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Friday, 15 May 2026 13:34

A New Home, A Necessary Warning: Timeline’s Enemy Lands Hard

Morten Kiil (David Parkes, left) lectures his son-in-law Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Will Allan, right).

Timeline Theatre unveils their chic, new Uptown home with its inaugural production–Henrik Ibsen’s ever-relevant “An Enemy of the People”. A streamlined text by acclaimed playwright Amy Herzog cuts right to the bone in this fast-paced version straight from Broadway.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Timeline chose to open their new space with Ibsen’s classic play about a town that prioritizes economics over public health. History continues to repeat itself. Whispers of AI data centers seemed to be on everyone’s lips during the intermission as the modern day parallel is impossible to ignore. Timeline, who is known for their dramaturgical installations by Maren Robinson, doesn't shy away from the ugly reality that our Great Lakes are under attack from the tech billionaire class who aim to guzzle ungodly amounts of our fresh water.

The play begins on a chipper note, an economically downtrodden town brims with excitement for their new spa and resort that is sure to boost local prospects. That is until plucky Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Will Allan) makes a chilling discovery about the contaminated water source. At first his friends at the local newspaper are behind his decision to inform the townspeople, but as his brother Peter, the mayor (Behzad Dabu), becomes involved support begins to waver. Soon his adult daughter Petra (Campbell Krausen) is his only ally.

Petra Stockmann (Campbell Krausen, background from left), Hovstad (Grayson Kennedy), and Captain Horster (Charles Andrew Gardner) watch attentively as Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Will Allan, foreground) reviews shocking scientific revelations.

Herzog’s version is more akin to a chamber play than Ibsen’s, perhaps less grand in scale but certainly easier to digest. She also inserts some modern political flourishes that give more depth to the female protagonist Petra. With a slimmer cast and script, individual performances stand out and the intensity is more sustained. And by the second act, the audience becomes part of the cast in a way. This device works especially well because of the brilliant performances of this intimate cast.

“An Enemy of the People” becomes just as frustrating as Miller’s “The Crucible”. That infectious sense of outrage comes down to Will Allan’s devastatingly honest portrayal of a man who loses everything for the pursuit of truth. Allan has a gift for physicality, often interjecting some levity wherever possible. Audience participation becomes hard to contain as he’s continuously silenced by the newspaper staff and his greedy brother. Behzad Dabu opts for a more pragmatic interpretation of the mayor than straight up villain. In fact, there are moments where despite the poisonous water, you might find yourself agreeing with him, therein lies the danger. The emotional anchor of the show is Campbell’s Krausen’s Petra. Much like Allan’s performance, the shift from light to dark is heartbreaking.

Timeline’s glow up from Wellington to North Broadway is something to marvel at. Uptown has gained a Steppenwolf-level theater. Legendary Chicago director Ron OJ Parson brings a certain sophistication well deserving of this sleek 250-seat theater. Everything is just right here. John Culbert’s stylish set and stage magic really fills this gorgeous new performance space. Uptown really is quite lucky to have this wonderful new theater in its backyard.

Through June 14 at Timeline Theatre. 5035 N Broadway. 773-281-8463 x1

This review is proudly shared with our friends at www.TheatreInChicago.com.

Published in Theatre in Review

An Enemy of the People - TimeLine Theatre - Through June 7th

TimeLine Theatre’s inaugural production in its new home in Uptown (top left) is An Enemy of the People by (top, from left) Henrik Ibsen, a new version by Amy Herzog, directed by TimeLine Company Member Ron OJ Parson. The cast features (bottom, from left) TimeLine Company Members Will Allan as Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Behzad Dabu as Peter Stockmann, Charles Andrew Gardner as Captain Horster, Anish Jethmalani as Aslaksen, and David Parkes as Morten Kiil. Kenneth Hamilton as Billing, Grayson Kennedy as Hovstad and Campbell Krausen as Petra Stockmann are making their TimeLine debuts.

The Chicago premiere of Amy Herzog’s new version of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, directed by TimeLine Company Member Ron OJ Parson, is the long-awaited inaugural production at TimeLine Theatre’s new home at 5035 N. Broadway in Chicago. Previews start May 6. Performances run through June 7. Single tickets are on sale now. For tickets and information, call the TimeLine Box Office at (773) 281-8463 x1 or visit timelinetheatre.com.

Herzog’s thunderous new version of Ibsen’s historic masterwork, the Tony Award-nominated talk of Broadway last season, brings a 144-year-old literary classic forward to today, speaking directly to our times about what it means when citizens stand up to power.

When a respected doctor in small-town Norway makes a deadly discovery that threatens the health of the entire village, he raises the alarm. But as local leaders—including his brother, the mayor—scramble to protect their own interests, the truth becomes inconvenient, and the doctor finds himself the target of the very community he’s trying to protect. Winner of the 2024 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Adaptation, this vibrant new version of An Enemy of the People asks: what happens when doing the right thing means losing everything?

