gold and brown text on a medieval floral graphic with two people talking on a street at night that says witch stage center theatre April 2025 and a white logo of NEIU
gold text on a starry background that reads hundreds and hundreds of stars by sandra Delgado guest directed by Denise Serna produced in partnership with teatro vista, november 2024, and an NEIU logo
black text that reads Nuevas votes a 10-minute play festival, founded by Jim Blair, directed by mara gallon, stage center theatre fall 2023 set on a graphic of multicolor triangles on a white background. logo of NEIU in lower right corner.

Stage Center Theatre | 2024-2025 Season

Spring 2025

"An Evening of Short Plays by Jim Blair"

Directed by CMT Faculty Member Dan Wirth

This special event brings together a cast of NEIU and Stage Center favorites live onstage in two one-act plays, "Designer Genes" and "The Happy Hour." Performed by a dynamic blend of current NEIU staff members and friends of Stage Center, this evening brings to life the voice of an NEIU icon, Professor James "Jim" Blair. The founder of Stage Center's Nuevas Voces festival, and longtime instructor of playwriting and writing on our campus, Jim's storytelling voice is biting, irreverent, and insightful.  Stage Center celebrates his work in this one weekend run that brings these works to life as only NEIU can!

Performance Dates

  • 730 p.m. February 6-7
  • 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. February 8

*Tickets are pay what you can via the ticket link on our website!

 

"WITCH"

by Jen Silverman

Directed by CMT Faculty Member Dan Wirth

A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a "witch" and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. A darkly comedic retelling of a Jacobean drama, and a biting work by a vital playwright, this subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by. Visit Jen Silverman's .

Performance Dates

  • 7:30 p.m. April 17-19
  • 7:30 p.m. April 23-25
  • 2:00 p.m. April 26

Unfortunately, we cannot offer a live stream option due to performance rights restrictions.

 

24/25 PAST PRODUCTIONS

8th Annual Nuevas Voces Playwriting Festival

Directed by Communication, Media and Theatre alumna Lisa Harriman 

Founded by alumnus and former Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø professor Jim Blair to create a platform at Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø Illinois University for new playwrights, Nuevas Voces is a thrilling launch point for new work from Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø and its vibrant community. Featuring multiple prize-winning short plays selected from an extensive competition, Nuevas Voces reveals the complexity of our human experience through the many lenses that make up Å·²©ÓÎÏ·¹ÙÍø.

  • 1st Place, $250: "THE HUMAN GOLDFISH" by Tyris Manney (Current NEIU student)

  • 2nd Place, $200: "IT IS WHAT IT IS" by Kelly Bork (Current NEIU student)

  • 3rd Place, $150: "INEVITABLE" by Myrcedes Edwards (Current NEIU student)

  • Honorable Mentions ($100 each):

    • "MANNING THE MIDDLE" by Nathan Baltudis (NEIU alum)

    • "YOU BETCHA! YIPPEE!" by Brenda Gilmore (Community member)

Performance Dates

  • 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3; an opening reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and talkback session at the conclusion of the opening night.
  • 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4
  • 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Oct. 5

 

 

"Hundreds and Hundreds of stars"

by Sandra Delgado

Directed by Guest Artist Denise Yvette Serna
Co-produced in partnership with Teatro Vista.

Like millions of Americans, Clara’s days are consumed with juggling work and family. Recently divorced, she’s taking care of her tween-age daughter, her aging father – and paying alimony to her under-employed ex-husband. But in the midst of all that stress, she’s got something to look forward to: a long planned for trip to Europe with her daughter Stella. In preparation, Clara, who immigrated to the U.S. with her family as a child, decides to apply for full citizenship. She wants to be able to stand in the same customs line as Stella. But when her citizenship application is flagged, it sets off an unfathomable series of events that threaten to force her out of the only home she’s ever known. Timely and provocative, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF STARS asks challenging questions about our country’s most fundamental values. Visit Sandra Delgado's .

Featured in The Goodman Theatre's New Stages Festival in September 2018

Featured in NEIU's thINKtank Series in April 2024

Performance Dates

  • 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20-23
  • 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5-Teatro Vista Celebration event (currently not on sale)
  • 730 p.m. Dec. 6 - Special Event honoring Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors
  • 2:00 p.m. Dec. 7

Dec. 7 will include a livestream of the performance. For tickets, please click here: