NON:op's Immersive Platform for Virtual Performance and Participation
volume 6:8, October 2025
Please join us as we investigate alternative futures through
music, art, poetry, performance, research, observation, and activism.
SHARE. INTERACT. COLLABORATE.
AND SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMMING WITH A DONATION.
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Gregory "Theo" Economides
September 13, 1965 - September 21, 2025
 It is with a heavy heart that NON:op Arts and Humanities announces the passing of Theo Economides. Theo was NON:op's board member and techno-creative enabler, a kind and loving soul, and above all, a great and dear friend.I met Theo in 2016 as a stand-in videographer at one of NON:op's beer, food, performance salons. With little to know preparation, he jumped in with both feet. Theo did not have to be asked to join the board of NON:op. He volunteered for it, saying that he liked what we were doing and wanted to be a part of it. Over the years, he was NON:op's rock—joyful and patient beyond all measure. Whenever I came to him with a problem, and I was at my wits end, Theo would calmly talk me off the ledge, and usually with a bit of humor, come up with the perfect solution. Theo traveled across Illinois with NON:op between 2021 and 2024, and even road-tripped to New York City in 2024. (See the post-show photo in the hookah lounge below.) Over the years he became much more than a board member. Theo was up for anything, showing up with a smiling face, a can-do attitude, and often a joke.
Theo and Ian's wedding was a joyous occasion, with amazing food that just kept on coming, libations, dancing and laughter. At Theo's wake and funeral I was amazed at how many close friends he had, how much he gave to others. He gave so much to me and to NON:op, and he had multiple lives and friends that I did not know about. He made everyone of us feel special. Theo is survived by his loving husband, Ian Hewett, brothers John, Steven, and Jason, and many cat children. The complete obituary where you can add a memory may be found HERE.
 Theo did so much for NON:op—including sewing screens for our 2020 production of HPSCHD. I don't really know how he did everything he did. And he did it with grace and a joyous heart. Theo gave me a gift, the gift to appreciate and enjoy life, to be patient and generous with myself and others, and to be open to new challenges. Theo, I hold you in my heart, and I am a better person for having known you while you were here. You are in all of us who you touched. As he made individual memories with each person he met, we are able to remember him personally and to keep him alive in our hearts.• • •
Theo.
Silent sage.
Wizard of words spoken softly.
A heart that held the world together.
A smile that shined with the light of many mornings once dawned.
Thank you ever so much, and so kindly, for your quiet lessons my friend.
Kenya “Kao Ra Zen” Fulton (commissioned artist)
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I hadn't known Theo for very long, we worked together on the NON:op Board and also with the L'sGA performances. Theo was the one person that lit up a space without saying a whole lot. But was always fiery. I remember once, I was in full panic mode over a music file I had on my laptop that I was supposed to use for my segment of the show, and I almost lost it. I think the drama was at a level 10. Theo just looked at me, completely calm, and said, “Don’t worry. Worst case scenario, we light it on fire.” I loved that he was quick with a quip, gentle with my stressful moment, and somehow made light of the problem and helped me resolve it with little to no effort.
 Our Trip to New York for L'sGA also was a highlight, my 1st time at a hookah lounge and we all laughed and danced after our performance! (I have video proof!) Muwahhh!! The absolute best time of my life. I didn't get to have much time with him on this earth but beyond the laughter and the tech wizardry, to me he had this quiet kindness that didn’t ask for attention. He listened. He cared. He showed up. And in every moment big or small he left me feeling a little lighter, a little less stressed. I’m going to miss him terribly. Not just for what he knew, or the way he made me laugh, or even the cool tech lessons he gave me but for the space he held in my life bright, steady, and full of heart.
Ja Nelle Davenport-Pleasure (board member)
We miss you, Theo. You will always be in our hearts.
Christophe, Saba, Ja Nelle and the rest of the NON:op family
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Save the UPdate | STN Commission Concert
Saturday, November 15 at 7pm
Theatre Y, 3611 W Cermak Rd
Join us on November 15 at Theatre Y in North Lawndale as we honor and celebrate the 2025 SAY THEIR NAMES commissioned artists, Donna "Dante" Marie Gary, Pugs Atomz, and Dr Tara Betts, with Anthony R. Green.
November 15, 7pm • Theatre Y
3611 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60623
For accessibility requests contact non [at] nonopera [dot] org
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UPDATE | Listening Across Neighborhoods
August - September 2025
North Lawndale, West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park
Listening Across Neighborhoods Presentation Class led by Phillip Purkett
 NON:op's 2025 iteration of Listening Across Neighborhoods featured daylong workshops at Theatre Y (August 9), Legler Regional Library (August 16), and Walls Turned Sideways (August23). Teaching artists, Sam Anthem, Mira Simonton-Chao, and Allen Moore, led seventeen youth on soundwalks, listening activities, and learning presentations. Youth came together from neighborhoods throughout Chicago including Garfield Park, North Lawndale, West Pullman, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, Monticello, Chatham, Galewood, Burnside, Belmont Cragin, and East Side. Guest Artist Marvin Tate led the first soundwalk where he took the youth on a journey to his past comparing the sounds of his youth in North Lawndale with the current sounds of neighborhood development. This past weekend, Guest Artist Damon Locks talked about his journey with sound introducing students to his electronic and sampling techniques.The final LAN sound workshop will took place at Walls Turned Sideways and featured Sound Artist Allen Moore who introduced his creative practice and lead students in a DIY cardboard turntable activity. Alex Boutros led the morning soundwalk. Following a week off for Labor Day, youth joined youth leadership trainer Phillip Purkett for public speaking and presentation workshops on September 6 and 13 at Legler Regional Library and St. Ignatius College Prep as they prepared their research presentations for public events at Walls Turned Sideways and the Guanacaste Listening Conference at St. Ignatius College Prep.