An Enemy of the People premiered on Broadway in March 2024 in a star-studded and headline-grabbing production directed by Sam Gold and featuring Jeremy Strong (Succession) and Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos). Hailed by The New York Times as “crackling and persuasive … a bitter satire of local politics that soon reveals itself as a slow-boil tragedy of human complacency,” Herzog’s streamlined new version of An Enemy of the People is “brilliant” (The Daily Beast) and “a rousing adaptation of a story that carries a discomforting contemporary relevance” (The Guardian).

To inaugurate its new Uptown home, TimeLine’s eight-person cast features five TimeLine Company Members: Will Allan (he/him) as Dr. Thomas Stockmann, Behzad Dabu (he/him) as Peter Stockmann, Charles Andrew Gardner (he/him) as Captain Horster, Anish Jethmalani (he/him) as Aslaksen, and David Parkes (he/him) as Morten Kiil. Rounding out the cast are Kenneth Hamilton (he/him) as Billing, Grayson Kennedy (he/him) as Hovstad and Campbell Krausen (she/her) as Petra Stockmann, all making their TimeLine debuts.

The production team for An Enemy of the People includes Amy Herzog (Adapter, she/her), Henrik Ibsen (Playwright), Ron OJ Parson (Director, he/him), John Culbert (Scenic Designer, he/him), Christine Pascual (Costume Designer, she/her), Brandon Wardell (Lighting Designer, he/him), Nicolas Bartleson (Properties Designer, he/him), André Pluess (Sound Designer, he/him), Maren Robinson (Dramaturg, she/they), Dina Spoerl (Dramaturgical Display Designer, she/her), and Olivia Sullam (Stage Manager).

“Capping off our 29th season, we’re celebrating an incredible milestone with An Enemy of the People as the inaugural production in our new home in Uptown,” said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. “This fresh adaptation of a classic play is a timely and powerful story to christen our new theatre. Its tale of speaking truth to power and risking everything to bring the facts to light feels incredibly resonant in this moment. And we’ve assembled a stellar team of artists to bring it to life, including five TimeLine Company Members—the most who have appeared together at any point in the past decade. With this provocative play and knockout cast, we’re proud to embark on TimeLine’s thrilling next chapter.”

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Previews of The Enemy of the People are Wednesday, May 6 through Friday, May 8 at
8 p.m., Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday, May 10 at 4 p.m., and Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

Gala Opening Night is Friday, May 15, starting at 5 p.m. with a pre-show seated dinner and VIP cocktail reception, performance at 8 p.m., followed by an after-party and reception. Regular performances continue through June 7: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. Exception: No 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.

BUYING TICKETS

Single tickets to An Enemy of the People are on sale now, priced $40–$95. For tickets and information, visit timelinetheatre.com or call the TimeLine Box Office at (773) 281-8463 x1.

Preview tickets are $40 - $60. Single tickets to regular performances are $62 - $95. Prices vary based on performance date and seat location. Student discount is 35% off regular price with valid ID. TimeLine is also a member of TCG’s Blue Star Theatre Program and is offering $30 tickets to U.S. military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their spouses and family.

All listed prices are inclusive of fees.

Ticket buyers ages 18-35 may join TimeLine’s free MyLine program to obtain access to discounted tickets, special events and more. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are also available. Visit timelinetheatre.com/venues/timeline-theatre for more about available discounts.

LOCATION/PARKING/TRANSPORTATION

TimeLine’s new home is located at 5035 N. Broadway (at Argyle) in the heart of Chicago’s Uptown community.

TimeLine’s new home is easily reached via public transportation, located steps away from the CTA Red Line stop at Argyle. The #36 Broadway bus stops at Broadway and Argyle, the #151 Sheridan stops three blocks east at Argyle, and the #81 Foster stops at Broadway and Foster, just two blocks north.

In addition, convenient parking is a new hallmark for TimeLine Theatre. The self-park garage at 5051 N. Broadway, two doors north of the theatre, offers up to 6 hours of parking for $10, with validation. Ask for a validation sticker from TimeLine’s Audience Services staff. The self-park surface lot at 5017 N. Winthrop in the heart of Asia on Argyle also offers discounted parking for up to 6 hours for just $7 via an app and QR code.

Nearby street and metered parking is available but limited. Please note some streets are zoned for resident parking only. Visit for additional information, including driving directions and nearby dining recommendations.

DISCUSSIONS

Pre-Show Discussions: Starting one hour before the performance, a 30-minute introductory conversation will be hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and the dramaturg on Wednesday, May 20.

Post-Show Discussions: A brief, informal post-show discussion hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and featuring the dramaturg and members of the production team on Thursday, May 21; Sunday, May 24; and Wednesday, May 27.

Sunday Scholars Panel Discussion: A one-hour panel discussion featuring experts on the themes and issues of the play in a moderated discussion, following the performance on Sunday, May 31.

