Bramble Theatre Company
Our upcoming events
We’re excited to see you in 2025 at the Bramble Arts Loft!
Rooted by Ben F. Locke
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World premiere production.
Faced with the prospect of losing their ancestral home, a trio of BIPOC modern-day witches resurrect a witch from their coven to help them grapple with rapid change, surprising discoveries, and the newest neighbor in their home. This queer romantic comedy is about sisterhood, what we hold on to, and what’s worth our sacrifices and magic.
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Playwright - Ben F. Locke+
Director - Carol Ann Tan
Scenic Designer - Delena Bradley
Associate Scenic Designer - Lucie Greene
Costume Designer - Josephine Longo
Lighting Designer - Henry Toohey
Sound Designer - Newt Schottelkotte
Props Designer - Isa Noe
Fights and Intimacy Designer - Tristin Hall
Assistant Director - Ebby Offord
Artistic Producer - Caroline Uy
Production Manager - Jackson Mikkelson
Technical Director - Juan Barrera Lopez
Stage Manager - Adriana Rodriguez-Hemphill
Assistant Stage Manager - Alishiana Uyao
Costume Researcher - Ophena de la Rosa
Casting - Karissa Murrell Myers+
Actors - Stephanie Shum, Aja Singletary+, Ky Anderson+, Gabriela Diaz, and Haley Bolithon+. Understudies are Maggie Kryszyn, Lily Lourigan, Lori Navarette, Alexis Primus, and Zhanna Albertini.
+denotes Bramble ensemble member
Announcing our 2026 Season…
The Pets by Dizzy Turek
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A workshop production
It’s 2011 and an animal collector in Zanesville, Ohio has set every one of his 50 exotic pets free. St. Francis of Assisi shows up to help during this wild, dark roam around the countryside. It's Animal Farm meets The Wizard of Oz meets a road trip comedy with a late ‘90s soundtrack. Based on a true story.
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Playwright - Dizzy Turek
Director - Dan Washelesky+
Production Manager - Patrick Starner
Stage Manager - Adriana Rodriguez
Asst. Stage Manager - Alishiana Uyao
Sound Designer - Angela Joy Baldasare
Lighting Designer - TBA
Costume Designer - Madeleine Shows
Assistant Director - Gabriela Diaz
Intimacy Designer - Denise Yvette Serna
CAST: TBA
+denotes Bramble ensemble members.
5th Annual Festival of Unfinished Work
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6 scenes from plays currently in development written by local Chicago playwrights.
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TBA
Black Bear Island by Karissa Murrell Myers
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Chicago premiere production.
When her estranged childhood sweetheart mysteriously dies, Amitra returns home after a long absence to Black Bear Island, which legend says is haunted by a monstrous man-killing bear. As she searches for the truth, the forest begins to engulf the house and her past begins to collide with the present as her memory starts to unfog. This gothic, magical realistic thriller explores regret, the unreliableness of our own memories, and the paths we choose to become who we are.
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Playwright - Karissa Murrell Myers+
Director - Jonathan Berry
+denotes Bramble ensemble member
PARLOR READING SERIES
We’re excited to announce Bramble ’s new Parlor Reading Series, where the artists are given only one rehearsal before putting it before an audience. This is to give local playwrights the chance to spotlight their new work to the Chicago community.
Our next play will be in December 2025! Check back here for more info.
What’s next??
#seasonpass
#newwork
2026 Season Subscription
Early Bird Pricing now!
Season subscriptions are now available, at the lowest rate we'll offer all year: $75 for all three productions. That's a 32% savings on the cost of tickets alone -- and you'll know that you played a vital role in helping us start our 2026 season on firm footing.
Get your 2026 Season Subscription today!
Escape to the Bramble
#unfinished work
#allgreatplayswerenewonce
Festival of Unfinished Work
Coming next summer!
Our popular annual Festival of Unfinished Work takes place in June. It features six scenes from original new plays written by local Chicago playwrights. Audiences will have the opportunity to vote on which pieces they are most interested in seeing developed further. This voting process will impact which pieces will be given a workshop and public reading by Bramble at a future date.
All great plays were new once. Come check out what might end up becoming the next great American play!
Do you want to support our work?
We invite you to be a part of Bramble’s future by making a donation that will go directly towards the artistic programming of new work.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
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Past Events
We’ve been busy since our official launch in 2021! Check out some of our past work.
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CANCELINA by Beth Hyland. A staged reading.
3RD ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF UNFINISHED WORK
EVIL PERFECT by Spencer Huffman, directed by Jonathan Shaboo. A world premiere production.
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ROOTED by Ben F. Locke. A workshop with a public reading at The Understudy Coffee and Books.
FESTIVAL OF UNFINISHED WORK - Our second annual festival, presented at The Edge Theatre.
FALL READING SERIES - GAZSCHEBET by Skyler Tarnas, THE WHOLE SEAMUS THING by Ben Auxier and L.C. Bernadine, and THE RED FORTUNE COOKIE by Karissa Murrell Myers. These workshops culminated in public readings at The Understudy Coffee and Books.
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FESTIVAL OF UNFINISHED WORK - 6 scenes from 6 unfinished plays written by 6 Chicago playwrights. Presented at the Newport Theatre.
FALL READING SERIES - LOVE STORY by Kallan Dana, MILLENNIAL CHURCH by Leah Roth Barsanti, and HOW TO MURDER… by Bramble Artistic Director Karissa Murrell Myers. These workshops culminated in public readings at The Edge Theatre and Redline VR.
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THE MINISTRY OF MUNDANE MYSTERIES CHICAGO - An immersive telephonic experience originally created by Bramble ensemble member Sebastien Heins at Outside the March. We solved 206 cases in 36 U.S. cities and 7 foreign countries!
TINY DEAD THINGS by Madison Fargo. A public reading on Zoom.
EVIL PERFECT by Bramble ensemble member Spencer Huffman . A workshop with a public reading at the Raven Theatre.