Open Space Arts has announced it will extend its run of the queer romantic comedy SMILEY by the Spanish playwright Guillem Clua. The play, which opened to enthusiastic reviews on June 5 and was originally scheduled to close on June 21, will play an additional three weekends before closing on Sunday, July 19. BROADWAYWORLD’s Angela Lin called it “a heartwarming take on an “opposites attract” romantic comedy trope” with “outstanding performances” by its two-actor cast, Seth Kobs and Ayden Lopez. WINDY CITY TIMES’ Matt Simonette said “These two fine actors, not to mention a great story and Carpenter’s energetic direction, will probably make you leave Smiley with a smile on your face.”
Seth Kobs (left), Ayden Lopez (right). Photo by Abbas Tayebali.
The extension of SMILEY, which Simonette described as “a quintessential Pride Month play if there ever was one,” will have two performances on Parade Weekend, playing Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, but taking Sunday, June 28 off for the Pride Parade and extending this hiatus through the weekend of July 4. Performances will resume on Thursday, July 9, playing Thursdays through Sundays until July19. Kobs and Lopez will continue through the extension, though understudy Lucas Becker will fill in for Lopez on Saturday, June 27. All performances are in Open Space Arts’ hyper-intimate 25-seat theatre at 1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago.
Seth Kobs (left), Ayden Lopez (right). Photo by Abbas Tayebali.
SMILEY became an international hit following its 2012 premiere in Barcelona, Spain. It enjoyed extended runs in Barcelona and Madrid and has been produced internationally across Europe and Latin America, with productions in Germany, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Chile, Puerto Rico, Peru, and in Spanish language productions in New York and Miami. The Open Space Arts production will be its North American English language premiere. The two-hander queer comedy set in Barcelona revolves around the love story between two men, bartender Álex and architect Bruno, who meet because of a misdirected voicemail. Open Space Arts’ SMILEY IS directed by Jack Dugan Carpenter, the former Managing and Development Director of The Plagiarists whose directorial credits include numerous productions for The Plagiarists, St. Sebastian Players, and others.
SMILEY author Guillem Clua is one of Spain’s most widely produced contemporary playwrights. His work has been staged internationally and translated into multiple languages. His plays, including SMILEY and THE SWALLOW, are known for their emotional intelligence, wit, and insight into the complexities of human connection. While SMILEY has become a global audience favorite, it has had only limited exposure in the United States, with select Spanish-language productions in New York and Miami. Open Space Arts’ production introduces this internationally celebrated work to Chicago audiences, offering a fresh opportunity to experience one of the most engaging contemporary queer love stories to emerge from the European stage.
Funny, fast, and disarmingly honest, SMILEY explores the thrill and risk of connection in a world shaped by screens, expectations, and the fear of being truly seen. After Alex (to be played by Seth Kobs) and Bruno (played by Ayden Lopez) meet by chance, they form an odd couple whose only commonality is that they are both men and have fallen in love. SMILEY explores how new technologies like WhatsApp and iPhones have changed our lives, while also precisely dissecting the contradictions of romantic relationships within the gay community. It's a mini encyclopedia of Barcelona's gay scene and also an homage to classic romantic comedies, from Nora Ephron to Howard Hawks.
The creative team includes stage manager Dorothy Sargent, intimacy director Greta Zandstra, lighting designer Ellie Humphrys, sound designer Sean Smyth, scenic designer Cory Busch, and costume designer Dominique Favre.
Tickets for SMILEY are $30.00 ($25.00 for students and seniors) and are on sale now at www.openspacearts.org.