Company Member Discussion: A post-show discussion with the team of artists who choose TimeLine’s programming and guide the company’s mission on Thursday, June 4.

All discussions are free and open to the public.

ACCESSIBILITY

Captioned Performances: Open-captioned performances with a text display of words and sounds heard during performances are Friday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 30 at 2 p.m.

Audio Described Performance: The performance on Saturday, June 6 at 2 p.m. will feature narration about visual elements of the production around the dialogue, available for individual patrons via headphones.

IT’S TIME: ABOUT TIMELINE’S NEW HOME

In 1997, six graduates of The Theatre School at DePaul University each pitched in $50 to launch a new theatre company focused on plays inspired by history that connect to today’s social and political issues. Over nearly 30 years, largely operating out of a modest, 99-seat black box theater in a Lakeview East church, TimeLine grew to be a vital force in Chicago’s arts scene.

Building on this legacy, after nearly eight years of preparation including approximately 18 months of construction, TimeLine Theatre has successfully repurposed a 1910s Reebie and Brother warehouse in Chicago’s Uptown community into a vibrant new cultural destination and the city’s newest live theater space.

TimeLine Theatre’s new home spans five stories and 33,600 square feet (combining 21,000 square feet of new construction with 12,600 square feet of adaptive reuse of portions of the former warehouse). Today, 5035 N. Broadway is home to a new, flexible, intimate 250-seat black box theatre that can be re-imagined for every show; exhibit galleries that enhance the production experience; dedicated space for Living History students, education programming, and community gathering; expanded social spaces, including a bar, café and patio; a spacious and visible rehearsal room that invites a view of the art as it’s being made; and office and production space for TimeLine’s growing staff.

TimeLine’s sleek facade brings new visual excitement to the Broadway streetscape with a 40-foot vertical blade marquee inspired by historic marquees in the neighborhood including the Uptown Theatre and Aragon Ballroom. A green storefront canopy will nod to nearby Uptown landmarks including Sun Wah BBQ and the Green Mill. A prominent glass curtain wall completes the Broadway facade, providing dramatic views into interior spaces that highlight the cultural activity inside. The new TimeLine Theatre is located one block from the new Argyle CTA Red Line station, and has convenient covered parking steps away.

Since launching It’s Time: The Campaign for TimeLine’s New Home, TimeLine has successfully raised more than $42.9 million toward the approximately $46 million project cost, including $12.9 million in public support ($2.9 million from the State of Illinois, $10 million from the City of Chicago), and funds from more than 200 generous individual donors.

Published in Now Playing

A DOLL'S HOUSE IS A RELEVANT REMINDER

Gage Wallace and Amira Danan in Raven Theatre’s Chicago premiere adaptation of A Doll’s House . Photo by Michael Brosilow.

Raven Theater has a penchant for aptly timed revivals, and their production of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House is no exception. Published and set circa 1879 in Norway, the play offers a snapshot of domestic life at the time, reminding us how much progress has been made since then -- and warning us not repeat history.

Nora is a happy wife with a loving husband, three children, and a comfortable home. Everything seems grand, until the cracks start to show in the veneer of their supposed domestic happiness.

Husband Torvald, smiling, makes passive-aggressive comments to his wife about her spending habits, even though she's merely purchased some Christmas gifts for the children. Nora, of course, is not allowed to work to earn her own money either. In other words, money is a catch-22 for Nora, and for Torvald's it's a way to assert dominance. He spends most of his time holed up in his study, occasionally checking in on his wife and making sure she knows her place, calling her gentle pet names like "songbird" and his "doll."

Little does Torvald know or even deign to imagine that Nora has hopes, fears, opinions, and secrets of her own that she works to hide from him. In this house, she knows it is not her place to be her own person; that is the husband's job. She is meant to decorate, care for the children alongside the nanny they already hire to care for the children, tend to her husband, and dance well at parties.

Nora is not even allowed to open the household mailbox, to which only Torvald has a key, yet another way for him to keep her under his thumb. The locked mailbox serves as a tangible symbol of the world, life, and opportunities that Nora can't access due to her position and gender. For all intents and purposes, she's a prisoner in her own domestic life, requiring permission from the warden, her husband, for anything she may need or want.

There's satisfaction in watching Nora realize over the course of the play what kind of man her husband really is, and actress Amira Danan deftly conveyed this transformation from bright and cheery to wise and wary. Whether or not she escapes her prison I'll leave a mystery. But I will leave you with the fun fact that this play caused significant controversy when it went into production in 1879.

According to playwright Ibsen at the time A Doll's House was written, "a woman isn't allowed to be herself in modern society." While that, thankfully, has changed, it should be pointed out that it was not so long ago Ibsen said this -- less than 150 years -- and to see this dynamic of the controlling husband and stifled wife play out onstage serves as a stark reminder of how far we've come, and where not to go again.

A Doll's House is playing through March 22 at Raven Theatre at 6157 N Clark St. Tickets and schedule here.

Published in Theatre in Review

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