Listening Across Neighborhoods Presentation Class led by Phillip Purkett
PUBLIC PRESENTATION
October 25 • Guanacaste Listening Conference
St Ignatius College Prep • 1076 Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL 60608
St Ignatius College Prep is wheelchair accessible.
For other accessibility requests contact non [at] nonopera [dot] org
For more information about these events contact lan [at] nonopera [dot] org.
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 You Say It's
Your Birthday, Christophe!
65 Years Young and Counting
wow!
Wow!
WOW!HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHRISTOPHE!
Saba, Ja Nelle, and the rest of the NON:op family
Wish Christophe a Happy Birthday on his Facebook page. |
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[ NEW PROGRAM ] Equipment Sharing Program
Do you need AV equipment for your next show or project,
but can't afford to purchase or rent it?
?
NON:op Arts and Humanities is now offering audio and video equipment and services to other small Chicago non-profit organizations and individuals with whom we share a vision and creative aesthetic. This high-quality gear—purchased with funding from DCASE's CARP grant—may be used for both in-person and live-stream productions. Equipment and services will be made available at a very reasonable rate and/or in exchange for equipment and resources that we do not have.
Click HERE or above for more information about this exciting new program
or contact Theo at esp@nonopera.org.
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[ INTERACT ] New Digital Home and...
We are very, very excited to roll out our NEW NON:op Arts and Humanities website. After a year-long development with Designed Advantage (shout out to Greg Denagall!!) it HERE!!! This new interactive website will make it easy to directly participate in multiple NON:op projects. Check it out!
[ INTERACT ] New Physical Home!
We are very, very excited to announce that NON:op Arts and Humanities is moving to the Theatre Y building at 3611 West Cermak Road in North Lawndale. We are thrilled to be welcomed at Theatre Y by Melissa, the Actors, and Staff. At the beginning of 2025 we embraced the humanities programming we have been doing since 2020 by changing our organization's name to NON:op Arts and Humanities, and now we are moving to the Theatre Y building in North Lawndale to be closer to the communities that we serve. While we will not move in until later this year, we will be spending most of our time on Cermak. Come visit us!
Already in the past month, NON:op has provided technical and video support for Theatre Y’s Not To Be, a documentary shot inside Stateville Correctional Center. And NON:op's artistic director, Christophe Preissing, made his Theatre Y debut as a metaphor for police violence in Tortured By Blue by Stanley Howard, for which also created sound.
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[ PARTICIPATE ] 2025 Performances and Events
Mark your calendars for the following 2025 performances and Events:
- August - October: Season two of Listening Across Neighborhoods
- September 16: Performance of STRESS TEST, a new collaborative work by Christophe Preissing and Matt Bodett, Experimental Sound Studio
- September 27: LAN Youth Presentations at Walls Turned Sideways
- October 25: LAN Youth Presentations at St Ignatius College Prep
- November 15: SAY THEIR NAMES commission concert, Theatre Y
- December 11: Christophe Preissing, Liliana Wosko, and Eric Leonardson, Elastic Arts Improv Series
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[ WOW ] Fundraising News!
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IMPACT THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES: JOIN THE NON:op BOARD!
NON:op is growing, and like many organizations coming out of the pandemic, we are growing with projects, installations, and performances. It's quite an exciting time for us! Are you savvy about one or more aspects of running a non-profit? Join our board of directors. Do you have a passion for planning engaging events and projects? Join our programming committee. For more information, contact Christophe at non [at] nonopera [dot] org. And to find out more about NON:op Arts and Humanities and our initiatives visit our WEBSITE.
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Governing and Programming Board Positions
Do you believe in the work we are doing? If so, please contact non [at] nonopera [dot] org to find out how you can support NON:op as a Board member. NON:op is seeking creative, passionate, and inspired individuals to join our board of directors in one of the following roles:
Programming Committee
The programming committee meets monthly with the artistic director and is responsible for supporting current programming and devising and producing future programming and events.
Governing Committee
The governing committee is responsible for finances, governance, and legal matters in support of the organization and its programming. The governing committee meets once per quarter and is joined by members of the programming committee.
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 Volunteer, Intern, and Other OpportunitiesNON:op is seeking volunteers, interns, participants, assistants, artists, and all who have creative ideas and who would like to work with NON:op to implement a shared vision. Please contact Christophe at non [at] nonopera [dot] org if you would like to find out more and join us as we create an alternative future.
Click here to order and support NON:op and its artists. |
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Thank you for taking care of each other by staying indoors and practicing social distancing.
We hope you and yours are well and staying safe as we work to create an alternative future.
SHARE. INTERACT. COLLABORATE.
Christophe, Saba, Theo, Ja Nelle, Jason, and all of NON:op's creatives, staff, volunteers, and interns
NON:op is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Please consider supporting NON:op's program initiatives, creatives, and mission with a donation today.
All donations are tax deductible according to federal guidelines. Thank you.
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It is with a heavy heart that NON:op Arts and Humanities announces the passing of Theo Economides. Theo was NON:op's board member and techno-creative enabler, a kind and loving soul, and above all, a great and dear friend.
Theo did so much for NON:op—including sewing screens for our 2020 production of HPSCHD. I don't really know how he did everything he did. And he did it with grace and a joyous heart. Theo gave me a gift, the gift to appreciate and enjoy life, to be patient and generous with myself and others, and to be open to new challenges. Theo, I hold you in my heart, and I am a better person for having known you while you were here. You are in all of us who you touched. As he made individual memories with each person he met, we are able to remember him personally and to keep him alive in our hearts.
NON:op's 2025 iteration of 
Guest Artist 
You Say It's
Volunteer, Intern, and Other Opportunities
