Lifeline Theatre facts for kids

Lifeline Theatre is a special theater company in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was started in 1983 by five friends. Their names were Meryl Friedman, Suzanne Plunkett, Kathee Sills, Sandy Snyder Pietz, and Steve Totland. They had all just finished college at Northwestern University.

The theater company moved into its own building in Rogers Park in 1986. This building used to be an electric power station. Now, it has a theater with 99 seats. It also has space for rehearsals, offices, and storing costumes and props.

Awards and Recognition

Lifeline Theatre has won many awards. They have been honored for their plays for both adults and children.

Chicago and Illinois Awards

Since 1986, people from Lifeline Theatre have won 48 Joseph Jefferson Awards. These awards celebrate great theater in Chicago. They have also been nominated 135 times! In 2007, Lifeline received a special award for its 25 years of amazing work in Chicago theater.

Lifeline is also known for its shows for kids. In 2000, New City magazine called Lifeline the Best Children's Theatre Company in Chicago. Chicago Magazine agreed, naming them the Best Kids' Company in 2002.

In 1991, the Illinois Theatre Alliance gave Lifeline an award. It was for their great work in children's theater. The City of Chicago also honored Lifeline in 2006. This was for their 15-year partnership with Joyce Kilmer School.

National Awards

One of the theater's members, Meryl Friedman, won a big award in 1999. It was for her play Journey of the Sparrows. This play was shown at Lifeline in 1996.

In 2003, Lifeline Theatre won another important award. The American Alliance for Theater and Education gave them the Sara Spencer Artistic Achievement Award. This award recognized their ongoing success in creating theater for young audiences.

Exciting Productions

Lifeline Theatre has put on many different kinds of plays. They often adapt books into plays.

MainStage Shows

Some popular MainStage shows for adults include Pride and Prejudice and Around the World in 80 Days. They have also performed Treasure Island and The Count of Monte Cristo. Lifeline even created plays from all three books of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings series. They also adapted four mystery stories about Lord Peter Wimsey.

Family MainStage Shows

Lifeline has special MainStage shows for families. These include A Wrinkle in Time and The Phantom Tollbooth. Other family favorites are Journey of the Sparrows and The Silver Chair.

KidSeries Program

In 1986, Lifeline started its KidSeries program. These shows are just for kids! Some popular KidSeries plays have been Mr. Popper's Penguins and James and the Giant Peach. They also performed Bunnicula, The Story of Ferdinand, and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!. Kids have also enjoyed The Velveteen Rabbit and Arnie the Doughnut.

See also

• Chicago theatre