THE SWALLOW By Guillem Clua
THE SWALLOW
By Guillem Clua
English Translation by Tim Gutteridge
Directed by Laine Rogers
Featuring Michelle McKenzie-Voigt and Jim Nally
EXTENDED THROUGH OCTOBER 18!
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM | Sundays at 3:00 PM
Open Space Arts
1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago
What the Critics Are Saying
“A twist-filled journey, tempered with true emotional catharsis.”
— Brian Kirst, Windy City Times
“Jim Nally is an ideal choice to portray Ray.”
— Windy City Times
“Michelle McKenzie-Voigt matches him with her intensity.”
— Windy City Times
“An intimate, two-person show that explores relationships both familiar and poignant.”
— Josh Flanders, Chicago Reader
“Their heartfelt performances serve as a powerful reminder…that human connection through empathy saves us all.”
— Chicago Theatre Review
“The show’s core conversation is hugely resonant.”
— Entertaining Chicago
About the Play
Following an enthusiastic audience response, Open Space Arts has extended THE SWALLOW through October 18.
From internationally acclaimed Catalan playwright Guillem Clua, author of SMILEY, comes an intimate, surprising and deeply moving two-character drama about grief, identity, family and the complicated ways we love one another.
A private singing lesson brings together Emily, a demanding music teacher, and Ray, a new student preparing a song for a memorial service. What begins as a seemingly simple musical exchange gradually reveals hidden histories and an unexpected connection between the two.
With humor, suspense and emotional precision, THE SWALLOW explores grief, memory, faith, identity and the stories people tell in order to survive. As each new truth emerges, a voice lesson becomes something far more profound: a reckoning with loss and an unexpected opportunity for understanding.
Directed by Laine Rogers and featuring Michelle McKenzie-Voigt and Jim Nally, THE SWALLOW unfolds just feet from the audience in the intimate Open Space Arts theatre.
As Windy City Times writes, the production offers audiences “a truly fun, incredibly poignant ride.”
Performance Schedule
Now extended through October 18, 2026
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sundays at 3:00 PM
Running time: approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
Tickets: $30 general admission | $25 students and seniors
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 LAINE ROGERS
Laine Rogers is a Chicago-based theatre artist whose work includes directing, assistant directing, stage management, dramaturgy, design, marketing, and production. She holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University, and her credits include work with MadKap Productions, Piven Theatre, Raven Theatre, Concert Opera of Greater Chicago, PrideArts Center, Actors Training Center, Muskegon Civic Theatre, and DePaul University. She has worked on productions including A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, BOY GETS GIRL, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, PRIVATE LIVES, TOP GIRLS, LOVE AND INFORMATION, and L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI.
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
