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Rustbelt
A Solo Show by Kevin Michael Wesson
Stage Manager: Lindsey Ball
Written and Performed by Kevin Michael Wesson
Through live-feed storytelling, audience interaction, and found physical media, one urban explorer weaves an electronic fantasia from stolen artifacts of the Rust Belt, raising questions about memory, ownership, and the working-class history that's been left to rot.
[Winner of BorderLight Festival 2025's "Vivid Visual Theatre Award"]
Kevin Michael Wesson (he/they) is a proudly unrepresented puppeteer/deviser based in Chicago, originally from Tampa, FL. Credits include: Leonardo! & Christmas Carol (Emmy-winning Manual Cinema), “Where we go together” or The Flashlight Play, CAMPOUT, rustbelt. (Theatre Nobody), Dog or Cats; Augmented Body (Steppenwolf LOOKOUT), House of the Exquisite Corpse I-V (Rough House Puppet Arts), Elements of Style (The Neo-Futurists). His works have been mentioned in American Theatre Magazine, The Chicago Cultural Center, Earth First! Journal, No Proscenium, The Puppetry Journal, NPR, and various curation for/residencies with Jane Adams Hull-House Museum, Links Hall, Chicago Puppet Lab, The National Puppetry Conference, The Valdez Theater Conference, & Intuit: Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art. A firm believer in DIY ethos, they currently organize works-in-progress & community programming for Agitator Artist Collective, Rough House Puppet Arts, Stop Motion Plant, etc. Slam, PUPPETQUEERS Chicago, and Physical Theater Festival Chicago.
Performance Dates:
April 8th
April 22nd
April 29th
May 6th
May 13th
About One-on-Wednesdays
On Wednesdays at Redtwist we invite unique solo performers to take over our space and bring their singular, edgy perspective to our black box in Edgewater.
One-On-Wednesday is a solo performance series entering its second year at Redtwist Theatre. Redtwist guarantees 5 performances for this series. Performances are on Wednesday nights at 7:30 PM. Performances happen on top of our MainStage set. We are happy to move furniture and props to accommodate performance needs, but we can not guarantee a completely 'clear' stage.
Redtwist is able to offer a $500 stipend to performers for the 5 show series. We can additionally pay $250 for stage management. If performers do not have a preferred stage manager, Redtwist can assist with hiring that role.
Our Values
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We value Chicago Voices.
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We value diversity and representation, including diversity of race, gender, sexuality, age, and ability. We intend to express this value at every level, from producers and readers, to playwrights and directors, as well as the performers on our stage.
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We value stories for NOW.
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We value character driven performances.
Submission Guidelines
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Submissions are encouraged from BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ artists
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All submissions must be written by an artist who is based in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
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Performances should be performance ready. Redtwist does not currently have funding for development of plays in our Solo series. We can provide limited rehearsal space and technical support to bring your performance to stage.
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Productions must be performed by a single artist. Plays that require additional performers (including musicians) will not be considered for this series.
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Any submissions based on already existing intellectual properties must have secured rights independently. Redtwist cannot currently provide funding for securing rights.
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Selected performers will be contacted to coordinate dates within our season. All shows are performed on the set of our MainStage series so dates are non-negotiable.
Redtwist Provides
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5 performances held on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM during the run of our regular MainStage series.
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Digital marketing through Redtwist's website and social media.
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Printed Poster to hang in Redtwist's Bryn Mawr Streetfront window
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Rehearsal space (as available)
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4-hour technical rehearsal prior to opening
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Basic Lighting design (as available, to be coordinated day-of at technical rehearsal)
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Access to the space 90 minutes before and 30 minutes after each Wednesday performance
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Ticketing through the Redtwist Website (All tickets are Pay-What-You-Can).
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Box Office and Bar Management at each performance
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Storage for props/materials
Past Productions
