| Alice in Wonderland |
|
|
Chicago Kids Company at
St. Patrick Performing Arts Center- Stahl Family Theater |
 |
| |
| Follow Alice down the Rabbit Hole and into a land of wonder! Meet the Cheshire Cat, the March Hare, the Mad Hatter, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Queen of Hearts, and many more. This hilarious musical version features six original songs and a sing-along with Alice. Expect lots of fun for everyone and audience participation. Recommended for ages 2-12. |
|
|
| |
|
 |
| Ambrose Bierce: Tales and Times |
|
|
Lincoln Square Theater |
 |
| |
| Stories of soldiers and civilians and things that can never be. Satirist. Essayist. Poet. Storyteller. Bierce remains one of America’s most original voices. Nine new adaptations demonstrate why his lean stories of war, fantasy and horror still resonate nearly a century after the enigmatic author disappeared into the Mexican desert. Includes excerpts from the ‘Devil’s Dictionary’ and ‘Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’ described by Kurt Vonnegut as “…the best short story ever written.” |
|
|
| |
|
|
| America: All Better! |
|
|
Second City |
 |
| |
| Its official – the United States is moving forward. We have a new President taking office, sweeping international economic crisis, and the effects of global warming all around us. It’s time to fire up the Rahminator and transplant a little Midwestern charm to Washington making America: All Better! |
|
Watch a video preview of America: All Better!
|
| |
|
|
| An Apology For the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus on This His Final Evening |
|
|
Theater Oobleck at
Chopin Theatre |
 |
| |
| A lean, tragicomic version of the Faustus story, An Apology … presents Doctor Faustus in the last hour of his final night on earth – irritated, whining, drunk, and repentant of nothing save his failure to keep a proper diary. Over the course of this hour he rails against his silent servant Mephistopheles and tells the fantastic tale of his life – a life filled with wonders, as well as an immeasurably vast evil. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Arsenic and Old Lace |
|
|
Northwestern University Theatre at
Ethel M. Barber Theater - Northwestern |
 |
| |
| Never have murder and mayhem been this much fun! Directed by Tony Award-winner Frank Galati, Joseph Kesselring’s classic macabre farce-comedy features acclaimed Chicago artists John Mohrlein and Dennis Zacek and award-winning Northwestern faculty Cindy Gold and Mary Poole as the sinister, but hilarious sisters. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| As You Like It |
|
|
Loyola University Theatre |
 |
| |
| What happens when you’re banished from your kingdom, you’re in love with a wrestler, and you have to dress as a boy just to get by? It’s a classic case of mistaken identity and forbidden love in Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy, centering on relationships between young refugees finding shelter and discovering romantic possibilities in the countryside. The beautiful, banished Rosalind disguises herself as a boy to survive in the forest and win Orlando, challenging social boundaries in the process. In the end, however, exile and readjustment result in unexpected pairings and a reinvented expatriate community in the Bard’s classic gender-bending romp. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Audacity of Nope or How I Fell for a Pansy Scheme |
|
|
GayCo Productions at
Strawdog Theatre |
 |
| |
| In their newest comedy, GayCo dives into the gap: The gap between generations, between activists and pessimists, between what we expect and what we get. Skydiving lesbians try to say their vows before they cross state lines; Activists cross the line to Whactivism; young twinks and bitter old queens face-off in a final countdown; and Obama discovers that his BGFF's expect him to make good on his promises (as if!). |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Bastards of Young |
|
|
Tympanic Theatre Company at
Side Project |
 |
| |
| Assassins. Vultures. Cannibals. These are just a few of the lowly characters featured in Tympanic’s upcoming evening of explosive new work. With a colorful cast of killers, misfits, and just about every other offbeat outcast under the sun, there eight world premieres explore the horror, comedy, and humanity found in the most surreal dregs of society. Often twisted, often hilarious, and always armed to the teeth, Bastards of Young is a night of short plays unlike any other. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Berenstain Bears |
|
|
Northbrook Musical Theatre for Young Audiences at
Northbrook Theatre |
 |
| |
| There’s always lots to do in Bear Country! There’s a baby cub in the den and Papa Bear has to build a new bed. The treehouse is a mess and Mama Bear wants it cleaned up! Brother Bear is dealing with a neighborhood bully. An indoor soccer game causes trouble for the entire family. And to top it off, Sister Bear is starring in the Bear Country School production of “Grizzlystiltkins” and has stage fright. Northbrook Musical Theatre For Young Audiences brings to life Stan and Jan Berenstain’s delightfully classic Berenstain Bear Books. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Best Of Second City |
