Steven Mosqueda

Steven’s story:
Where is My Low-Budget Theater?

A recent study commissioned by the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation shows theater in Chicago is an almost $350 million industry. This figure represents both the opulent refurbished buildings of the downtown theater district and abandoned store fronts and underground basements that make up low budget theater. These neighborhood theaters are now struggling to survive due to rising property taxes, higher rents, and city regulations. Also, the emergence of the downtown theater district in the late 1990s has raised concerns that the city’s focus has shifted toward higher-budget, commercial theater. Chicago performer Steve Mosqueda examines the impact of high-end productions on low-budget theater.

	Steven Mosqueda working with Jason Derose.

Steven Mosqueda was born and raised in Los Angeles and has lived in Chicago since 1990. He performed improv for several years before becoming an ensemble member of the Neo Futurists in 1996. He began co-hosting a radio program on WLUW called The Drinking and Writing Brewery in 2004. The program highlights original material by local artists and Chicago's diverse bar scene.

Steven’s mentor is Chicago Public Radio news correspondent Jason DeRose.