CHICAGO: Congo Square Theatre Company has named Charlique C. Rolle to be its new managing director, effective immediately. In addition, the company has announced the Industry Training Institute, a series of one- and two-day Zoom workshops that will kick off later this month.
“I am so excited to be a part of the Congo Square Theatre family, an organization of pure Black excellence and a needed voice in such a time as this,” said Rolle in a statement. “We are deeply committed to ensuring that Black stories are clearly and unapologetically heard through authentic Black lenses, that Black art continues to be created with excellence and embedded into the cultural landscape, and that Black communities are given space to heal and find freedom and unity through our work. To work with such a profound group of artists, staff and board members is truly a privilege, and I’m very excited to serve Congo Square and the entire Chicago arts community through our work.”
Rolle is an arts administrator, performing artist, and choreographer. She previously served in management roles with Inaside Chicago Dance, performing arts director at Chicago Tabernacle, and at Chicago School of Leadership. A Bahamas native, Rolle moved to Chicago in 2012 to continue her pursuit of supporting arts-based organizations administratively, teaching, and creating performance-based work professionally. Her work has been featured nationally and internationally. Rolle graduated summa cum laude from Missouri Valley College with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, with minors in Business and Theatre. She has a Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership from Moody Theological Seminary, and is currently completing a Master of Business Administration at Concordia University Chicago.
The Industry Training Institute will be led by the theatre’s ensemble members and artistic associates. The monthly workshops will run through June 2021, with topics including acting, auditioning, directing, design, and writing. Upcoming courses include Master the Art of Self-Tape with Tracey N. Bonner (Aug. 24 and Aug. 26), the Business of Acting with Javon Johnson (Sept. 21), and Audition for the Stage and General Audition Technique/Shakespeare Monologues with Ann Joseph-Douglas (Oct. 26 and Oct. 28).
Founded in 1999, Congo Square aims to provide a platform for Black artists to perform and present classic and new work that exemplifies stories from the African Diaspora.
