About The House:

The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends with the mission of exploring the ideas of Community and Storytelling in order to create a unique theatrical experience. Following more than a dozen world premiere productions, the House experienced breakout success in early 2007 with The Sparrow, which one prominent Chicago theater critic called, Among the very best original theater pieces Ive ever seen. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of experiencing a House show knows that their shows have a unique energy that engages audiences in a way traditional theater cannot.

This holiday season, The House is bringing their adaptation of The Nutcracker back to the stage.  The Houses completely re-imagined version of The Nutcracker first premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in 2007 under the Visiting Company Initiative.  The fantastical deconstruction of this holiday classic centers on Claras journey to save her family from the Rat King before Christmas, with the help of a Nutcracker, a gift from her beloved Uncle. What unfolds is a heartwarming holiday story that weaves together riveting dialogue, astonishing puppetry, beautiful song and spellbinding spectacle to tell a darkly moving story of magic and mystery.

About On The House:

For many years, The House has run a community outreach program called On The House.  This program enables Chicago's under-privileged youth to attend The House shows, meet the actors, and learn "how it works" to make a play.  The video above is one of the On The House groups talking about their experience at the plays they have attended.  For many of these kids their first experience in a theater, at a play, or meeting a professional actor has been with The House.  These experiences are an invaluable way to expose our youth to the creativity and opportunity available to them in the performing arts.  AND, its really fun for everyone involved!!

If you are passionate about enabling children to be exposed to the performing arts, please consider giving to this program.  If you can't contribute now, please share this project with your like-minded community :)

How These Funds Will Be Used:

I am hoping to raise $3500.  The first $2500 raised will go directly to On The House programming during The Nutcracker.  This will subsidize transportation and tickets for 70 children.  There will also be programs, drinks, and snacks for the kids at the show, as well as the opportunity to meet the actors, see the set, and ask questions after the play.  The additional $1000 will go towards the production of The Nutcracker.  If I do not meet my funding goal all of the money will go towards On The House programming, and if I exceed my goal all the additional money will go towards On The House programming later in The House's season.

If you would like to learn more about The House Theatre of Chicago, or would like to get your organization involved with On The House please visit www.thehousetheatre.com or contact erica@thehousetheatre.com.  Check out the project gallery for more great House videos!