All Stories About Book-It Repertory Theatre

Moving Through Love and Chaos: ‘20,000 Leagues’ and the End of Book-It Rep

The author reflects on a theatre’s sudden closure and what it means for the field and the future.

After 3 decades staging literature in innovative and increasingly ambitious ways, the company closed suddenly last month, leaving a bewildering loss.

Leadership turnover, faltering ticket sales, and decreasing philanthropic backing have led the unique literary-oriented theatre to close the book.

Leading with laughter and love, they remain uncompromising about making room for their whole, uncontainable self.

The audio version will reunite the cast from the 2017 world premiere at Chicago’s A Red Orchid Theatre.

The theatre’s 2020-21 season will feature three short stories and two serialized audio dramas.

The five-show season’s literary adaptations include works by Charlotte Brontë, Willa Cather, Imbolo Mbue, Gin Hammond, and Tom Hansen.

Josh Aaseng has been promoted to associate artistic director, and Kayti Barnett-O’Brien has been promoted to managing director.

The Seattle theatre will present five mainstage shows and three touring shows.

The Book-It Repertory Theatre adaptation of the Hemingway classic takes audiences on a Parisian tour.