Lucky Plush Productions

Founded in 1999 by Artistic Director Julia Rhoads, Lucky Plush Productions is a dance-theater company that devises work with a focus on strong ensemble, complex choreography, innovative use of technology, and intellectually bold content. The Chicago Sun Times referred to Lucky Plush as "visually, kinetically, sonically and intellectually dazzling dance theater." It has premiered over 30 original works, including performance installations, two dance films, and 10 evening-length productions. Its most recent work, The Better Half, co-commissioned by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (MD), premiered in November 2011 at the MCA. In 2010 Julia Rhoads was named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" and was included in New City's feature, "The Players: The 50 people who really perform for Chicago". Lucky Plush has performed in a wide range of venues throughout the country, including Jacob's Pillow, Joyce SoHo Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Garage and numerous universities. It is now coordinating its first international tour, to Christchurch New Zealand in 2012, the first phase of a multi-year exchange with the Dance and Physical Theatre Trust of New Zealand.