Free Street has been in Back of the Yards for eight years. We co-founded the Storyfront (at 43rd and Ashland) in a former refrigerator repair shop once owned and operated by Jose Guadalupe Ornelas Guerra, an immigrant from Mexico and lifelong resident of Back of the Yards, who also lived in the building. In 2023, we moved into a larger space at 47th and Ashland, “The Storefront.” Come visit us!
THE BEGINNING
When we were looking for a space to perform Meet Juan(ito) Doe, a play about Mexicans on the Southside of Chicago, the Guerra sisters generously rented us the Storyfront in his memory for $1/month. With support from the Joyce Foundation, lead artist Ricardo Gamboa worked with designers Ana Velazquez and Alonzo Torres to convert the space into an intimate cultural hub offering original performances, workshops, educational programming and community events.
Why a Storefront in back of the yards
Free Street’s Storefront isn’t just about how theater can foster social change, but how a theater can be a space for social change and community building.
Free Street’s Storefront isn’t just about how theater can foster social change, but how a theater can be a space for social change and community building. Free Street has been expanding the boundaries of where the real world ends and the stage begins for decades. Drawing on social movements from the past, the Storefront is a space that invites community nourishment in the form of a play, or an acting class, or a “know your rights” workshop. These interactions create the opportunity for community members to not only participate in but also lead important dialogue about social change.
Programming
Storefront programming includes original ensemble-created performance that documents the stories and experiences of people on the Southside of Chicago; storytelling classes, free workshops, and art exhibits. We also invite community members to use the space – want to host an event or propose a program?
Who
Our People Make Us
For more information about the Storefront, including how to use it for your own community programming, please contact info@freestreet.org