Allison Hendrix is a Chicago-based theatre artist and musician. She is the co-founder and former Producing Artistic Director of Kokandy Productions, a nonprofit musical theatre company she built from the ground up into one of Chicago's most acclaimed storefront companies.
Her career credits include Directing (Little Fish and Loving Repeating, Kokandy Productions; Big Gay Nightmare, Steppenwolf's LookOut Series), Acting (Company, Writers Theatre; Into the Woods, The Hypocrites; Assassins and The Last Five Years, Kokandy Productions), and Music Direction/Piano (Kokandy Productions, Porchlight Music Theatre, Boho Theatre). She has also had an active presence in Chicago's storytelling and cabaret scenes, including performances with You're Being Ridiculous, and has performed at numerous galas and community fundraising events throughout the city.
As an educator, her work spans from early childhood to university instruction, including music direction with Broadway in Chicago's educational workshop program and The Chicago Academy for the Arts, vocal coaching in Northwestern University's music theatre program, and adjunct faculty positions with Concordia University and Dominican University.
She currently serves as Board President of Stages Chicago, a performing arts education nonprofit dedicated to bringing the highest-quality, developmentally appropriate performing arts experiences to children and families.
Performance, Education,
& Leadership
Production Highlights
Performing at
Hey Nonny
(Arlington Heights)
Company, Writers Theatre (Glencoe)
"A masterful Allison Hendrix, as nervous bride Amy, eschews manic comedy for real and pained indecision in “Getting Married Today.”
- Time Out Chicago
Assassins (Kokandy Productions)
The Last Five Years
Kokandy Productions
"...[A] neurotic but fiery turn as Catherine Hiatt, who finds her creative vessel becalmed in the wake of husband Jamie’s speedboat of a career. Anna Kendrick is tackling the role in the in-the-works film version, but it’s hard to imagine that she could do much better than Hendrix in “Climbing Uphill,” in which Cathy tries mightily to drown out the negative voices in her head at yet another crummy audition. Hendrix plays the number like an edgier version of Carol Burnett, all big-eyed yearning and barely disguised self-loathing.
- Chicago Tribune
"...[as] Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, [her] portrayal has a touch of genius"
- Chicago Sun-Times
Into the Woods
(The Baker's Wife)
with The Hypocrites
Loving Repeating (Director)
"[In] Allison Hendrix's sensitive staging...the production's intimacy contributes to its impact. Highly Recommended"
- TimeOut Chicago
"Director Allison Hendrix has captured the true essence of this piece...an enthusiastic celebration of life, love, and art."
- Chicago Theatre Review
"yearning and vulnerable"
- Chicago On the Aisle
"The comedy is timed to perfection throughout the show. Allison Hendrix...brings the amusing I-Love-Lucy conniving." - The Fourth Walsh
"Little Fish is a refreshingly thoughtful, nuanced, and contemplative portrait of a woman trying to live one moment at a time. Under Artistic Director Allison Hendrix's direction, Charlotte's quest is poignant and engaging, and evades the trap of self-indulgence."
- PerformInk
"quick-moving and quick-witted"
- TimeOut Chicago
Little Fish (Director)
"...the best-sung and best-acted Assassins I've seen" - TimeOutChicago
To learn more about Allison's work in performing arts education and nonprofit leadership:
MORE INFO COMING SOON