Shattered Globe History:

Shattered Globe Theatre (SGT) is an actor driven ensemble, known as one of the strongest theatre companies to emerge on the Chicago scene since it's inception twelve years ago.

In 1991, a group of theatre artists came together for a single show, Backstage Pass. The outstanding reception of this World Premiere, the inspiration they found in one another's creativity and the potential strength of consistently exploring with the same group of artists,
encouraged them to establish Shattered Globe Theatre and the foundation for an ensemble. After an exhaustive search during that first year the company found its home at 2856 North Halsted.

Since 1991 SGT has grown from its original 6 members to a family of 22 actors, directors, designers, writers, and technicians. The founders
initially established a structure whereby a 5-member Artistic Directing collective led the organization. This structure certainly contributed to the tight team-oriented energy that fuels the ensemble. It did not however allow for the faster decision making that their growing profile was requiring and in 1997 the Artistic Directing Collective (Joe Forbrich, Steve Key, Eileen Niccolai, Brian Pudil and Linda Reiter) asked Lou Contey, an existing ensemble member and director, to step up and join Brian Pudil as Co-Artistic Directors. Lou and Brian led the company for three years. In 2000 Contey handed leadership off to Steve Key who joined Brian as Co-Artistic Directors. The company is now led by Linda Reiter and Brian. The remaining members of the former Artistic Directing collective continue in a position, which they presently hold, called the Artistic Advisory Panel.

The metamorphosis of their original home into wildly different worlds, and the directorial contortions they accomplished in what the press
frequently referred to as a "shoe box" gave SGT a reputation for ingenuity. Under these physically limited circumstances SGT became known for producing intimate and powerful theatre that surrounds the audience with vivid stagecraft. Nonetheless the company was watering at the mouth with the thought of stretching out a bit. From the loved but limited "hole in the wall" space at 2856 North Halsted SGT moved up -
literally, to become the company in residence at the upstairs studio in the Victory Gardens theatre building beginning in the fall of 1999. Since 1999 SGT has performed in the upstairs mainstage and at City of Chicago's Store font theatre on Randolph.

SGT enjoys many benefits from it's relationship with the Tony Award winning Victory Gardens Theatre. Patrons are provided with regular box office hours and staff and easier parking. SGT enjoys audience crossover and name association with a well known, established theatre as well as with the other theatres in Victory Garden's theatre complex. Other benefits of the new location include increased visibility, greater ticket sales, a larger performance space.

Since their first production SGT has produced 45 plays, presenting an eclectic mixture of World Premieres by some of Chicago's most
promising young playwright's, ensemble generated original works, Chicago Premieres of national and international writers, American Classics, and riveting social commentary.