Oracle Productions: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Theatre company based in Chicago, Illinois}}

'''Oracle Productions''' in Chicago, IL, was founded in 2001 and moved into their Storefront space at 3809 N Broadway in June 2006.

{{notability|Companies|date=April 2011}}

'''Oracle Productions''' ('''Oracle Theatre Company''') was a [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] based [[theatre|theatre company]] founded in 2001. Oracle moved into a storefront space at 3809 N Broadway in June 2006. In 2010 Oracle moved to a theater model dubbed "Public Access Theatre".<ref>{{cite web|last=Isaacs|first=Deanna|title=Thinking Outside the Black Box Oracle Productions repositions itself as "public access theater."|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/oracle-productions-public-arts-organization-free-theater/Content?oid=2223865|access-date=3 May 2011|publisher=chicagoreader.com|date=August 12, 2010}}</ref> Their "store front" style influenced the first shop front theatre of the [[United Kingdom|UK]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwwm.coventry.ac.uk/researchnet/ice/Documents/ICE_Theatre%20Absolute%20Shop%20Front%20Theatre.pdf|title=Shop Front Theatre One year on|publisher=www.coventry.ac.uk/ice|access-date=3 May 2011}}</ref> Oracle ceased operations at the end of 2016 citing personal changes for their Executive Producer and Director.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Greene|first1=Morgan|title=Oracle Productions, home of free theater, is closing|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/news/ct-oracle-to-close-20161212-story.html|website=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Closing Oracle|url=http://publicaccesstheatre.org/projects/in-closing/|website=Oracle Productions|publisher=Oracle Productions|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref>

Oracles Mission is to produce art and make it free. Oracle achieves this mission by a unique theater model called "Public Access Theatre," which they introduced to Chicago in 2010.<ref name=ReaderPAT>[http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/oracle-productions-public-arts-organization-free-theater/Content?oid=2223865 Thinking Outside The Black Box]</ref>

==Company Members==

'''David Boren''' Director of Programming, Resident Evil<br />

'''Jamie Bragg''' Company Member<br />

'''Aaron DeYoung''' Company Member emeritus<br />

'''Nicole Dixon''' Event Manager<br />

'''Hale Ekinci''' Curator, Oracle Art<br />

'''Ben Fuchsen''' Artistic Director<br />

'''Colby Hanik''' Company Member emeritus, Rep of Broad Shoulders Productions<br />

'''Brad Jayhan-Little''' Executive Director<br />

'''Jackson King''' Company Member<br />

'''Chris Neil''' Company Member emeritus, Founding Member<br />

'''Stephanie Polt''' Company Member<br />

'''Joan Pritchard''' Company Member, Resident Costume Designer<br />

'''Bill Ryan''' Artistic Director, Oracle Film<br />

'''Laura K. Smith''' Company Member<br />

'''Demetrios Troy''' Company Member emeritus, Founding Member<br />

'''Max Truax''' Outreach Director<br />

'''James Ogden''' Company Member<br />

<ref name=company>[http://oracletheatre.org/Company.htm Oracle Production's Company Members]</ref>

==Past Productions==

*2011 ''[[Woyzeck]]'' (written by [[Georg Buchner]], directed by Max Truax)<ref>{{cite web|last=Kolb|first=Laura|title=Woyzeck - Centerstage Show Review|url=http://centerstagechicago.com/theatre/shows/10792.html|publisher=centerstagechicago.com|access-date=3 May 2011|date=Mar 21, 2011}}</ref>

'''The Woyzeck Project'''

*2010 ''[[Blood Wedding (play)|Blood Wedding]] (written by [[Federico García Lorca]], directed by Ben Fuchsen)''<ref>{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Zac|title=Blood Wedding|url=http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/theater/92243/blood-wedding|publisher=timeoutchicago.com|date=10 October 2010|access-date=3 May 2011}}</ref>

