Stage 773 Announces Acquisition Of Of Li'l Buds Theatre Company

Stage 773, Chicago's beloved off-Loop theatre venue located at 1225 W Belmont, is excited to announce its acquisition of Li'l Buds Theatre Company, a not-for-profit children's theater organization based in Chicago, effective January 1, 2019.

Founded in 2005 by Jenny Lamb, Maggie Portman, and J. "Preddie" Predmore, Li'l Buds Theatre Company's mission is to educate and enrich the lives of children of all backgrounds in the theatre and performing arts through original and mainstream productions. This theatrical organization provides acting training in the form of classes, workshops, camps, after school programming, birthday parties, and in-school residencies, to over 1,000 children across the Chicagoland area yearly. Additionally, Li'l Buds produces two main stage shows a year with both youth and professional adult actors participating.

"We are thrilled to welcome Li'l Buds to the Stage 773 family," says Executive Director of Stage 773, Jill Valentine. "As a comedy and theater hub that has been primarily focused on the adult sector of the industry in the past, we are excited to expand our theatrical offerings for children with this acquisition."

As their first business venture together, Stage 773 and Li'l Buds Theatre Company have introduced Play In a Day, a special class series running from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on days that Chicago Public Schools are not in session. This new series, available to children ages 5 to 10, allows students to create unique characters and short stories through acting games and exercises, culminating in a final performance at the end of the class.

"Given their location in the heart of the Belmont Theatre District and long history working in the comedy and theater industries, we could not be more excited to be teaming up with such an incredible organization as Stage 773," says Li'l Buds Co-Founder and Artistic Director, J. "Preddie" Predmore. "This acquisition provides us with the perfect way to integrate a new generation of children and families within Lakeview and beyond into the theatre community."

For more information or to sign up for Play In a Day, please visit www.stage773.com .

About Stage 773

Stage 773 is a vibrant anchor of the Belmont Theatre District and home to Chicago's finest off-Loop talent. As a performance and tenant venue, our four stages provide entertainment for everyone: comedy, theatre, dance, musicals and more. We are a not-for-profit, connecting and catalyzing the theater community, while showcasing established artists and incubating up-and-coming talent. Stage 773 is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, and by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

About Li'l Buds Theatre Company

Li'l Buds Theatre Company is a non-profit organization powered by imagination and dedicated to educating and enriching the lives of children of all backgrounds through theatre and the performing arts. We specialize in theatre classes and productions for children ages 3 to 18 years old. We host studio classes and summer camps at The Edge Theater and partner with local schools for both in-school and after-school drama programs.

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