Theatre News Wire

Bailiwick Chicago's Executive Director, Brian LaDuca, announced today that Lili-Anne Brown has been named their new Artistic Director. Due to recent career opportunities, current Founding Artistic Director Kevin Mayes has tendered his formal resignation with the Board of Directors, but will remain a seated board member in a corporate development capacity. In his resignation, he strongly nominated Ms. Brown to take over all Artistic Director duties. "I'm very proud of what we've achieved in three short years as a company," said Mayes. "But balancing two careers, as I've done since we started Bailiwick Chicago, has been challenging for my family and me. It was a difficult decision to step down from a role that I've loved so much, but it is time to do so. Lili-Anne Brown is a gifted artist and leader, and I look forward to supporting her tenure as Artistic Director in my role on the Board of Directors."

The Board of Directors and the Leadership Team (Brian LaDuca, Executive Director and Kate Garassino, Managing Director), though saddened by the departure of Mayes, are equally supportive and excited for Ms. Brown to lead the company's artistic mission. "I have enormous shoes to fill," says Brown. "All of us, including me, are here because of Kevin Mayes. He's the heart of this company, and he has been our inspiration. I share his vision for Bailiwick Chicago, and I am excited to continue on the trail that he blazed, while exploring new opportunites and challenges"

"Kevin Mayes was the life-blood of our company, but Lili-Anne's resume and understanding of Chicago's dynamic theatre network will become an asset that has been relatively untapped by Bailiwick Chicago since its inception," stated LaDuca. "I know I speak for everyone in the company when I say that we are looking forward to the leadership that will come from such a respected and experienced professional."

Lili-Anne Brown's tenure as Artistic Director for Bailiwick Chicago will begin immediately.

LILI-ANNE BROWN is a native Chicagoan with local, regional and national credits. She can soon be seen as Joanne in American Theatre Company/About Face Theatre's production of RENT. Last year she originated the role of Tia in the world premiere of hit play A Twist of Water with Route 66 Theatre Co, and she will be reprising the role Off-Broadway this fall. She has also performed at Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Writers' Theatre, Next Theatre, Ravinia Festival, ShawChicago, Drury Lane Oakbrook & Water Tower, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Theatre at the Center, Peninsula Players, and many more. She is a local cabaret artist and member of Chicago Cabaret Professionals; her solo shows Brown & Blue and Same Fool Twice debuted successfully at Davenport's Cabaret. She has performed with The Second City, understudying the etc. Stage, appearing in Chicago Live! at the Chicago Theater, and performing in the shows A Girl's Guide to Washington Politics at Woolly Mammoth Theatre in DC and Charmed and Dangerous at CenterStage in Baltimore. She is the creator and co-author of Blacktacular!, a musical sketch comedy still seeking producers. She made her television debut on A&E Network's The Beast with Patrick Swayze, as Demarca, "the gangsta queen of the South Side".

Her directing credits include: the critically acclaimed Chicago Premiere of Passing Strange for Bailiwick Chicago; Sweet Charity, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, all at Timber Lake Playhouse, where she is an Artistic Associate and got her start assistant-directing and appearing in Ain't Misbehavin' and Ragtime. She also served as Assistant Director for The Life, Side Show and The Wild Party, for Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, and Ragtime for Porchlight Music Theatre. Offstage, Lili-Anne spent five years working as a talent agent in Chicago. She headed casting at Bailiwick Chicago and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, and has assisted with casting at several other theatres. She is an Artistic/Technical Team member of the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee; a Northwestern University graduate (Performance Studies); and a member of Actors' Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild / American Federation of Radio and Television Artists.