WILL BISHOP (he/him/his) is a producer, director, and designer who has been making theatre in Chicago for almost 20 years. He is mostly Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Director of Production, where he has overseen the creation of dozens of TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences) shows. He is the director and a co-creator of The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party, a puppet show that has played as CCT’s holiday tradition for the past nine years, has toured around Chicago and across the country, and played in the Ninth Annual China Children’s Theatre Festival in Beijing and Jinan. He has also designed scenery, props, costumes and/or puppets for Frederick (with Michael Shannon), Doll Face Has a Party! (with Brian Selznick), The Relocation of Nokwsi, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, The World Inside Me (Chicago, Miami, and New Victory Theatre, NYC), X Marks the Spot! (Chicago and Sarasota FL), My Wonderful Birthday Suit, Red Kite Green Mountain (Flynn Center, Burlington VT) and numerous collaborations with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. With Grace Needlman, he has co-curated Potential Energy, a gallery exhibit of puppets, at Co-Prosperity in Bridgeport and the Cultural Center Galleries downtown, and co-created, co-designed, and co-directed the Wonder Wagon, a project bringing giant puppets to public spaces around the city, since 2015. He teaches technical theatre at University of Illinois – Chicago, and is a recent member of the Merritt Awards committee, recognizing excellence in Chicago theatrical design and collaboration. When not making theatre, he’s probably playing tabletop role playing games, cooking and baking vegan food, brewing beer, or spending time with the pets, Fawkes the chihuahua and Goblin the cat. Thanks to Kelcie for inviting us to play, and for Grace for building a world together!
Bio as of 3/2025
Photo by Joe Mazza