Founded in 2018 by Denise Hoeflich and Ted James, Compass Theatre was created with the goal to optimize professional performance and leadership opportunities for the diverse array of array of artists in Chicago.
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OUR VISION
By remaining non-ensemble based, Compass Theatre maximizes casting opportunities for Chicago based actors to work in a Professional Equity Setting.
Compass Theatre aims to launch or further careers in artistic leadership for the diverse community of artists in Chicago. We accomplish this by offering artistic leadership positions at Compass with designated term limits. Those who serve as artistic leaders at Compass gain invaluable collaborative working skills including season planning, fiscal responsibility and working with a Board of Directors at a Professional Equity Theatre. Those persons then take these skills and experiences and expand their careers, perhaps opening doors that were previously closed.
We are committed to only performing in smaller venues. This allows us to focus on its goal to optimize opportunities for others rather than growing for its own namesake.
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Compass Theatre is committed to the standards and practices of Not In Our House. Learn more by visiting their website.
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Our Approach
Adhering to a long tradition of Chicago storefront theater, our actors live truthfully, moment-to-moment, close to the audience.
We choose stories that support this style of acting -- scripts that lay bare the beauty and absurdity of the human experience.
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We do not produce classics because we believe writers are still making important discoveries. We want to be a part of that.
Follow Us
You never know, we might actually post something interesting.
Working With Compass
Both artists and agents are always welcome to inquire with us. We suggest sending us a note and explaining your interest.
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While we are always happy to hear from artists, please do not send unsolicited scripts. To protect all artists, unsolicited scripts are deleted.
Not in Our House
Compass Theatre is committed to the standards and practices of Not In Our House. Learn more by visiting the Not in Our House website.
Support Storytelling
There are a lot of ways you can support Compass Theatre and our mission of connecting humans through storytelling.
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If you are able, you can make a monetary donation here to support the very important work of keeping theater alive. Our company survives in part by the generosity of donors like you.
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All of our administrative costs have been generously underwritten by benefactors, so your donations go directly to actors, writers, directors, designers, and procuring the tools and space they need to create.
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Please reach out with any offers for in-kind donations. Perhaps you have space or services to help run this company.
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Compass Theatre is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization .
Background photo by Joe Mazza from a Compass Theatre production