Production History

Season 31: 2025-2026

• Say Gay Plays
  Newly Commissioned 10-minute plays by Chicago-based writers Hannah li-Epstein, Lani Montreal, Esho Rasho, and Emilio Williams Featuring Plays by Mashuq Mushtaq Deen and Brian Quirk
  Curated and produced by About Face Theatre and Silk Road Cultural Center Co-Sponsored by NEIU College of Arts and Sciences and Presented at NEIU Carruthers Center
  September 20, 2025
• Modern Gentleman
  Written by Preston Max Allen, Directed by Landree Fleming  March 19 – April 18, 2026
• Re/Generation Studio 2026 reading/workshop series
  Straddle by Harrison David Rivers, directed by Megan Carney
  The Council of Femmes by Willow Wilhelm, directed by Landree Fleming
  Le Switch by Philip Dawkins, directed by Leanna Gianoutsos Oliveria, produced with Ways and Means Theatre Company
  Vantage Point, created by the AFT Queer Youth Ensemble
  May 22nd-23rd
• Life Out Loud: Voices of Pride
  Written by Dionne Addai, with the Life Out Loud Ensemble and Theatrical Consultation from Lexi Saunders
  including contributed pieces from Zahra Baker and Aimy Tien
  Touring Show

Season 30: 2024-2025

• We Could Be
  Written by Kirsten Baity and Teddy Thomas
  Devised by Ua Smith, Sharon Pasia, Brooks Lansana, Dionne Addai, and Alyssa Vera Ramos
  Directed by Alyssa Vera Ramos
  Produced in association with Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
  October 17 – 27, 2024 @ Rivendell Theatre
• Black Trans Women at the Center
  A new play festival presented by Long Wharf Theatre in partnership with About Face Theatre, Breaking the Binary Theatre, National Queer Theater, Portland Center Stage & The Theater Offensive
  Virtual Event November 18, 2024
• Re/Generation Studio 2025 reading/workshop series
  Phases of the Moon by Bryna Turner, directed by Keira Fromm | March 28, 2025
  Untitled Queer Romance or The Subject of You by Michael Turrentine | Directed by Catherine Miller | March 29, 2025
  An Army of Lovers by R Eric Thomas | March 29, 2025
• OM Mission
  Co-Created and Performed by Zahra Baker and Shanta Nurullah
  Directed by Kezia Waters
  June 20–28, 2025
• Life Out Loud: Voices of Pride
  Written by Dionne Addai, with the Life Out Loud Ensemble and Theatrical Consultation from Lexi Saunders
  including contributed pieces from Zahra Baker and Aimy Tien
  Touring Show

Season 29: 2023-2024

• Re/Generation Studios reading/workshop series
  • A Home Education by Liz Haas, directed by Denise Yvette Serna | December 1, 2023
  • Why Are Graham Crackers Hard? by August Forman, directed by Landree Fleming | December 8, 2023
  • Yūgen by Emilio Williams, directed by Mikael Burke | December 15, 2023
• The Brightest Thing in the World
  Written by Leah Nanako Winkler, Directed by Keira Fromm
  March 14 – April 13, 2024 @ The Den Theatre
• Lavender Men
  Written by Roger Q. Mason, Directed by Lucky Stiff
  May 9 – June 8, 2024 @ The Den Theatre
• Lit Play Lab 2024: Hot Streaks
  • The Leads by Jesse Morgan Young and Matthew Sherbach directed by Eric Hoff | June 15 & 16, 2024
  • Estrellazo by Nelson A. Rodriguez, directed by Xavier Custodio | June 20, 2024
  • Jump the Shark by Bonnie Metzgar, directed by Mikael Burke | June 22, 2024
  • We Could Be: The Future of Sex Ed by Kirsten Baity and Teddy Thomas, conceived by Dionne Addai, directed by Alyssa Vera Ramos | June 22, 2024

Season 28: 2022-2023

• Mosque4Mosque*
  Written by Oemr Abbas Salem, Directed by Sophiyaa Nayar
  November 17 – December 17, 2022 @ The Den Theatre
• Gender Play, or what you Will*
  Co-created by Will Wilhelm and Erin Murray, Directed by Erin Murray
  May 4 – June 3, 2023 @ The Den Theatre
• Re/Generation Studios reading/workshop series
  • Love & Nappiness by Kirsten Baity, directed by Dionne Addai | January 28, 2023
  • Lavender Men by Roger Q. Mason, directed by Lucky Stiff | February 18, 2023
  • The Model Congressman by Steven Strafford, directed by AJ Schwartz | February 25, 2023
  • underdrown by Derek Lee McPhatter, directed by Mikael Burke | March 4, 2023
  • The Wholehearted, co-created by Deborah Stein and Suli Holum, directed by Keira Fromm | March 11, 2023
  • Switch Hitta by Pen Wilder, directed by Megan Carney | March 18,2023

