“A spectacular jolt of Chicago off-loop energy.”
— Chicago Tribune
“Evoking a mixed feeling of terror and perferse delight is something Defiant has come to specialize in.”
— Chicago Magazine
“An all-for-one and one-for-all ensemble.”
— On Stage
“Defiant Theatre lives up to its name.”
— Daily Herald
“We’re appalled by this heinous clan — but, boy, I loved going to their party.”
— Gay Chicago Magazine
“They quicken the audience’s blood and rattle the senses.”
— Chicago Sun-Times
“Wildly toxic and in your face.”
— Gay Chicago Magazine
“There’s no doubting this troupe’s stellar theatrical chops.”
— Chicago Tribune
“Best experimental theatre in Chicago.”
— Chicago Magazine
“As wild as any roller-coaster.”
— Windy City Times
Defiant Theatre defied fear. We strived to subvert the social, moral, and aesthetic expectations of mainstream artistic expression. We dared to impassion our audiences and ourselves using any means necessary, limited only by our boundless imagination.
1993 – 2004
Ooo! A nifty timeline!
Not to be confused with the Baltimore theatre company in the mid-seventies with the same name, the company performed at the Armory Free Theatre on the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign campus and The Station Theatre in Urbana, IL from February 1991 to June 1993.
by John Guare
directed by Darren Critz
at American Theater Company
“A smoother, more consistent presentation might not have been able to reach the emotional heights of Defiant Theatre’s Landscape of the Body.” – Newcity
by Darren Critz
directed by Joe Foust
CHICAGO PREMIERE
at Strawdog Theatre Company
“Defiant Theatre has come up with some splendidly gruesome, darkly comic stage images… Defiant Theatre is clearly a company to keep an eye on.” – Chicago Reader
“Do you have good taste? Check it at the door.” – Gay Chicago Magazine
by Harold Pinter
The Dumb Waiter directed by Joe Foust
Victoria Station directed by Rob Kimmel
at Angel Island
“Kindles with riveting slowness to a small but triumphant climax.” – Chicago Reader
by John Guare
directed by Darren Critz
at American Theater Company
“What is most thrilling about this production is how well it reveals the subtleties of Guare’s play.” – Chicago Reader
based on the novella by Stephen King
adapted and directed by Christopher Johnson
WORLD PREMIERE
at The Preston Bradley Center
“It’s given me vivid nightmares for the past two nights (and counting).” – Chicago Reader
by Brad Fraser
directed by Linda Gillum & Barb Wruck Thometz
CHICAGO PREMIERE
at Strawdog Theatre Company
“The Defiant production has just the right tone.” – Chicago Tribune
“It just becomes disgustingly irresistible.” – Gay Chicago Magazine
based upon Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi
adapted by Joe Foust & Richard Ragsdale
directed by Joe Foust
WORLD PREMIERE
at American Theater Company
“The most sensational off-Loop show to hit the stage in a very long time… The production is truly remarkable.” – Chicago Tribune
“Breathtaking disregard for their own safety.” – Chicago Reader
“Simultaneously assaulting and seductive, and violently metaphoric.” – Newcity
based upon the novel by Thomas Harris
adapted and directed by Christopher Johnson
WORLD PREMIERE
at The Firehouse
“Defiant Theatre pulls no punches in this production that could have easily tumbled over into camp.” – Windy City Times
by Charles Ludlam
directed by Jim Slonina
at National Pastime Theater
“Blisteringly intelligent comedy.” – Chicago Sun-Times
“A nonstop laugh riot.” – Newcity
“She’s way fun!” – Nightlines
by Caryl Churchill
directed by Linda Gillum
CHICAGO PREMIERE
at American Theater Company
“An ensemble work in every aspect… They’ve put on one hell of a show.” – Chicago Tribune
“Defiant Theatre has essentially created a dark puppet extravaganza.” – Chicago Sun-Times
“***1⁄2 The eerie tale is wrapped in a keen and often inspired visual design.” – Gay Chicago Magazine
directed by Christopher Johnson
filmed at Metro in Chicago
by Sarah Kane
directed by Lisa Rothschiller
AMERICAN PREMIERE
at American Theater Company
“It’s punk, pulp fiction classicism, whipped into a frenzy in a tight, stylish production.” – Chicago Tribune
“**** We’re appalled by this heinous clan — but, boy, I loved going to their party.” – Gay Chicago Magazine
by Joe Foust & Richard Ragsdale
directed by Joe Foust
WORLD PREMIERE
at American Theater Company
“Unforgettable theatrical thrills.” – Chicago Tribune
“Action Movie charms its audience with sly nods to its predictability.” – Chicago Sun-Times
“A visceral, confrontational theatergoing experience… The company has managed to put all the blockbuster films this summer to shame.” – Chicago Reader
by Charles Ludlam
