Ensemble

Board

Archive History

Our Mission…

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is a professional theatre company committed to cultivating the talents of women theatre artists and to seeking out innovative plays that explore the unique female experience in an intimate, salon environment. Over the past fourteen years, Rivendell has grown to fill an important role in the Chicago theatre community as the only Equity Theatre in Chicago committed to producing works about women.

Our Story…

Since our inception in 1995, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble has provided Chicago audiences with artistically challenging, thought-provoking plays that explore the female experience. Driven by the belief that the female experience is dynamic and ever-changing, Rivendell continues to revisit, revise, and re-invigorate its mission to serve women artists and audiences in new and challenging ways.

With each season, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble seeks to deepen its mission, expand our audiences, and challenge ourselves.  Over the course of the past twelve years, Rivendell has produced four world premieres, fourteen regional premieres, received four Equity Wing Joseph Jefferson Awards and eight nominations for artistic excellence.

Most notable productions include the critically acclaimed production of local playwright Anne McGravie's WRENS, the runaway hit Faulkner's Bicycle by Heather McDonald, the darkly hilarious Be Aggressive by Annie Weisman, and the gender-bending Medieval comedy Silence by Moira Buffini.

We strengthen our commitment to the exploration of the female experience by supporting women artists of all types.  In addition to producing women playwrights on our main stage, Rivendell provides opportunities for women designers, actors, directors, technical and administrative staff throughout its programming.  As we embark on a new chapter in Rivendell history – we break ground on a new, permanent home in Chicago’s north side this spring – it is not only the Rivendell story that continues, but that of the audiences and artists we serve.