About Face Theatre is Chicago's queer theatrical haven

 In 1995, AIDS deaths were at an all-time high in the United States. The queer community was mourning the deaths of thousands of their chosen family members. In response to the AIDS crisis and the blatant dismissal of the LGBTQ+ community, U.S. American theatre exploded with more queer visibility than ever before. New York City was soon home to some of the most popular queer theatre pieces of the '80s and '90s. 

Though New York seemed to be the epicenter of a burgeoning queer theatre movement, Chicago was no exception to the expanding queer theatre scene, as evidenced by the formation of About Face Theatre company. About Face Theatre company was founded in Chicago in 1995. According to their website, they were aiming “to address the lack of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender voices in the American theatrical canon by generating innovative productions." 

About Face Theatre's tactics for addressing the lack of LGBTQ+ representation in theatre comes in three forms: their play development opportunities, their youth theatre program, and their performances of well-known queer plays. The theatre strives to stage a diverse range of queer-centric narratives that educate people on and celebrate the intricacies and realities of queer experiences. 

Marketing for About Face's Kickback virtual play festival,
which is streaming through summer 2021.
Photo from @aboutfacechi on Instagram. 

About Face Youth Theatre (AFYT) was formed in 1999 in response to the murder of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard. AFYT provides a safe, empowering, educational space for LGBTQ+ youth and dedicated young allies to devise theatre centered around LGBTQ+ issues. The youth program does not just focus on devising theatre, it also aims to teach young people how to collaborate on and lead in activism outside of the theatre. 

About Face Theatre is in its 26th year of existence, and its mission still remains as important as ever before with recent debates in Congress surrounding the Equality Act and other legislation pertaining to LGBTQ+ individuals. As an LGBTQ+ individual and theatre artist for social change, I see theaters like About Face as crucial parts of the theatre community and our general society. Ensuring that LGBTQ+ voices are heard and young people are trained in tactics for creating social change is imperative in the face of human rights discussions. 

You can find more information about their upcoming shows and events at their website.