Our Mission

Purple Bench Productions believes theatre is collaborative, innovative, and essential to American art. Thus, our company of actors, directors, designers, technicians, and administrators commit to:

• encouraging artistic growth
• challenging ourselves and our community
• producing theatre relevant to the here and now
• encouraging a younger American audience to attend and find a new vitality in the theatre

In 2007, a group of alumni named their new theatre company after an actual location on the campus of Indiana Univeristy in Bloomington, Indiana. In the lobby of the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center were a set of long, comfortable, and well-used benches, collectively referred to as the purple benches by all theatre students. "Let's meet at the purple benches," was a common phrase heard in the halls and in classrooms--whether between students meeting to discuss a scene rehearsal for class, a student theatre company holding a board meeting, a group of friends joking around, or a student meeting with a faculty member. The purple benches always served as a grounding anchor for theatre students, a central meeting space where those sitting felt safe expressing their ideas and views, as well as being around their comrades in a productive environment.

Purple Bench Productions brings to Chicago the same spirit and drive these alumni found at Indiana University.

Although we began as a troupe of Indiana alumni, we are not an alumni-exclusive company. 

Rather, we extend a hand and invite our Chicago community to meet us at the purple benches--let's begin to explore deeply this thing called theatre. Let's reassert our art in bold, new ways. Most importantly, let's never be afraid to express our views and ideas. At Purple Bench Productions, our ears, hearts, and minds are open and we're excited for what's next.

Learn more about Purple Bench Productions and the work using the left sidebar. Our website offers you information on our current and past projects, special events, and more.

Purple Bench Productions is looking for artists like you. Contact us today to let us know how you'd like to become involved.