Founded in 2021, we noticed a vacuum of programming for early-to mid-career creatives due to COVID-19. Pocket aims to help fill that programming gap with portable events that fit each unique Chicago storefront space.

We have created, and run:

Freshly Brewed - Freshly Brewed is a program co-produced by The Understudy Coffee and Books and Pocket Theatrics in community collaboration with Raven Theatre.

Freshly Brewed is a monthly new-play reading series featuring work by emerging Chicago-area playwrights and directors. Contributing playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, actors, and producers receive a stipend for their work.

Inc. - (Previously Pocket Playfest) Inc. is a new play incubator that pairs 6 early career Chicago directors with 6 budding Chicago playwrights to develop a new script over a dedicated 4 month process. During the process, the cohort participates in various professional development workshops led in collaboration with Chicago storefront leaders. Inc. culminates in a 2 week festival that is presented live to audiences as well as filmed in Virtual Reality, exploring how to welcome audiences to experience live Chicago theatre from anywhere in the world.

Direct Address - previous hosts are Goodman Theatre, The Understudy, Bramble Theatre, Raven Theatre, and Steppenwolf Theatre. Early-career directors stage selected scenes (no tech), receive real-time feedback from an industry professional, and join in discussions about the craft.

Re:working ( in collaboration with The Understudy and American Theatre) - Re:working is a new space to discuss and share perspectives to move the Chicago theatre scene forward. Each roundtable will be facilitated by Gabriela Furtado Coutinho, a Chicago actor, playwright, cultural strategist, and the digital editor of American Theatre, with four to six featured participants each month. Re:working will include both a live and virtual audience, with recordings available online through American Theatre and The Understudy channels. Each evening will include time before and after for participants and attendees to connect. The Understudy Coffee and Books in Andersonville will host the roundtables, each centering a designated topic and highlighting Chicago artists.

Chicago Artist Database - A database for artists/creatives in Chicago so we can connect with each other. Join the Database.