Profiles Theatre to Close

Profiles Theatre to Close

Profiles Theatre, the 28-year-old storefront, announced late Tuesday night that they’ll be shutting down, effective immediately. This sudden, but much called for announcement posted to their Facebook page comes amidst a stinging backlash from the Chicago community over a Chicago Reader exposé documenting allegations against Darrell W. Cox for sexual misconduct, physical and psychological abuse, and unsafe practices on stage. Allegations that go back over two decades of Cox’s involvement with Profiles Theatre.

The statement reads:

A Message from Profiles Theatre:

We are sad to announce that Profiles Theatre is closing its doors after 28 years and 81 productions. The closure is effective immediately.

We want to thank all of the artists who have worked with us during the past three decades. We are very proud of the many successes we have achieved together. We care about all of you tremendously and wish you only the very best.
We also want to thank our patrons. We will be forever grateful to you for your devoted and enthusiastic support of our work.
We hope this decision will further the healing process within our community. May Chicago theatre thrive and its future be bright.

Cox attempted damage control on June 10th posting a statement to Profiles Facebook page which included an offer to meet and work with Not In Our House but offered no apology for his conduct. Not In Our House quickly responded denouncing the statement saying, “NIOH has now reviewed the statement posted by Darrell Cox regarding the Reader article. The statement is a study in PR crisis management. It seeks to reframe the Reader article as if it only contains complaints by three women who were involved with Cox. This is a patent effort to minimize the many serious acts of misconduct uncovered and reported by the Reader. The request to meet with NIOH also is a transparent effort to divert attention from that misconduct. . . . NIOH is prepared to meet with Mr. Cox, but will not be used as part of his PR games. An apology is due from Mr. Cox. It is what the truth, and NIOH, requires.”

About author

Abigail Trabue

Abigail has worked as an actor/director in Chicago for over ten years, and along with husband Jason Epperson founded Lotus Theatricals in 2015, and PerformInk Chicago and Kansas City in 2016 (where she serves as Managing Editor of both publications). When not talking shop, Abigail is raising three padawans with Jason, drinking lots of coffee, converting school buses into RV's, and eating all the foods at Disney World. You can find her on Twitter @AbigailTrabue