Elayne LeTraunik

Theatrical Producer/Consultant/Production Manager

Chicago, IL

Cell:  773-724-1554
VirtualElayne@gmail.com

www.virtualelayne.com

EDUCATION:         

• Roosevelt University, 1964-65
• University of Illinois at Chicago, 1965-68, Honors Graduate, Bachelor of Arts in History and Theatre
• Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, England

1975, Certificate in Acting

 Director: Staged reading of "The Bureaucrat"

Press Representative for National Pastime Theater - "Naked July: Art Stripped Down" - current

Press representative for National Pastime Theater for "Alice of the House of Carroll" - March-May, 2009

Consultant to UrbanTheater Company for their world premiere of "Broken Thread"-February-March, 2009

Production Manager for "The Rivals" by Polarity Ensemble Theatre, Chicago, January-April, 2009

Director of Staged readings of "Notes from the Warsaw Ghetto" and "The Trial of Adolf Eichman" in New York City - Dec. 2008

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ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE

PRODUCTION :

Founder/Artistic Director of Chicago Jewish Theatre, 2003-2006

            Founded and served as Artistic Director of Chicago Jewish Theatre, Chicago's only professional theatre company dedicated to producing works dealing exclusively with Jewish themes, history, identity and experiences.  Duties included negotiating contracts with Actors Equity, overseeing office staff, play selection, overseeing fundraising and marketing, creating PR campaigns, budgeting, facility maintenance, negotiating playwright contracts, casting, board development.

            Highlights include:

• World premiere production of All Through the Night by acclaimed, Tony nominated playwright Shirley Lauro
• Hosted internationally known performer Saul Reichlin in one-man show Sholom Aleichem: Now You're Talking
• Oversaw production of 9 Chicago premiere productions and 2 World premiere productions
• Directing credits included Chicago premieres of The Stroop Report by Robert Preston Jones, A Rosen by Any Other Name and The Chopin Playoffs by Israel Horovitz and I Never Saw Another Butterfly by Celeste Raspanti

Founder/Producing Artistic Director of Red Hen Productions, 1997-2003

            Founded and served as Artistic Director of Red Hen Productions, a professional, Equity theatre company dedicated to producing new works and lesser known works of artistic merit.  Duties included negotiating contracts with Actors Equity, overseeing office staff, play selection, overseeing fundraising and marketing, creating PR campaigns, budgeting, negotiating playwright contracts, casting, board development.

            Highlights include:

• Co-authored new adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Edward II
• Chicago premiere of Tony Kushner adaptation of A Dybbuk by S. Ansky. Nominated for Joseph Jefferson Award for best supporting actor. Named one of the 10 best theatre productions of the year by Richard Christiansen of The Chicago Tribune
• Produced 3 Chicago premiere productions and 2 World premiere productions
• Winner of Gay Chicago Magazine's After Dark Award for Best Ensemble of Bloody Bess

Founder/Producer of LeTraunik Productions, 1995-1997

            Founded and served as Producer of LeTraunik Productions, a for-profit theatrical production company.  Duties included play selection, marketing, creating PR campaigns, budgeting, negotiating playwright contracts, casting.

            Highlights include:

• Musical revue Fairy Tales, directed by Gary Griffin. Subsequently produced off-off-Broadway and in London, England. Winner of Joseph Jefferson Citation for best musical direction.
• Chicago premieres of Incorruptible by Michael Hollinger and Black Angel by Michael Cristofer (nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Citation for best supporting actress)

DIRECTING EXPERIENCE:

    
     "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" - Chicago Jewish Theatre

     "A Rosen By Any Other Name" - Chicago Jewish Theatre

     "The Chopin Playoffs" - Chicago Jewish Theatre

     "The Stroop Report" - Chicago Jewish Theatre

      "Notes from the Warsaw Ghetto" and "The Trial of Adolf Eichmann" - Episcopal Actor's Guild, New York City

      "The Bureaucrat" - Staged reading at National Pastime Theater

RELATED EXPERIENCE:

Auditions columnist for Chicago theatre trade paper PerformInk, 1988-2005

            Collected, edited and oversaw all aspects of providing accurate information on a deadline.  Required to have many contacts at all Chicago area theatres, attention to detail, excellent customer relation ability.

Founder and creator of Casting Call Hotline, 1987-2004

            Distributed casting and employment information to theatre community of Chicago and surrounding areas via phone, fax and email.

Columnist for Plays and Players Magazine, London, England, 1996-2000

            As Chicago theatre correspondent, submitted monthly column covering news, events and reviews of Chicago theatre.

Columnist for Chicago Sun-Times, 1992-1995

            Submitted weekly column covering aspects of the theatre/performing world including screenwriting, auditioning, stage combat, musical theatre, summer stock/outdoor theatre, acting schools.  Interviewed several world-renown individuals including Broadway, film and television star Ben Vereen.

OTHER SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/ABILITIES

• Familiar with Cultural Data Project
• Familiar with Brown Paper Tickets and Goldstar start up and maintenance
• Familiar with Email blasts using Vertical Response software
• Professional performer in Chicago since 1965.  Chicago credits include Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang as well as the Chicago premiere productions of Extremities by William Mastrosimone and Nuts by Tom Topor
• Proficient typist
• Computer proficient (Word, internet/email)
• Research/dramaturgical skills
• Detail-oriented
• Works well under deadlines

Feature articles have appeared about Elayne LeTraunik in The Chicago Sun-Times, Pioneer Press, Chicago Jewish News, JUF Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The Daily Herald, PerformInk and many other publications.

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST