The Writers Theatre raises the curtain on a new era under the leadership of recently appointed artistic director Braden Abraham.
Braden Abraham’s directing career began by accident. “In college, a friend in a playwriting class asked me to direct his play for a new festival we put on in the theater department,” he shares. “It ended up being successful and going to a regional college showcase. I was an English major by then, but I started thinking about directing and producing a little more seriously.” Abraham took it so seriously that he went on to build a distinguished career, including a 20-year tenure at Seattle Rep, the largest nonprofit resident theater in the Pacific Northwest. Today, he’s leading the Writers Theatre into a new era as artistic director as the company readies for its 31st season. “The name of our organization says it all—we are an artists’ theater where art-making is at the heart of everything we do,” Abraham says of his new home base. “Following the pandemic, more people are moving to our area for the quality of life it offers, and I see this as an opportune time to expand our influence as a cultural hub and public gathering place.”
Since Abrams’ arrival in February, he’s been soaking up all that the North Shore’s rich cultural scene offers. “It’s been invigorating to witness full houses for a wide range of performances,” Abraham says when asked about the Chicagoland audience. “I’m thrilled when I see a diverse range of people attending shows, particularly in Chicago and at Writers Theatre. A broad cross-section of theater-goers suggests that the love of theater is deeply ingrained in the fabric of this community and that people from all walks of life are drawn to the richness of the experience. While it may still be a relatively small segment of the overall population, I believe that the vibrant mix of curiosity, passion and values that characterize this area has the potential to attract an even larger audience.” 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe