Next week Physical Theater Festival Chicago presents its annual weeklong exploration of physical theater from around the world. This year there's a local twist. The festival, which runs June 2-8 at Theater Wit, will emphasize the work of local theater makers and performing artists along with three international shows.
Physical Theater Festival Chicago, celebrating its 12th edition, is a week-long event showcasing international, contemporary, visual, and physical theater, featuring award-winning performances from other countries alongside national and local acts. The festival also offers workshops, creating a space for artists and audiences to reimagine live theater across cultures, languages, and genres.
Physical Theater Festival Chicago gets underway Monday, June 2, with Scratch Night and adds the new initiative Being Made in Chicago on June 3 to feature new works by local theater makers.
Scratch Night is a curated showcase designed to highlight works-in-progress by innovative local theater makers, with a particular focus on contemporary, visual, and physical theater. Scratch Night will feature local artists debuting their newest acts and works-in-progress. Hosted by Scott Ray Merchant, Scratch Night will feature ensemble and solo performances. On June 3, Being Made in Chicago will spotlight two new short works from Chicago-based artists and companies. Britt Anderson and Richie Schiraldi will perform Well-Balanced Dads, a family-friendly comedy about two dads navigating life after their kids leave the nest. Sensation(s) features Amanda Raquel Martinez, a Puerto Rican interdisciplinary artist who draws on theater, opera, yoga, songwriting, circus, and dance to create multifaceted work.
This year's fest also features two full-length mainstage shows with award-winning Midwest talent: Knight, Knight and Chicago homegrown theater makers Adventure Sandwich, A Sandwich Adventure! Knight, Knight with Minnesotan Madeleine Rowe comes to Chicago following a hit run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and a sold-out New York premiere. Rowe, a Gaulier-trained clown, brings an iconoclastic Medieval romp to Chicago. This production will be playing for two shows only, Thursday, June 5, and Saturday, June 7. Adventure Sandwich is a new live-action-cartoon musical made for people and sandwiches of all ages. The show is the brainchild of Lily Emerson and Charlie Malave, Chicago artists who have been working in the local theater, music, movement, and puppetry worlds for 20 years. Adventure Sandwich plays Sunday, June 8; you'll join Hoagie (a sandwich) and Lily (a human) as they make their way from the streets of Possibilopolis to the depths of the Several Seas and beyond.
Catch the fest Monday, June 2, through Sunday, June 8, at Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont Ave. See the schedule here. Ticket sales are through Theater Wit. Order online or call 773-975-8150.