|
|
Second City |
 |
| |
| The Second City Touring Company presents best scenes and songs from the company's 45-year history, plus improv, with a different show each week. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Black Duckling |
|
|
Dream Theatre |
 |
| |
| In the darkness of the city, one light refuses to be extinguished. Part fantasy, part burlesque show, part macabre melodrama. Jeremy Menekseoglu takes you into a dark Dickensian city where a young girl struggles to keep her innocence in a world drowning in perversion and misery. |
|
Watch a video preview of The Black Duckling
|
| |
|
|
| Blue Man Group |
|
|
Briar Street Theatre |
 |
| |
| Blue Man Group is best known for its award-winning theatrical productions which critics have described as "ground-breaking," "hilarious," "visually stunning" and "musically powerful." These performances feature three enigmatic bald and blue characters who take the audience through a multi-sensory experience that combines theatre, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville into a form of entertainment that is like nothing else. |
|
Watch a video preview of Blue Man Group
|
| |
|
|
| Burlesque Is More |
|
|
Annoyance Theatre |
 |
| |
| Burlesque Is More is a holiday-themed burlesque show modeled after the very popular and very racy Burlesque/Improv show “Late Night Tit-Bits.” Combining the sexiness of burlesque with the hilarity of quality improv, the only thing more sparse than the clothing are the paper-thin plots - just the way it oughta' be. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| buROCKracy: Comedy by Committee |
|
|
Cornservatory |
 |
| |
| Corn Productions is pleased to announce the winners of The Original Improv Gladiators: Season Seven - buROCKracy. Oh, it was a brutal battle between the warrior improv teams in this hotly contested round, but at the sold-out Grande Finale on August 29th, like cream in a milk jug, buROCKracy rose to the top and captured the title, and we at Corn couldn’t be happier for them! Now they begin their victory lap with their show, buROCKracy: Comedy by Committee. buROCKracy: Comedy by Committee will be two kinds of shows, alternating every week. The first and third weeks will be a long form show with a special guest opener. The second and fourth weeks will be a Comedy Key Party, where invited improvisers will join in and then pull names out of a hat to choose the rosters of teams for that night. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Butch LaRue: Shotgun Wedding Planner |
|
|
Theatre Building Chicago |
 |
| |
| Sketch comedy group Butch LaRue takes a turn toward the absurd in their third irreverent revue. Foul-mouthed penguins on the lam, out-of-control kids, and way-off-Broadway musical numbers are just the beginning. Expect to laugh out loud at Butch LaRue’s take on relationships and social situations from the bedroom to the boardroom. Anything is fair game for these performers, who will charm you with larger-than-life characters and the occasional tune. The group’s last show at Theatre Building Chicago, Butch LaRue and the Underwear Gang, played to sold-out audiences. Don't miss their return engagement! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play |
|
|
Pub Theater at Fizz Chicago |
 |
| |
| Bye Bye Liver is an over-the-top comedic romp through the joys and pitfalls of Chicago's favorite past time. Complete with interactive drinking games that pit audience versus cast, male versus female, you get the picture. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| C'est la vie |
|
|
Light Opera Works at
McGaw YMCA |
 |
| |
| In 1950s Paris, Dominique and Fatiguée - two fading chanteuses - eke out a meager existence, forced to perform the songs of their archrival, the legendary Edith Piaf. Then one hilarious night, they take over the cabaret to give the show of their lives, with their own songs! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Calls to Blood |
|
|
The New Colony at
Royal George Theatre |
 |
| |
| Based on an extraordinary true story, Calls to Blood tells the darkly comic tragedy of the perfect American couple and their seemingly impenetrable happiness – even as they struggle to conceive the child they want so desperately. But in trying to find a solution to this continual failure, they unearth the one truth that can destroy everything upon which their perfect lives have been built. Staged in the intimate environment of the Royal George’s studio theater, the audience will be no more able to escape the emotionally powerful debate over the couple’s future than the couple’s own best friends and family. |
|
Watch a video preview of Calls To Blood
|
| |
|
|
| Charlotte's Web |
|
|
Steel Beam Theatre |
 |
| |
