Jessica Wright Buha Joins Lifeline Theatre's Artistic Ensemble

Lifeline Theatre welcomes Jessica Wright Buha to its artistic ensemble, the body which determines the company's artistic programming and provides leadership, support and counsel in its play-development process. Now in its 33rd season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Its ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and its theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, Lifeline is committed to deepening its connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far. Founded by five Northwestern graduates in 1982, the theater now employs over 150 artists per year.

In addition to Buha, Lifeline's artistic ensemble is led by Artistic Director Dorothy Milne, and consists of Aly Renee Amidei, Patrick Blashill, Christina Calvit, Heather Currie, Victoria DeIorio, Amanda Delheimer Dimond, Alan Donahue, Kevin D. Gawley, Peter Greenberg, James E. Grote, Chris Hainsworth, John Hildreth, Paul S. Holmquist, Elise Kauzlaric, Robert Kauzlaric, Frances Limoncelli, Amanda Link, Katie McLean Hainsworth, Shole Milos, Sandy Snyder Pietz, Suzanne Plunkett, Maren Robinson, Phil Timberlake, Jenifer Tyler, Christopher M. Walsh, and Elizabeth Powell Wislar.

Jessica Wright Buha previously adapted Lyle Finds His Mother and One Came Home for Lifeline Theatre. Locally, her work has been produced by Goodman Theatre (The Things Above, New Play Bake-Off 2014), the Gift Theatre (Moon Rhymes, TEN 2014), Filament Theatre Ensemble (Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of Portage Park), the Plagiarists (War Song) - of which she is a company member, and the Whiskey Rebellion (Wake: A Folk Opera, Sign of Rain) - of which she is a co-founder. She was a three-time finalist in WildClaw Theatre's annual Deathscribe Festival of Horror Radio Plays, and took home the top prize in 2011 for her play Alabama Mermaid. She also works as a dramaturg (Lookingglass Theatre's Our Future Metropolis) and a props designer (Lifeline Theatre's Treasure Island). With the Whiskey Rebellion, she produces and curates the Whiskey Radio Hour, a recurring night of new radio plays and live music at Martyrs'. Buha is a graduate of the University of Chicago, where she received a Summer Fellowship from the Arts Planning Council to write her original play Cookout, and the Olga and Paul Menn Foundation Award, First Prize, for her original play Under Ground. Upcoming productions include an adaptation of Sparky! for Lifeline Theatre in January 2016, and an adaptation of James Joyce's Ulysses, to be performed by the Plagiarists in March 2016.