About Bluebird Arts

Bluebird Arts is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to enrich, educate and entertain our community by sharing intimate stories that delve into the complexities of real people and their relationships. Our passion lies in bringing authentic, cross-cultural experiences to the stage, creating a tapestry of emotions that resonate with audiences of all backgrounds. We serve the English and Russian speaking communities of Chicago by producing plays in both English and Russian and translating English language plays into Russian and vice versa.

At Bluebird, we believe in the transformative power of storytelling. Each production is a journey into the human experience, exploring the depth of connections and the nuances of existence. We are committed to pushing artistic boundaries while staying rooted in the essence of relatable, character-driven narratives. Our stage is where stories come alive, cultures intertwine, and relationships shine.
 

The Bluebird Arts Team

Luda Lopatina Solomon, Artistic Director

Luda is Artistic Director for Bluebird Arts and is excited to be directing again working with so many talented artists. Luda studied acting and directing in Russia at the Leningrad Institute of Music, Theatre and Film and earned her Ph.D (WD) in teaching acting at the St. Petersburg State Academy of Dramatic Arts. She worked as an actress at Leningrad Studio Theatre. Luda’s work as a director includes every production produced by Bluebird Arts: The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl (in English and Russian); Hello and Goodbye by Athol Fugard (in English and Russian); Zoyka's Apartment by Mikhail Bulgakov (in English and Russian); Three Hotels by Jon Robin Baitz (in English and Russian); The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh; Clever Little Lies by Joe DiPietro; and The Elder Son by Alexander Vampilov. Luda also directed, as a member of European Repertory Company, Chekhov’s Ivanov (Jeff Nominated); Bulgakov’s Zoyka’s Apartment; Chekhov’s The Duel, adapted by Frank Galati; Carlo Gozzi’s Princess Turandot; and Vasili Sigarev’s Black Milk. Also with European Repertory Company she co-directed, with Yasen Peyankov, Galin’s Stars in the Morning Sky and Nikolay Kolyada’s Go Away, Go Away (Jeff Nominated). Other directing credits include Stephen Schwartz’s The Baker’s Wife with One Theatre Company, Galin’s The House that Swift Built codirected with Dale Goulding for Red Square Theatre Company, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf at Theatre Volhonka, Ekatirenburg, Russia (Translated to Russian; Bravo award). She also co-directed, with Bill Raffeld, Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw at Old World Theatre Company. Luda has taught acting at The School at Steppenwolf, Act One Conservatory and The University of Illinois at Chicago. She thanks Barry and Angela for inspiration and endless love and support. 

Emil Thomas, Production Manager

Emil (he/him) is a graduate of Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts
and Ball State University, in Muncie Indiana. Over the last eight years he has led Marietta's Theatre in the Square as their Producing Artistic Director. In 2017, He was awarded
Director of the Year for his production of Nambi E. Kelley's Native Son. He has directed productions such as LA GRINGA, IN THE HEIGHTS, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, and Marietta's Theatre Square's annual holiday show, A GIFT OF THE MAGI 2.0. Emil is currently completing his MFA at The Theatre School at DePaul University. You can see his upcoming thesis project IS GOD IS February 2024. Follow him on Instagram at @nemilthomas to see his upcoming projects.

Dale Goulding, Artistic Consultant

Dale Goulding is an award-winning theatre director who has worked extensively in Europe and the United States. Dale has produced over 45 shows, directed documentary film In 1992, he co-founded the European Repertory Company (ERC) with Yasen Peyankov where for the next 10 years he produced, directed or acted in over 20 productions before becoming a Freelance director and serving as a creative consultant. It was at ERC where Dale first met Luda and began a creative collaboration that has lasted over thirty years.  "Do not tell me the moon is shining, show me a glint of light in broken glass." – Chekhov

Jaimelyn Gray, Managing Director

Jaimelyn (she/her) is an Actor/Director/Producer who has worked with Luda this past decade (plus!) on various projects, including all Bluebird Arts Productions (favorites: Maureen Folan in THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE and Hester in HELLO AND GOODBYE). After a decade in Chicago, she relocated to Milwaukee in 2018 to dedicate herself to creating accessible, passionate, visceral theatre with The Constructivists (Best New Theatre 2018, Milwaukee Magazine), where she is the Founder and Artistic Director, and has directed all 10 productions since its inception. She is also the co-founder and current President of the Milwaukee Theatre Alliance (MTA), a theatre arts advocacy organization founded in 2019, and the Chief Representative for the Milwaukee Chapter of the Parent Artist Advocacy League (PAAL). Acting credits include the Utah Shakespeare Festival (first ever THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Educational Tour), Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (Young Playwrights Festival), Riverfront Theatre (Rockford), Eclipse Theatre (Chicago), TUTA (Chicago) (favorites: The Cow in MARIA’S FIELD, Brecht’s THE WEDDING (Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination for Best Ensemble), and a deviser of, and performer in, FULTON STREET SESSIONS). She is also a Marketing Collaborator for the newest arts venue in Chicago’s Humboldt Park, Facility Theatre. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, with additional training from Southern Utah University, in Cedar City, Utah. “Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.” ― Bertolt Brecht

More at jaimelyngray.com.

To contact Jaimelyn, email jgray@bluebirdarts.org.