ABOUT
OUR MISSION
Collaboraction builds knowledge, empathy, dialogue and action around oppression and inequity through live theatre, film and online interactive programs that leverage the power of storytelling and community to cultivate positive social change.
VISION
Our vision is to be a part of systemic changes where people have a strong personal commitment to each other's well-being and success.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
- Make theatre by the people and for the people.
- Tour the work across Chicago and bring people together.
- Make space for Crucial Conversations
- Spark Action
OUR IMPACT
Collaboraction incites social change through original devised theatre and community engagement that cultivates knowledge, dialogue and action around Chicago's most critical social issues.
EMPATHY
DIALOGUE
ACTION
“The last few years have opened my eyes even more to the fact that we still have a huge race problem in our country. The [Crucial] Conversation afterwards was wonderful and as a white woman, I felt like I needed to do a lot more listening than talking, so that's what I did.”
-Audience Member
As part of our process of art for social change, after every performance, we cultivate a Crucial Conversation amongst the audience to reflect and share the impact of the work on the individuals. The act of verbalizing and witnessing each others testimonies is a key element of our methodology to inspire personal transformation and action.
63% of audience members surveyed at Trial in the Delta said they ‘would be very likely to actively participate in their community’ and 31% said they ‘would be somewhat likely’
MEET THE TEAM
Anthony has been the Artistic Director of Collaboraction since 1999, using theater as a tool of knowledge, empathy, dialogue and action. Through this work, Moseley has commissioned and collaborated with thousands of artists to build a more equitable future for Chicago through projects including Sketchbook Festival, Peacebook, Encounter and The Light youth theater festival. As a writer/director he created Crime Scene: a Chicago Anthology and its four sequels, This is Not a Cure For Cancer, Connected and A Blue Island in the Red Sea. In 2018, Collaboraction was honored with a Comcast/Ovation Stand for the Arts Award and an Otto Award for “ground-breaking political theater.”
Carla has been an award-winning actor, playwright, producer, artistic director and teacher for three decades. Ms. Stillwell is a teaching artist with Victory Gardens Theatre and will be joining the Loyola University theatre department’s adjunct staff in Spring 2022. Ms. Stillwell has founded The Stillwell Institute for Contemporary Black Arts. This organization moves with a mission to recruit, develop and support contemporary Black artists and to teach art making in the Black community as a healing practice, a vehicle for social change and a viable career opportunity. Most recently, she has joined the staff of Collaboraction as the company's first full-time producer.
Jay is a Chicago PR specialist with more than 30 years of experience representing non-profit performing arts organizations including theaters, dance companies, music organizations and festivals. He has proudly represented Collaboraction since 2011. Other clients include Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), Lucky Plush Productions, Manual Cinema, Paramount Theatre, Physical Theater Festival Chicago, Season of Concern, Teatro Vista, Theater Wit and TimeLine Theatre Company. He launched Jay Kelly PR in July 2017 after seven years as Vice President of Arts and Culture at a mid-sized PR firm. He also served three years as an adjunct marketing professor at The Theatre School at DePaul University in the performing arts management program. For more, visit jaykellypr.com.
Mandy is a Puerto Rican artist, educator, and collaborator who practices art as a tool for exploration, learning, healing, and social and economic justice. She has a background in stage management, directing, playmaking, teaching, development, and event coordination. She is grateful to be in a place where she is able to blend her passions of art and activism.
Zachary has worked with Collaboraction since 2021, notably managing all scheduling and production elements for the Emmy Award-winning TRIAL IN THE DELTA. As a theatre practitioner, stage manager, and production manager, they have worked with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Writers Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, Redtwist Theatre, Chicago Opera Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, and many more. Before joining staff at Collaboraction, they coordinated and managed 700 weekly hours of studio space for the Joffrey Ballet, including managing the introduction of educational programming to the Joffrey’s new building at 1920 S Wabash and overseeing logistics for the creation of the new Contemporary Ballet Trainee Program. Zachary is a proud member of SOUL (Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation). BFA, DePaul University.
WORK WITH US
Interested in making an impact with us?
We'd love to hear from you!
There are no current employment opportunities.
