Incubator Series

About the Incubator

Experiments with New Artists & New Ideas

The Incubator at A Red Orchid Theatre was created to get to know emerging talent, encourage dreaming, and foster exploration in Chicago’s theatre community. Leading with curiosity, it provides artists with the space, stage, and time to incubate new work, new artistic relationships, and new artistic forms. A Red Orchid’s ensemble maintains the conviction that live theatre is the greatest sustenance for the human spirit, and that passionately committed artists will draw passionately committed audiences. The Incubator is an active manifestation of that conviction and of A Red Orchid’s mission to cultivate new audiences for the modern stage.

The 2025-26 Incubator Program is made possible by the generous support of

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

Season 2025-26 Incubator Projects

WE TELL EACH OTHER STORIES
by Katherine Gwynn
Directed by Dinah Berkeley

Workshop of new play with public staged readings
February 2026

Maire spins the thread, Mara measures the thread, and Moira cuts the thread: these are the sisters’ roles and have been since before they knew what memory, or an oat milk latte, was. But when they lose the thread on the way to delivering it to a not-yet-born Hero, the sisters must retrace their steps through space, time and possibility in a desperate effort to get back on track. If they fail, they might have to choose their own fates, a reality they’re not entirely ready to traverse.

Katherine Gwynn (they/them) writes about the bloody heartbeats between the divine and abject. Gwynn is the winner of the 2022 UCROSS + The Blank Theatre – Future of Playwriting Prize and a 2023 Venturous Fellowship Nominee. Gwynn also won the 2015 Jane Chambers Student Playwriting Award and 2nd place for the EMOS Ecodrama Playwrights festival 2022. Their work has been developed/produced by Prometheus Theatre, Refracted Theatre, Red Theatre, Flint Rep, Jackalope Theatre, and The Great Plains Theatre Conference. Other selected honors: 2024 Playwrights Center Core Writer Finalist, 2021 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference Finalist and 2x Semi Finalist, 2x Bay Area Playwrights Festival Finalist and 4x Semi-Finalist, and 2x Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship Semi-Finalist. 

Dinah Berkeley (they/them) has a taste for the odd. Their work is steeped in experimental, physical and devised theatre-practices and made up of only the freshest and most organic ingredients: mime, clown, puppetry and other similar flavors. Their work has been consumed globally from San Francisco to Edinburgh, New York City to El Bolsón, on stages such as St. Ann’s Warehouse, HERE Arts Center, Ars Nova, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, American Conservatory Theatre, Improv Olympic, the streets of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, in many a living room and even on Zoom! Don’t let their lack of awards fool you.  

SPEECHaLICIOUS
by Gloria Imseih Petrelli

Developmental workshop of new script with workshop presentation
May/June 2026

It’s 2002 in the south suburbs of Chicago, the Sweetwood High School Speech Team is heading to Sectionals! But between crushes, college applications and George Bush, co-Presidents Hanna the Boy and Hanna the Girl can barely enjoy their senior year. What are two Middle Eastern kids to do when the walls are caving in and the smell of freedom fries becomes too much?

Steam your blazer and put on a smile, because that’s show biz (speech team) baby. We’ll see you on the bus.

Gloria Imseih Petrelli (she/they) is a Chicagoland born and based theatre artist working as an actor, playwright, and intimacy choreographer.  Find out more at www.thegloriaimseihpetrelli.com. Gloria’s art is informed and strengthened by the tenacity of her community–Free Palestine. 

ABUELA'S FOLLIES
by Kidany Camilo

Workshop Production
July/August 2026

Abuela, a Puerto Rican matriarch, is summoned into purgatory, which looks like her own kitchen. Inhabiting a hot young body reminiscent of a classic cabaret star, she is guided by a mysterious entity to undergo a trial if she wants an escape. The only caveat is, the audience gets to vote at the end of the trial and decide where she is destined to go. Will she find a way out to heaven or
 

Kidany Camilo [pronounced /’kidani’kamilɔ/] (pronouns any and all) is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist (Performer, Director, Teacher, Deviser, and Playwright) in Chicago, IL. Originally from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, this chameleon-like artist is a graduate from the University of South Florida with a BA in Theatre Arts, and Purdue University with an MFA in Acting. Their work is often haunted: by history, by family, by us. Their stories fight structure, make space for mess, and for a future that hasn’t been written yet. Their inspiration comes from Lorca, queerness, ancestors, and the ghosts that follow us, and the ones we chase back. 

Previous Incubator Projects

WOMEN OFF-COLOUR Featuring Anelga Hajjar, Alondra Rios, and Mantra Ethnicities we’ve dated, ethnicities who’ve wronged us, dads (alive and not), older sister trauma, ethnic moms, cycles we want to break, and growing up with curves. These are some of the topics Mantra, Alondra, and Anelga muse on in Women Off-Colour. Featuring musical numbers, sketches, and monologues, this show invites women to be offensive, wrong, and unapologetic. 

