PerformInk just posted a decent article about Defiant's closing. Chicago Tribune critic Chris Jones has some kind words:

"In the early to mid 90's, they were doing the most dangerous work in town—they were doing things nobody was willing to do," said Jones, on the phone recently from his desk at the Tribune. "They often evoked a sense of raw sexuality on the stage, coupled with an anti-authority, ‘fuck you' type of demeanor that they put together like no other company. There was a sense of anger to them, a real level of hostility that I found interesting on stage."

Jones sees no theatre companies currently presenting that kind of raw energy, including ones in which former Defiant members are active.

When I was doing double-duty as marketing and media relations guy for Defiant, a local critic who had written many bad reviews of Defiant shows was placing us at the top of a weekly list of shows opening. While working out the details with him, he told me that Defiant was always worth writing about. I'm not sure what better statement could be said about an arts organization.

Seeing as how many of the folks who read this site are involved in or at least occasionally see Chicago off-loop theatre, I'm compiling testimonials. So if you'd like to say goodbye to Defiant, e-mail me. I'll design something pretty to present as a gift to the company members. Thanks.

(Full disclosure: I'm the guy that updates PerformInk's website, and my girlfriend is their ad manager.)