Instructor

Rueben is an accomplished Playwright, Director, Choreographer, Illustrator, Costume, Wig, and Makeup Designer. He is also a proud alumnus of Eta Creative Arts Foundation, having trained there from the age of 8 until 18; he then returned to work professionally as a Director, Choreographer. Rueben has over 10 years of experience as a Teaching Artist specializing in Secondary Education, English Literature, World History, and African American History through Theater. Mr. Echoles continued his service in Arts Education, executing numerous arts mentorship programs in the Chicagoland area.

For over 25 years, Rueben has had the pleasure of working with many theater companies across the country such as Black Ensemble Theater,(where he served as Associate Artistic Director, Resident Choreographer, Resident Wig Designer, and Associate Director of Arts Education) Mmpact, Congo Square, The Goodman Theatre, Refuge, Porchlight Music Theater, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Writers Theater, Theo Ubique, Invictus, and Studio One Dance Theater.

His most recent projects include Wig Design – She Who Dared at Chicago Opera Theater and Wig Design- Fat Ham at Cleveland Playhouse. Director of ‘Timon’ and ‘The Last Gatekeeper’ for Obsidian Theatre Festival in Detroit. Costume and Wig design - Fela at Olney Theater in DC. Director and Choreographer for In the Heights at UAC Theater, Choreography and Costume Design for The Color Purple with Phoenix Theater Company. Wig design for Rent at The Muny in St. Louis, as well as Costume Design for You Can’t Fake the Funk, which was featured at The National Black Theater Festival and earned Rueben A Joseph Jefferson award for best costume design in a Large Theater.

Rueben has also designed costumes for 4 Episodes for WTTW’s Chicago Stories docu- series, two of which (Ida B. Wells and The History of Gospel) have won Emmys for best production.