| Along comes the world's favorite spider and the piglet -- make that, Some
Piglet -- who befriends her in this musical adaptation of E.B. White's classic book. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Co-Ed Prison Sluts |
|
|
Annoyance Theatre |
 |
| |
| Return of company's flagship show. Inane residents of a prison live in fear of the arrival of The Clown...and the big fight never disappoints. Ellen Stoneking reprises the role of Dame Toulouse, joined by a cast of some of the brightest performers on the Chicago comedy scene. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| ComedySportz |
|
|
Comedy Sportz |
 |
| |
| ComedySportz shows offer a unique blend of fast and funny improvisational comedy that is appropriate fun for all ages. The Red and Blue teams battle it out in front of a referee in games that the audience selects, and points are awarded based on how quickly and effectively the performers complete the games. The eternal battle of Red vs. Blue is improvised 5 times weekly, and the show is never the same twice! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Cotton Patch Gospel |
|
|
Provision Theater Company |
 |
| |
| The revamped version of this entertaining musical features the reverential retelling of the Gospels of Matthew and John in a contemporary southern setting, set to bluegrass music. The award winning musical is based on the book The Cotton Patch Gospel of Matthew and John by Clarence Jordan, a Bible scholar and Civil Rights activist. Tom Key and Russell Treyz adapted Jordan's writtings and worked with the late Harry Chapin to create this musical stage version. |
|
Watch a video preview of Cotton Patch Gospel
|
| |
|
|
| Cuba and His Teddy Bear |
|
|
UrbanTheater Co. and PEOPLE*S THEATER of Chicago at
Batey Urbano |
 |
| |
| Cuba and His Teddy Bear, Reinaldo Povod’s explosive drama about the relationship between a small time drug dealer and his son, receives its Midwest premiere in a co-production by UrbanTheater Company and PEOPLE*S THEATER of Chicago. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Days to Come |
|
|
The Artistic Home |
 |
| |
| Filled with love, power, intrigue, and murder, this rarely produced work from one of America's premiere female playwrights, tells the story of a priveleged Midwestern family who must wrestle with the opposing forces of organized labor and union busters when employees at their small factory go on strike -- threatening their fortune, their friendships, and possibly their very existence. Exploring the intersection between the political and the personal, Days to Come examines the struggle for self-determination and the potential fallout that ensues when the disempowered begin to question traditional notions of class and gender. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Death of a Salesman |
|
|
Raven Theatre |
 |
| |
| Arthur Miller's quintessential masterpiece depicts an ordinary man, Willie Loman, a traveling salesman, in desperate pursuit of the American Dream for himself, his sympathetic wife, Linda and his two sons, Biff and Happy. Michael Menendian directs this revival, featuring Co-Artistic Director JoAnn Montemurro and Raven Ensemble Member Chuck Spencer as Linda and Willie Loman. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Dinner For Six |
|
|
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre |
 |
| |
| It’s been a sad and lonely three-year dry spell for David Pitner. But now, David has a potential new love interest, and if she gets along with his closest pals, then cue the Barry White. But as the saying goes, “With friends like these…” It’s an uproarious cross between The Forty-Year-Old Virgin and Meet the Parents, with a little bit of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels sprinkled in for good measure, in our latest After Dark Series production, Dinner for Sex Six. Come see a dinner to remember and a show you’ll never forget! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Dooby Dooby Moo |
|
|
Lifeline Theatre |
 |
| |
| The County Fair is coming, and the grand prize in the talent competition is a trampoline! Duck wants that prize, but with Farmer Brown watching around every corner, how will he hold singing rehearsals for Cow and Sheep, or dancing practice for Pig? Hop aboard Farmer Brown’s truck and travel to the fair with this new musical about sharing your talents and reaching for your dreams, by the same team that brought you "Click, Clack, Moo." |
|
|
| |
|
|
| End Days |
|
|
Next Theatre Company |
 |
| |
| When Elvis knocks, will you be ready? The Stein's are having an identity crisis: Mom has been "born again" and spends all day chatting with Jesus in the kitchen; Dad hasn't gotten out of his pajamas in weeks and is starting to smell; and 16 year old Rachel is coping by going "goth." Who will save this family? Jesus? Stephen Hawking? Or Rachel's awkward new classmate who shows up at their door in his Elvis jumpsuit? To everyone's surprise, the invasion of his big heart and blind optimism might be their best hope for a new beginning. |