LISTING INFORMATION
SMILEY
By Guillem Clua
NORTH AMERICAN ENGLISH LANGUAGE PREMIERE
Directed by Jack Dugan Carpenter
Translated by Marion Peter Holt
June 5 – July 19, 2026
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 5:00 pm through June 19
Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27 at 7:30 pm
No performances June 28 – July 8
July 9 – 19, 2026
Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 5:00 pm
Open Space Arts, 1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago
Tickets $30.00 general admission, $25.00 students and seniors. On sale now at https://openspacearts.org/smiley and
https://www.goelevent.com/OpenSpaceArts/e/SMILEY
North American English-language premiere of the international hit by Spain’s Guillem Clua. When Alex leaves a voicemail for his ex, it lands in the inbox of Bruno—a stranger. What begins as a wrong message turns into an unexpected connection between two very different men. As texts turn into calls, and calls into something more, they navigate attraction, vulnerability, and the complicated reality of modern love. Funny, fast, and disarmingly honest, SMILEY explores the thrill and risk of connection in a world shaped by screens, expectations, and the fear of being truly seen. This sharp, funny, and deeply relatable queer romantic comedy has captivated audiences around the world
BIOS
Guillem Clua (Playwright) is from Barcelona, Spain and is considered one of the most innovative voices in the Spanish theater scene and part of a new generation of playwrights born in the seventies who are transforming the Catalan stage with their plays. Critics have described his work as multidisciplinary, eclectic, and very much concerned with narrative structure and plot. Storytelling is at the heart of his style, which combines elements of comedy, thriller and melodrama, a vibrant rhythm, and the unabashed influence of other media, such as television and cinema.
Jack Dugan Carpenter (Director) is delighted to return to Open Space Arts after directing the staged reading of BREAKING THE CODE last April. Jack is a distinguished director and actor with extensive experience in the Chicago theater scene. He has collaborated with numerous theater companies, including The Plagiarists, where he served as Managing and Development Director from 2011 to 2025. His directorial credits with The Plagiarists include productions of WHEN YOU AWAKE YOU WILL REMEMBER EVERYTHING, MÜNSTERSPIEL, SOME LIKE IT RED, GILGAMESH, THESE SAINTS WILL BURN, WAR SONG, MATRYOSHKA, and CAESURA: A BUTCHERY. Beyond The Plagiarists, Carpenter directed THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, BELL BOOK AND CANDLE, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, CHARLEY’S AUNT, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, and FIGMENTS with Saint Sebastian Players, as well as THE ALCHEMIST and THE ARMAGEDDON DANCE PARTY with Nothing Special Productions. He also co-directed THE LIVING CANVAS: RX. www.jackdugancarpenter.com
Seth Kobs (he/him, Alex) recently appeared in A VERY STEAMWORKS CHRISTMAS, SLAY!, and THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE at The Annoyance Theatre. Other credits include RIPE FOR THE RECKONING and WE DID IT, JOE! at The Second City. Seth holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Nebraska Wesleyan University and has trained in the Second City Conservatory and Grad Revue programs. When not onstage, he enjoys drawing, gardening, and recording his podcast: SCORED FOR YOUR PLEASURE.
Ayden Lopez (Bruno) has recently appeared in TWELFTH NIGHT (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) at the Albright Community Theatre. Other notable stage credits include COLUMBINUS (Dylan/Loner) and CLUE (Mr. Green), also at the Albright, where he is currently on the Executive Board. Ayden holds an MFA in Acting from Long Island University. When not working in the theatre, he enjoys riding roller coasters, playing volleyball, and reading books.
OPEN SPACE ARTS, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is dedicated to combating homophobia and transphobia through the transformative power of creativity and cultural expression. Our mission is to foster inclusivity, promote understanding, and empower marginalized communities by utilizing various artistic mediums to challenge discriminatory beliefs and attitudes. OSA has won some of the top honors in the Joseph Jefferson Awards for work produced in the past two years. 2025 honors included Production of a Play – Short Run (COCK), Direction of a Play – Short Run (Michael D. Graham - LIGHT SWITCH), Performer in a Principal Role – Short Run (Philip Andrew Monnett – LIGHT SWITCH), and Performer in a Supporting Role – Short Run (Sonya Robinson – COCK). The company was recognized in 2026 for Performer in a Principal Role – Short Run (Andrew Kain Miller – MR. PARKER) and Performer in a Supporting Role – Short Run (Josh Odor – GANGSTA BABY). Additionally, Open Space Arts has produced SUNSETS: TWO ACTS ON A BEACH, ROSENBERG, MASSAGE THERAPY, MERCY KILLING, MR. PARKER, “it’s been ten years since everyone died. a play about final girls,” SCANDALOUS BOY, GANGSTA BABY, DORIAN, and THE KRAMER PROJECT in live performances. OSA also produces the Queer Expressions Film Fest, a hybrid fest of streaming and in-person events, which runs from November 1 to July 1 annually. Open Space Arts is led by David Zak.