Trap Door Theatre is an American, Jeff Award-winning,^[1] avant-garde theatre company based in Chicago. Its focus is on European and original experimental material.^[2]

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.^[3]

Trap Door Theatre is located in Bucktown in Chicago in a 900-square-foot (84 m²) converted performance space which seats 45.^[4]

Ensemble

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)^[5]
• Best Actor in a Principal Role (Kevin Cox, La Bête)^[5]
• Best Costume Design (Rachel Sypniewski, La Bête)^[5]
• Best Original Incidental Music (Ovidiu Iloc, The Word Progress on my Mother’s Lips Doesn’t Ring True)^[5]
• Best Actress in a Principal Role (Nicole Wiesner, First Ladies)^[5]
• Best New Work (Ken Prestininzi, Beholder)^[5]
• Best Ensemble (Nana)^[5]
• Best Supporting Actress (Sharon Gopfert, Lebensraum)^[5]
• Best Supporting Actor (Eric Johnson, Lebensraum)^[5]
• Best Ensemble (Lebensraum)^[5]
• Best Ensemble (Porcelain)^[5]