Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Leff.
Jillian, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The Cuckoo’s Theater Project was founded in 2014 by Marc James and Bart O’Toole, along with visual artist Dustin Dean and Chicago Actors Aiyanna Wade and Tyler Drew Clayton. Mr. Marmalade, by Noah Haidle, was our very first production. Since then, we’ve been focused on producing theatre and growing our company as much as we can. But there’s one thing that all Chicago theatre companies want but only so many have – a space of their own. Luckily, Bart found a building in Rogers Park at the corner of Ashland and Estes. It used to be the Rogers Park Women’s Club, then was owned by the Unitarian Church, now it’s ours! Right now, “The Nest” is under-going major renovations, so it’s only being used for rehearsals, auditions, and storage. But we have big plans to overhaul the space and turn it into a performing arts center for not only us, but for the Rogers Park community. In the meantime, we’re still producing shows. We just wrapped up a season featuring all female playwrights, and are about to open our fourth season in September!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No. But a smooth road is no fun, right? Hah.
I think one of the biggest struggles is being one of hundreds of non-equity theatre companies in this city. There are shows opening and closing every single week. It’s hard to keep track of and easy to get lost in the shuffle. As the marketing director, it honestly gets overwhelming sometimes. I work on something for TCTP every single day, whether it be sending out emails to press, going to a rehearsal to take photos, or making social media posts. But so is everyone else at every other company. You see? But, I just rely on the fact that the work we do is good theatre, and perseverance is key. The longer you stick it out, you’re bound to be the last one standing eventually.
Please tell us about The Cuckoo’s Theater Project.
Well, for starters, here’s our mission statement: “We here at The Cuckoo’s Theater Project seek to tell stories and put characters on stage that represent the vast diversity of not only Chicago, but the world. We want to take voices that have been stifled, stories that have been buried, and shout them loudly from the rooftops.”
Essentially, the shows we tend to pick take stories and people that may not normally get talked about and we shine a spotlight on them. We’ve done shows about closeted teens, refugees, teenagers in rural communities, and this season we’ve picked shows where the main characters are Dungeons and Dragons Players, struggling composers, and nuns, to name a few.
We also pride ourselves on hiring actors and production team members of all races, genders, cultures, and sizes. Why not have four women of three different races play sisters? Why shouldn’t Wendy Darling have two Dads? The world is made up of all kinds of people, so why not seek to see that on our stage?
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I feel a little predictable putting a theatre related memory, but when I was in second grade, everyone had to be in the Christmas pageant, but some people got to have lines. You got to hold a microphone and everything. We had auditions in Music class one day, and EVERYONE wanted to play “The Sarcastic Girl”. Even the boys. But guess who got it? 🙂
I was the envy of my whole class. Until Christmas break anyway haha.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7077 N Ashland,
Chicago, IL 60626 - Website: https://www.thecuckoostheaterproject.com/
- Phone: 312-882-8201
- Email: info@thecuckoostheaterproject.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuckoostheaterproject/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCuckoosTheaterProject/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Image Credit:
Season 4 Poster Credits: Marc James
Show Image Credits: Candice Lee Conner
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