Rough House connects individuals and communities through art that celebrates the weird things that make us unique, and the weirder things that bring us together.

Mission and Vision

Rough House tells stories that are intimate, strange, and sincere. Their work collides puppetry with physical theater, music, visual arts, and an insatiable taste for experimentation. Through public workshops, artist incubation, and performances, Rough House works towards a vision of Chicago as a national hub of contemporary puppet theater comprising a diverse and ever-growing community of artists.

History

Born in 2009 in a storefront home-studio in Logan Square, Rough House was initially conceived as a hub for cross-disciplinary experimentation. From this early phase emerged a series of projects that incorporated puppetry and music in artistically playful, thematically dark, adult-geared pieces of theater. This aesthetic and the ensemble of artists around it continued to grow, leading to the company’s incorporation in 2014.

From its scrappy storefront origins, Rough House has grown into a current commitment to supporting and creating adventurous, artistically rigorous works of cross-disciplinary theater that connects individuals and communities across Chicago. The company aims to serve as a nexus for puppetry-arts, supporting innovation, growth, and the emergence of Chicago as a national hub for puppet theater training and performance.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Puppetry is nothing without diverse stories, voices, and opinions. To foster an imaginative, creative space for all, Rough House commits to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive, equitable arts experience.

We seek ensure that all people—including but not limited to those who have been historically underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status, or religion—are represented in the development of theatre practices and experiences.

Arts in Chicago and the US are built behind closed gates, both explicit and implicit. As a means to contribute to an arts ecosystem that welcomes all, Rough House strives to:

  • Provide support to diverse artists of all levels of experience.

  • Ensure transparency of pay and process. Respect transit needs and scheduling.

  • Provide safe environments that foster collaborative play.

  • Fairly distribute available opportunities.
    Design space for reflection and feedback into the creative process.

  • Respect breaks.

  • Pay competitive rates at the high end of our industry.

  • Make all tickets pay-what-you-can.

As we work to improve diversity and inclusion in our company, we encourage you to reach out to us directly with concerns info@roughhousetheater.com.