A History of The Route 66 Theatre Company

Founded in 2008 by Stef Tovar, Route 66 distinguishes itself from other Equity theatre companies in that it fosters cooperation with theater professionals in Los Angeles and Chicago, utilizing and enhancing the distinct and complementary gifts of each city. Los Angeles is a worldwide hub for the lucrative television and film market. Chicago is renowned for its broad base of “storefront” live theatres, the development of new works with an impressive and growing audience for live theater. With offices in both Chicago and Los Angeles, the long-term goal of Route 66 is to build a solid board in both cities and to become a nationally recognized, not-for-profit theatre company that brings “Chicago style” theatre to cities across the country.

We choose plays and musicals that are rooted in the stories of Americana but with a “Chicago Style”: frank in their execution and bold in their conception. In creating an intimate theatrical experience, we seek a dialogue with our audience and invite them to be part of our artistic family. We provide an open and collaborative environment where artists are treated with respect. Route 66 operates under the rules of Actors' Equity and we believe that providing a good salary with health and pension benefits is vital in creating a strong artistic home for our artists.

Our outreach program employs today's versatile media to re-imagine stories of the past and capture new stories in the present. Launched in June 2009 in conjunction with Chicago's Roger C. Sullivan High School, Route 66 hopes to bring together the culturally rich cities along "The Mother Road" and tell the tales of this country's youth.

This company is made up of seasoned veterans that have been revered for many years by the Ovation committee (of Los Angeles), the Jeff Awards committee (of Chicago), as well as critics, the theatrical community and audiences from both cities. This experience allows for making passionate but practical decisions.

Our first production, John Kolvenbach’s ON AN AVERAGE DAY, was a critical hit in both Los Angeles and Chicago. After a sold out, five week run in LA in February 2008 (garnering an LA Ovation nomination and several LADCC nominations), The Route 66 Theatre Company brought the entire production along the Mother Road for the Chicago premiere in August. It ran six weeks and was Jeff Recommended as well as the “Critic’s Choice” in the Chicago Tribune and other local papers.

At the same time that Route 66 was producing ON AN AVERAGE DAY, it produced the World Premiere of Jenniffer Wiegel’s one-person show, I’M SPIRITUAL DAMMIT!, based on her book STAY TUNED. This was an audience favorite as Ms. Weigel has a large following in Chicago (as a broadcaster and the daughter of the late, famed sportscaster Tim Wiegel) and nationally with the release of her book—attracting celebrities such as Richard Roeper, Gene Siskel and other Chicago television personalities. The production was remounted at the Chicago Center of the Performing Arts in 2009 and Ms. Weigel plans on bringing it to Universities across the country.

Chris Jones, Chief Critic for the Chicago Tribune wrote of our inaugural production “The Route 66 Theatre Company made an auspicious, hopeful debut this weekend. This new Equity troupe seems to have its act together—starting with its name. Using the Mother Road as guiding principle seems savvy. You feel as if you know what you’re signing up for when you buy a ticket: dramas of the parched heartland, linked by the desperation of the lonely, dusty road. And Route 66 has further significance: it joins Chicago and Los Angeles. Unlike the busy trajectory between Chicago and New York, the theatrical road from Chicago to L.A. mostly gets ignored. Given the twin backgrounds of this experienced founding ensemble, that might change.”

We hope you'll "take a road trip" with Route 66 by attending our productions or joining us for our monthly reading series at Murphy's Irish Bistro. Check back here for updates!