OUR MISSION
Avalanche Theatre champions the development of new plays by Chicago playwrights through a collaborative, hands-on process rooted in curiosity, intention, and community. Our programs create welcoming spaces where writers can take risks, receive meaningful feedback, and refine their work through conversation and performance.
We believe Chicago’s theatre community thrives on experimentation, generosity, and growth. Committed to cultivating these values, Avalanche fosters distinct voices and bold ideas through workshops, readings, and world premiere productions and supports playwrights as they shape the next generation of theatre.
"AVALANCHE DOESN'T JUST DEVELOP NEW PLAYS — IT DEVELOPS PLAYWRIGHTS."
ANDREW PIECHOTA
HOMUNCULUS, NEXT DRAFT 2023
DEVELOPMENT SUCCESSES
Infinity Burns by Felix Abidor (Next Draft Series, June 2024)
- World premiere, A Red Orchid Theatre Incubator, August 3 - 17, 2025 in Chicago, IL.
Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Melanie Coffey (Next Draft Series, June 2023)
- World premiere, Avalanche Theatre, May 1 to 24, 2025 in Chicago, IL.
Black Bear Island by Karissa Murrell Myers (Next Draft Series, June 2023)
- Production, Bramble Theatre, upcoming in 2026 in Chicago, IL
- 2024 Maxim Mazumdar New Play Award, Alleyway Theatre in Buffalo, NY.
- Workshop Production, Silk Road Rising & Northeastern Illinois University, April 17 to 27, 2024 in Chicago, IL
- Reading with Goodman Theatre's New Stages Festival, December 1 & 9, 2023 in Chicago, IL.
- Workshop with Renaissance Theatreworks Br!nk New Play Festival, May 18 to 19, 2024 in Milwaukee, WI.
Homunculus by Andrew Piechota (Next Draft Series, October 2023)
- Best New Play (Finalist), Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago 2023
Gut by Alexander Attea (Avalanche Workshop Reading, 2022)
- World premiere, Platform (a production company), September 23 to October 15, 2023 in Chicago, IL.
Radial Gradient by Jasmine Sharma (Avalanche New Play Summit, 2021)
- World premiere with Shattered Globe Theatre, January 27 to March 11, 2023 in Chicago, IL.