Free Street Theater has never been one to have a “season announcement.” Just as much as we believe in environmental, economic and racial justice, we also believe in flexibility, care, and responsiveness. If we want to truly be in partnership with our community organizations, and work in tandem with them, it means often shifting our goals to match with theirs. But as the urgent needs of our communities expand, from ICE raids, to the Damen Silo Demolitions, to passing the Hazel M Johnson Cumulative Impact Ordinance, we know it’s also important to communicate our internal focuses & strategies. We must be louder than ever in naming what needs our community focus and support (and we’ve certainly never been quiet).
Over the next year, you will hear quarterly from our different leadership team members, describing the focus of our many departments, and how we are moving through the current moment as a social justice arts & culture organization.
As I reflect on the artistic focuses of this upcoming year I see seeds, growth, and fertilization: How are we re-galvanizing and taking care of ourselves in the face of these challenges? How are we restoring inward as we fight outward?
This fall, we continue our partnership with the Peace & Education Coalition, with a program led by the incredible Emily Lansana, with support from Ruth Guerra, focused on community storytelling & archiving the stories of Back of the Yards from residents themselves.
Opening October 17, at our storefront space, we are hosting Concrete Content’s NO TRAILER directed by Ricardo Gamboa and Jessi Realz, as part of Destinos. NO TRAILER “is a radical sketch comedy show where every trailer is a sketch for a movie that doesn’t exist. These fake trailers become the means to explore social, political and cultural issues confronting Latinxs in the U.S. and make up an elevated, immersive sketch show”
In March of 2026, our In/House artist, Tanuja Jagernauth premiers “Rupture & Repair,” a piece co-created with ensemble members Marilyn Carteno, Kirsten Baity, and Marya Spont-Lemus. R&R is an inquiry into conflict resolution. Made in partnership with F.L.Y. Radical Therapy, R&R is not the answers for how to do conflict “right,” but rather a studied curiosity asking how to not fear conflict, and what tools we may have towards repair.
In May, our youth ensemble will be back with another environmental justice devised show, which will begin rehearsals in October. In that exact spirit of responsiveness, the youth will spend their fall reflecting on current Chicago issues to create this new show.
IN BETWEEN THESE SHOWS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE PROGRAMMING AND MUTUAL AID.
If you talk to us frequently, you know we believe the play is not the work. What happens after and in between is. It’s the relationships, the rallies, the protests, the volunteer days. Its showing up again, and again, and again. We hope you join us this next year, as we continue to show up, stay together, and fight for a more just Chicago.
Ps — Like what you see, support the season! By investing in Free Street, you fund bridges for artists, youth and families to participate in the arts, supporting our equitable pay structure, youth voices, families through our child-care support initiative, and help build a more just Chicago.