|
Watch a video preview of End Days
|
| |
|
|
| Ernani |
|
|
Lyric Opera |
 |
| |
| Sumptuous sets reflecting moorish Spain at its most magnificent! More than 250 fabulous costumes! A rip-roaring Victor Hugo story! And the power of Verdi and full throttle! If you love rousing choruses that pulse with patriotism, full-blooded arias that pin you to the back of your seat, and big stars who create the kind of performance you never forget — then Ernani's a must-see for you. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Fake |
|
|
Steppenwolf Theatre |
 |
| |
| In 1914, renowned mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle invites four guests to his English country home. Each visitor has a connection to the infamous “Piltdown Man,” purported to be the missing link between ape and man—later exposed as a hoax. Swinging back and forth through time, Fake investigates how “Piltdown” rattled assumptions about evolution, faith and science—and how we are transformed by our quest for the truth. |
|
Watch a video preview of Fake
|
| |
|
|
| The Fantasticks |
|
|
Porchlight Music Theatre at
Theatre Building Chicago |
 |
| |
| The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in the world, and with good reason; it is a timeless fable of love that manages to be nostalgic and universal at the same time. It is a moving tale of young lovers who become disillusioned, only to discover a more mature, meaningful love. The Fantasticks is filled with catchy, memorable songs, by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt including the haunting ‘Try to Remember.’ |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Faust |
|
|
Lyric Opera |
 |
| |
| Wealth! Power! Youth! Love! Faust wants it all - and Mephistopheles lets him have it in return for his immortal soul. When you deal with the devil, everyone loses — as Faust soon discovers when he finds himself seducing the innocent Marguerite, humiliating the man who cherishes her, killing her brother, and driving her to madness and death. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Fedra: Queen of Haiti |
|
|
Lookingglass Theatre |
 |
| |
| Only the fiercely wicked pen of Ensemble Member J. Nicole Brooks (Black Diamond) could ignite the hidden power of this enduring myth. a re-telling of this magnitude that would make Seneca, Euripides and Jean Racine blush. Afrodite's fury is unleashed upon Haiti, the world's greatest superpower, in this story of power and lust. |
|
Watch a video preview of Fedra: Queen of Haiti
|
| |
|
|
| 1512 West Studebaker Place |
|
|
Brain Surgeon Theater at
Prop Theatre |
 |
| |
| Travel back in time to The Great Depression where eleven desperate tenants refuse to leave their house on Studebaker for fear of being locked out for good. This original production will bring a smile to your face as it uietly
breaks your heart. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Flowers |
|
|
About Face Theatre at
Stage Left Theatre |
 |
| |
| Obie Award-winning playwright Adam Bock returns to Chicago with this witty love letter to the theatre. The gay couple that runs The Flowers acting troupe is as star-crossed as the forty-year-old actors they have playing Romeo and Juliet. For one of them, the world has become too small. The other can’t imagine another life. Wry and real, this is a play about parting’s sweet sorrow. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Glorious Ones |
|
|
Bohemian Theatre Ensemble at
BoHo Theatre @ Heartland Studio |
 |
| |
| A jolly group of itinerant actors sing of themselves in The Glorious Ones, a new musical about the roistering life of the clowns who paved the streets of 16th-century Italy with sight gags and sex jokes. Based on the novel by Francine Prose, the musical tells how the troupe came to be and how it captured the public's adoration with its bawdy comedy, before changing artistic fashion altered its life. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Gossamer |
|
|
Adventure Stage Chicago |
 |
| |
| This fanciful and poignant play based on Lois Lowry's novel explores the power of dreams and the magical creatures that create them. An eager new Dream-Giver known only as Littlest One struggles to heal the hearts of an angry young boy, his grieving caregiver and his estranged mother before the haunting memories each of them carry become more than they can bear. But are the dreams Littlest One weaves strong enough to fortify and protect the fragile humans in her care? Beautifully staged using colorful masks and enchanting puppetry, GOSSAMER is recommended for ages 8 and older. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Graceland |
|
|
Profiles Theatre at
National Pastime Theater |
 |
| |
