Pictured: Mykele Deville. Photo by Alexus McLane.

The Yard, a theater company that immerses students in the Chicago storefront theatre-making process, has announced a slate of new resident artists and mentors: lighting designer Heather Gilbert; actor Kiki Layne; actor and visual artist Anthony Venturini; actor, poet, and rapper Mykele Deville; and stage manager and technician Daniel Parsons.

“The Yard is so excited to grow our family of Resident Artists & Mentors! These artists have contributed in enormous ways to the work on our stage, and, equally important, they have each been leaders off stage in working with and guiding our young artists,” said Mechelle Moe, Co-Artistic Director. “These new additions will not only further diversify the talents and viewpoints of our current company, they will play an important role in our ongoing artistic development and mentorship. We couldn’t be more proud to have them help us bring The Yard’s mission to life.”

“When I am with The Yard, I truly feel that the world can change. If there are people with this passion, this energy, this intelligence, these hearts and minds, out there making plays and advocating for their world, then change can come,” said Gilbert. “They inspire me, they make me laugh, they make me feel. I am so in love with this group and with being in their orbit, that I can’t think of anything I want more than to be a Resident Artist and Mentor.”