This episode we chat with Artistic Director of the Oak Park Festival Theatre, Peter G. Andersen.

Mr. Andersen is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s MFA directing program and a graduate of Emerson College where he obtained his BFA in Acting. Formerly, he was the education manager at Writers Theatre in Glencoe. He has also worked at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as an Education Apprentice and Multicultural Fellow.

Select directing projects throughout Chicago include Romeo & Juliet (OPFT); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (OPFT); The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (The Gift Theatre); At Your Own Risk (University of Chicago) and Our Town (Roosevelt University).

Projects throughout the US include Pericles (Catskill Mountain Shakespeare); Macbeth (NIU); Measure for Measure (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Catskill Mountain Shakespeare); The Kennedy Plays (CMU); 21 (CMU); As You Like It (CMU) and The American Myth (Shakespeare and Company).

He has also worked for Chicago Shakespeare, TimeLine Theatre, Writers Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Yale Repertory Theatre, and American Players Theatre as an assistant and associate director.

The Oak Park Festival Theatre celebrates its 50th season this year as the Midwest’s oldest, professional, outdoor classical theatre. Known for producing classic works, many are created as multi-generational experiences. Not only do they produce high quality theater, they are also stewards in the Oak Park community.

In addition to an attendance of 7,000 patrons annually, their ‘Community Appreciation Night’ program offers free tickets to EVERYONE for the first preview performance every season, removing financial barriers to those who might not otherwise have the means to attend.

Because of their strong partnership with the Village of Oak Park, they have endured recessions, climate calamities and a pandemic and their commitment to community, high quality art and the wellbeing of their artists, has them well on their way to celebrating another 50 years.

Our very first episode features a husband and wife director/ choreographer team who have been seen on Broadway and National tours, but since 2013 have made Chicago their hometown and their creative home base.

Justin Brill is an actor, singer, dancer and educator currently assistant professor of Theater arts at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Shanna VanDerwerker is an actress, singer, dancer and choreographer and one of Chicago’s most well loved and well respected dance teachers.

They both offer group workshops and private coaching and, while they do occasionally work on separate project, here in Chicago they are lovingly referred to as “Team VanDerBrill”.

I hope you’ll enjoy my conversation with my good friends, Justin Brill, and Shanna VanDerwerker.

Welcome to the Chicago Theater-Makers podcast!

Each episode we’ll chat with actors, directors, choreographers, designers and producers shaping Chicagoland’s one-of-a-kind-theater scene!

The aim of this podcast is to highlight theater-makers at every level: From high school drama clubs to community theater to storefront theaters to the big Union houses.

New episodes drop every Monday, and in our first season, our list of guests already includes:

- Executive and associate directors from the top regional houses in town,
- A playwright whose shows have been produced world-wide,
- A husband and wife, director/choreographer team,
- Jeff Award Nominees and winners, and much more. Whether you’re a theater-maker just starting out, a theater pro, a curious audience member, or just love a good backstage story…This is the podcast for you.

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And, if you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, drop us a note at our website: www.chitheatermakerspodcast.com

Thanks for listening and we’ll see you on the boards soon!