About the Performance Lab of Piven Theatre

Dedicated to nurturing emerging artists and new works, the Performance Lab was created out of the Piven Theatre Workshop training center to provide mentorship opportunities to theatre artists. The Lab offers directors, adapters and performers the opportunity to create and present new work in a workshop setting.

Beginning with our acclaimed youth ensembles the Performance Project and The Young People’s Company, the Performance Lab has expanded to include multi-artist performance salons, staged readings, new works festivals, as well as presenting seven world-premiere short plays by Pulitzer-winner Suzan-Lori Parks in the 365 Days/365 Plays Festival.

Past works include: THE SNOW QUEEN by Hans Christian Andersen, conceived, adapted and directed by Sarah Bendix and Mikalina Rabinsky, IN THIS BODY created and directed by Kira Silverstein, PLUNDER and THE HUMAN CAPACITY by Jennifer Barclay, THE METHOD by Jeff McLane, SACRED by Scott Shallenbarger, BETTER LAND by Sean Cooper, TRAVELER TO UNIMAGINABLE LANDS by Emilie Beck, MCMILLAN AND SHAPIRO and DUET IN THE BUSHES OR LAURA: AN ALLEGORY by Shira Piven, BACK OFF, BARKMAN by Dick Cusack, CLEAN HOUSE and EURYDICE by Sarah Ruhl, BLINDNESS adapted by Jodi Kanter and the 14th week of 365 DAYS/365 PLAYS by Suzan-Lori Parks which included the Chicago premieres of: The Birth Of Abraham Lincoln, We Were Civilized Once, Revolver Lover, Pig Meat Farming Man, You Wouldn’t Want To Take It With You Even If You Could, The President’s Day Sale, and The Day After President’s Day Sale.

The Performance Project (7-9th Grades) and The Young People’s Company (10th-12th Grades) both contribute annual performance festivals showcasing the works of young artists. The Young People's Company was founded over 30 years ago by Byrne & Joyce Piven and still thrives as the most advanced level class that high school students strive for when studying at the Piven Theatre Workshop. The Young People's Company specializes in improvisation and the Story Theatre form - a process of working as an ensemble to adapt literature, myths and folk tales to the stage. Every year, this group culminates their experience by presenting a showcase of improvisation and stories that they have adapted as an ensemble. Alumni of the Young People's Company include Emmy Award Winner Jeremy Piven, John, Joan & Ann Cusack, Directors Jessica Thebus, Shira Piven & Robin Chaplik, award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl, and many members of the faculty at the Piven Theatre Workshop including Sarah Bendix, Mikalina Rabinsky, Susan O'Brien, Rebecca Kling, Beth Voitik, Jessie Mills, Catherine Lynch, Marc Wilson & Ethan Ucker.

The Young People's Company was founded over 30 years ago by Byrne & Joyce Piven and still thrives as the most advanced level class that high school students strive for when studying at the Piven Theatre Workshop. The Young People's Company specializes in improvisation and the Story Theatre form - a process of working as an ensemble to adapt literature, myths and folk tales to the stage. Every year, this group culminates their class experience by presenting a showcase of improvisation and stories that they have adapted as an ensemble. Alumni of the Young People's Company include Emmy Award Winner Jeremy Piven, John, Joan & Ann Cusack, Directors Jessica Thebus, Shira Piven and Robin Chaplik, award winning playwright Sarah Ruhl, and many members of the faculty at the Piven Theatre Workshop, including this year's YPC Director Sarah Bendix and Guest Directors Mikalina Rabinsky, Susan O'Brien and Rebecca Kling.

Performance Project is comprised of advanced level junior high students in 7th - 9th grade. Students in this performance troupe are already well-versed in the Piven Technique and are building the skills necessary to move on to more advanced coursework at the Workshop. This year, the Company Directors are Donna Osowski and Joanne Underwood.