Whisper Theatre Collective
About Us
Ensemble-Devised Theatre
We are an ensemble-devised theatre company created in May 2018 and based in Chicago, IL. We began training, creating, and performing together two years ago as we were pursuing a LeCoq-based MFA in European Devised Performance Practice through Columbia College Chicago, in conjunction with Arthaus Berlin (formerly known as LISPA).
Our first year was spent in Germany at Arthaus Berlin training with 33 people from 15 different countries, and our second year was spent back in Chicago. Here, we each created a show as performative research for our thesis projects, and we formed a collective to give these shows a professional life, as well as to continue training and creating new theatre together.
Our mission is to produce original works that invoke introspection, challenge theatrical conventions, and encourage connection between the artists and the audience. We seek to engage the audience with innovative, interdisciplinary techniques engrained in physically devised storytelling.
As a collective, we value our place in Chicago’s giving, flourishing experimental performance community, and we want to share with and learn from the incredible artists in it. From our experiences together, we have felt the power of collaboration. The more we learn from each other, the more all of our art thrives. As we continue growing, we aim to create more opportunities for skill-sharing, conversation, and artistic inspiration.
Whisper Theatre Collective is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas. If you enjoy the work that we do, please consider making a donation at our fundraising page.
Core Ensemble
Brittany Price Anderson
Co-Artistic Director
Brittany Price Anderson is a theatre maker, curator, and performer that has worked in Chicago since 2012. She earned her MFA in European Devised Performance from Arthaus Berlin (formerly LISPA) and Columbia College Chicago, and she trained in silks, tightwire, and partner acrobatics in the Actors Gym Professional Training Program. Her favorite roles include: original devising and touring member of Theatre Unspeakable’s The American Revolution (Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Edu), founder/co-curator of Heels Over Head: A Physical Variety Show, curator of Scratch Night by Physical Festival, writer of Whisper Theatre’s Wild Women, and adjunct theatre professor at Columbia.
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Ben Heustess
Co-Artistic Director
Ben Heustess is an inaugural member of the Columbia College Chicago Master of of Fine Art in European Devised Performance Practice Cohort. Originally from Memphis, he has performed across the United States and Europe in productions ranging from A Chorus Line and Hairspray to original devised works like Portable Skin and Small Talk.
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Fate Richey
Co-Artistic Director
Fate Richey is a creator, performer, dancer, clown and movement teacher previously based out of Texas, where she graduated with her BA in Theatre. As a newcomer to the Chicago scene, Fate has had the opportunity to perform her original work in the physical theatre variety show Heels Over Head, The Third Mask Festival and has worked with Luna Nova Theatre on multiple devised works. Fate has worked as the Hospitality Coordinator for Physical Festival in Chicago and is currently a adjunct professor at Wheaton College.
Richie Schiraldi
Managing Artistic Director
Richie Schiraldi, originally from Salisbury Mills, NY, is a theatre-creator with focuses in movement, dance, physical comedy, and partner/group acrobatics, as well as a freelance circus and clown artist. He has a jack-of-all-trades training in most ground-based circus skills, though his specialties are acrobatics, cyr wheel, and clown. Richie is also a member of Aura Curiatlas, a physical theatre and dance company. Richie has an extensive technical background, mostly within scenic carpentry and stage management. He has taught circus and physical theater to humans of all ages through CircEsteem, Actors Gymnasium, and as a freelance teaching artist. Outside of Whisper, he is currently working on an international farce show, Le Taste of Jean-Pierre, with Jelle de Wit and Brittany Price Anderson, and with Luna Nove Theater on White Stag.
Gabrielle Wilson
Co-Artistic Director
Originally from New Jersey, Gabrielle is a theatre artist, movement director, coach, and creator. She has been working in Chicago since 2015 and continues to work nationally and internationally. Gabrielle is a proud AEA member and recently gained a Masters of Fine Arts in European Devised Performance Practice from Columbia College Chicago & ArtHaus Berlin (formally LISPA) in 2019. Gabrielle has been devising and making new work for 10 years.
