
LISTING INFORMATION
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.
BIOS
John Mossman (Director) John Mossman 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.
Tracy Letts (Playwright) 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.
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 25 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.