Stage Left Roasts Former Producing Artistic Director Kevin Heckman 11/3

Stage Left Theatre (SLT) will be honoring former Producing Artistic Director Kevin Heckman at its annual benefit on November 3rd in an event to honor the past as the company prepares for changes in its immediate future. The evening will feature a roast of Heckman, revisiting highlights of his nine-year history with the company; an introduction of new Artistic Director Vance Smith; and a preview of the company's plans for moving into the new Theater Wit space in 2010.

Since 2000, Heckman has directed some of the theatre's most acclaimed productions including Chagrin Falls, Burying the Bones and Echoes of Another Man. Under his leadership, Stage Left tripled its individual giving, began impressive board development efforts, founded the ground-breaking LeapFest new play festival, and received 7 Jeff Award nominations for Best New Work - and 3 wins - over 8 seasons. Most importantly, Heckman has seen to the preservation and celebration of all the worst scripts in the country by founding the DrekFest annual competition for worst ten-minute play. Heckman joined the Stage Left ensemble nine years ago, and shortly thereafter became the company's co-Artistic Director with Jessi Hill. After spending a few years as Managing Director, he became Producing Artistic Director in 2004, and held that position through 2008. Heckman is also an associate artist at Chicago Dramatists, and is a contributing writer for Performink. He currently serves as the Managing Director at Next Theatre in Evanston.

Smith joins Stage Left as its tenth Artistic Director in the company's 28-year history. Stage Left's ensemble and board chose Smith because of his commitment to Stage Left's mission; fresh ideas and vision for the future of the company; and more than 10 years experience in the Chicago theatre community. Smith has been working in Chicago since 1997, first as an actor, and most recently as the Artistic Director of Black Sheep Productions, which he founded in 2007. With Black Sheep, he directed Steve Spencer's Another Day in the Empire and Camp Freedom!, Andy Gershenzon's The End and produced Will Eno's The Flu Season. He has also directed workshops, one-acts and readings at Stage Left, Chicago Dramatists and the side project.

Smith joins Stage Left as it begins its move from its current space to the renovated Theater Wit space in 2010. It will be one of four resident companies in that space, along with Shattered Globe, Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, and Theatre Wit itself. At the November 3rd event, Stage Left will present ground plans and timelines, and, if the state of construction allows, a peak into the building itself.

The benefit will take place on November 3rd, 2009, at Theater Building Chicago, from 7 to 10 pm. Tickets are $50, or 6 for $250, and can be reserved by calling 773-883-8830, or online at www.stagelefttheatre.com/benefit.html.