Company in the News May-2025

See what PlayGround-Chicago Writers and Company Members are up to this May!

Joel Willison is producing Direct Address, a director-focused community event happening May 12 at The Understudy. This is a great opportunity for Chicago creatives to connect, share, and spark new collaborations. Learn more and purchase tix here.

Siah Berlatsky has a brand-new piece premiering in this year’s Cut to the Chase Ten Minute Play Festival, opening May 1 at The Den Theatre. Short and sharp storytelling at its finest! Learn more here.

On May 3, author and playwright J.S. Puller will host a book reading and signing event in East Dundee, featuring her novels Captain Superlative and The Lost Things Club, along with her play The Death of Robin Hood. Don’t miss this intimate literary gathering!

Skylar Frishman is going international! This May, they’ll perform Alice in Wonderland with Bright Star Touring Theatre—bringing the magic to schools and stages in the Turks and Caicos. It’s their first time traveling out of the country, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for them!

Manny Buckley continues to make an impact behind the scenes. He recently directed August Wilson’s Seven Guitars, which took home the 2024 Non-Equity Jeff Award for Best Production. Bravo!

Jay Rehak‘s new short play The Big So What? will be published in Hello Godot – A One-Minute Existential Play Anthology. It’s quick, clever, and deeply thought-provoking—just like its title suggests.

Spencer Ryan Diedrick is stepping into the spotlight as he begins rehearsals for the iconic musical RENT at The GhostLight Theater in Benton Harbor, MI. Performances run June 12–29, so if you’re in the area, grab your tickets and prepare to be moved!

Diana Simonzadeh has been on fire in 2025, diving headfirst into a whirlwind of film projects. She recently wrapped two short films now in post-production and is gearing up to act in her third film of the year—Mother’s Daughter by Leila Boisvert, filming the first weekend in May. A big congrats is in order: the feature film Necro 101, which Diana acted in last year, was an official selection at the 2025 Santa Monica International Film Festival! Check it out on XOLO TV for more about the film. And don’t miss her short film Oops! I’ve Been Driven Mundane, now streaming on NoBudge—a quirky, offbeat gem. Watch the trailer and read the review here.