Women Off-Colour

WOMEN OFF-COLOUR

Featuring Anelga Hajjar, Alondra Rios, and Mantra

Ethnicities we’ve dated, ethnicities who’ve wronged us, dads (alive and not), older sister trauma, ethnic moms, cycles we want to break, and growing up with curves. These are some of the topics Mantra, Alondra, and Anelga muse on in Women Off-Colour. Featuring musical numbers, sketches, and monologues, this show invites women to be offensive, wrong, and unapologetic. 
Read more
INFINITY BURNS by Felix Abidor Directed by Patrick Starner Cast: Faiz Siddique (Bruno), Guy Wicke (Bellarmine), Grant Brown (Paul), Julian “joolz” Stroop (Hermes), Cam Frontain, Evelyn Wohlbier, Gardy Gilbert, and Noelle Oh (Infinite) Production Team: Martina Logan (Stage Manager), Macy Mateer (Assistant Director/Dramaturg), Riley Woods (Lighting Designer), Ethan Korvne (Composer & Sound Designer), Brandii Champagne (Scenic Designer), Kotryna Hilko (Costume Designer), Aja Singletary (Movement Designer), James Cullinane (Fight Choreographer), Grace Archer (Assistant Dramaturg), Hope Campbell (Graphic Design) August 3 - 17, 2025 A defiant philosopher faces execution for claiming the universe is infinite. As the Inquisition closes in, Giordano Bruno battles torturers, gods, and his own fear; meanwhile, the Inquisitors try to figure out what the proper snack is to serve at a stake-burning
 Popcorn hasn’t been invented yet. S’mores? A little on the nose
 With a chorus of infinite voices and the god Hermes whispering in his ear, Bruno must decide what he’s willing to die for—and what might be worth lying to save. Infinity Burns is a kaleidoscopic collision of history, heresy, and the terrifying beauty of belief.

Infinity Burns

INFINITY BURNS

by Felix Abidor
Directed by Patrick Starner

Cast: Faiz Siddique (Bruno), Guy Wicke (Bellarmine), Grant Brown (Paul), Julian “joolz” Stroop (Hermes), Cam Frontain, Evelyn Wohlbier, Gardy Gilbert, and Noelle Oh (Infinite)

Production Team: Martina Logan (Stage Manager), Macy Mateer (Assistant Director/Dramaturg), Riley Woods (Lighting Designer), Ethan Korvne (Composer & Sound Designer), Brandii Champagne (Scenic Designer), Kotryna Hilko (Costume Designer), Aja Singletary (Movement Designer), James Cullinane (Fight Choreographer), Grace Archer (Assistant Dramaturg), Hope Campbell (Graphic Design)

August 3 – 17, 2025

A defiant philosopher faces execution for claiming the universe is infinite. As the Inquisition closes in, Giordano Bruno battles torturers, gods, and his own fear; meanwhile, the Inquisitors try to figure out what the proper snack is to serve at a stake-burning
 Popcorn hasn’t been invented yet. S’mores? A little on the nose
 With a chorus of infinite voices and the god Hermes whispering in his ear, Bruno must decide what he’s willing to die for—and what might be worth lying to save. Infinity Burns is a kaleidoscopic collision of history, heresy, and the terrifying beauty of belief.
Read more
PRETTY SHAHID by Omer Abbas Salem Directed by Laura Alcalá Baker Featuring Omer Abbas Salem, Gloria Imseih Petrelli, Sahar Dika, H. Adoni Esho, Debo Balogun, Sarah Price, Em Modaff, and Yourtana Sulaiman. June 29 and 30, 2025 A young Iraqi immigrant is hit in the head with a thrown bottle the day after 9/11 and he wakes up sounding just like his favorite American – Julia Roberts. As he and his family navigate the racist days that followed the tragic day, he uses his new voice and lost memory to become more American. This is a play about assimilation and what we choose to forget about ourselves to fit in. It’s a romantic comedy, though. And gay. And has singing and dancing, just like any Julia Roberts movie, but way more political resistance. Please join us for some culture, comedy, and an uprising!

Pretty Shahid

PRETTY SHAHID

by Omer Abbas Salem
Directed by Laura AlcalĂĄ Baker

Featuring Omer Abbas Salem, Gloria Imseih Petrelli, Sahar Dika, H. Adoni Esho, Debo Balogun, Sarah Price, Em Modaff, and Yourtana Sulaiman.

