# Trap Door Theatre

Trap Door Theatre is an American, Jeff Award-winning, avant-garde theatre company based in Chicago. Its focus is on European and original experimental material.

## History

Trap Door Theatre, founded by Beata Pilch and Sean Marlow, was incorporated in 1990 as a nomadic company touring theatre in Stockholm, Berlin, Zakopane, and Paris. In 1994, Trap Door brought its European tradition to the United States, creating a permanent home for the company in Chicago.
Trap Door Theatre is located in Bucktown in Chicago in a 900-square-foot (84 m$^2$) converted performance space which seats 45.

## Ensemble

* Maryam Abdi
* Venice Averyheart
* Dennis Bisto
* Abby Blankenship
* Marzena Bukowska
* Holly T. Cerney
* Gary Damico
* Bill Gordon
* David A. Holcombe
* John Kahara
* Lyndsay Rose Kane
* Anna Klos
* Emily Lotspeich
* Miguel Long
* David Lovejoy (Associate Managing Director)
* Leslie Lund
* Michael Mejia (Company Manager)
* Emily Nichelson
* Beata Pilch (Artistic Director, Co-Founder)
* Chris Popio
* Manuela Rentea
* Ann Sonneville
* Keith Surney
* Nicole Wiesner (Managing Director)
* Bob Wilson
* Carl Wisniewski
* Max Truax (Resident Director)
* Kate Hendrickson (Resident Director)
* Richard Norwood (Resident Light Designer)
* Danny Rockett (Resident Sound Designer)
* Zsófia Ötvös (Resident Makeup Artist)
* Rachel Sypniewski (Resident Costume Designer)
* Milan Pribisic (Resident Dramaturg)
* Michal Janicki (Resident Graphic Designer)
Honorary Members include Tiffany Bedwell, Danny Belrose, Antonio Brunetti, Summer Chance, Dani Deac, Ewelina Dobiesz, Kristie Hassinger, Sean Marlow (Co-Founder), Kim McKean, Catherine Sullivan, Andrew Cooper Wasser, Michael Garvey, Bob Rokos, Tiffany Joy Ross, Wesley Walker, Michael S. Pieper, and Krishna Le Fan.

## Notable productions

* How to Explain The History of Communism to Mental Patients (March 2016, Romania: May 2016)
* La Bête (March 2015)
* First Ladies (March 2011)
* Beholder (May 2008)
* Nana (December 2002)
* Lebensraum (March 2000)
* Porcelain (March 2001)
* Beholder (May 2008)
* Emma (October 2007)
* The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant (September 2006)
* Old Clown Wanted (New York: November 2005; Chicago: November 2005; Romania: May 2007)
* My Liver is Senseless
* AmeriKafka
* The Crazy Locomotive (New York: August 2005; Chicago: June 2005; Romania: May 2007)
* Horses at the Window (March 2009 Romania: May 2009 Virginia, New York: November 2009)
* Me Too, I am Catherine Deneuve (October 2010 Georgia, December 2010 Washington DC, April 2011 France, April 2012)

## Awards and honors

Joseph Jefferson Award citations
* Best Original Music (Danny Rockett, How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients)
* Best Actor in a Principal Role (Kevin Cox, La Bête)
* Best Costume Design (Rachel Sypniewski, La Bête)
* Best Original Incidental Music (Ovidiu Iloc, The Word Progress on my Mother’s Lips Doesn’t Ring True)
* Best Actress in a Principal Role (Nicole Wiesner, First Ladies)
* Best New Work (Ken Prestininzi, Beholder)
* Best Ensemble (Nana)
* Best Supporting Actress (Sharon Gopfert, Lebensraum)
* Best Supporting Actor (Eric Johnson, Lebensraum)
* Best Ensemble (Lebensraum)
* Best Ensemble (Porcelain)