title: Trap Door Theatre
text: # Trap Door Theatre
  
  Trap Door Theatre is an American, Jeff Award-winning, avant-garde theatre company based in Chicago. Its focus is on European and original experimental material.
  
  ## History
  
  Trap Door Theatre, founded by Beata Pilch and Sean Marlow, was incorporated in 1990 as a nomadic company touring theatre in Stockholm, Berlin, Zakopane, and Paris. In 1994, Trap Door brought its European tradition to the United States, creating a permanent home for the company in Chicago.
  
  Trap Door Theatre is located in Bucktown in Chicago in a 900-square-foot (84 $m^2)$ converted performance space which seats 45.
  
  ## Ensemble
  
  * Maryam Abdi
  * Venice Averyheart
  * Dennis Bisto
  * Abby Blankenship
  * Marzena Bukowska
  * Holly T. Cerney
  * Gary Damico
  * Bill Gordon
  * David A. Holcombe
  * John Kahara
  * Lyndsay Rose Kane
  * Anna Klos
  * Emily Lotspeich
  * Miguel Long
  * David Lovejoy (Associate Managing Director)
  * Leslie Lund
  * Michael Mejia (Company Manager)
  * Emily Nichelson
  * Beata Pilch (Artistic Director, Co-Founder)
  * Chris Popio
  * Manuela Rentea
  * Ann Sonneville
  * Keith Surney
  * Nicole Wiesner (Managing Director)
  * Bob Wilson
  * Carl Wisniewski
  * Max Truax (Resident Director)
  * Kate Hendrickson (Resident Director)
  * Richard Norwood (Resident Light Designer)
  * Danny Rockett (Resident Sound Designer)
  * Zsófia Ötvös (Resident Makeup Artist)
  * Rachel Sypniewski (Resident Costume Designer)
  * Milan Pribisic (Resident Dramaturg)
  * Michal Janicki (Resident Graphic Designer)
  
  Honorary Members include Tiffany Bedwell, Danny Belrose, Antonio Brunetti, Summer Chance, Dani Deac, Ewelina Dobiesz, Kristie Hassinger, Sean Marlow (Co-Founder), Kim McKean, Catherine Sullivan, Andrew Cooper Wasser, Michael Garvey, Bob Rokos, Tiffany Joy Ross, Wesley Walker, Michael S. Pieper, and Krishna Le Fan.
  
  ## Notable productions
  
  * How to Explain The History of Communism to Mental Patients (March 2016, Romania: May 2016)
  * La Bête (March 2015)
  * First Ladies (March 2011)
  * Beholder (May 2008)
  * Nana (December 2002)
  * Lebensraum (March 2000)
  * Porcelain (March 2001)
  * Beholder (May 2008)
  * Emma (October 2007)
  * The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant (September 2006)
  * Old Clown Wanted (New York: November 2005; Chicago: November 2005; Romania: May 2007)
  * My Liver is Senseless
  * AmeriKafka
  * The Crazy Locomotive (New York: August 2005; Chicago: June 2005; Romania: May 2007)
  * Horses at the Window (March 2009 Romania: May 2009 Virginia, New York: November 2009)
  * Me Too, I am Catherine Deneuve (October 2010 Georgia, December 2010 Washington DC, April 2011 France, April 2012)
  
  ## Awards and honors
  
  Joseph Jefferson Award citations
  
  * Best Original Music (Danny Rockett, How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients)
  * Best Actor in a Principal Role (Kevin Cox, La Bête)
  * Best Costume Design (Rachel Sypniewski, La Bête)
  * Best Original Incidental Music (Ovidiu Iloc, The Word Progress on my Mother’s Lips Doesn’t Ring True)
  * Best Actress in a Principal Role (Nicole Wiesner, First Ladies)
  * Best New Work (Ken Prestininzi, Beholder)
  * Best Ensemble (Nana)
  * Best Supporting Actress (Sharon Gopfert, Lebensraum)
  * Best Supporting Actor (Eric Johnson, Lebensraum)
  * Best Ensemble (Lebensraum)
  * Best Ensemble (Porcelain)
  