Welcome to Rivendell Theatre Ensemble!

Please use the links on the left to learn more about our Ensemble members, Board members, and more. But first...
Our Story

Founded in 1994, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble is an award winning, critically acclaimed professional theatre company committed to recognizing and cultivating the talents of women in theatre
from playwrights and actors to designers and managers. Rivendell's productions explore
the unique female perspectives of everyday stories in an intimate, salon environment.

Over the past twenty years, Rivendell has grown to fill an important role in the Chicago
theatre community as the only Equity theatre in Chicago committed to advancing
the lives of women through theatre. Rivendell has become a leader in new play
development, a major port for new writers, and today, offers a brick and mortar artistic
home for women theater artists to develop their work.

After years of being an itinerant company, we moved into our own theater space in 2010 in Edgewater. We are focused on becoming an integral community partner and serving as a catalyst to engage our audiences in a discussion of social issues.

With each season, we seek to deepen our mission, expand our audience, and break boundaries for ourselves. Notable productions include the critically acclaimed production of local playwright Anne McGravie's WRENS, the runaway hit Faulkner's Bicycle by Heather McDonald, the gender-bending medieval comedy Silence by Moira Buffini, the sweetly uplifting world premiere of American Wee Pie by Lisa Dillman, the stirring world premiere of Rasheeda Speaking by Joel Drake Johnson, and the powerfully wrenching world premiere of Look, we are breathing by Laura Jacqmin.

Free parking is available in the Senn High School parking lot (located a block and a half from the theatre behind the school off Thorndale Avenue). We'd love you to visit our intimate theatre in the vibrant Edgewater community!