Clockwise Theatre in Waukegan closes

Clockwise Theatre in Waukegan closed abruptly Thursday.

Money troubles, which forced Fox Valley Repertory in St. Charles to shut its doors in October, also played a role in the demise of Clockwise, a professional theater that actor/playwright Madelyn Sergel founded six years ago as a showcase for new works.

Sergel served as the theater's volunteer artistic director until she resigned in 2015. To remain open, Clockwise hired paid employees hoping increased revenue would offset the additional expense, said Melanie Rummel, president of Clockwise's board of directors.

That was not the case.

"We have a dedicated group of theatergoers and wonderful supporters, but in the long run, it wasn't going to be enough to make the model work," said Rummel, who thanked Sergel and her successor Bob Sanders for their dedication and Waukegan officials for their support.

"We're thrilled we were able to do timely, smart theater for as long as we were able to do it," she said. "It was very stimulating theater, sometimes cutting-edge, sometimes daring but also exciting ... Perhaps that was one of the challenges."

Season subscribers seeking refunds should call (847) 295-8800.