About My Work
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As a playwright, my creative vision is centered on elevating the struggles of everyday people and rejecting theatrical norms. My writing is characterized by thorough research and meticulous detail, aimed at offering specific critiques of capitalism and society. Through my writing, I seek to bolster consciousness and deepen the understanding of capitalism's detrimental impacts, while providing comfort to the everyday person, allowing them to feel seen and heard amidst the often dehumanizing forces of modern society.
By highlighting systemic issues and fostering a sense of empathy, my plays strive to spark conversations about the need for change and challenge audiences to reject nihilism, embracing the possibility for change.
Moreover, my work is primarily written with young people in mind. I believe in the power of youth to drive change and build a new world. By crafting plays that resonate with younger generations, I hope to inspire them to see themselves as active participants in shaping the future. My plays provide a platform for young voices, encouraging them to express their ideas, challenge injustices, and envision a society that values human dignity and collective well-being.
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As a director, my work is a deliberate departure from traditional theatrical norms, embracing hyperrealism and authenticity to illuminate the nuanced experiences of everyday people and their struggles. Taking inspiration from filmmakers like Robert Bresson and Chantal Akerman and theatremakers like Katie Mitchell and Milo Rau, my work focuses on the minute, often overlooked aspects of human existence.
This is reflected in the plays that I choose to direct. Whether classical or contemporary, the plays I work on attempt to provide a platform for us to understand the political underpinnings of our society through the lens of the everyday person’s life, forsaking conventional dramatic structures in favor of a more organic, action-driven narrative.
When working with actors, I am committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment. I try to reject traditional theatrical hierarchical structures in favor of running a rehearsal room as a community, where each participant is a vital contributor to the creative process — we all work toward the goal of fulfilling a vision for a piece. I function from a place of inquiry, encouraging actors to explore and follow their impulses; by asking questions rather than imposing rigid directives, I attempt to enable actors to bring their authentic selves into the work, enriching the overall production and ensuring a genuine and dynamic performance.
By creating theatre that is both politically charged and deeply human, I aim to inspire a greater understanding of the world that we live in and how it affects each and every one of us.
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I am currently in the rehearsal process for my one-woman play, The Interim, which will premiere in conjunction with Sub Rosa Theatre Collective and The Labyrinth Club on April 18th at 7pm, running until April 20th. Get tickets here.
I am also currently rehearsing for my upcoming one-woman show debut, which is on May 14th at 8pm at Davenport’s Piano Bar. The show, which is an opener for Lexa Maxa, will feature a wide variety of songs cultivated and directed by myself and Mark Elliott.
As a director, I will begin the process of assistant directing Jeff Mills’ production of Metamorphosis at The Theatre School in April.
My second full-length play, In Pursuit Of, just closed a successful reading in October and is now being submitted to playwriting festivals. You can read more about it below!
Other upcoming writing projects include: a commissioned play for Sub Rosa Theatre Collective’s 2025-2026 Season; a co-written short film, Marble Faun, which will be produced by 640 Films and directed by Spencer Swenson in 2025; a book of theatre criticism; and a feature film, Helen Lapinsky.
For more information on my plays, screenplays, directing, and other writings, you can reach out to me at: zoeesoteres@gmail.com
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Click below to read about:
In Pursuit Of - my new playÉnouement - my new one woman show
An Enemy of the People - my adaptation
Indebted - my debut full length play
The Last Five Years - my directorial debut
scroll for a deeper look into my playwriting & directing work!
My Oeuvre
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THE INTERIM
Written & Performed by Zoé Soteres; Directed by Spencer Swenson
The Labyrinth Club, April 2025 -
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DOES THIS SONG MAKE ME LOOK DRAMATIC?
