Ghostlight Ensemble Goes Online For Season Four

Ghostlight Ensemble announced its Season 4 lineup, which brings back two popular offerings and introduces a new reading series of historically overlooked female playwrights. This season the company will present its offerings online, with the hopes of moving back to the stage in the summer of 2021.

“We're all diving into unknown territory with our medium moving into a digital world, but ultimately that unknown is what Ghostlight has been about since the beginning,” said Co-Artistic Director Miona Lee. “The landscape of theatre is rapidly changing,” added Co-Artistic Director Kayla White. “I'm really looking forward to leading Ghostlight to be a force of positive change in the Chicago theatre scene, to dismantle old traditions and build an inclusive, anti-racist and SAFE place to create theatre together.”

Ghostlight will begin its fourth season in December with a perennial winter favorite, the Holiday Cabernet – an evening of holiday classics (or not-so-classics) by favorite G.E.T. performers, emerging artists and surprise guests in a virtual setting with a host filled with holiday spirits! Taking the emcee mic this year is the glamorous Coco Sho-Nell, a Chicago-based drag performer with roots in musical theatre.

Acts range from comedians and clowns to musicians, dancers and more. Artists include: Comedy Dance Collective, Daija Nealy, Danielle Levsky, Improvised Jane Austen, Nate Perez & Anneliese Ayers, Nitty Gritty, Plucky Rosenthal and Tyler Ross.

In addition, last year’s vendor area proved so popular, that we’re bringing it back in virtual form this year. Peruse the online offerings before, during and after the show and support independent artists while scoring unique gifts that everyone will be buzzed about.

The live, but virtual, Holiday Cabernet takes place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 12. Additional details, including artist bios, vendor wares and how to reserve tickets are available on our website.

In the new year, Ghostlight will launch its new reading series, For Your (Re)Consideration, which will explore the works of historically overlooked female playwrights. Featuring a variety of distinct voices and styles from different historical periods, the virtual readings will be scheduled throughout the season and seek to bring attention to these remarkable women who have been sidelined by history for reasons that had nothing to do with their talent and everything to do with their gender and, in many cases, their race.

Rounding out the season in June, the company will once again present Make/Believe, a curated festival of short plays by playwrights from around the country geared towards children 10 and under. Last year’s performances played to sold out houses. This year, Ghostlight plans to offer both a virtual version and a live, outdoor version, as health guidelines permit.

Plays are currently being solicited and script selection will be made in early January. Playwrights interested in submitting to the festival can find more details on the Ghostlight website.

“I honestly don't know how we'll see Ghostlight evolve over the next year,” Lee said. “I can tell you that we will never stop pushing to ask the tough questions and bring our audiences thought-provoking work.”

Find out more about Ghostlight Ensemble and the entire 2020-2021 Season at GhostlightEnsemble.com.

Ghostlight announces change in leadership: Kayla V. White takes over as co-artistic director

Ghostlight Ensemble Member Kayla V. White has been promoted to co-artistic director as the storefront theatre company looks ahead to its next season with a focus on lifting up disenfranchised voices and navigating the unprecedented arts landscape that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.

White joins Miona Lee as co-artistic leader of the company, taking over from Maria Burnham, who voluntarily stepped down to open a leadership position for an artist of color. Burnham remains with the company.

“As a Black, queer woman, being the new co-artistic director for Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre is a particularly exciting opportunity for me,” White said. “I’m so grateful to my theatre family for being ready and willing to learn and grow by centering marginalized voices like mine in our community.

“One thing I’m really looking forward to in this role is working with Ghostlight to be a force of positive change in the Chicago theatre scene. The landscape of theatre is rapidly changing and we can (and will!) dismantle old traditions and build an inclusive, anti-racist and SAFE place to create theatre together.”

White joined Ghostlight Ensemble last year after working as an actress with the company on several productions and readings. She holds a BFA in Music Theatre from Illinois Wesleyan University and in Chicago has worked with Strawdog Theatre Company, Clock Productions and Hairpin Arts, among others. Her full bio can be found here.

“As a performer, Kayla has a passion and energy about her that makes you want to watch. The more I have gotten to know her, I’ve learned that she brings the same drive and passion to everything she does,” Lee said. “With our constant drive to bring new voices, perspectives and stories to the light, Kayla is a natural fit as an artistic director. I cannot be more excited to be working with her.”

Added Burnham, “Part of Ghostlight’s mission has been to challenge the status quo, but how can we effectively do that when we look like the structures that have been put in place to establish and uphold that dynamic? That is why I’m excited to follow Kayla as she leads this company into its next chapter. In addition to being extraordinarily talented and passionate, Kayla has a great vision for what theater can be and Ghostlight’s part in it.”

The company is currently developing its plan for the 2020-2021 season, which will largely take place in the digital realm, after cutting its 2019-2020 season short due to safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. An announcement is expected soon.

Ghostlight welcomes three new associate ensemble members

Actors Kayla White, Alina Taber and Justin Broom have joined Ghostlight as associate ensemble members. All three have been seen in Ghostlight productions this season.

Kayla was first seen in our Nightlight production of The Princess Without Pots in 2017 and most recently was in our live reading Must Eat TV 3.

Alina, who is also a film actress and musician, recently starred as Helen O’Neill in our staged reading of The Thirteenth Chair.

Justin was also in The Thirteenth Chair, taking on the role of Trent. In addition, he has lent his talents to our live readings of Reality Bites and Must Eat TV 3.

 Full bios of all our artists can be found on the About Us: The Ensemble page of our website.