History

Founded in 1982 by five Northwestern University graduates - Meryl Friedman, Suzanne Plunkett, Kathee Sills, Sandy Snyder and Steve Totland - Lifeline moved into its permanent home in Rogers Park, a converted Commonwealth Edison substation, in 1986. The facility includes a 99-seat theater, rehearsal and office space, a scene shop, and costume, prop, and scenery storage.

Lifeline has received numerous awards and nominations for both adult and children's programming:

Chicago/Illinois awards
Lifeline has received close to 100 Joseph Jefferson awards, citations, nominations and After Dark awards. In 2007, Lifeline was honored by the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee with a Special Citation for its 25-year contribution to Chicago theater.

Honoring Lifeline’s children's programming, New City named Lifeline the Best Children's Theatre Company in Chicago in 2000, and Chicago Magazine named Lifeline Best Kids' Company in 2002. In 1991 Lifeline received an award from the Illinois Theatre Alliance for Outstanding Contribution to Children's Theatre, and in 2006 the City of Chicago presented Lifeline Theatre and Joyce Kilmer School with a special award honoring 15 years of educational partnership.

National awards
Ensemble member Meryl Friedman won the 1999 Distinguished Play Award in the Elementary Category from the American Alliance of Theatre and Education for her adaptation of Journey of the Sparrows, produced at Lifeline in 1996. The American Alliance for Theater and Education awarded Lifeline the 2003 Sara Spencer Artistic Achievement Award for sustained and successful achievement in the field of theater for young audiences.

Lifeline's history of extraordinary work includes MainStage productions of Pride and Prejudice, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the Ring, The Overcoat, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Talisman Ring, Jane Eyre, Cat's Cradle, Far From the Madding Crowd, A Room with a View, The Island of Dr. Moreau and The Mark of Zorro. Family MainStage productions include A Wrinkle in Time, Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avacado of Death, The Phantom Tollbooth, Journey of the Sparrows, The Silver Chair, Around the World in 80 Days and Johnny Tremain. In 1986 Lifeline inaugurated its KidSeries program. Productions include Mr. Popper's Penguins, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Bunnicula, James and the Giant Peach, The Story of Ferdinand, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs and Half Magic.

Click here for a complete list of past productions.

Lifeline serves 17,000 people each season running from September through August with a 3-play MainStage Season and a 3-play KidSeries season.

Lifeline's Student Matinee Program serves 2,500 students each year through special weekday performances and extensive study guides.

Lifeline's Residency Program places working artists into the classrooms of Chicago Public Schools for 8-week residencies using creative dramatics to enhance curriculum. Lifeline serves over 800 students and teachers at Armstrong, Edgebrook, Gladstone, Hayt, Jordan, Kilmer, Lincoln, Loyola University, New Field and Swift Elementary Schools.

Lifeline’s Theatre Classes bring professional artists together with children ages 7-12 to teach them skills that make the arts fulfilling and fun. Over 80 children participate annually in Lifeline’s Off-School Day Workshops or Drama Camps.

Lifeline's Arts For All and Community Days Initiatives are aimed at providing financially accessible cultural experiences for everyone, particularly residents of Rogers Park, a low-income, culturally diverse neighborhood. 3,500 people take advantage of this program annually.

Since 2002, Lifeline has collaborated with a host of Rogers Park artists, businesses and community organizations to produce the annual Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest, two and a half days of art, music and family activities. Approximately 8,000 people attend this free event.