History
In 1992, Writers’ Theatre was founded in order to create an environment where the written word and the nurturing of artists were the foundation of all productions. We opened our first venue that year in the ante-room of a newly opened bookstore in Glencoe on the North Shore of Chicago. The limited space available gave way to a new aesthetic that has been a company hallmark ever since—intimacy.
Under the artistic leadership of Founding Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, who continues in that role to this day, Writers’ became a welcome addition to the already vibrant Chicago arts community. The Theatre quickly garnered significant critical acclaim and established a reputation as a home for world-class art and artists, opening a second performance space in 2003. Our inviting 108-seat Tudor Court space continued the company’s trademark level of intimacy while allowing for a new scale of production and affording the opportunity to expand audiences, programming and educational outreach.
Acclaimed by The Wall Street Journal as one of the top half-dozen regional theatres in the country, Writers’ has offered more than 81 productions, including 14 world premieres. We have garnered numerous awards and accolades, including 76 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and 18 Awards, as well as multiple citations of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam for excellence and contributions to the field, including The 2010 Zelda Fichandler Award. In 2007, Writers’ debuted nationally with a New York premiere of Crime and Punishment, followed in 2011 by a Lincoln Center production of A Minister’s Wife—the musical adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Candida, conceived and directed by Halberstam.
In July, 2011, Writers’ announced the hiring of the award-winning, internationally renowned Studio Gang Architects, led by principle Jeanne Gang, FAIA, to design a new home for the Theatre in downtown Glencoe. This will allow the Theatre to continue to grow to accommodate our audience, while maintaining our trademark intimacy. The new facility will resonate with and complement the Theatre’s neighboring Glencoe community, adding tremendous value to Chicagoland and helping establish the North Shore as a premier cultural destination.
