Zoé Soteres

Hi! My name is Zoé, and I am an actor, playwright, singer, and director based in Chicago, dedicated to creating and performing grassroots, politically oriented workers’ theatre and film. Learn more about me and my work below:

Click here for my complete bio.

Click here for my actor resumé.

Click here for my playwriting resumé.

Click here for my directing resumé.

Click here for my musical theatre/cabaret resumé.

Scroll to learn more about what I am currently working on, recent projects, awards and recognition, and more.

I am currently the Artistic Director of Sub Rosa Theatre Collective, a board member of the Sarah Siddons Society, a member of Chicago Cabaret Professionals, and an ensemble member with Proboscis Theatre Company.

ACTING PROJECTS:

• I will begin shooting a feature film, Daydreams, where I’ll be playing a supporting role, in October of this year.

• My one-woman show, The Interim, is being produced for the second time in the 2025 RhinoFest, hosted by Curious Theatre Branch.

• In November, I will be understudying in Proboscis Theatre Ensemble’s production of Prick, a new devised piece about the witch trials.

• I will be playing Helen in Helen Lapinsky, a feature film set to shoot in December 2026.

SINGING PROJECTS:

• I will be singing at two upcoming cabarets, one being the opening performance at a new cabaret venue, The CheckOut, and the other with Michael J. Mitchell as a guest artist, celebrating the work of Shaina Taub.

• My one woman cabaret, “Does This Song Make Me Look Dramatic?”, will premiere in 2026.

WRITING PROJECTS:

• Rot, my new play, is currently in a workshop process at The Factory Theatre.

• The Interim, my one-woman show which I wrote and perform in, was picked up by RhinoFest 2025, and will be performed in September.

• A short film that I co-wrote, Po’, is shooting in July 2025.

• My short story, Intimacy, can be seen in the upcoming issue of Knotted Lace, a literary magazine in Chicago.

• Read my blog on Durationalism, which was recently published by Sub Rosa here.

• In Pursuit Of will see its first full-length production in March of 2026.

• My full-length book of theatre theory, Durational Theatre, is currently in development. You can read a blog introduction to it here.

THEATRE LEADERSHIP PROJECTS:

• I am currently in the process of putting together Sub Rosa’s first 24-hour play festival, Ad Infinitum, for September of this year.

ACTING PROJECTS:

• My one woman show, The Interim, closed on April 20th and received positive reviews.

• I recently read in two public readings; The Trials (Stage Directions) by Dawn King with the Chicago Humanities Festival, and Homeowner’s Association (or Blood Mirage) (Marianne) by Jeffrey Luke Baker, which was independently produced.

• Two short films I was in, Brainstorm, produced by Broken Radiator Collective, and Pieces & Bonds, produced by DePaul University, premiered this year.

SINGING PROJECTS:

• Named Best New Cabaret Vocalist 2025 by Chicago Cabaret Professionals.

• Most recent cabarets: a road trip themed garden concert with Working in Concert in June of 2025, and opening act for Lexa Maxa at the Gateway Lounge on May 14th for Chicago Cabaret Week.

WRITING PROJECTS:

• I recently held a reading of my new full-length play, In Pursuit Of, at the Emerald City Café, which also received stellar reviews. Find out more here.

THEATRE LEADERSHIP PROJECTS:

• I had the pleasure of moderating a panel called Look, I Made A Hat! on behalf of the Sarah Siddons Society, where I spoke with Cheryl Coons, Masi Asare, and Christopher Pazdernik about their experiences writing and directing new musicals.

ACTING RECOGNITION

• My acting performance in The Interim was reviewed by Hudson James Therriault of Medium as “both patient and impulsive.” Read more here.

WRITING RECOGNITION

• Rot, my new play, was selected for a 2025 workshop at The Factory Theatre.

• Reviews forThe Interim noted that, “he pacing is deliberately glacial; each drip of information is meant to be savored, mulled over. […] Soteres’ writing is barebones and realistic. The slow burn is delightful — but be sure to bring your own passion for observation” by Hudson James Therriault of Medium. Read more here.

• Stefan Brün, Executive Director of Prop Thtr, noted that “build of [The Interim} over time and — for my reference world — Grotowski-like, catastrophe bodily climax, lifted me away from the loud world run by discourse and text. The Body ran counter. […] I look forward to investigating, here just […] a big dose of gratitude for such impelling theatre.”

• Of the public reading of In Pursuit Of, director and actor George Keating notes, that it is “An impressive and remarkably viable new play. Soteres’ ability to research and revise her work is uncommon. She manages to write complex ideas in a way that is speakable for the actor and compelling to the audience. The play honors its Russian roots while managing to be horrifyingly American. I long to see this in full production.” More information available here.

• 2020 City Theatre Young Playwright’s Competition Honorable Mention for my one act play, Grand Visions.

SINGING RECOGNITION

• Recognized as the 2025 Best New Chicago Vocalist by Chicago Cabaret Professionals

• Second place winner of Davenport’s 1000 Dollar Sing-Off for my performance of Glitter and Be Gay in October 2024.

• I performed a three song mini-set as a finalist for the Emerging Artists Showcase in August of 2024.

DIRECTING RECOGNITION

• My production of An Enemy of the People at The Den Theatre was reviewed as “a smashing and enthralling performance that is not to be missed” by Rick McCain of Let’s Play Theatrical Reviews. Read the review here.

• My production of The Last Five Years with City Theatre was reviewed as “a balm for local musical fans, a re-introduction to live theater in Pittsburgh and a celebration of what artists of all ages can accomplish with a little vision and elbow grease” by Joshua Axelrod of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Read more here.

THEATRE LEADERSHIP RECOGNITION

• 2024 Donald M. Ephraim Award, given to an artist who has “demonstrated exceptional leadership within The Theatre School community and an interest in shaping the entertainment industry through the work of their career.”

• 2023-2024 Sarah Siddons Scholarship Award. Read more here.

• 2020 Zelda Wilmurt Drama Prize for my leadership within the drama community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• 2018 Junior Woman of Achievement Award from Cribs for Kids for my non-profit work and artistic leadership. I started an organization called the Young Artist’s Foundation, which raised money for music and arts education across the United States through self-produced, student-led concerts and other performances. Learn more here.