On Building A Bridge Between Our Dreams & Our Reality:
Every friendly neighborhood social justice theater company needs a resident “woman behind the screen” and at Free Street that’s me, Managing Director Isabella Pelz. I might not have the high tech that an Avenger’s superhero support team has but at Free Street we wouldn’t want that. We’re more interested in re-connecting with our network, practicing the art of showing up for Chicago grassroots organizations and artists (the real heroes), and building operational consistency.
Our operations are how we build the bridge between our dreams and our reality. For the past three years we’ve been working on that bridge, with a balance of reinforcement and creative responsibility. I believe Free Street has survived as a theater company for 57 years because of how it has adapted over time. Every era of the company reflected on its foundations, reinforced values, and had the ability to respond creatively to needs within the city. We talk frequently about the history of Free Street, but in the present our leadership team spends countless hours dreaming and planning toward a future. A future that is just and joyful for all of Chicago.
The future mapping and execution is what drives me in my work as Free Street’s Managing Director. As an intuitive healer, I strive to help those around me live in alignment. As a Managing Director, this shows up in (gently) reminding myself and others about that one (or several) building blocks we may have missed in the bridge. As a Chicagoan, I love Chicago, as I know so many of us do. And as we continue existing in a time that requires us all to show up with our individual skills and collective abilities, I am grateful for spaces like Free Street that aim to provide a place for us to land, connect, digest and take action.
