Victory Gardens Theater facts for kids
The Victory Gardens Theater at the Biograph in 2018
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 Victory Gardens Theater
Location in Illinois
Victory Gardens Theater
Location in the United States
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| Address | 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue |
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| Location | Chicago, IL 60614 |
| Coordinates | 41°55′35″N 87°39′00″W / 41.9263801°N 87.6498738°W |
| Seating type | Reserved seating |
| Opened | 1974 |
Victory Gardens Theater is a special theater company in Chicago, Illinois. Its main goal is to help create and show brand-new plays. This gives new writers, called playwrights, a chance to share their stories.
The theater was started in 1974 by a group of eight artists. They wanted to create a new theater space away from Chicago's busy downtown area. The group included Cecil O'Neal, Warren Casey, Stuart Gordon, and David Rasche. Their very first show, The Velvet Rose, opened on October 9, 1974.
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The Theater's Journey Through Chicago
Victory Gardens has moved a few times over the years, with each location playing a big part in its story.
Starting on Clark Street
The company's first home was in a building at 3730 N. Clark Street. Their second show, a country-western musical called The Magnolia Club, was a huge success. This early hit helped the theater grow.
In 1977, Dennis Začek became the artistic director. An artistic director is like the main creative leader of a theater. He worked with many talented people, including actor William L. Petersen and director Sandy Shinner, who helped shape the theater's future.
A New Home at the Body Politic
In 1981, the theater moved to a larger space at the Body Politic Theater building on Lincoln Avenue. This became their home for many years. When the Body Politic company closed in 1995, Victory Gardens took over the entire building.
One of their most famous plays from this time was Beau Jest by James Sherman. It was so popular that it was later performed in New York City and all around the world.
The Famous Biograph Theater
In 2006, Victory Gardens made its biggest move yet. After a major $11.8 million renovation, it opened in the historic Biograph Theater. This building is famous because it was the site where the well-known gangster John Dillinger was caught in 1934.
The old theater space was renamed the Victory Gardens Greenhouse. It was later sold and is now known as the Greenhouse Theater Center, which hosts other theater groups.
A Theater for Playwrights
Victory Gardens is famous for supporting its writers. It created a special group to help them develop their work.
The Playwrights Ensemble
In 1996, the theater started the Victory Gardens Playwrights Ensemble. This was a group of talented and diverse writers who worked closely with the theater. This was a very unique idea for a theater company at the time.
Founding members included well-known writers like Steve Carter, James Sherman, and John Logan. The ensemble has included many other amazing playwrights over the years.
Winning a Tony Award
In 2001, Victory Gardens received a huge honor: the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. The Tony Awards are like the Oscars for live theater. This award recognized Victory Gardens as one of the best theaters in the entire country. It is one of only five Chicago theaters to have won this special award.
Recent Plays and Shows
Victory Gardens is always busy producing new and exciting plays. Here are a few examples of shows they have put on in recent years:
- Tiny Beautiful Things (2019): Based on a book by Cheryl Strayed, this play was adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos.
- Cambodian Rock Band (2019): A play by Lauren Yee that featured music from the band Dengue Fever.
- Fun Home (2017): A popular musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron.
- Native Gardens (2017): A comedy by playwright Karen Zacarías.
See also
- Chicago theatre
