OUR MISSION
The mission of Wayward Sisters Theatre Ensemble is to authentically represent the lives of the underrepresented, while striving to make theatre more accessible to our community.
HISTORY
We are three women with one common goal: making groundbreaking theatre that our world really needs right now. There's no doubt that representation is a huge topic in the world of theatre, and we want in on the discussion. Our main focus is on the stories of female-identifying people: women in poverty, women of color, immigrant women, survivors of abuse, and every identifying woman in between.
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Equally important to our mission, is our continued effort to make theatre accessible to everyone in the community. Everyone should have access to the experience of seeing a live production. We will strive to provide reasonable ticket prices, and partner with a different charity every production.
OUR MISSION
The Purpose of Wayward Sisters Theatre is to make female driven stories more accessible to the general public of Chicago through theatre. It is our mission to focus on telling stories written by women playwrights, and plays that pass the Bechdel Test.
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EMILY KIPP
Artistic Director
Emily is beyond thrilled to be working with such amazing people on this incredible journey. In 2017 she graduated from Ball State University with a degree in directing. Previous directing credits and accomplishments includeSacrilege: A Nativity Story, Everything Will Be Different: A Brief History of Helen of Troy, Speech and Debate, and the honor of being a national finalist in the SDC competition at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Theatre can change the world one person at a time, but in order to do so we have to honor everyone's stories. We hope that Wayward Sisters can begin to tell those stories that have yet to be given a voice.
MAGGIE WANECKE
Managing Director
Maggie is tickled pink to be a part of the Wayward Sisters Theatre Ensemble. In 2017, she graduated from Ball State University with a Theatre Studies Degree and a Communications Minor. Maggie has most recently worked with Black Ensemble Theatre in theirPlays with a Purpose series. She has also graduated from the Conservatory at Second City, and the improv program at iO. Inclusivity, empowerment, hope, and inspiration for a better, brighter future are just some of the things Maggie is excited to bring to the audiences who attend Wayward Sisters Theatre Ensemble's productions. Maggie hopes that Wayward Sisters can be a light, an escape, and a safe place for any person who needs it.
Ellie Viola
Financial Director
Ellie is thrilled to join the Wayward Sisters as Interim Finance Director! She earned her B.S. in Theatre Management from Ball State University in 2017. Ellie has worn many hats within administrative and production related fields including Box Office, FOH, Marketing & Development, General Management, and Company Management. Most recently, she was the Assistant Company Manager of Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY. She has previously worked at Asolo Repertory Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO, and Actors Theatre of Indiana. Ellie is excited about this opportunity to continue making theatre accessible to the Chicago community. She hopes to help foster an inclusive and thriving environment for the development of artists and their work.
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GARDY GILBERT
Ensemble Member
Gardy Gilbert is thrilled to be joining Wayward Sisters Theatre as an ensemble member! He is a recent graduate of Ball State University’s Acting BFA program. Since moving to Chicago, he has had the pleasure of working with Wayward Sisters on several of their projects, including: 1 2 3, a play about abandonment and ballroom dancing by Lila Rose Kaplan as the Assistant Director, Winter’s End by J.S. Puller as “Husband,” and Love, Ben Love, Emma by Lynn Rogoff as the Assistant Director and Dramaturg. Outside of that, he could have also been seen in Try to Be with La Vuelta Ensemble and both Scary Stories: Are You Afraid? and Dark Web by Random Acts Chicago. Creating theatre that can help build a better tomorrow for not only the Chicago community but to those that we reach in any capacity is something that means a great deal to him and Wayward Sisters Theatre Ensemble is the exact company to be a part of that movement.