Writers Theatre

Writers Theatre was founded to explore productions in which the word on the page and the artists that bring the word to life hold primary importance. Central to this mission are three important core values:

• valuing text, both classic and contemporary, as the fundamental source of inspiration; 

• creating deliberately intimate performances where audiences are face-to-face with powerful stories; and

• honoring the time and commitment of our artists by remaining at the forefront of industry compensation. 

For more than 20 years, Writers Theatre has captivated Chicagoland audiences with inventive interpretations of classic work, a bold approach to contemporary theatre and a dedication to creating the most intimate theatrical experience possible.

Under the artistic leadership of Michael Halberstam and the executive leadership of Kathryn M. Lipuma, Writers Theatre has grown to become a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence, being called one of the top half-dozen regional theatres in the nation by The Wall Street Journal. The company, which plays to a sold-out and discerning audience of 35,000 patrons each season, has garnered critical praise for the consistent high quality and intimacy of its artistry. Prized for the finest interpretations of classic and contemporary theatre in its two intensely intimate venues, Writers Theatre’s acclaimed work includes Artistic Director Michael Halberstam’s world premiere in Glencoe and subsequent production of A Minister’s Wife at Lincoln Center Theater; David Cromer’s productions of A Streetcar Named Desire and Picnic; and the commissioning, world premiere and New York premiere of Crime and Punishment, which has received more than 30 subsequent regional theater productions.

The Theatre's premiere works have moved on to Playwrights Horizons, Lincoln Center Theater, 59E59 Theaters in New York and across the nation at regional theatres in nearly every major city.

Writers Theatre provides access to our art for all patrons, regardless of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age or ability to pay.

In November 2013, Writers Theatre announced the launch of the $34 million On to a New Stage Campaign to establish the company's first permanent home in a new theatre center in downtown Glencoe, designed by the award-winning, internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects, led by Founder and Design Principal Jeanne Gang, FAIA, in collaboration with Theatre Consultant Auerbach Pollock Friedlander. This allows the Theatre to continue to grow to accommodate its audience, while maintaining its trademark intimacy. The new facility resonates with and complements the Theatre’s neighboring Glencoe community, adding tremendous value to Chicagoland and helping to establish the North Shore as a premier cultural destination.