History

The Mill was founded in 2002 by artistic director, Jaclyn Biskup, as Experimental Theatre Chicago.  After the company evolved and broadened its scope, the name was changed to represent its new mission: to produce plays progressive in form and content.  Biskup’s father worked at US Steel -- unaffectionately dubbed ‘The Mill,’ for over thirty years and the name is an homage to him and her family’s south side of Chicago working class roots. The Mill is known for its stylish energetic stagings and bold theatricality including the Chicago premieres of VENUS (Suzan-Lori Parks) and THE PRIVATE OF LIVES OF ESKIMOS (OR 16 WORDS FOR SNOW) (Ken Urban) and in NYC, NICHOLAS, MAEVE, MARIANNE (Matthew Stephen Smith) one of Indie Theatre Now's 20 Best of NYC Fringe.

Artistic Director

Jaclyn Biskup is a director and producer working in theatre, television, and film. She is the recipient of an Emmy and Peabody nomination for her work on the digital series, THE SECRET LIFE OF MUSLIMS and currently works as an associate producer at New Ohio Theatre. This summer she will assist Tony Award winning director Anna Shapiro on the Broadway debut of STRAIGHT WHITE MEN (Young Jean Lee) for Second Stage at the Helen Hayes.  Her work in the theatre spans nearly two decades. As the founding artistic director of The Mill, she has directed and produced over 20 productions including the Chicago premieres of VENUS (Suzan-Lori Parks) and THE PRIVATE OF LIVES OF ESKIMOS (OR 16 WORDS FOR SNOW) (Ken Urban.) In NYC, work directed includes NICHOLAS, MAEVE, MARIANNE (Matthew Stephen Smith) one of Indie Theatre Now's 20 Best of NYC Fringe, HOT STEAMS (Zach Wegner), and IT’S JUST WEIRD NOW (Halley Feiffer). Her work has been seen at MCC, Rattlestick, Dixon Place, and the NYC International Fringe. She has assisted on productions at Steppenwolf, The Public, and The American Musical Theatre Workshop.  She has worked on digital projects for PBS NOVA, Delta Air Lines, Caltech, Harvard, and others and holds a BA in Theater from Northern Illinois University and an MFA in Directing and Theatrical Production from Northwestern University.