Season 27: 2021-2022

• Laced*
  Written by Sam Mueller, Directed by Lexi Saunders
  March 17 – April 16, 2022 @ The Den Theatre
• The Magnolia Ballet+
  Written by Terry Guest, Directed by Mikael Burke
  May 12 – June 11, 2022 @ The Den Theatre
• About Face Youth Theatre: Gayme Changers*
  Devised by the AFYT ensemble, Written by Kirsten Baity, Directed by Vic Wynter
  June 18-24, 2022 @ The Den Theatre

Season 26: 2020-2021

• KICKBACK*
  Conceived & directed by Mikael Burke
  Streaming Dec 12, 2020 – Aug 31, 2021
• The Gift: a radio play*
  Written and Directed by Eric Rosen
  Streaming Dec 21-31, 2020
• About Face Youth Theatre: Whodunnit? A Groovy Queer Murder Mystery*
  Created by the AFYT ensemble, Directed by Lisa Siciliano and Breon Arzell
  Streaming June 1-31, 2021
• hold me the forgotten way*
  By Harrison David Rivers, Produced by TigerBear Productions
  Streaming June 16 – Dec 31, 2021

Season 25: 2019-2020

• Packing*
  By Scott Bradley, Directed by Chay Yew
  Oct 31 – Dec 7, 2019 @ Theater Wit
• The Gulf+
  By Audrey Cefaly, Directed by Megan Carney
  Jan 9 – Feb 15, 2020 @ Theater Wit
• AFYT: The Glow Up
  Streaming
• KINSHIP: An All-ages Variety Show (4 events)
• Out Front reading series 2019
  • Crystal Lake by Tracy Baim and Clark Baim

Season 24: 2018-2019

• This Bitter Earth
• Dada Woof Papa Hot
• The Total Bent (co-production with Haven Theatre)
• About Face Youth Theatre: 20/20 (20th Anniversary of AFT)
• KINSHIP: An All-ages Variety Show (4 events)
• Out Front reading series 2018
  • TransScripts by Paul Lucas
• First DrAAft reading: Packing by Scott Bradley

Season 23: 2017-2018

• Significant Other
• Time Is On Our Side
  by R. Eric Thomas, Directed by Megan Carney
  March 1 – April 7, 2018 @ Theater Wit
• Bull in a China Shop
  by Bryna Turner, Directed by Keira Fromm
  May 24 – June 30, 1018 @ Theater Wit
• About Face Youth Theatre: Scary Stories To Save Your Life

Season 22: 2016-2017

• I Am My Own Wife
• The Temperamentals
  by Jon Marans, Directed by Andrew Volkoff
  Jan 13 – Feb 18, 2017 @ Theater Wit
• Bright Half Life
• About Face Youth Theatre: Brave Like Them: A Queer As Fuck Riot GRRRL Musical
  Devised by the AFYT ensemble, Directed by Ali Hoefnagel & Kieran Kredell
  July 26 – Aug 6, 2017
• Out Front reading series 2017 – AIDS On Stage
  • As Is by William Hoffman
  • Jeffrey by Paul Rudnick
  • In the Continuum by Danai Gurira and Nikkole Salter
  • And All the Dead Lie Down By Harrison David Rivers
• First DrAAft reading: An Untitled Piece Inspired by Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

Season 21: 2015-2016

• Le Switch
  by Phillip Dawkins, Directed by Stephen Brackett
  Jan 15 – Feb 21, 2016 @ Theater Wit
• after all the terrible things i do
• The Secretaries
• AFT 20: A Retrospective
• About Face Youth Theatre: Ad Hoc [Home]

Season 20: 2014-2015

• Methtacular (co-production with Justin Brill)
  Written and performed by Steven Strafford, Directed by Adam Fitzgerald
  Aug 21 – Sept 28, 2014 @ Theater Wit
• Big Red and The Boys
• A Kid Like Jake
• Abraham Lincoln Was a F*gg*t
• About Face Youth Theatre: 15 Breaths

