Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), the resident theater company of Chautauqua Institution, today announced the creative teams for its 2024 mainstage season. In celebration of Chautauqua’s 150th anniversary, CTC is set to showcase a season that reflects the depth and richness of its legacy. The lineup includes three mainstage productions: Noah Haidle’s Birthday Candles, Lynn Nottage’s Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine, and Kate Hamill’s The Light and The Dark (the life and times of Artemisia Gentileschi), CTC’s first commissioned world premiere under Producing Artistic Director Jade King Carroll’s leadership. 

“I am thrilled to invite such an incredible group of brilliant artists to Chautauqua this summer, including many who specialize in new work,” shared Carroll. “The plays we are producing and the caliber of talent we have this season will surely create an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait to share what all of these amazing creative teams are cooking up.” 

The season kicks off with Noah Haidle’s Birthday Candles, directed by the multi-talented Arya Shahi. Previews begin July 5, and the opening is set for July 9. The production will run through July 21. The creative team includes scenic design by Brittany Vasta, costume design by Afsaneh Aayani, lighting design by Anshuman Bhatia, sound design by Ben Truppin-Brown, and original composition by Jane Lui. 

 Lynn Nottage’s Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine, will be directed by the celebrated Candis C. Jones. Previews begin July 27, with its opening set for July 30. 

The production will run through Aug. 4. Brittany Vasta’s scenic design, Azalea Fairley’s costume design, Anshuman Bhatia’s lighting design, and DJ Potts’s sound design will help bring the story to life on the Bratton Theater stage. 

The world premiere of Kate Hamill’s The Light and The Dark (the life and times of Artemisia Gentileschi) will close the season under the direction of CTC’s own producing artistic director. Previews begin on Aug. 10, with the opening set for Aug. 15. The production runs through Aug. 23, featuring scenic design by Brittany Vasta, costume design by Jen Caprio, lighting design by Anshuman Bhatia, sound design by Fan Zhang, and projection design by S Katy Tucker. Hamill’s longtime collaborator, Kristin Leahey, will join the team as dramaturg. 

Visit our website to learn more about this accomplished group of directors and designers. 

Creative Team Fellowships 

Directing and Design fellows will round out the creative teams for the season as CTC continues to deepen its commitment to developing the next generation of theater artists, bringing together top emerging theater-makers from around the country for hands-on training and work experience, helping to bridge the gap between artist training and professional careers. 

The 2024 season is the first year CTC will partner with The Drama League, inviting FutureNow Directing Fellows Britt Berke, Stefan Dezil, and Karl Michael Iglesias to the grounds. This program provides an immersive experience with assistant directing and directing opportunities. They were among 19 artists selected to participate in The Drama League’s 2024 Directors Project after a record-breaking year of 1,800 applicants. 

Katelyn Jackson (costumes), Rae McCreary (lighting), Alex Nuñez Caba (scenic), and Tojo Rasedoara (sound) make up the Design Fellowship team. Design fellows assist designers on mainstage productions and will be provided with other design opportunities throughout the summer season. 

Visit our website for a full list of the fellows. 

Tickets for CTC’s mainstage season are now available at tickets.chq.org. 

ABOUT CHAUTAUQUA THEATER COMPANY 
Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC) produces high-quality, live theater in a vibrant nine-week summer season. We are committed to the development of new work, the next generation of theater artists, producing galvanizing world premieres as well as exceptional modern and contemporary plays, and infusing fresh insight into the classical canon. 

CTC is dedicated to becoming a national home for exciting new plays: commissioning, developing and producing new and established American playwrights. We are where the finest artists of tomorrow bridge the gap between their training and the professional world. CTC is actively building the future of the American theater. 

ABOUT CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION 
Chautauqua Institution is a not-for-profit, 750-acre community on Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State where approximately 7,500 people are in residence on any day during a nine-week summer season. More than 100,000 attend scheduled public events each year and even more engage online via the streaming channel CHQ Assembly. Chautauqua is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through a program that explores the important religious, social and political issues of our times; stimulates provocative, thoughtful involvement of individuals and families in creative response to such issues; and promotes excellence and creativity in the appreciation, performance and teaching of the arts. The Institution celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2024. 

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