What is the
Independent Production Initiative?
The Independent Productions Initiative is an innovative way to support an often overlooked and underfunded aspect of theater in Chicago--- the many independent workshops, readings and full productions that contribute to the vitality of Chicago’s cultural landscape. The Initiative will offer a resource for independent productions to turn to for a little advice and funding, while also benefiting the theater landscape overall. Having such a resource would also enable new efforts by artists with less access to dollars and “social capital.”
Independent productions offer unexpected work by ambitious and wildly varying teams, often in places that are also surprising, from factories to stores to parking garages. Independent productions also offer immediacy, the ability to mount a show relatively quickly, without the constraints that can be in place for an established theater, where obligations and necessary internal procedures may leave a two- or three-year ramp or more before an idea can come to fruition.
Goals of the IPI
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This Initiative will enable 15-20 independent producers to make work that enriches what Chicago theater has to offer artists and audiences.
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As a relatively modest but important pilot, goals include to learn what self-producing artists need and how support of their work contributes to the development of organized theaters and Chicago’s cultural landscape overall.
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Gain experience that will help determine what next steps might be for establishing an ongoing entity supporting self-produced or independent productions.
If you are an artist interested in applying for an Independent Production Grant, check back here in summer 2025 for more information about project guidelines and the application process.
How is Redtwist Involved?
Redtwist Theatre was approached by a group of theater leaders and activists to help develop and provide a home for a unique project: an initiative to support and advise the increasing number of independent productions blossoming across Chicago. The founding leadership group (organized by playwright L.C. Bernadine) sees this as integral to developing the next generation of theater artists, providing expanded opportunities for both artists and audiences while also feeding revenue to established theaters.
Redtwist sees this Initiative as an extension of its own commitment to new play development, helping to build the broader theater landscape in Chicago. In addition to housing the initiative, Redtwist will offer production consultation, a ticketing platform, and other support as needed by independent production teams. We also have the capacity to collect basic outcome data and reflections from supported projects in order to inform future plans.
The advantages of housing the Initiative at a working theater instead of an intermediary or advocacy group include myriad opportunities to offer practical support to producers beyond the administration of the grant, for example:
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Redtwist extending liability coverage to grantees as off-site projects under their existing insurance;
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Allowing grantees to use the same ticketing platform as Redtwist;
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Promoting grantee events in their existing social media;
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Offering experienced counsel on needs or challenges that may arise;
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Possibly arranging for group discounts or package deals with preferred vendors on needs such as space rental;
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Allowing artists access to production resources such as lighting equipment, a scenic shop, and costume and prop storage.