Our Team

For over 50 years, Piven Theatre Workshop has maintained both a professional theatre and a nationally acclaimed actor training center for children and adults.

The mission of Piven Theatre Workshop is to encourage a process of creative exploration that celebrates each individual’s unique voice through an ensemble-based, community-oriented approach to theatre training and performance. This mission, as it has evolved over 50 years, is pursued through the three branches of the organization: our training center for children and adults, our professional equity theatre, and our extensive scholarship and community outreach programs.

These three branches of the organization are all rooted in our passion for collaboration and community. Our training center serves over 1,000 students annually and provides mentorship opportunities for emerging theatre artists and educators. Arts education is essential for students to develop confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills. Our professional equity theatre builds on our training center and puts our mission into practice by promoting new work and giving emerging artists the opportunity to explore new projects and ideas. Our scholarship and community outreach programs also center around our commitment to responding to the needs of our community. We are passionate about connecting with the Chicago community and highlighting the impact of arts education.

Our team, which includes our administrative staff, our teachers and our board of directors, is made up of individuals who share this passion for the transformative power of theatre. Many of our team members grew up in our programs, learning key skills in our training center. Our team is deeply committed to creating a safe and open environment for discussion and artistic expression. The history of mentorship at Piven Theatre is an essential part of our story. We believe in the power of education and providing opportunities for young people to gain professional and artistic experience.