Jackalope Theatre Company is proud to announce the playwrights for the 16th Annual Living Newspaper Festival, August 21 - 25, at the Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway. The Living Newspaper Festival is inspired by the 1930s Living Newspapers of the Federal Theatre Project that created stories based on recent events. This year’s Festival includes five one-act plays inspired from recent news headlines. The running time is 75 minutes with no intermission. Press are invited for the opening, Thursday, Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The opening night performance is in partnership with the Goodman Theatre as part of the Goodman’s 100 Free Acts of Theater. The performance schedule is Friday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. and Monday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22’s performance is Open Captioned and Sunday, Aug. 24’s performance is audio described. Tickets for August 22 - 25 are $15 - $30 and are available at JackalopeTheatre.org or by calling 773.340.2543.
The 16th Annual Living Newspaper Festival includes plays from Ike Holter, Jesse Jae Hoon, Nora Leahy, Paloma Nozicka and Jasmine Sharma. Plays and casts will be announced in August.
"We're thrilled to assemble this acclaimed line-up of playwrights to pen artistic responses to the nation's current events,” said Artistic Director Kaiser Ahmed. “At a time when the speed of the news stream can dull the senses, the 16th Annual Living Newspaper Festival slows down and explores the human stories beyond the articles."
ABOUT THE LIVING NEWSPAPER FESTIVAL
With a history in the USSR and Germany in the early part of the century, the Living Newspaper was initiated in the United States in 1935 as part of the Federal Theatre Project. Its founders believed in the value of drama as an instrument of social change and the Living Newspapers became a highly effective new form, boldly producing plays that often brought to light social injustices, challenged ideals, and criticized the government.
In response to the Great Depression, Congress appropriated $4.8 billion for work relief and created agencies to administer the funds, including the Works Progress Administration. Despite being allocated less than one percent of WPA funding, the Federal Theatre Project employed approximately eight thousand Theatre professionals a year during its four-year run.
In an attempt to create new plays, the Federal Theatre Project often recruited new writers. One of the goals of the short-lived FTP was to create plays and provide training for aspiring writers, and the Living Newspapers fostered this on a grand scale. Even though insiders acknowledged that it is much easier to build a dam or teach a trade than it is to develop a playwright, the legacy of the FTP laid the groundwork for using theatre to invoke conversation on national themes.
ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE’S 100 FREE ACTS OF THEATER
The opening night performance, Thursday, Aug. 21, is in partnership with the Goodman Theatre’s 100 Free Acts of Theater, a citywide year-long event that activates theater in all 50 wards of Chicago, co-presented by the Department of Culture Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Designed as a celebration of the artistic fabric of Chicago, The Goodman is partnering with Jackalope Theatre Company and organizations across the city during its Centennial Season to amplify existing programming and collaborate on new efforts.
All 100 acts are offered FREE, with participation open to Chicagoans of all ages and backgrounds. Learn more at GoodmanTheatre.org/100FreeActs.
ABOUT JACKALOPE THEATRE
Jackalope Theatre Company expands the definition of American Identity by engaging with communities to produce works that celebrate diverse perspectives. Jackalope is a premier home for new and exciting Off-Loop Theatre based in Chicago's Edgewater and Rogers Park neighborhoods. They are committed to cultivating new voices that contribute to an expanding American culture and mythology. Each season, Jackalope produces full-length plays, new play development programming and provides free classes in partnership with the Chicago Park District.
Jackalope Theatre expands American identity by engaging with our communities to produce works that celebrate diverse perspectives. Season 16 is made possible by the continued generosity of Season Sponsors Michael and Mona Heath.
Jackalope is funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Arts Work Fund and The Paul M. Angell Foundation.
2025 Playwrights: Top Row: (L to R) Ike Holter, Jesse Jae Hoon, Nora Leahy; Second Row: (L to R) Paloma Nozicka and Jasmine Sharma