directed by Jim Slonina
at Victory Gardens Theater Downstairs Studio
“Gleefully indulges Ludlam’s cheese-ball side… Gloriously awful.” – Chicago Reader
“A shared culture of B-movie proportions while being lovingly, and skillfully, over-the-top theatrical.” – Newcity
“A colorful diversion. Or is that perversion?… Full of wit and energy, it’s well worth checking out.” – Windy City Times
by Joe Foust & Richard Ragsdale
directed by Joe Foust
at American Theater Company
“A veritable feast of outstanding stage combat, fantastic puppets, inventive directorial ideas… It’s more fun than most any summer film.” – Chicago Tribune
“The play’s endless stunts are just as brilliantly executed and breathtaking as they were before.” – Chicago Reader
“Defiant has set themselves up for a nice franchise.” – Newcity
by Joan Schenkar
directed by Linda Gillum
MIDWEST PREMIERE
at National Pastime Theater
“A very interesting play with serious intellectual heft… There’s no doubting this troupe’s stellar theatrical chops.” – Chicago Tribune
“The Defiant folks prove once again why they are among the most creative companies currently working in Chicago.” – Windy City Times
by Deborah Pryor
directed by Richard Ragsdale
at Victory Gardens Theater Downstairs Studio
“Rich with storytelling make-believe.” – Citysearch
by Christopher Johnson
directed by Jim Slonina
WORLD PREMIERE
at American Theater Company
“A manic production by one local company that lives up to its name–Defiant Theatre.” – Chicago Sun-Times
“Godbaby’s scholarship alone would be an accomplishment worthy of commendation. That the Defiant company makes it so much fun is an additional blessing.” – Windy City Times
by William Shakespeare
directed by Christopher Johnson
at The Viaduct
“The whole production has the rough, raw air of a medieval mystery play, charged with violence and spiritualism.” – Chicago Tribune
“If Shakespeare were this exciting in school, he’d be bigger than Harry Potter.” – Chicago Free Press
“If there’s one word to describe Defiant Theatre’s Macbeth, it’s “Wow!” – Lerner Booster
by Lee Blessing
directed by Justin Fletcher
at The Viaduct
“Defiant’s well-crafted production is exceptionally well-acted.” – Chicago Tribune
written and directed by Joe Foust
WORLD PREMIERE
at American Theater Company
“Its comic-strip overkill is amusing and invigorating.” – Chicago Tribune
“The Defiant ones have clearly worked their asses off to produce a mind-blowing show.” – Chicago Free Press
by Jane Martin
directed by Linda Gillum
CHICAGO PREMIERE
at The Viaduct
“Defiant does gothic redneck pulp far better than most… It’s great tacky fun.” – Chicago Tribune
“**** Defiant hits the bulls-eye.” – Gay Chicago Magazine
“An evening of good, clean, slam-bang messy fun.” – Windy City Times
by John Kohler, Larry Larson, Levi Lee and Rebecca Wackler
directed by Jim Slonina
MIDWEST PREMIERE
at A Red Orchid Theatre
“The well-versed actors fully commit to the material.” – Gay Chicago Magazine
by William Shakespeare
directed by Christopher Johnson
at The Viaduct
“A mixed-up contemporary shebang, full of unruly life… Some of the violence is just plain fabulous.” – Chicago Tribune
featuring Fabulon Historifarcicon
by Christopher Johnson
directed by Jim Slonina
at The Viaduct
“It was a gas… Defiant has built its reputation on excess and outrage.” – Chicago Tribune
by Fraser Coffeen
at Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company, Angel Island
as part of Abbie Hoffman Died for Our Sins XV
by Steven Dietz
adapted from the novel by Bram Stoker
directed by Richard Ragsdale
at The Vittum Theatre
“Defiant Theatre, not a troupe to shy away from the eek, the ook or even the odd “uck,” has a spirited blood-sucker now on display, just in time for Halloween.” – Chicago Tribune
by Joe Foust & Richard Ragsdale
directed by Joe Foust
at The Chopin Theatre
“Its replication of and commentary on the clichés of its testosterone-fueled genre is as timely as the product it mocks.” – Windy City Times
based on the novel by George MacDonald Fraser
adapted by Justin Fletcher & Richard Ragsdale
directed by Justin Fletcher
at The Chopin Theatre
“A textbook example of Chicago pop-fusion theater.” – Chicago Sun-Times
by Anthony Burgess
adapted from his novel
directed by Christopher Johnson
at Gallery 37’s Storefront Theater
“There’s more than enough here to remind us of why we’ll miss this historically important theater company.” – Chicago Tribune
at Strawdog Theatre Company
“There were tears and toasts. There was also quite a bit of gunfire.” – Chicago Reader
“Pathetic. I hope you’re proud of yourselves, you simpering fucking mo-mo’s. I built an empire, and you shat upon it.” – Nick Offerman