Tom Arvetis Receives 2009 Ann Shaw Fellowship From TYA/USA

Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC) is proud to announce Producing Artistic Director Tom Arvetis as one of the recipients of the 2009 Ann Shaw Fellowship from Theatre for Young Audiences/USA, the United States chapter of the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People.

In 1996, TYA/USA (then called ASSITEJ/USA) created a fund to support career development opportunities for theatre artists and administrators committed to Theatre for Young Audiences. This program was renamed in 2003 as the Ann Shaw Fellowship in recognition of Ann Shaw's visionary leadership and tireless efforts to support individual career development of TYA professionals.
Since its inception, the Ann Shaw Fellowship has provided
funds to assist more than 39 individuals with travel to theatres and festivals throughout the United States and abroad for viewing outstanding work and exploring challenging questions related to the field of TYA.
Tom Arvetis received the Ann Shaw Fellowship to support observing ensemble-based TYA companies such as Childsplay in Arizona. Inspired in part by his experience in the "Myth and Ritual" themed Directors Lab Chicago, Mr. Arvetis is specifically interested in examining vibrant, sustainable models of new work development with an ensemble.

Tom Arvetis is the founder as well as Producing Artistic Director of Adventure Stage Chicago (formerly known as Vittum Theater) and is currently directing ASC's world
premiere production of Jason Tremblay's KATRINA: THE GIRL WHO WANTED HER NAME BACK, which opens April 5, 2009. Mr.
Arvetis directed the reading of KATRINA: THE GIRL WHO WANTED HER NAME BACK at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. as part of the 2008 New Visions/New Voices festival.

He has previously directed ASC's world premiere productions of The Blue Houseby José Cruz González and I Dream in Blues, which he co-wrote with Katherine Davis. Mr. Arvetis is an Emeritus Company Member with Barrel of Monkeys, has acted in award-winning productions with
the Neo-Futurists, Bailiwick Repertory Company and Pyewacket Theatre, and is a veteran sound designer. He received his degree from Northwestern University.

For more information on ASC's upcoming production of KATRINA: THE GIRL WHO WANTED HER NAME BACK, please click here: click here