BROWN PAPER BOX CO.
  • Home
  • Up Next
    • Prodigy
    • One Last Time
  • Our Company
    • Shows
    • History
  • Get Involved
  • Blog

History

Behind the Name & Formation

Thanks to the University of Illinois's hands-on Theatre program, Brown Paper Box Co. was formed with a do-it-yourself mindset - a notion of starting from scratch, building theatre from the ground up, and keeping onstage moments simple and honest.
 
During our first production, James Still's And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank, the simple but important task of transporting the props, costumes, and set pieces became a key inspiration in developing our company's concept. Little things like scripts, hats, candles, and flashlights found themselves being stored and transported in cardboard boxes and plastic milk crates. This rough-and-tumble, bare-essentials feeling bled into Brown Paper Box Co.'s first mission statement: to create thought-provoking and accessible theatrical experiences without the glitz of overproduction.
 
I always wanted the "Co." in Brown Paper Box Co.'s name to conjure up an image of a place, a building, a factory, churning out and distributing a product. A product that is sturdy, functional, original, and, if anything else, easy to transport.
 
Starting a theatre company from the ground up with Anna, Michelle, and Zev has taken time, patience, and gumption (are the kids still saying that, '"gumption?"), but it's been worth it. Working with a small team of people you know, love, and trust fosters the tightest of collaborations.
- M. William Panek, Co-Founder

History & Awards

  • December 2011 - Executive Artistic Team and Board of Directors is created
  • January 2011 - The Brown Paper Box Co., NFP becomes incorporated​
  • November 2011 - Reefer Madness! is nominated for 4 BroadwayWorld.com Audience Awards (Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, & Best Scenic Design) 
  • March 2012 - The BPBCo. becomes a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization ​
  • January 2013 - 6 Broadwayworld.com Audience Award nominations: Godspell - Best Revival of a Musical & Best Choreography (Daniel Spagnuolo), To Tree - Best Actor in a Play (Chris Hart), Best New Work (Aaron Golden) & Best Scenic Design (Ian James Anthony), Reefer Madness! 4/20 - Best Special Theatrical Event.
  • February 2013 - The BPB Co. joins The League of Chicago Theatre
  • November 2013 - 2 Broadwayworld.com Audience Award nominations: Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls - Best Director (M. William Panek), Character Breakdown - Best Special Theatrical Event.
  • November 2014 - 4 Broadwayworld.com Audience Award nominations: A New Brain - Best Actor in a Musical (Billy Dawson), A New Brain - Best Choreography (Daniel Spagnuolo), A New Brain - Best Lighting Design (Cat Wilson), Proud at Mary's - Best Special Theatrical Event
  • November 2015 - 16 Broadwayworld.com Audience Award nominations 
  • ​April 2016 - Jeff Nominated for Matt Frye's performance in [title of show] - Actor in a Principal Role Musical
  • June 2016 - The Saints Grant Award Recipient
  • June 2016 - MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Grant Award
  • November 2016 - 6 Broadwayworld.com Audience Award nominations ​
  • June 2017 - MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Grant Award
  • August 2017 - Receipt of the League of Chicago Theatres' Bright Angel Creative Retreat
  • November 2017 - 15 Broadwayworld.com Audience Award nominations ​
  • ​May 2019 - Jeff Nominated for Tessa Dettman's performance in Little Women - Actor in a Principal Role Musical
  • June 2019 - Professional development grant from The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation for Artistic Director Kristi Szczepanekto attend the Theatre Communications Group (TCG) National Conference in Miami, FL
  • November 2019 - 3 Broadwayworld.com Regional Award nominations ​

Shows & Events

  • April 2010 - And Then They Came For Me
  • October 2010 - Reefer Madness! at the Viaduct
  • April 2011 - First annual Reefer Madness! 4/20
  • January 2012 - World premiere of To Tree
  • April 2012 - Second annual Reefer Madness! 4/20
  • September 2012 - Godspell a musical based on the book of Matthew
  • October 2012 -  Godspell cast performs at the Bailiwick Rock Show(tunes) Benefit Concert
  • March 2013 - Character Breakdown: A Miscast Cabaret
  • May 2013 - Aloha, Say the Pretty Girls a comedy by Naomi Iizuka 
  • September 2013 - Character Breakdown: A Miscast Cabaret
  • February 2014 - A New Brain a musical by William Finn
  • June 2014 - Proud at Mary's: A June Cabaret
  • October 2014 - First Audition Workshop
  • November 2014 - BPB Yearbook: A Throwback Cabaret
  • January 2015 - Spike Heels by Theresa Rebeck
  • March 2015 - Director Proposal Initiative 
  • May 2015 - Spring Forward, Fail Back: A Sunny, Funny Cabaret
  • July 2015 - Chicago Storefront Premiere of [title of show] - Jeff Recommended
  • ​October 2015 - Brown Paper Bash: A 5 Year Anniversary
  • Janurary 2016 - Director Proposal Initiative
  • March 2016 - Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
  • May 2016 - Mary'z with a Z
  • July 2016 - Chicago Premiere of Now. Here. This.
  • September 2016 - Director Proposal Initiative (Company Members Only)
  • October 2016 - The Broad-Way: A Ladies Cabaret
  • January 2017 - The Baltimore Waltz - Jeff Recommended
  • April 2017 - Positively Present
  • July 2017 - They're Playing Our Song - Jeff Recommended
  • October 2017 - Last Midnight: An Adult Homecoming 
  • February 2018 - Speech & Debate (non-Equity Chicago premier)
  • ​May 2018 - An Existential Cabaret
  • July 2018 - Chicago premier of Everybody - Jeff Recommended
  • November 2018 - BOOMBOX: A (Sort of) Solo Show
  • January 2019 - Little Women (non-Equity Chicago premier) - Jeff Recommended​
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Up Next
    • Prodigy
    • One Last Time
  • Our Company
    • Shows
    • History
  • Get Involved
  • Blog