‘Smiley’ and ‘The Swallow’ arrive in Chicago
In 2026 Chicago has hosted two plays by Guillem Clua in English at Open Space Arts. In summer, Smiley arrived at the venue as its North American English premiere; in September, The Swallow, the English version of La golondrina translated by Tim Gutteridge, was presented.
The production of Smiley, directed by Jack Dugan Carpenter and performed by Seth Kobs and Ayden Lopez, ran from 5 June to 19 July. The comedy, set in Barcelona, begins with a voice message sent by mistake that brings Álex and Bruno into contact.
The Swallow premiered in Chicago on 11 September, directed by Laine Rogers and featuring Michelle McKenzie-Voigt and Jim Nally. Open Space Arts extended the run until 18 October. The play takes place during a singing lesson that gradually reveals the story and the unexpected bond between its two characters.
One clarification about its journey: Chicago is the local premiere of The Swallow, but not its first performance in English in the United States; the play had already been performed in Washington in 2025. By contrast, Open Space Arts presented Smiley as its North American English premiere.
