John Boesche

Lighting designer John Boesche presented a multi-part projection piece, 7 soliloquies, that captured seven significant Chicago theater artists in brief solo performances for ART on THE MART across two seasons of the platform’s 2019 program. The project first premiered in March 2019 in alignment with the 2019 Year of Chicago Theatre, a city-wide celebration of Chicago’s theatre community spearheaded by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the League of Chicago Theaters.

The work highlighted significant Chicago theatre artists in brief solo performances. In addition to the performers, the work featured prominent composers, sound and scenic designers, puppeteers and visual artists – celebrating the city’s diverse creative community.

Acts included:
St. James Infirmary
creator & performer: Blair Thomas
marionettes & puppet theater: Blair Thomas
music and all instrumental performances: Blair Thomas
sound design: Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen
animation: Erin Pleake & Joe Burke
additional art and direction: John Boesche

The Tempest
writer: William Shakespeare
performer: Nick Sandys
original music & sound design: Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen
animation: Joe Burke & John Boesche
direction: John Boesche

La Havana Madrid (song: No Dejen Que Te Quiten Tu Historia)
composer & writer: Sandra Delgado
performer: Sandra Delgado
congas: Guiro Acevedo
sound design: Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen
animation: Joe Burke
direction: John Boesche

Rightlynd
writer: Ike Holter
performer: Robert Cornelius
original art: Stacey Robinson
original music & sound design: Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen
animation & direction: John Boesche

Smokefall
writer: Noah Haidle
performer: Mike Nussbaum
original art: Yeaji Kim
original music & sound design: Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen
animation: Erin Pleake & Joe Burke
direction: John Boesche

To Be In Love
writer: Gwendolyn Brooks
performer: Cheryl Lynn Bruce
original art: Kerry James Marshall
© Kerry James Marshall. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
original music & sound design: Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen
animation & direction: John Boesche

solo ensemble
writer, original music & performer: Julia Rhoads
sound design: Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen
animation: Joe Burke & John Boesche
additional art & direction: John Boesche

From Broadway theater productions to performances by premiere dance companies, John Boesche is an acclaimed Chicago-based media designer with a diverse creative background. Locally, he has worked on productions at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Goodman Theatre, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre, and many more. He has also worked on dozens of productions nationwide, including The Glass Menagerie on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre. Since 2012, Boesche has been Chair of Digital Media for Live Performance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.