The original Subtext Studio was founded by Artistic Director Omar Vicente Fernandez with other UIC students in 2021 to provide opportunities to young emerging artists so that they may gain valuable professional experience by producing theater.

Fernandez, a Mexican American artist, had been active in theater since his teens, working with professional theatres in various capacities for nearly a decade.

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Founded in November 2020 as a virtual outlet during the pandemic, Dragonfly Theatre Company produced new plays on zoom. Dragonfly Theatre went into hiatus in May of 2022 as theaters resumed live programming. 

 

Omar joined forces with Jean Gottlieb (Artistic Director/Founder of Dragonfly Theatre Company) in 2022, bringing Jean into SSTC as Managing Director and combining the missions and resources of Dragonfly Theatre and Subtext Studio Theatre Companies.  ​

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“The theater world is in the midst of a political and ideological reckoning, and the opportunity to reform the landscape of American Theater is upon us. Subtext Studios believes the newest generation of artists can lead the way, if given the opportunity.”  Omar Vicente Fernandez

 

Subtext Studio Theatre Company endeavors to create a sacred space for the creation of new theatrical works, providing a safe home to the artists and following a production model that honors and promotes equity, diversity and inclusion on all levels.  

 

“We combined the best parts of our companies: the inclusiveness and ambition of Subtext Studio and the resources and producing capacity of Dragonfly Theatre. Survival of theater requires the merging of resources, and we look forward to forming mutually beneficial associations with neighboring theaters.”  Jean Gottlieb

 

“Subtext Studio will provide an open atmosphere for creation and expression, a space where an artist is free to learn and grow - blossoming as the play blossoms - through hard work and devotion to the art form. Every great piece of art is brought to life by people who recognize not what something is, but what something could be. Let us be those people - let us find those people.” Omar Vicente Fernandez