Open Space Arts regularly works with directors, actors, playwrights, designers, stage managers, filmmakers, and other artists interested in creating adventurous LGBTQ+ work in an intimate Chicago storefront setting.
Current opportunities are listed below. We also welcome project ideas throughout the year, so if you have something you think belongs at Open Space Arts, we would be happy to hear about it.
Open Space Arts is seeking a Non-Equity Stage Manager for our upcoming production of JERKER by Robert Chesley, part of BEFORE WE ARE HISTORY, our fall project revisiting groundbreaking theatrical work from the early years of the AIDS epidemic.
This production of JERKER is being created and performed by Jason Bowen and Joshua Bowen.
Location: Open Space Arts, 1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago
We are looking for an organized, collaborative Stage Manager who is comfortable working in an intimate storefront environment with a small cast and production team.
Responsibilities will include attending rehearsals, keeping rehearsal and production notes, communicating with the creative team, assisting with the transition into tech, and calling/running performances.
Please note that JERKER contains explicit sexual material, adult language, and mature themes. Applicants should be comfortable working on a production in which sexuality and intimacy are central to the story.
Open Space Arts is a proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres and is committed to equality, fairness, respect, and the principles outlined in the Chicago Theatre Standards.
Monday, October 12 — 6–9 p.m.
Tuesday, October 13 — 6–9 p.m.
Wednesday, October 14 — 6–9 p.m.
Sunday, October 18 — 7–10 p.m.
Monday, October 19 — 6–9 p.m.
Tuesday, October 20 — 6–9 p.m.
Tuesday, October 27 — 6–9 p.m.
Wednesday, October 28 — 6–9 p.m.
Thursday, October 29 — 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 30 — 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 — 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 1 — 3 p.m.
Monday, November 2 — 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 5 — 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 6 — 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 7 — 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 8 — 3 p.m.
Applicants should be available for the full rehearsal and performance schedule.
Fee: $300
To apply, please send a brief note of interest and résumé to OpenSpaceArts2022@gmail.com with JERKER STAGE MANAGER in the subject line.
Auditions for FUCKING STRANGERS by Erik Patterson
Directed by Jack Dugan Carpenter
Produced by Open Space Arts
Rehearsals begin Monday, November 30, with rehearsals generally scheduled Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons.
Performances begin Friday, January 22 and run through Sunday, February 7, with the possibility of a three-week extension.
Ru hasn’t left his bedroom in years. Mick can’t stop paying for affection. Julianne mourns the person she never became and the dreams she once had. Dylan will sell himself to anyone if the price is right.
In this dark comedy about love, loneliness, sex, and connection, four FUCKING STRANGERS discover that their lives are connected in more ways than they realize.
RU — late 20s/early 30s, cis male
An agoraphobic who has not been outside in six years. He thinks he is terrible at conversation.
MICK — 50s, cis male
Married, intimidating, confident, and accustomed to being important.
DYLAN — 20s–30s, cis male
An escort who considers himself a healer. The role requires significant shirtless performance.
JULIANNE — 50s, cis female
A housewife who was once a very good high-school actress. Now she desperately wants to feel something again.
Please note that FUCKING STRANGERS contains explicit sexual material, adult language, and mature themes. Additional information about intimacy requirements will be discussed with actors invited to callbacks and before casting.
Open Space Arts is a proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres and is committed to equality, fairness, respect, and the principles outlined in the Chicago Theatre Standards.
Fee: $300, with an additional fee if the production extends.
Please submit a video of a one-minute contemporary monologue, comedic or dramatic, by September 18.
Include:
Send materials to OSAAuditions@gmail.com with FS AUDITION in the subject line.
Selected actors will be invited to callbacks.
Wednesday, 9/23 - 7-10
Saturday, 9/26 - 2-5
Open Space Arts is seeking guest directors for BEFORE WE ARE HISTORY, a three-week project revisiting American theater written in response to the AIDS epidemic.
Through fully staged productions, staged readings, and public conversations, BEFORE WE ARE HISTORY looks at how playwrights responded to the fear, grief, anger, sexuality, friendship, activism, and resilience of the epidemic — and why these plays still matter today.
We are currently interested in directors for the following projects. Directors may express interest in either piece or both.
ONE is a groundbreaking solo play about a young man attempting to understand and confront his recent AIDS diagnosis.
Written during the earliest years of the epidemic, when AIDS was still poorly understood and rarely discussed publicly, the approximately 30-minute monologue offers an intimate portrait of bewilderment, isolation, fear, anger, and emerging courage.
Open Space Arts will present ONE as a fully staged production October 23–25, 2026.
Set during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, A QUIET END centers on three gay men with AIDS sharing a run-down Manhattan apartment after losing their jobs and being rejected by their families.
Their conversations with a psychiatrist — and the arrival of a healthy former lover — lead to an examination of friendship, loyalty, love, mortality, and the unfinished business of their lives.
Open Space Arts will present A QUIET END as a five-character staged reading on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Interested directors should send:
Chicago-area directors are especially encouraged to contact us.
Please email materials to OpenSpaceArts2022@gmail.com with GUEST DIRECTOR — BWAH in the subject line.
OPEN SPACE ARTS WELCOMES PROJECT PROPOSALS
Have an idea for a play, staged reading, workshop, performance, or other LGBTQ+ theater project that you think might belong at Open Space Arts?
We want to hear about it.
Project proposals may come from directors, actors, playwrights, designers, producers, audience members, or anyone with a strong idea. You do not need to have a complete production team assembled, and your proposal does not need to be lengthy or formal.
Open Space Arts is especially interested in projects that make creative use of our intimate storefront space, including small-cast plays, new and underproduced work, international LGBTQ+ theater, rediscovered plays, staged readings, workshops, and projects that might develop into future productions.
Send us a short paragraph describing the project and why you think it would be a good fit for Open Space Arts.
When applicable, please include:
That is all we need to begin.
It does not need to be a term paper.
Email proposals to OpenSpaceArts2022@gmail.com with PROJECT PROPOSAL in the subject line.
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