June 29 and 30, 2025

A young Iraqi immigrant is hit in the head with a thrown bottle the day after 9/11 and he wakes up sounding just like his favorite American – Julia Roberts. As he and his family navigate the racist days that followed the tragic day, he uses his new voice and lost memory to become more American. This is a play about assimilation and what we choose to forget about ourselves to fit in. It’s a romantic comedy, though. And gay. And has singing and dancing, just like any Julia Roberts movie, but way more political resistance. Please join us for some culture, comedy, and an uprising!

Read more
THE H TWINS by Hope Campbell Featuring Hope Campbell Gundlah, Tess Cameron Gundlah, Timothy Weinert, Jennifer Jelsema, and Meghan Maureen McDonough March 3-5, 2025 Identical twins Hilda & Helga are the blonde-haired, blue-eyed ideal- at least according to Uncle M, the researcher-turned-father-figure who supervises their highly controlled children’s home in 1940s Germany. After accidentally being exposed to American movies and music, the H Twins become convinced they’re destined to be vaudeville stars. But as they develop their song-and-dance acts and fret about impending adulthood, they grow less and less identical- and more and more questioning of their “ideological education” and the experiment in which they’ve been raised. The twins tell their story via a darkly funny, musical, reality-bending variety show. 

The H Twins

THE H TWINS

by Hope Campbell

Featuring Hope Campbell Gundlah, Tess Cameron Gundlah, Timothy Weinert, Jennifer Jelsema, and Meghan Maureen McDonough

March 3-5, 2025

Identical twins Hilda & Helga are the blonde-haired, blue-eyed ideal- at least according to Uncle M, the researcher-turned-father-figure who supervises their highly controlled children’s home in 1940s Germany. After accidentally being exposed to American movies and music, the H Twins become convinced they’re destined to be vaudeville stars. But as they develop their song-and-dance acts and fret about impending adulthood, they grow less and less identical- and more and more questioning of their “ideological education” and the experiment in which they’ve been raised. The twins tell their story via a darkly funny, musical, reality-bending variety show. 

Read more
The Meat Machine presents A Red Orchid Incubator production of THE WORM MY SISTER Conceived of and directed by Ramona Rotten Devised and performed by The Meat Machine Featuring Lynda Cortez, Sam Hurwitz, Kelsey Rich, John Francis Klingle, Quinn Leary, Melissa Jane Carlson, Paul Brennan, Lou Smith & Emily Cobb December 5 - 15, 2024 Enter the fractured world of The Worm My Sister, a haunting experiment from Ramona Rotten and the Meat Machine, running December 5th-15th. Born from a fevered process of communal creation, this piece unveils a fog-bound island where reality dissolves, and two figures—Miranda and her clone, Not-Miranda—drift between presence and performance under the looming eye of Father Daddy. Inspired by The Tempest, the lives of the Dionne quintuplets, and Guy Debord’s critique of spectacle, The Worm My Sister is a ritual of voyeurism, exploitation, and transformation. Texts unravel nightly, bleeding new meanings with each performance.

The Worm My Sister

The Meat Machine presents A Red Orchid Incubator production of

THE WORM MY SISTER

Conceived of and directed by Ramona Rotten
Devised and performed by The Meat Machine

Featuring Lynda Cortez, Sam Hurwitz, Kelsey Rich, John Francis Klingle, Quinn Leary, Melissa Jane Carlson, Paul Brennan, Lou Smith & Emily Cobb

December 5 – 15, 2024

Enter the fractured world of The Worm My Sister, a haunting experiment from Ramona Rotten and the Meat Machine, running December 5th-15th. Born from a fevered process of communal creation, this piece unveils a fog-bound island where reality dissolves, and two figures—Miranda and her clone, Not-Miranda—drift between presence and performance under the looming eye of Father Daddy. Inspired by The Tempest, the lives of the Dionne quintuplets, and Guy Debord’s critique of spectacle, The Worm My Sister is a ritual of voyeurism, exploitation, and transformation. Texts unravel nightly, bleeding new meanings with each performance.
Read more
Token Theatre presents the World Premiere of ZAC EFRON By David Rhee & Wai Yim Directed by Alan Muraoka Featuring Hansel Tan, Wai Yim & Gordon Chow with special appearances by Cheryl Hamada & Wai Ching Ho June 20 - July 21, 2024 Zac Efron glimpses into a world that is rarely seen on the American stage: two Asian Americans looking for love and the complexities that come with their adventures. It is a poignant opportunity for radical self-acceptance through YouTube, tarot readings, and of course, one of America’s favorite sweethearts, Zac Efron. Hold onto your harness and clutch your pearls, it’s gonna be a wild ride!

