Stories
Everything you need to know about Storycatchers.
Welcome to our blog. Our newsfeed. Our point of view on everything that’s important to what we do. Scroll through to find something that interests you.
Storycatching: The Dress
Storycatching will be a monthly column by Artistic Director Meade Palidofsky relating stories that have shaped company philosophy, mission and process over the past 30 + years. The Dress Soon we...
Maestro Muti Returns to IYC-Chicago
“Maestro Muti is very passionate about making the music of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) available to people who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to experience it,” Coordinator of Civic Engagement...
The Revolving Door Evolves
Lamar bounds into the classroom, throwing his arms wide open and grinning ear to ear. “How ya’ll BEEN!!!” Lamar’s excitement mirrors our own as Storycatchers’ Temporary Lockdown Ensemble at the...
Dear Sky…The Big Show
The residents at the Illinois Youth Center (IYC) - Warrenville call Storycatchers Theatre’s fall musical the “Big Show” – and for good reason. The production elements are more elaborate than for the...
Going Beyond: Investing in a Post-Release Vision for Illinois Youth By Executive Director, Priya Shah
NEW BEGINNINGS AND EXCITING GROWTH As the new Executive Director of Storycatchers Theatre, I am excited to announce the company’s plan to grow Changing Voices, our post-release youth employment...
Standing Ovation for the Final Bow
After 19 successful years, Storycatchers says a fond farewell to the Teens Together Playwriting and Summer Touring Ensemble programs with the company’s decision to focus its programming on...
Changing It Up: Movement, Music, and the Scales of Justice
The Changing Voices Ensemble wrapped up a successful summer of programming, which included touring Chicago with their original musical, STUCK. Over the past three and a half months, CV has performed...
Spotlight: Jacob Clinkscales
Storycatchers Theatre and Sharing Who I Truly Am: An Interview with Jacob Clinkscales By Ashlyn Wheeler When Jacob joined Teens Together at the age of 13, he was one of the youngest members in the...
Diana Lawrence Shares Her Composing Talents with Many Companies
Teaching artist Diana Lawrence, composer for Storycatchers’ Temporary LockDown program at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, recently created the original music for the critically acclaimed...
HMPRG Honors Palidofsky with 2016 Schweitzer Leadership Award
The Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship Program recognized Storycatchers Founder and Artistic Director, Meade Palidofsky, with a 2016 Schweitzer...
Changing Voices Hones Life, Leadership & Communications Skills
The development of communication and leadership skills is one of the primary benefits of participation in a Storycatchers program. This is particularly true of the Changing Voices post-release...
At On The Table, Changing Voices Shares Conversation with Police and Community
On May 10, 2016, Storycatchers' Changing Voices Ensemble hosted officers from the Chicago Police Department at a performance and lunch as part of the Chicago Community Trust On the Table Initiative....
Local Theaters Open Seats for IDJJ Youth to Experience Professional Performances
Thanks to the generosity of Chicago’s professional theatre community, and the determination of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice to broaden the outlook and education of its youth,...
Palidofsky and Ecford Conduct Workshop at Shakespeare in Prison Conference
Storycatchers had a presence at the “Shakespeare in Prisons: In Practice” conference at Notre Dame January 25-27, 2016. Artistic Director Meade Palidofsky and Lead Teaching Artist Ozivell Ecford...
Youth in Storycatchers Theatre Programs Share Stories with the Illinois Supreme Court
On Monday, March 14, 2016, members of three Storycatchers Theatre programs for court-involved youth performed in chambers for the Supreme Court of Illinois. Participants in the Fabulous Females,...
Youth Overcome Betrayal; ask for Help in …Super Power
Many new youth joined the cast of the 2015 Teens Together Summer Touring Ensemble last June. The 15-member ensemble and two teaching artists performed 29 shows in ten different locations. In order...
Temporary Lockdown Takes a Do-Over
The Temporary Lockdown Ensemble explored their experiences with “Second Chances and Do-Overs” during a 10-week program cycle that culminated in two staged readings for more than 100 people at the...
Harrowing Journey Leads to Understanding
The Fabulous Females Ensemble performed its newest original one-act musical during the first week of November. Blackout. Flashback. Another Memory presented the story of Cinnamon and Naomi as they...