Season 19: 2013-2014

• We Three Lizas
• Brahman/i (co-production with Silk Road Rising)
• Pride Performance Series: a series of readings & special events in celebration of Pride Month
  • The Last Sunday in June by Jonathan Tolins | June 2
  • Lesbians and Literature | June 10
  • Abraham Lincoln Was a F*gg*t by Bixby Elliot | June 13 & 14
  • Methtacular! by Steven Strafford | June 17
• About Face Youth Theatre: Checking Boxes
  by Shannon Matesky and the AFYT ensemble, Directed by Ali Hoefnagel
  July 10 – Aug 1, 2014 @ various Chicago Parks District locations
  

Season 18: 2012-2013

• We Three Lizas
• The Pride
  by Alexi Kaye Campbell, Directed by Bonnie Metzgar
  June 6 – July 13 @ Victory Gardens
  
• About Face Youth Theatre: What’s the T (remount)
  Written by Sara Kerastas & the AFYT ensemble, Directed by Eric Hoff
  May 19 – June 2, 2013 @ Victory Gardens Theatre

Season 17: 2011-2012

• The Kid Thing*
  By Sarah Bubbins, Directed by Joanie Schultz
  Sept 1 – Oct 16, 2011 @ Chicago Dramatists
  
• Rent (co-production with American Theatre company)
  Book, music, & lyrics by Jonathan Larson, Directed by David Cromer
  April 27-June 17, 2012 @ American Theater Company
• Immediate Family
• About Face Youth Theatre: What’s the T
  Written by Sara Kerastas & the AFYT ensemble, Directed by Eric Hoff
  July 13-29, 2012 @ Red Tape Theatre | Aug 3-4 @ National Museum of Mexican Art

Season 16: 2010-2011

• XYZ Festival of New Work 2010
  • Clear: book, music & lyrics by Paul Oakley Stovall, directed by Krissy Vanderwarker | Oct 2010
• Float
  by Patricia Kane, Directed by Leslie B. Danzig
  Nov/Dec 2010 @ Theater Wit
• Pony (part of AFT and The Hypocrites’ The Woyzeck Project)
  by Sylvan Oswald, Directed by Bonnie Metzgar
  April 10 – May 22, 2011 @ Chopin Theatre
• The Homosexuals
  by Phillip Dawkins
  June/July 2011 @ Victory Gardens Theater

Season 15: 2009-2010

• XYZ Festival of New Work 2009
  • Float by Patricia Kane, directed by Jessica Thebus | Oct 2-3
  • The Flowers by Adam Bock, directed by Trip Cullman | Oct 15 – Nov 7
  • Let Them Eat Cake created by Holly Hughes & Megan Carney | Oct 30 – Nov 1
  • Lesbian Playwright Reading Series
    • In Loco Parentis by Sarah Grubbins, directed by Joanie Schultz | Oct 5
    • Man In Love by Christina Anderson, directed by Carlos Murillo | Oct 6
    • Precious Little by Madeleine George, directed by Dan Stermer | Nov 2
    • Couger Blind by Bonnie Metzgar, directed by Leslie Danzig | Nov 3
• The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later
  Written by Moisés Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pieroti, Andy Paris, and Stephen Belber; Directed by Bonnie Metzgar
  Oct 12, 2009 @ Goodman Theatre
• Oklahomo for the Holidays
  Directed by Dan Stermer, Music Direction by Andrew Edwards
  Dec 11-14, 2009 @ Center on Halsted
• Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South
  Written & performed by E. Patrick Johnson, Directed by Daniel Alexander Jones
  April 29 – May 29, 2010 @ Viaduct Theater
• About Face Youth Theatre: Queertopia

Season 14: 2008-2009

• Hedwig and the Angry Inch (co-production with American Theater Company)
• The Young Ladies Of…
  Written and performed by Taylor Mac, Directed by Bonnie Metzgar
  Sept 25 – Oct 26, 2008 @ Center on Halsted
  
• Stupid Kids
  by John Russell, Directed by Bonnie Metzgar & Megan Carney
  Feb 4 – March 15, 2009 @ Center on Halsted
• What Once We Felt
  by Ann Marie Healy, Directed by Ken Rus Schmoll
  April 8 – May 17, 2009 @ Center on Halsted