Created & Curated by Zoé Soteres and Mark Elliott
Davenport’s Piano Bar, May 2025 -
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METAMORPHOSIS
Written by Franz Kafka; Directed by Jeff Mills; Assistant Directed by Zoé Soteres
The Theatre School at DePaul University, May 2025 -
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IN PURSUIT OF
Written by Zoé Soteres
Sub Rosa Theatre Collective, 2025-26 -
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AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
Written by Henrik Ibsen; Translated by Eleanor Marx; Adapted & Directed by Zoé Soteres
The Den Theatre, May 2024 -
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INDEBTED
Written by Zoé Soteres; Directed by Izzi King
Duality Theatre Company, June 2023 -
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THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Written & Composed by Jason Robert Brown; Music Directed by Mitchell Dubin; Co-Directed by Zoé Soteres & Jason Schmidt
City Theatre; May 2021 -
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ROT
Written by Zoé Soteres
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HELEN LAPINSKI
Written by Zoé Soteres; Directed by Spencer Swenson
640Films, 2026-27 -
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UNDER A BRIDGE IN SEATTLE
Written by Zoé Soteres
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GRAND VISIONS
Written by Zoé Soteres
City Theatre, 2021
The Interim
On April 18, 19, and 20 of 2025, The Interim, my one-woman show, will receive its premiere in conjunction with Sub Rosa Theatre Collective and The Labyrinth Club. Directed by Spencer Swenson, a film director making his stage debut, the show utilizes Durational Theatre techniques in order to provide an action-focused, character driven show that analyzes depression, isolation, and economic precarity in modern society. It will also feature the voices of Jack Baust, Patrice Egleston, Izzi King, James Phillips, and Chloe Rodriques, with stage management from Alena Santoyo.
“The Interim focuses on a young woman, Molly, as she reflects on her life in the outside world before she made the decision to destroy her belongings, cut off her family, and go into complete isolation in her small, Chicago apartment.”
Does This Song Make Me Look Dramatic?
On May 14th, my premiere one-woman cabaret, Does This Song Make Me Look Dramatic, will be featured as a part of Chicago Cabaret Week at Davenport’s Piano Bar in Wicker Park! The performance, which was curated by Mark Elliott and me, will be accompanied on piano by Kyle William Stephens. Following my opening act, Lexa Maxa will perform her one-woman show, Give Me Jazz!
Running at 25 minutes, the set will feature Put on a Happy Face (arr. by Blossom Dearie), Ding Dong (Nellie McKay), Lost in the Brass (from the musical Band Geeks), Twisted (arr. by Joni Mitchell), Easy to be Hard (from the musical Hair), What More Do I Need? (from the musical Saturday Night), and Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (arr. by Barbra Streisand).
“Fresh out of acting school and bringing her signature flair for the dramatic, Zoé Soteres steps into the spotlight with Does This Song Make Me Look Dramatic?, a cabaret for anyone who has ever been told they're "too much." Featuring Broadway classics, jazz gems, and contemporary hits, this show is equal parts heart, humor, and drama. Don’t miss your chance to see one of Chicago’s most exciting new talents in her debut solo performance!”
In Pursuit Of
In October of 2024, In Pursuit Of, which is loosely inspired by Dostoevsky’s masterpiece novel Crime & Punishment, received its first public reading, and was performed to a sold-out house. The play is an intentional departure from theatrical norms, placing an emphasis on action, sound, and character, instead of on dialogue, melodrama, and addressing themes of economic precarity, morality, nihilism, misogyny, rape culture, forgiveness, and toxic masculinity.
“In Pursuit Of follows Theo, a young man navigating life in an unfamiliar city while balancing the pressures of college & a dead-end data entry job. He toils under the shadow of a younger, more successful boss, who humiliates him at every turn, pushing Theo to adopt the morally ambiguous teachings of his academic advisor. As the demands of home, work, and school intensify, Theo becomes fixated on securing a promotion and outmaneuvering his boss, even if it means compromising his own ethical boundaries. In the meantime, he encounters a myriad of characters who challenge his notions of right and wrong, ultimately leading him on a tumultuous journey of atonement and self-discovery.”
