Since 2009, we’ve produced twelve editions utilizing over 320 artists!
Ripped: the Living Newspaper Festival
is based on the 1930’s WPA era program that brought Orson Welles, Arthur Miller and Clifford Odets into public attention. We incorporate scripts from the original 1930s LIVING NEWSPAPER juxtaposed with new material ripped from today’s headlines. Like the original productions, the artists use traditional scenes, music, dance, visual arts, and electronic media as well. This festival cultivates new material and allows audiences to discuss topical issues together.
Join us on May 5, 2014 at Greenhouse Theater Center. Call (312) 725-4228 to reserve your ticket. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds go towards artistic programming and our education outreach program.
Playwrights included in our 2014 festival: Jonathan Baude, Manny Buckley, Darren Canady, Gloria Bond Clunie, Kristoffer Diaz, Brian Hieggelke, Rohina Malik, Brett Neveu, Joshua Rollins, James Sherman, Susan Soon He Stanton, and Gwendolyn Whiteside.
Supporting American Blues Theater’s mission of partnering with social and service organizations, the following organizations have been supported by RIPPED events since its inception in 2009: AgrAbility, Chicago Public Schools, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Illinois Farm Bureau, Lincoln Park Community Shelter, University of Chicago’s Urban Education Teachers Program, and Open Books.