With artistic director Brian Russell at the helm, talented individuals such as playwright Rick Cleveland in the ensemble, and a host of top directors and actors popping in for guest appearances, the American Theater Company (formerly American Blues Theatre) has become one of the most reliable off-Loop stages since it began in 1985. The company generally has focused on gritty American dramas (Mamet's American Buffalo, for instance, and works by Sam Shepherd and Thornton Wilder), but Russell has begun to introduce some comical, European, and even musical fare. Recent literary adaptations have included Catch-22 and Working, based on the book by veteran Chicago writer Studs Terkel. American Theater also rents its converted warehouse space to several smaller companies, including the highly inventive Defiant Theatre.