Season 13: 2007-2008

• Wedding Play*
  Written & Directed by Eric Rosen
  Oct 24 – Dec 2, 2007 @ Steppenwolf Theatre
• The Little Dog Laughed
  by Douglas Carter Beane, Directed by Eric Rosen
  Jan 9 – Feb 17, 2007 @ Hoover-Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted
• About Face Youth Theatre: Fast Forward

Season 12: 2006-2007

• Clay (in partnership with Lookingglass Theatre)
  Written & performed by Matt Stax, Developed in collaboration with and directed by Eric Rosen
  Sept 5 – Nov 20, 2006 @ Lookinglass Theatre
  
• Say You Love Satan
  by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Directed by Scott Gerguson
  Oct 11 – Nov 19, 2006 @ Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theatre
• Execution of Justice
  by Emily Mann, Directed by Gary Griffen
  Jan 10 – Feb 18, 2007 @ Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theatre
• Pulp
  by Patricia Kane, Music by Andrew Pluess & Amy Warren, Directed by Jessica Thebus
  March 7 – April 15 @ Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theatre
  

Season 11: 2005-2006

• Loving Repeating*
  Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Gertrude Stein, Adapted and directed by Frank Galati
  Feb 14 – March 12, 2006 @ Museum of Contemporary Art
• M. Proust*
  by Mary Zimmerman, based on the writings of Céleste Albaret and Marcel Proust, Directed by Eric Rosen
  June 8 – July 16, 2006 @ Steppenwolf Theatre
• About Face Youth Theatre: The Home Project

Season 10: 2004-2005

• One Arm (co-production with Steppenwolf Theatre and Tectonic Theatre Project)
• Take Me Out
• About Face Youth Theatre: The Home Project Workshop

Season 9: 2003-2004

• The Gift & Other Stories
  Dec 12 & 13, 2003 & Museum of Contemporary Art
• Pulp
  by Patricia Kane, Directed by Jessica Thebus
  Jan 29 – March 20, 2004 @ Victory Gardens
• Winesburg, Ohio* (in association with Steppenwolf Theatre)
  Based on the novel by Sherwood Anderson, Book & Lyrics by Eric Rosen, Music & Additional lyrics by Andrew Pluess & Ben Sussman, Directed by Jessica Thebus
  June 17 – July 18, 2004 @ Steppenwolf Theatre
• About Face Youth Theatre: On the Record

Season 8: 2002-2003

• Theatre District* (in association with Steppenwolf Theatre)
  by Richard Kramer, Directed by Eric Rosen
  Oct 17 – Nob 17, 2002 @ Steppenwolf Theatre
• I Am My Own Wife* (associate produced by Museum of Contemporary Art)
  by Doug Wright, Directed by Moisés Kaufman
  Feb 22 – March 16, 2003 @ Museum of Contemporary Art’s Festival of New Plays
• New Works Festival 2003
  Feb 22 – March 16, 2003
  • Pulp by Patricia Kane
  • Late by Sarah Ruhl, Directed by Jessica Thebus
  • Ten Tongues, written and performed by cin salach
  • Alone, written and performed by Scott Duff
  • See Again by Megan Carney
  • As Much as You Can by Paul Oakley Stovell
• Fascination*
  by Jim Grimsley, Directed by Eric Rosen
  April 24 – June 1, 2003 @ The Theater Building
• About Face Youth Theatre: Up Until Now

Season 7: 2001-2002

• About Face Youth Theatre: Inside Out
• Xena Live! Episode 2: Xena Lives! The Musical*
  Written by Claudia Allen, directed by Scott Ferguson, based on the television show created by Robert Tapert and John Schulian
  March 28 – May 19, Extended thru June 2, 2002 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
  
• Another American: Asking and Telling**
  Written and performed by Marc Wolf, Directed by Joe Mantello
  Feb 21 – March 10, 2002 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Seven Moves*
  By Patricia Kane, Based on the novel by Carol Anshaw, Directed by Jessica Thebus
  Jan 10 – Feb 17, 2002 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
  
• Undone*
  Conceived and directed by Eric Rosen, Texts by cin salach, Music by Andrew Pluess and Ben Sussman
  Oct 4 – Nov 18, 2001 @ Jane Addams Hull House