| Chicago's oldest cemetery is the backdrop for Graceland, the story of four lonely Chicagoans whose lives collide one August weekend while the Blue Angels airshow is in town. As fighter jets buzz the skies from dusk till dawn, estranged brother and sister Sam and Sara try to make sense of their father's recent suicide. Sara's one night stand with Joe, an aging lothario, brings further trouble in the form of Joe's mercurial teenage son, Miles. Graceland is a World premiere comedic drama about the loneliness of family, the tenderness of strangers and the unexpected benefits of bad decisions. |
|
Watch a video preview of Graceland
|
| |
|
|
| Hairspray |
|
|
Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire |
 |
| |
| From the tip-top of its super teased coif, to the bottom of its dynamic dancing toes, “You Can’t Stop the Beat” of this Broadway musical comedy phenomenon that inspired a major motion picture and won eight Tony awards, including Best Musical. Set in Baltimore in 1962, Hairspray is the story of the pleasantly plump teen, Tracy Turnblad, who will do whatever it takes to appear on the popular Corny Collins show and win the heart of Link Larkin, all without denting her ‘do. Direct from Broadway where it’s played for over 2,300 performances, Hairspray brings its hipness and hilarity to the Marriott stage. |
|
Watch a video preview of Hairspray
|
| |
|
|
| Heroes |
|
|
Remy Bumppo Theatre at
The Greenhouse Theater Center |
 |
| |
| Tom Stoppard's translation of Gerald Sibleyras' play won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. It's 1959 and Philippe, Gustave and Henri, three veterans from WWI keep each other company on the back terrace of a retired soldiers' home. Through a series of witty scenes, the men goad one another into new adventures. The men's cantankerous camaraderie becomes strained as they plot an expedition to Indochina, or at least as far as the poplar trees on the distant hill.
Listen to "Talk Theatre In Chicago" for an interview with Mike Nussbaum, one of the stars of Heroes.
 Listen
|
|
Watch a video preview of Heroes
|
| |
|
|
| High Holidays |
|
|
Goodman Theatre |
 |
| |
| This darkly comic and boisterous look at growing up in the Chicago suburbs during the early sixties is the story of 13-year old Billy Roman and the rollicking, anxiety-riddled preparations for his Bar Mitzvah. When Billy’s rebellious older brother returns from college during the Jewish high holidays, his family—the little Roman Empire—begins to wobble and crack as it is forced to examine some hard truths about coming of age in America. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Holes |
|
|
The Theatre School at DePaul University at
Merle Reskin Theatre |
 |
| |
| Fourteen year-old Stanley Yelnats’ bad luck lands him in Camp Green Lake where every day he is forced to dig holes under the hot Texas sun. Adapted from the book, which won the National Book Award and Newbery Medal, Holes is full of Stanley’s unexpected discoveries; local history, buried treasure, tall tales and true friendship. Recommended for ages 9 and up. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Home Front |
|
|
Thunder and Lightning Ensemble at
EP Theater |
 |
| |
| The year is 1973 and all throughout American suburbia, soldiers are returning from a falsely justified war to find a divided and disillusioned Home Front. As we prepare to bring home our troops from yet another war waged on falsehoods, is the American family any more prepared now? |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Horrible |
|
|
Hobo Junction at
Apollo Theater |
 |
| |
| Horrible, a romantically dark comedy for the holidays, is a story about love, death, cannibalism…and flowers. If you’re looking for an escape from sugarplum faeries you came to the right place. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The House on Mango Street |
|
|
Steppenwolf Theatre |
 |
| |
| Based on the book by celebrated Chicago writer Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street is a touching and humorous collection of vignettes told by a young girl growing up in one of Chicago’s Latino neighborhoods. Esperanza Cordero dreams of a new life far away from her tiny home on rundown Mango Street in this classic coming-of-age story about those defining experiences that shape our beliefs and help us discover who we are. |
|
Watch a video preview of The House on Mango Street
|
| |
|
|
| How to Act Around Cops |
|
|
The Artistic Home |
 |
| |
| Lauded as "an enigmatic, cool and entirely original play" by nytheater.com, the story begins on a deserted stretch of highway where a traffic cop pulls over two young men, only to find himself swept up in a web of lies that land him on the wrong side of the law. How far will he go to protect himself? Logan Brown and Matthew Benjamin's How to Act Around Cops is a hilarious take on the classic cop caper, with drugs, guns and bodies in car trunks. Weaving dark threads of casual violence with quick-fire dialogue and twisted humor, the play takes a wicked route down the traditional cops-and-robbers path with its intelligent examination of blame, innocence, and all shades of grey in between -- and will appeal to anyone who feels guilty as hell whenever they walk past a policeman. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Hundred Dresses |
