Pegasus Theatre Chicago—the recipient of seventy-seven Joseph Jefferson awards— reimagines and celebrates Shay Youngblood’s story of a young black girl’s coming of age during the turbulent 1960s. As a young adult “Daughter,” recalls being raised by a community of women after the tragic loss of her mother. As her story unfolds, she transforms into a child as the women embody her memories of growing up–recalling the rituals, the healings, the stories told and the lessons learned about survival, healing, spirituality and mystery. Pegasus Artistic Director Ilesa Duncan directed this hit play most recently in 2017. The Chicago Tribune said, “…this is an optimistic play that celebrates the power of the human spirit.”See the Chicago revival of this hit play!
The Cast features: Africa Brown, Sharyon Culberson, Caitlin Dobbins, Stacie Doublin, Justice Ford, Felisha McNeal, Destynee McMichael, and debrah k neal. The production team includes Addoris Davis, Tanji Harper, Alana Hawkins, Wendy Huber, Marquecia Jordan, Steve Labedz, Harrison Ornelas, Shawn Wallace, Sheryl Williams and Josh Wroblewski
The 38th Young Playwrights Festival highlights three world premiere plays that highlight the world of relationships and connections from past love to family to superheroes. This year’s winning plays are:
Love & Gyros by Lily Zhang | Directed by Reshmi Hazra Rustebakke After decades apart, James and Cecelia, two former high school sweethearts, bump into each other at a restaurant on New Year’s Eve on a faraway island in Greece. Throughout the evening, fragments of the past are revealed and revisited in this recollection of youth, time and memory.
Family Fishing Trip by Lydia Vodopic | Directed by Ruben Carrazana Sal takes his kids Jenny and Mike on a family fishing trip that takes a turn for the worse. When secret schemes are uncovered and possible criminal activity is involved, this family has to put their differences aside and work together to make it back home.
Superheroes Anonymousby Carolina Boss | Directed by Ilesa Duncan A group of undercover superheroes gather at a special support group for the opportunity to discuss their problems. But the meeting organizer turns out to be a wealthy teenage tech genius, who has ulterior motives for bringing the group together.
The cast of the 38th Annual Young Playwrights Festival includes Lexi Alioto, Shenise Brown, Collin Callahan, Jacob Coggshall, Ben Izlar Jr, Noelle Oh and Diego Rivera-Rodriguez with understudies Emma Fulmer, Lawrence Green, Jake Jones and Benjamin Jouras. The production team for the 38th Annual Young Playwrights Festival includes: Ruben Carrazana (director, Family Fishing Trip); IIesa Duncan (director,Superheroes Anonymous); Reshmi Hazra Rustebakke (director, Love & Gyros); Harrison Ornelas (scenic designer); Josh Wroblewski (lighting designer); Marquecia Jordan (costume designer); Cecelia Chan (props designer); Alex Albrecht (sound designer); Adi Davis (production manager) and Jessica Minogue (stage manager).
Pegasus Theatre Chicago’s 38th Annual Young Playwrights Festival runs January 2 – 25, 2025 at Chicago Dramatists, 798 N. Aberdeen. Tickets are available Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 – $30.
Tickets: Adults: $30 | Seniors: $25 | Students: $15 Student Matinee Tickets: High school/middle school teachers and school administrators: contact ypf@pegasustheatrechicago.org