Film Short

*2010 ''[[The Ghost Sonata]] (written by [[August Strindberg]], directed by Max Truax,<ref>{{cite web|last=Colburn|first=Randall|title=Review: The Ghost Sonata @ Oracle Theatre|url=http://www.gapersblock.com/ac/2010/05/09/review-the-ghost-sonata-oracle-theatre/|publisher=gapersblock.com|access-date=May 3, 2011|date=May 9, 2010}}</ref> Newcity's Top 5 Shows 2010 - according to Neal Ryan Shaw,<ref>{{cite web|title=Newcity’s Top 5 of Everything 2010: Stage|url=http://newcitystage.com/2010/12/21/the-top-5-of-everything-2010-stage/|publisher=newcitystage.com|access-date=3 May 2011}}</ref> nominated for a [[Jeff Award]] in Lighting Design<ref>{{cite web|title=Non-Equity Jeff Award Recipients|url=http://www.jeffawards.org/Nominees/recipients_nonequity.cfm|publisher=jeffawards.org|access-date=3 May 2011}}</ref>)''

Released 2011

*2010 ''The Adventures of [[Philip Marlowe]]: The Hairpin Turn (adaptation of the radio play, directed by Max Truax and Lyndsay Kane)''{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

Dir: Craig Erpelding

*2010 ''The Castle (written by [[Howard Baker]], directed by Ben Fuchsen and Justin Warren)''<ref>{{cite web|title=Review "The Castle" at Oracle Theatre: The Castle Closes March 6th|url=http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/the-fourth-walsh/2010/03/review-the-castle-at-oracle-theatre-the-castle-closes-march-6th.html|publisher=chicagonow.com|access-date=3 May 2011|date=5 March 2010}}</ref>

*2009 ''Disturbed''

*2009 ''Zero (written by Chris O'Connell, directed by Ben Fuchsen)''<ref>{{cite web|last=Abarbanel|first=Jonathan|title=Theater Review: Zero|url=http://www.windycitytimes.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=21163|publisher=windycitytimes.com|access-date=3 May 2011|date=2009-05-13}}</ref>

*2008 ''Disturbed III''<ref>{{cite web|last=Polkow|first=Dennis|title=Review: Disturbed III/Oracle Productions|url=http://newcitystage.com/2008/10/13/review-disturbed-iii-oracle-productions/|publisher=newcitystage.com|access-date=3 May 2011|date=13 October 2008}}</ref>

*2008 ''Termen Vox Machina (written by M. Deegan, directed by Max Truax,<ref>{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Craig|title=Termen Vox Machina|url=http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/theater/57586/termen-vox-machina|publisher=timeoutchicago.com|access-date=3 May 2011|date=July 6, 2008}}</ref> Newcity's Top 5 Memorable Productions by a Smaller Theatre Troupe 2008 - according to Fabrizio O. Almeida<ref>{{cite web|title=Newcity’s Top 5 of Everything 2008: Stage|url=http://newcitystage.com/2008/12/30/newcitys-top-5-of-everything-2008-stage/|publisher=newcitystage.com|access-date=3 May 2011}}</ref>)''

*2007 ''Disturbed II''

*2007 ''Scotland Road (written by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Ben Fuchsen)''<ref>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Catey|title=Theater: Scotland Road|url=http://outlineschicago.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=14865|publisher=outlineschicago.com|access-date=3 May 2011|date=2007-05-09}}</ref>

*2006 ''Show Game Live''

*2006 ''Disturbed''

*2006 ''[[The Actor's Nightmare]] (written by [[Christopher Durang]], directed by Aaron Shapiro)''<ref name="backstage">{{cite web|last=Valancy|first=Zev N.|title=Review: 'The Actor's Nightmare and Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You'|url=http://www.backstage.com/bso/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003054748|publisher=backstage.com|access-date=3 May 2011|date=Aug 29, 2006}}</ref>

*2006 ''[[Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You]] (written by [[Christopher Durang]], directed by Aaron Shapiro)''<ref name="backstage" />

*2006 ''[[Tape (play)|Tape]] (written by [[Stephen Belber]], directed by Ben Fuchsen, Newcity Chicago - Top 5 Memorable Productions by Smaller Theater Troupes 2007<ref>{{cite web|title=Newcity's Top 5 of Everything 2006|url=http://www.newcitychicago.com/chicago/6067.html|publisher=newcitychicago.com|access-date=3 May 2011|date=2007-01-02}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2011}})''

