Kate Hendrickson
resident director

Kate Hendrickson is a graduate of Bennington College in Vermont. She has worked as an actor, director and theatre teacher in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and abroad.  While in San Francisco, Kate co-founded Theatre: Ground Up, an ensemble theatre company, and served as artistic director for several years. Internationally, Kate has performed at the Komedia Theatre in Brighton, England, and participated in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as both an actor and producer and toured with Dutch performance collective Lupus Ludens. In Los Angeles, Kate did script analysis and casting work for films and television. She also played small roles in several films, and directed the Zoo District Theatre's LA premiere of Metaluna and the Amazing Science of the Mind Revue.

Since the mid-90's Kate has been active in Chicago's off-loop theatre scene. She worked as a director and performer with various groups including: Trap Door, WNEP, Baubo Performance Project, and Improv Olympic. Kate’s particular focus at Trap Door is directing new plays by contemporary American playwrights who stand in close spiritual relationship to the works of the European Avante Garde that Trap Door is known for producing.  For Trap Door Kate has directed the Mid-west premiers of AmeriKafka by Ken Prestininzi, Emma by Howard Zinn, and 12 Ophelias by Caridad Svich. She also directed the world premier of Beholder by Ken Prestininzi, and the children’s production I Am Invited to a Party! By Mo Willems. Emma won an After Dark Award for Best Ensemble. Beholder won an After Dark Award for Best Original Music, was named one of the Top Five Fringe Shows of 2008 by The Chicago Tribune, was nominated for a Jeff Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and won a Jeff Award for Best New Work. In May 2010 Kate will be directing the world premier of Chaste by Ken Prestininzi.