Behind the ‘Line

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Explore & Learn: Our 2023-24 Season

TimeLine is back in the fall with a 4-play subscription season that brims with humor, poignance, outrage, and passion. Our 27th season spans centuries—from the 19th century all the way up to 2023—and reflects everyone’s history. What connects these four premieres is TimeLine’s mission to present stories inspired by history that connect with today’s social and political issues. While you can read more about each show on our 2023-2024 season page, here’s a glimpse of ...
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In Conversation with WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

Before rehearsals for What the Constitution Means to Me began, dramaturg Maren Robinson (MR) sat down with our two experts, Northwestern University history professors Joanna Grisinger (JG) and Kate Masur (KM), to talk a bit more about the Constitution. Read their conversation below. I appreciate ...
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In Conversation with BOULEVARD OF BOLD DREAMS

Early in the rehearsal process of Boulevard of Bold Dreams, director Malkia Stampley (MS) sat down with playwright LaDarrion Williams (LW) to discuss the inspiration for writing the play, what has made this process so exciting, and the play’s ongoing relevance to our world today. ...
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Happy Birthday, Alice Childress!

Today we’re celebrating Alice Childress’ birthday and her legacy as the only Black woman to have written, produced, and published plays across four decades. Production still from the original off-Broadway production of “Trouble in Mind,” 1955. Playwright Alice Childress. Alice Childress was born on October ...
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In Conversation with CAMPAIGNS, INC.

During early performances of Campaigns, Inc., director Nick Bowling (NB) took some time with playwright Will Allan (WA) to learn more about his inspirations for writing the play, what has made this process so exciting, and the all too real connections to our world today. Read an edited version of that conversation below or watch the full version here.  On of my favorite things about TimeLine is when you go and see a story about ...
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The Limits of Humanity

A History of the American Freak Show This was a marvelous diversion. I’ve always adored carnivals and freak shows. – Atung as Andrew Jackson, The Chinese Lady While Afong Moy may have been the first Asian woman to immigrate to the United States, she was far from ...
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An interview with playwright Lloyd Suh

As rehearsals were gearing up for The Chinese Lady, dramaturg Yiwen Wu (YW) posed a few questions to New York-based playwright Lloyd Suh (LS) about the reverence he has for Afong Moy, the value of interrogating social constructs, and how he thinks about his connections ...
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Mica Cole named new Executive Director

We’re thrilled to announce that TimeLine has named Mica Cole as the company’s new Executive Director! Effective May 16, Mica will become the co-equal leader of TimeLine alongside PJ Powers as Artistic Director, guiding the company’s strategic and financial direction, Board and staff development, productions, ...
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A new phase for TimeLine’s new home

PLEASE NOTE: This post is one from a series of blog posts that tells the story of TimeLine’s New Home Project over several years. Therefore, some information presented below may no longer be accurate. For the most up-to-date information about the project, please visit our ...
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