*2005 [[Line (play)|''Line'']]

*2005 ''Lakestreet Extensions''

==References==

'''Blood Wedding'''

{{reflist}}

Fall 2010

Dir: Ben Fuchsen

==External links==

'''The Ghost Sonata'''

{{Official website|http://www.oracletheatre.org|name=Oracle Productions website}}

Spring 2010

Dir: Max Truax

'''The Adventures of Philip Marlowe: The Hairpin Turn'''

2010 Tour

Oracle Outreach

Dir: Max Truax & Lyndsay Kane

'''The Castle'''

Winter 2010

Dir: Ben Fuchsen & Justin Warren

{{Chicago}}

'''Disturbed'''

{{Chicago mtp}}

Fall 2009

Dir: Ben Fuchsen

'''Zero'''

Summer 2009

Dir: Ben Fuchsen

'''Disturbed III'''

Fall 2008

Dir: Ben Fuchsen

'''Termen Vox Machina'''

Summer 2008

Dir: Max Truax

'''Disturbed II'''

Fall 2007

Dir: Colby Hanik

'''Scotland Road'''

Spring 2007

Dir: Ben Fuchsen

'''Show Game Live'''

Fall/Winter 2006

Dir: Katie Hawkey

'''Disturbed'''

Fall 2006

Dir: Brad Jayhan-Little

'''The Actor’s Nightmare & Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All for You'''

Summer 2006

Dir: Aaron Shapiro

'''Tape'''

Spring 2006

Dir: Ben Fuchsen

'''Line'''

Fall 2005

Dir: Aaron Shapiro

'''Lakestreet Extensions'''

Summer 2005

Dir: Aaron Shapiro

==Awards and Citations==

'''Tape''' - June 2006 <br />

Newcity Chicago Top 5 Shows of the year<ref name=Tape5>[http://www.newcitychicago.com/chicago/6067.html 2006's Top 5 Memorable Productions by Smaller Theater Troupes]</ref>

'''Termen Vox Machina''' - May/June 2010<br />

Newcity Chicago Top 5 Shows<ref name=Termen5>[http://newcitystage.com/2008/12/30/newcitys-top-5-of-everything-2008-stage/ Top 5 Memorable Productions by a Smaller Theatre Troupe (2008)]</ref><br />

On Chicago Theatre Blog - Top of 2008<ref name=Termen51>[http://onchicagotheatre.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html On Chicago Theatre Blog - Top of 2008]</ref>

'''The Ghost Sonata''' - May/June 2010 - <br />

Jeff Awards - Recommended Shows<ref name=GhostJEFF>[http://www.jeffawards.org/jeffplays/detailn.cfm?production_id=5167 Jeff Awards - Recommended Shows]</ref><br />

Top 5 Shows (2010)<ref name=Ghost5>[http://newcitystage.com/2010/12/21/the-top-5-of-everything-2010-stage/ Top 5 Shows (2010)]</ref>

==International Ties==

Oracle Productions is cited as the company that influenced the UK's first shop front Theatre.<ref name=ShopFront1>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2009/dec/11/theatre-absolute-chip-shop-drama The Guardian - Deep-fried drama: how a chip shop was transformed into a forward-thinking theatre]</ref> During the production of Zero, play writer and producer Chris O'Connell visited Oracle Productions. During that time, Oracle and Chris had many conversations about Chicago Store Front theatre and its viability in the London scene. After this trip, Chris O'Connell returned to the UK and petitioned the local government to sponsor the opening of UK's first Shop Front Theatre.<ref name=ShopFront2>[http://wwwm.coventry.ac.uk/researchnet/ice/Documents/ICE_Theatre%20Absolute%20Shop%20Front%20Theatre.pdf Conventry University Study - Year 1]</ref><ref name=ShopFront3>[http://www.midlandsbusinessnews.co.uk/2011-02/austerity-theatre-first-uk-shop-front-theatre-one-year-on.aspx Midlands Business News - First UK Shop Front Theatre one year on]</ref>

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Theatre companies in Chicago]]

{{Uncategorized|date=April 2011}}