SMILEY EXTENDED TO JULY 19!
Open Space Arts is proud to present SMILEY by Guillem Clua, translated by Marion Peter Holt, directed by Jack Dugan Carpenter, and featuring Seth Kobs and Ayden Lopez.
A sharp, funny, and deeply relatable queer romantic comedy that has captivated audiences around the world, SMILEY is now extended through July 19. Please note: there will be no performance on Sunday, June 28, and no performances over the July 4th weekend.
Originally premiering in Barcelona, SMILEY quickly became a breakout success in Spain, enjoying extended runs in Barcelona and Madrid and earning widespread acclaim. Since its debut, the play has been produced internationally across Europe and Latin America, with productions in Germany, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Chile, Puerto Rico, Peru, and beyond.
While SMILEY has become a global audience favorite, it has had only limited exposure in the United States, with select Spanish-language productions in New York and Miami. Open Space Arts’ production introduces this internationally celebrated work to Chicago audiences, offering a fresh opportunity to experience one of the most engaging contemporary queer love stories to emerge from the European stage.
When ÁLEX leaves a voicemail for his ex, it lands in the inbox of BRUNO—a stranger. What begins as a wrong message turns into an unexpected connection between two very different men. As texts turn into calls, and calls into something more, they navigate attraction, vulnerability, and the complicated reality of modern love.
Funny, fast, and disarmingly honest, SMILEY explores the thrill and risk of connection in a world shaped by screens, expectations, and the fear of being truly seen.
The Windy City Times calls SMILEY “an endearing story—a quintessential ‘Pride Month’ play if there ever was one,” adding that it is “expertly staged in OSA’s limited space.”
Guillem Clua is one of Spain’s most widely produced contemporary playwrights, whose work has been staged internationally and translated into multiple languages. His plays, including SMILEY and THE SWALLOW, are known for their emotional intelligence, wit, and insight into the complexities of human connection. Open Space Arts will open its fall theater season in September with Clua’s THE SWALLOW.
Open Space Arts continues its commitment to bold, intimate storytelling that centers queer lives and voices with SMILEY, a play that reflects the company’s ongoing exploration of connection, identity, and the evolving nature of love.
About the Author
Guillem Clua is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and director from Barcelona whose work has been produced internationally and translated into numerous languages. Known for combining strong storytelling with humor, suspense, and emotional depth, he is considered one of the most innovative and versatile voices in contemporary Spanish and Catalan theater.
His plays include THE SWALLOW, SMILEY, JUSTÍCIA, SKIN IN FLAMES, MARBURG, INVASION, KILLER, and TASTE OF ASHES. His writing frequently explores identity, family, politics, love, and the ways public events shape private lives.
In 2020, Clua received Spain’s prestigious National Prize for Dramatic Literature for JUSTÍCIA. THE SWALLOW has received productions around the world, while SMILEY became an international stage success before being adapted into an eight-episode Netflix series. Clua served as the series’ creator and showrunner.
Clua’s work has been praised for making complex social and political subjects immediate, accessible, and deeply human. Open Space Arts previously presented his romantic comedy SMILEY in a successful extended run during the summer of 2026.
About the Director
Jack Dugan Carpenter (Director, SMILEY) is delighted to return to Open Space Arts after directing the staged reading of BREAKING THE CODE last April. Jack is a distinguished director and actor with extensive experience in the Chicago theater scene. He has collaborated with numerous theater companies, including The Plagiarists, where he served as Managing and Development Director from 2011 to 2025. His directorial credits with The Plagiarists include productions of WHEN YOU AWAKE YOU WILL REMEMBER EVERYTHING, MÜNSTERSPIEL, SOME LIKE IT RED, GILGAMESH, THESE SAINTS WILL BURN, WAR SONG, MATRYOSHKA, and CAESURA: A BUTCHERY. Beyond The Plagiarists, Carpenter directed THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, BELL BOOK AND CANDLE, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, CHARLEY’S AUNT, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, MEASURE FOR MEASURE, and FIGMENTS with Saint Sebastian Players, as well as THE ALCHEMIST and THE ARMAGEDDON DANCE PARTY with Nothing Special Productions. He also co-directed THE LIVING CANVAS: RX. www.jackdugancarpenter.com
OSA Announces Partnership with Instituto Cervant
Open Space Arts is delighted to announce a new partnership with Instituto Cervantes Chicago, part of a worldwide nonprofit organization created by the Spanish government to promote the language, culture, and creativity of Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.
This partnership reflects Open Space Arts’ growing commitment to international theater and film, and to building meaningful connections with cultural organizations throughout Chicago.
We are especially pleased to begin this collaboration during our production of Guillem Clua’s SMILEY, a romantic comedy from Barcelona, and as we look ahead to presenting Clua’s THE SWALLOW in our upcoming season.
Through this partnership, Open Space Arts hopes to welcome new audiences, expand conversations across cultures, and continue sharing stories that build understanding, connection, and community.
Learn more about Instituto Cervantes Chicago:
https://chicago.cervantes.es