“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.” - George Keating, actor, professor at The Theatre School at DePaul University, and staged reading performer
“In Pursuit Of was one of the most daring, provocative, yet laugh-out-loud funny pieces I have ever had the pleasure of working on. Not only is the writer incredible talented and profound with her writing, but the entire theatre company producing this work are passionate visionaries who are hungry to produce work that really sits with audiences. I personally would love to see In Pursuit Of as a fully realized production as I feel it challenges its audience in a way that’s effective and immediate.” - Olemich Tugas, actor and staged reading performer
“In a moment dominated by the likes of Andrew Tate and Elon Musk, In Pursuit Of offers an honest, empathetic, and compelling insight into the minds of young men searching for purpose and meaning in their lives. It does not pull punches in portraying the destructive nihilism that permeates modern masculinity, but also refuses to dehumanize and deny agency to the protagonist.” - Brick Zurek, community & union organizer and audience member
An Enemy of the People
In May of 2024, An Enemy of the People, written by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Eleanor Marx, and adapted by me, went up at The Den Theatre in Chicago — selling out almost every night.
My adaptation placed a unique focus on the effects that the actions of Dr. Stockmann, the mayor, and the media in the small Norwegian town have on the townspeople — whose very livelihoods and understandings of what is at stake are left in the hands of those in power. With a diverse and gender bent cast (the Mayor and Editor Hovstad are both played by women) and an adaptation intended to highlight the talents of young Chicago performers, the show seeks to shine a light on political issues today, including: the amalgamation of the media and the government, the negative effects of wealth disparity on politics, while staying true to the classic critiques presented in the play of group think and moderation.
“Written by Henrik Ibsen in 1882, An Enemy of the People centers around Dr. Stockmann, a recent medical school graduate, family-appointed medical officer, and newlywed, who discovers that his small town's coveted Health Resort is contaminated with poisonous water. In spite of his desperate attempts to reveal this danger to the public, he is met with scrutiny and the threat of disgrace by the government, the press, and the people.”
“[Director] Zoé Soteres did an exceptional job of orchestrating this talented yet seemingly unknown cast. Their spirited and witty approach was exuberant and entertaining throughout the two-hour production.” - Rick McCain, Let’s Play Theatrical Reviews
“The newly created Duality Theatre Co. boldly takes on this invigorating play, infusing it with its unique interpretation, strong drama, Ibsen's excellent dialogue, and compelling characters. They pulled off a smashing and enthralling performance that is not to be missed.” - Rick McCain, Let’s Play Theatrical Reviews
Indebted
In June of 2023, my theatre group, Duality Theatre Company, produced a production of my play, Indebted. Directed by Izzi King and starring a variety of young artists based in Chicago including myself, the play sought to address economic precarity for college students and members of Gen-Z. The play took place in my college apartment, and had a limited, immersed audience.
“Faced with the possibility of flunking out of college while balancing classes, long work hours, and a social life, Claudia pushes herself - and her friends - beyond what any of them thought was possible.”
The Last Five Years
In May of 2021, City Theatre Educational Programs helped Mitchell Dubin, Jason Schmidt, and me bring live theatre back to Pittsburgh after the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to keep people safe, the show was performed in Mitchell’s backyard, with a limited, masked audience. The cast, crew, and musical pit took COVID tests, and remained masked when not performing. We directed the show with this in mind, being conscious of how we used the space, and the benefits (and drawbacks) of performing in an outside venue.
Written and composed by Jason Robert Brown, the show tells the story of Cathy and Jamie, and follows the highs and lows of their relationship, from beginning to end.
“A balm for local musical theatre fans, a re-introduction to live theatre in Pittsburgh [post-COVID] and a celebration of what artists of all ages can accomplish with a little vision and elbow grease.” - Joshua Axelrod, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette
