Meet the Newest Members of our Board
We are thrilled to introduce the newest members of the Court Theatre Board: Barbara S. Adelman, Michelle T. Boone, Taryn Williams Clark, Chris Gabriel Presler, and Chris Vassil.
Responsibilities of Court’s Board of Trustees include fundraising, approving the strategic direction and plans of the theatre, approving and regularly monitoring the theatre’s annual budget and advocating for Court Theatre in the community. The Board works in close concert with the University of Chicago, which bears final fiduciary and legal responsibility and authority for the theatre. Together, the Board and University guide Court’s mission and vision.
Learn more about our new board members and why they love Court, and please join us in giving them a warm welcome.
Barbara S. Adelman
“I am especially excited to join Court Theatre as a member of the Board of Trustees. I’ve been attending performances for decades – since plays were performed in Hutchinson Courtyard! But most importantly, Court is a critical presence in the Chicago theatre scene. Court’s performances are truly stimulating and thought-provoking, which is so important in today’s world. I am proud to be a representative.”
Learn more about Barbara here.
Michelle T. Boone
“I have been a long-time fan of Court Theatre. And as a resident of Chicago’s South Side, serving on the board allows me not only to support one of my favorite theatres, but also to help ensure that this cultural jewel can continue to thrive and serve its surrounding, diverse neighborhoods with world-class theatre in the heart of the community.”
Learn more about Michelle here.
Taryn Williams Clark
“What I love about Court Theatre is the way it makes storytelling feel both deeply personal and profoundly connected to the world around us. I love the conversations that happen before the curtain rises, during the performance, and long after you leave the theatre. Court creates space to think, feel, question, and see something from another perspective and that kind of space feels especially important right now. I’m grateful to be part of an institution that believes in the power of stories to bring people together.”
Learn more about Taryn here.
Gabriel Presler
“My favorite thing about Court is how it hands a 2,000-year-old story to a local audience and makes it feel like it was written for today. Every generation has to rediscover why the old stories matter, and Court does that work beautifully, right here on the South Side. My favorite Court production was An Iliad, where one actor and an empty stage made Homer’s war feel as immediate as today’s news. It’s exactly what Court does best.”
Learn more about Gabriel here.
Chris Vassil
“Court Theatre has long been a cornerstone of Chicago’s cultural landscape, and I’m honored to join its board at such an exciting moment for the organization. Theatre has the power to bring communities together and spark conversations that matter, and I’m looking forward to supporting that mission and helping Court continue to thrive for years to come.”
Learn more about Chris here.