Large, stylized green and orange letters "W & M" are in the foreground, with the words "WAYS & MEANS THEATRE" and "KEEP MOVING FORWARD." written below them on a white background.

Check made out to WAYS & MEANS THEATRE, INC.
Address to send check: Please e-mail artistic@wam-theatre.com to receive mailing address.

We&#39;re building something new in Chicago... and you can be there at the beginning. Ways and Means Theatre is a new nonprofit company that stages bold, socially resonant theatre, from the constitutional to the classical. In 2026 we launched our Read Through Series, developing new work and celebrating existing scripts with Actors&#39; Equity members and company artists, including a presentation with About Face Theatre at the Goodman Theatre. Now we&#39;re taking the leap to our first full production season. Our 2026&ndash;2027 inaugural season brings four productions to Chicago stages:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck &mdash; October 2026</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Book Club Play by Karen Zacarias - January/February 2027</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Or, by Liz Duffy Adams - June 2027</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">The Chicago Premiere of Red Speedo by Lucas Hnath - September/October 2027</li></ul>A founding season happens only once. The supporters who step up now aren&#39;t just funding four shows: they&#39;re laying the ground floor of a lasting cultural institution, and they&#39;ll be recognized as the ones who made it possible. Your gift makes the work possible. Every contribution helps us pay artists fairly, secure our stages, and build a company Chicago can call its own for years to come: $25 pays for a rehearsal script, pencils, and highlighters for one actor.$50 pays for the full script set for one show, or the gels for our lighting design.$100 costumes one character head to toe: fabric, alterations, shoes, accessories.$250 pays for rehearsal week, or the paint and lumber for one set piece.$500 covers one artist&#39;s stipend for a production &mdash; actor, designer, or stage manager.$1,000 is a full design element: the entire lighting plot, sound design, or costume budget.$2,500 pays for the royalty and licensing fees for a mainstage production, plus marketing to fill the house.$5,000 is an entire show&#39;s technical build &mdash; set, lights, sound &mdash; from load-in to strike.$10,000 covers a full production&#39;s technical elements, or a season of community access tickets. Thank you for believing in the power of theatre and in a company just getting started. Ways &amp; Means Theatre, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

We're building something new in Chicago... and you can be there at the beginning. Ways and Means Theatre is a new nonprofit company that stages bold, socially resonant theatre, from the constitutional to the classical. In 2026 we launched our Read Through Series, developing new work and celebrating existing scripts with Actors' Equity members and company artists, including a presentation with About Face Theatre at the Goodman Theatre. Now we're taking the leap to our first full production season. Our 2026–2027 inaugural season brings four productions to Chicago stages:<ul><li>What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck — October 2026</li><li>The Book Club Play by Karen Zacarias - January/February 2027</li><li>Or, by Liz Duffy Adams - June 2027</li><li>The Chicago Premiere of Red Speedo by Lucas Hnath - September/October 2027</li></ul>A founding season happens only once. The supporters who step up now aren't just funding four shows: they're laying the ground floor of a lasting cultural institution, and they'll be recognized as the ones who made it possible. Your gift makes the work possible. Every contribution helps us pay artists fairly, secure our stages, and build a company Chicago can call its own for years to come: $25 pays for a rehearsal script, pencils, and highlighters for one actor.$50 pays for the full script set for one show, or the gels for our lighting design.$100 costumes one character head to toe: fabric, alterations, shoes, accessories.$250 pays for rehearsal week, or the paint and lumber for one set piece.$500 covers one artist's stipend for a production — actor, designer, or stage manager.$1,000 is a full design element: the entire lighting plot, sound design, or costume budget.$2,500 pays for the royalty and licensing fees for a mainstage production, plus marketing to fill the house.$5,000 is an entire show's technical build — set, lights, sound — from load-in to strike.$10,000 covers a full production's technical elements, or a season of community access tickets. Thank you for believing in the power of theatre and in a company just getting started. Ways &amp; Means Theatre, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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