by Myrna Petlicki
There's more to starting a theater company than having an artistic vision. You must decide whether to create your theater space or rent from another company, promote your plays and juggle dozens of details. Here are the stories of four fledgling companies that think it's worth the work. Like every Chicago theater, each has a unique flavor and vision that sets it apart.
Here's what Myrna had to say about GreyZelda:
Grey Area
Husband and wife Rebecca Zellar and Chris Riter came to Chicago to act, "But we always loved producing and directing," Zellar says.
In early 2003, they formed GreyZelda Theatre Group, named for the color of their cats and Zellar's one-time nickname. "The grey also represents that in-between nuanced place, which is something we explore a lot in the shows we end up doing," Zellar says.
Their inaugural production, One Flea Spare, was followed by an original adaptation of Metamorphosis. Then they wrote and staged The Thimbleberry Gallows.
The Insanity of Mary Girard runs Oct 12 - Nov. 5 at the company's new 30 seat studio space. "We want to keep challening ourselves and reinventing ourselves and seeing what we can do," Zellar says.
They also included this photo of Thom Sigsby and Brenda Barrie in The Thimbleberry Gallows.