Zac Efron

Token Theatre presents the World Premiere of

ZAC EFRON

By David Rhee & Wai Yim

Directed by Alan Muraoka

Featuring Hansel Tan, Wai Yim & Gordon Chow with special appearances by Cheryl Hamada & Wai Ching Ho

June 20 – July 21, 2024

Zac Efron glimpses into a world that is rarely seen on the American stage: two Asian Americans looking for love and the complexities that come with their adventures. It is a poignant opportunity for radical self-acceptance through YouTube, tarot readings, and of course, one of America’s favorite sweethearts, Zac Efron. Hold onto your harness and clutch your pearls, it’s gonna be a wild ride!

Read more
Kalliope & Co. presents THE RECEPTIONIST By Adam Bock Directed by Kyle Stoffers Featuring AROT Ensemble Member dado with Jessica Ervin, Jacob Alexander & Dano Duran May 15 - June 2, 2024 At the start of a typical day in the Northeast Office, Beverly deals effortlessly with ringing phones and her colleague’s romantic troubles. But the appearance of a charming rep from the Central Office disrupts the friendly routine. And as the true nature of the company’s business becomes apparent, The Receptionist raises disquieting, provocative questions about the consequences of complicity with evil.

The Receptionist

Kalliope & Co. presents

THE RECEPTIONIST

By Adam Bock

Directed by Kyle Stoffers

Featuring AROT Ensemble Member dado with Jessica Ervin, Jacob Alexander & Dano Duran

May 15 – June 2, 2024

At the start of a typical day in the Northeast Office, Beverly deals effortlessly with ringing phones and her colleague’s romantic troubles. But the appearance of a charming rep from the Central Office disrupts the friendly routine. And as the true nature of the company’s business becomes apparent, The Receptionist raises disquieting, provocative questions about the consequences of complicity with evil.

Read more
ACT FIVE Conceived & installed by Ensemble Member dado Script by Katherine Swan | Musical curation by Sam Clapp What if the orchard was not destroyed, and we return years later to find our musicians still playing out there? In this exploration of an imagined Act Five of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, we finally get to meet and experience the offstage musicians in person. Act Five will be shared with our patrons via five open rehearsals.  REAWAKENING DESIRE Directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray Leaning into the sexy, the giddy, and the heartbreaking of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, this project aims to investigate a world where desire is ignited in the most wonderfully unexpected ways. This workshop will culminate in a free, salon-style reading.

Act Five & Reawakening Desire

ACT FIVE

Conceived & installed by Ensemble Member dado

Script by Katherine Swan | Musical curation by Sam Clapp

What if the orchard was not destroyed, and we return years later to find our musicians still playing out there? In this exploration of an imagined Act Five of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, we finally get to meet and experience the offstage musicians in person. Act Five will be shared with our patrons via five open rehearsals. 

REAWAKENING DESIRE

Directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray

Leaning into the sexy, the giddy, and the heartbreaking of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, this project aims to investigate a world where desire is ignited in the most wonderfully unexpected ways. This workshop will culminate in a free, salon-style reading.

Read more
Purpose: CELEBRATION was developed to experiment with combining theatrical and musical forms and further exploring relationships between the artists. Set on the eve of an anniversary party held in an elite London restaurant, Harold Pinter’s Celebration explores the bizarrely acute and darkly hilarious condition of human disconnection. This theatrical event imposes Pinter’s restaurant onto an experimental performance of Mauricio Kagel’s music, exacerbating the tensions in human relationships and the ensuing existential disposition.

Celebration

Purpose: CELEBRATION was developed to experiment with combining theatrical and musical forms and further exploring relationships between the artists.

Set on the eve of an anniversary party held in an elite London restaurant, Harold Pinter’s Celebration explores the bizarrely acute and darkly hilarious condition of human disconnection. This theatrical event imposes Pinter’s restaurant onto an experimental performance of Mauricio Kagel’s music, exacerbating the tensions in human relationships and the ensuing existential disposition.

Read more
Purpose: SICK BY SEVEN was developed to explore the combination of video multimedia with theatrical forms in new work while exploring relationships with new artists and raising funds for a charitable organization. Anxiety, phobias, mental illness, mysterious diseases, and medication are among the issues explored by artists in SICK BY SEVEN. The seven interconnected works, part of A Red Orchid Theatre's Incubator series, combine live theater and video to investigate physical, mental and societal health in the modern world.

Sick by Seven

Purpose: SICK BY SEVEN was developed to explore the combination of video multimedia with theatrical forms in new work while exploring relationships with new artists and raising funds for a charitable organization.

Anxiety, phobias, mental illness, mysterious diseases, and medication are among the issues explored by artists in SICK BY SEVEN. The seven interconnected works, part of A Red Orchid Theatre’s Incubator series, combine live theater and video to investigate physical, mental and societal health in the modern world.

Read more