Victory Gardens History
Since 1974, Victory Gardens Theater has remained true to a challenging mission - developing and producing new plays, most of them world premieres, with an emphasis on Chicago writers and its own 14-member Playwrights Ensemble. Victory Gardens holds the distinction of being home to more world premiere mainstage productions than any other Chicago theater and has emerged as one of the most distinguished non-profit theaters in the nation.
With $1,000 from seven Chicago artists and a light board, Victory Gardens was born – a non-profit theater dedicated to the promotion and development of Chicago theater talent: actors, directors, designers and playwrights. Marcelle McVay became the first employee of Victory Gardens as Managing Director. Notice came with newcomer Dennis Zacek’s 1975 production of The Caretaker with Frank Galati, Michael Saad, and William J. Norris. The production wins eight Jeff nominations and Zacek is asked to join the theater's board of directors.
Aiming to extend the mission further into education, the Victory Gardens Training Center is founded. The first classes are offered in conjunction with St. Nicholas Theater Company with David Mamet teaching classes in scene study.
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Only four years after its founding, Zacek becomes Artistic Director and commits the budding company to presenting a racially integrated season. In addition, the theater’s mission evolves into a focus on development and production of new plays, with a special emphasis on Chicago playwrights. Zacek then takes a risk and casts a relative unknown - William L. Petersen - in the title role of William J. Norris' Dillinger in 1978. Petersen, an alumnus of the Victory Gardens Training Center, earns his Equity card, goes on to be one of the top talents of Chicago's Off-Loop theater scene and TV. |
Artistic Director
Dennis Zacek |
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In 1979, Sandy Shinner joins the staff as Audience Development Director. She is later promoted to Literary Manager and then Associate Artistic Director, and has since then has directed more than 50 plays at VGT. In the 80s and 90s, Victory Gardens reputation for creative fundraising is born. First, the Casting Auction was founded in 1981. Supporters raise $8,393 bidding on all the parts in an all-amateur, one-night-only production of Tobacco Road. Now in its 25th year, the Casting Auction raises tens of thousands for Victory Gardens annually, and Artistic Director Dennis Zacek still directs the amateur musical production each year. |
Associate Artistic Director Sandy Shinner |
In 1991, Victory Gardens stages its first Chicago Stories benefit. Three top Chicago personalities - Father Andrew Greeley, novelist Sara Paretsky, and architect Stanley Tigerman - write 10-minute plays, which are presented as the centerpiece of the theater's gala benefit. Recently, theaters in Seattle and San Francisco have replicated the concept to raise funds in their own markets.
Expanding their reach once again, in 1995, Victory Gardens assumed leadership from Remains Theatre of The Access Project, an innovative program that uses technology to make theater more accessible for persons with disabilities. Victory Gardens is now Chicago's number one presenter of barrier-free live theater.
In 1996, the Victory Gardens Playwrights Ensemble was formed, a coming together of a diverse group of writers under the roof of one producing organization, virtually unheard of in resident theater in the U.S. Founding members include Claudia Allen, Dean Corrin, Lonnie Carter, Steve Carter, Gloria Bond Clunie, John Logan, Nicholas Patricca, Douglas Post, James Sherman, Charles Smith, and Jeffrey Sweet. Kristine Thatcher joined the ensemble later that year and in 2007, Nilo Cruz and Joel Drake Johnson rounded out the ensemble to fourteen members.
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Accepting the 2001 Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre |
On June 3, 2001, Victory Gardens receives the 2001 Tony Award® for Outstanding Regional Theatre at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The award is presented for "displaying a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theater nationally." Julie Harris kicks off a press conference stating “Victory Gardens stands for everything I believe in, especially bringing new plays to audiences.” More than 500 Victory Gardens supporters and subscribers join a post-Tony Award celebration at the Chicago Cultural Center weeks later, hosted by Bill Kurtis.
Over the next three years, Dennis Zacek receives several honors including the League of Chicago Theatre’s Artistic Leadership Award, the Joseph Jefferson Committee’s Special Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chicago Equity Theater, and was named in Utne Reader’s 40 Artists Who Will Shake The World.
In 2004, Victory Gardens embarked on a new era, announcing it has purchased the historic Biograph Theater, two blocks north of VGT’s home at the Greenhouse Theatre. After two years of renovation, hundreds cheer on September 28, 2006 as Victory Gardens Theater at the Biograph marquee was lit for the first time during a sunset ceremony, one day before the first preview of the first live theater production in the newly-converted Biograph Theater, the world premiere of Denmark by ensemble member Charles Smith, directed by Dennis Zacek. Continuing on its streak of excellence, The Wallace Foundation Excellence Award project granted the company $400,000 over four years to attract diverse theater-goers through a new series. Launched the following year in 2007, Fresh Squeezed, aims to attract new, more diverse audiences through a series of special events and off-beat performances. |
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2004 Groundbreaking Ceremony |
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Former Managing Director Marcelle McVay |
In 2008, Victory Gardens announced the first IGNITION Festival. IGNITION creates a pipeline to production for the work of young playwrights of color. By providing this platform for the next generation, IGNITION launches new writers into the national spotlight and continues Victory Gardens core mission of originating new plays that serve diverse communities. In the summer of 2008, after receiving 120 plays for consideration, the Festival presented six new plays in expanded stage readings. Michael Golamco’s Year Zero and Kristoffer Diaz’s The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity were chosen for the workshop and then premiered during the 2009/10 season.
Founding Managing Director, Marcelle McVay, announced her departure from Victory Gardens in 2008. After an extensive nation-wide search, Jan Kallish is announced as the company’s new Executive Director.
In the 2008/09 season, Blackbird, starring William L. Petersen and Mattie Hawkinson, became Victory Gardens’ highest grossing show in its 34 season history and earns two Jeff nominations with one win by Petersen for “Actor in a Principal Role”. Kicking off the 2009/10 season, two world premieres from the IGNITION Festival: Year Zero by Michael Golamco and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity by Kristoffer Diaz graced the Biograph. Year Zero marked the first production of the newly created studio theater space. |
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| William L. Petersen and Mattie Hawkinson in VG's 2009 production of Blackbird. |
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After an incredible run, VGT announces The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity will transfer to New York’s Second Stage Theatre playing April 27 through June 20, 2010! Year Zero will also be produced in a new production by Second Stage playing May 18 - June 13. On March 1, 2010, VGT’s new studio theater is named the Richard Christiansen Theater in honor of the Chicago Tribune’s Chief Critic Emeritus and longtime champion of Chicago’s live theater scene. In conjunction with the naming, Victory Gardens embarks on its Campaign for Growth a $1 Million campaign enabling VGT to continue and expand our long time commitment to new work, diverse audiences, access, and education. On April 13, 2010 The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity is named a 2010 Pulitzer Prize
Finalist. |
