Ensemble-Made Chicago
Introduction
Ensemble-Made Chicago examines the genealogy of ensemble-generated theatre in Chicago, tracing it to its roots in the theatre classes taught by Neva Boyd at Hull House at the turn of the twentieth century and locating current ensemble-generated theater groups on a map of today's Chicago.
Ensemble-generated theater and performance is made without the usual hierarchy of writer/director/actor. The text is created collaboratively, by different artists working together. There are many approaches to this kind of work, but they all share a commitment to an egalitarian approach to the creative process. Anyone can make ensemble-generated theater.