Advanced Search

Search Stories

Go

Subjects A to Z

Advanced Search

Laura Wiley

Through exciting, original theater, Laura Wiley and her husband David Feiner devote their lives to teenagers from a Chicago working-class immigrant neighborhood.

When Laura and David started Albany Park Theater Project, or APTP, in 1996, their motto was "Real teenagers, real community, real theater, real stories." By combining their artistic and activist ambitions, the couple created a haven for teens, where real-life stories from Chicago's Albany Park community could become critically acclaimed productions. Along with theatrical training, Laura and David provide intensive individual college counseling to ensemble members during their senior year of high school. More than 95% of teens who spend a year or more with APTP attend college, often as the first college students in their family. In 2003, Laura was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. During chemotherapy, remission and a recurrence of the illness, she continued to lead the company with David. She co-directed God's Work, a play drawn from one ensemble member's abusive family situation, in which religious beliefs rationalize unspeakable violence. As she coaxes powerful performances from her cast with a combination of demanding professionalism and tenderness, Laura's struggle with cancer forms the backdrop to her remarkable commitment to young people. Photography on this page courtesy of Bill Richert.

Learn More About the Other Artists in Beauty Rises: Orbert Davis
Allison Joseph
Dessa Kirk

Address

Albany Park Theater Project, Eugene Field Cultural Center, 5100 N. Ridgeway Ave., Chicago, IL 60625

Click here for directions

Bonus Material

Laura Wiley on: WORKING WITH TEENS

GOD'S WORK

GOD'S WORK CAST

MUSIC IN GOD'S WORK

CHICAGO

LAURA'S ILLNESS

LAURA'S MENTORS

COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM

RELIGION

WORKING WITH DAVID

Related Links

Visit the Albany Park Theater Project's website to find out more about the company.

Explore video/image gallery

Related Video

Click to view video

 View Video Clip

Laura Wiley explains the mission of Albany Park Theater Project on the first day of rehearsal.

Click to view video

 View Video Clip

Laura Wiley gets good news about her cancer treatments.

Click to view video

 View Video Clip

"The Confession," a scene from Albany Park Theater Project's performance of God's Work.

Click to view video

 View Video Clip

"Come Forth," a scene from Albany Park Theater Project's performance of God's Work.

Click to view video

 View Video Clip

Co-Director Laura Wiley rehearses the birthing scene with Ana, who plays the mother in God's Work.

 

Related Podcasts

Arts Ed. Podcast

Child/Youth Podcast

Theater Podcast

 

Related Images

Click to view image

view image View Larger Image

Albany Park Theater Project co-director Laura Wiley.

Click to view image

view image View Larger Image

Laura and her actors discuss a scene from God's Work.

Click to view image

view image View Larger Image

Laura conducts a warm-up exercise with her students.

 

Thanks To Our Sponsors
Contact Us Site Map Pressroom WTTW Digital Archives Production Services Corporate Sponsorship PBS 98.7WFMT

Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

©2016 WWCI

WTTW Arts - View Story ImageWTTW Arts - Select Your BandwidthWTTW Arts - View Story ExcerptWTTW Arts - Listen to Audio ClipAdvanced SearchStory DetailContact UsSite MapPressroomWTTW Digital ArchivesProduction ServicesCorporate SponsorshipHomeSchedulesProgramsWTTW KidsWTTW ArtsWTTW EventsSupport WTTWAbout UsMembers OnlyGeoffrey Baer Tours - Seven Wonders of ChicagoArchitect Robert A.M. Stern: Presence of the PastArchitect Michael Graves: A Grand TourArchitect Thomas Beeby10 Buildings that Changed AmericaCatholicismProhibitionAmerican Graduate