Season 6: 2000-2001

• About Face Youth Theatre: In Real Life*
  Written and performed by the About Face Youth Theatre ensemble
  June 21 – July 22, 2001 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• The Terrible Girls*
  Written and directed by Kyle Hall, based on the novel by Rebecca Brown
  April 12 – May 27, 2001 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Bash: Latterday Plays
  By Neil LaBute, Directed by Eric Rosen
  Jan 18 – March 4, 2001 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Whitman*
  Conceived and directed by Eric Rosen
  Oct 12 – Nov 26 , 2000 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center

Season 5: 1999-2000

• About Face Youth Theatre: Raising Voices*
  Written and performed by the About Face Youth Theatre ensemble
  June 22 – July 23, 2000 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Eleven Rooms of Proust (remount) (co-produced with Lookingglass Theatre Company)
  Conceived and directed by Mary Zimmerman
  May 13 – June 18, 2000 @ 4039 N Ravenswood Ave
• Four**
  Written by Christopher Shinn, directed by Eric Rosen
  Feb 18 – March 19, 2000 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• “Time Capsule: Rediscovered Performances from the Epidemic (1989-1994)”
  Conceived by Carl Hippensteel; featuring works by Lisa Cordes, David B. Feinberg, Craig Lucas, Joe Pintauro, and Victor Bulbao; directed by Greg Copeland
  Dec 1999 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Xena Live! Episode 1: Double Your Pleasure* (co-production with greasy joan & co.)
  Written by Claudia Allen, directed by Scott Ferguson, based on the television show created by Robert Tapert and John Schulian
  Nov 19, 1999 – March 19, 2000 (extended twice!) @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Dancer from the Dance*
  Written and directed by Eric Rosen, based on the novel by Andrew Holleran
  Sept 23 – Nov 7, 1999 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center

Season 4: 1998-1999

• About Face Youth Theatre: First Breath*
  Written, directed, and performed by the About Face Youth Theatre ensemble & staff
  June 17 – July 11, 1999 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center, Touring through 2001
• Cloud 9
  by Caryl Churchill, directed by Kyle Hall
  April 1 – May 16, 1999 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• The SantaLand Diaries** (co-production with RoadWorks Productions)
  by David Sedaris, directed by Shade Murray
  Nov 28 – Dec 28, 1998 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Dream Boy (remount)
  Adapted and directed by Eric Rosen, based on the novel by Jim Grimsley
  Sept 20 – Nov 1, 1998 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Face to Face Workshops
  • Bright Out Here by Page Hearn | Aug 1998

Season 3: 1997-1998

• A Home at the End of the World*
  Written and directed by Kyle Hall, based on the novel by Michael Cunningham
  July 20 – Aug 30, 1998 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Eleven Rooms of Proust* (in collaboration with the Northwestern University Dept of Performance Studies)
  Conceived and directed by Mary Zimmerman
  April 29 – May 10, 1998 @ Berger Park Mansion
• In the Heart of America**
  By Naomi Wallace, directed by Eric Rosen
  Jan 19 – Feb 28, 1998 @ Jane Addams Hull House Center
• The Boys in the Band
  By Matt Crowley, Directed by Kyle Hall
  June 2 – July 8, 1997, extended to July 27 @ The Theater Building
• Face to Face Workshops
  • A Home at the End of the World by Kyle Hall based on the novel by Michael Cunningham | March 1998
  • The Fear of Not Dying by Eric Rosen | July 1997
  • Seven Moves adapted by Pat Kane from the novel by Carol Anshaw | June 1997
  • For What? by David Parris | March 1997

Season 2: 1996

• The Gift*
  Adapted and directed by Eric Rosen, based on “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
  Dec 2 – 29, 1996 @ Famous Door Theatre / Jane Addams Hull House Center
• Dream Boy*
  Adapted and directed by Eric Rosen, based on the novel by Jim Grimsley
  July 7 – Aug 18, 1996 @ Eclipse Theatre
• “By The Power Invested” (performance piece)
  Written and directed by Eric Rosen
  July 1996, Performed at the Human Rights Campaign Out Vote Convention & the Democratic National Convention
• “…feelings” (performance piece)
  March 1996 (presented with the Windy City Gay Chorus/Windy City Performing Arts)
• Face to Face Workshops
  • Dream Boy Adapted by Eric Rosen from the novel by Jim Grimsley | Feb 1996

Season 1: 1995

• “The Gift” (original version)
  Adapted and directed by Eric Rosen, based on “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
  Dec 1995 (presented with The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus Christmas concert)

* About Face Theatre world premiere
** About Face Theatre local premiere