Chopin Theatre

Chopin Theatre is an American for-profit cultural organization located along Polonia Triangle in Wicker Park within the West Town community area of Chicago. Located in the heart of the old Polish Downtown along Division Street, it is situated in what is considered to be one of Chicago's more artistic communities.

Building

The building of the Chopin Theatre was designed in 1918 by M.F. Strunch Architects as a 987 seat theater at 1541-43 W. Division Street. According to the Theatre Historical Society of America, the theatre's name has changed named several times over the years from Chopin Theatre to Harding Theatre, back to Chopin Theatre and then to Pix Theatre from 1940-1948. During the next 40 years it went through a number of alternate uses as a banking center, a restaurant and a discothèque. In 1990 the vacant building was purchased by Zygmunt Dyrkacz and gradually restored.

Productions

Since its founding in 1990 Chopin Theatre's purpose has been to support, present and produce multi-cultural avante garde theatre, literary, film, visual and performance art events. During its 17 year history it has featured approximately 7000 presentations (5000 theatrical, 1000 film, 800 poetry evenings and over 100 music events) across its two stages. Its main presenters have included Chicago Filmmakers, Guild Complex, Young Chicago Authors, Collaboraction Theater, Roadworks Productions as well as the Hypocrites, Signal Theatre, Teatro Vista and Uma Productions.

Chopin Theatre has produced over 110 of its own productions, mostly from Poland and Eastern Europe, and has hosted performers from almost every state in the U.S. and from over 40 countries. Its many guests have included Pulitzer winners Gwendolyn Brooks, Yusef Komunyakaa and Studs Terkel; writers Stuart Dybek, Sara Paretsky and Zadie Smith; poets Nikki Giovanni and Luis Rodriguez; actors John Cusack, Jeremy Piven and Clemens Schick; musicians Grazyna Auguscik, Peter Brotzman, Chuck D., Kurt Elling and Von Freeman.

Critical reception

Chopin Theatre's 3-year production of Teatr Cogitatur resulted in the plays Aztec Hotel, Four Dreams of Holderlein and La Luna to be considered among the "Best of Theatre" listings for 2003, 2004 and 2005 per Chicago Tribune.

External links

• Website of the Chopin Theatre