|
|
Chicago Children's Theatre at
Royal George Theatre |
 |
| |
| Wanda Petronski speaks strangely, has a funny last name, and lives in the wrong part of town. Who would believe she has a closet full of one hundred beautiful dresses? The kids at Franklin Elementary School sure don't believe her. In The Hundred Dresses, Maddie Martin and Peggy Hawthorne learn first-hand the danger of stereotypes and harsh words. The Hundred Dresses is a poetic tale about the power of words and finding the courage to stand up for others, even if you are standing alone. For everyone ages 6 and up. |
|
Watch a video preview of The Hundred Dresses
|
| |
|
|
| Improv Children of the Corn 3 - Clustershuck |
|
|
Cornservatory |
|
| |
| Each evening a guest team will open the night and then the 3 teams will perform exciting long form scenes as well as join together for hilarious short form games, all of which promises to be more fun than any human should have in one night. Plus, did we mention that it’s BYOB, and it’s only $10?!?! Wow…I mean, WOW!!!!! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Jersey Boys |
|
|
Bank of America Theatre (formerly LaSalle Bank Theatre) |
 |
| |
| This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were thirty! JERSEY BOYS features their hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
|
|
Watch a video preview of Jersey Boys
|
| |
|
|
| Kill the Old Torture Their Young |
|
|
Steep Theatre |
 |
| |
| A lauded documentary filmmaker returns to his home town for the first time in ten years to make a film to put the city and its inhabitants back on the map. Between the drone of their routines, the emotional barriers they have constructed, and the rote pleasantries their exchange, is there any existence worth documenting? |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Last Unicorn |
|
|
Promethean Theatre Ensemble at
City Lit Theater |
 |
| |
| Adapted from Peter S. Beagle's beloved fantasy novel, this grown-up fairy tale follows the quest of the Unicorn: the most beautiful creature int he world, immortal, and magical besides, as she searches for her lost brothers and sisters. A world premiere adaptation incorporating puppetry, masks, movement and music. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Late Nite Catechism |
|
|
Royal George Theatre |
 |
| |
| Join the class in this interactive comedy, now in its 13th year, as Sister teaches her own brand of religious logic. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: A New Folk Musical |
|
|
Filament Theatre Ensemble at
The Viaduct |
 |
| |
| The people of Sleepy Hollow have gathered to tell the story of that fateful night that Ichabod Crane was spirited away by the Headless Horseman. By examining Ichabod’s story and sharing popular folk songs and ghost stories, they attempt to make sense of the horrifying tragedy that has become known as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Lettice and Lovage |
|
|
Redtwist Theatre |
 |
| |
| The electric and dazzling Letitia "Lettice" Douffet is a passionate, colorful middle-aged tour guide grappling with a mundane world and Lotte Schoen, her straight-laced employer who serves as her reality check. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Lion in Winter |
|
|
Albright Theatre Company |
 |
| |
| The Lion in Winter provides a fictional glimpse into the lives of England’s King Henry II and his dysfunctional family in 1183. The play focuses on the battle between Henry and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, over which one of their three sons will become the successor to the throne. It is a clever story of scheming and manipulation with a very funny script. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Little Women |
|
|
Circle Theatre |
 |
| |
| With their father serving as a chaplain in the Civil War, The March daughters grow up under the care of their mother in somewhat trying circumstances. Through trials and tribulations the sisters learn time and again that the love within their family is superior to material wealth. They persevere through squabbles and tragedies, but the bond only strengthens as marriages and new families emerge. This heart-warming tale of the endurance of family is perfect for the holidays and beyond. Circle's new adaptation will focus on the first part of the classic American novel, telling the story of a year in the life-- from Christmas to Christmas-- of the March sisters. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Lucinda's Bed |
|
|
Chicago Dramatists |
 |
| |
| Lucinda is six years old, and all she wants is to be good. But when the Monster under her bed introduces himself one night, Lucinda finds out that staying good will be harder than she thinks. Even when she’s grown and married, the Monster turns up in the most peculiar places. Can she ever find goodness in her life, or will there always be something sinister lurking just beneath the covers? Lucinda’s Bed was previously workshopped at the Ensemble Theatre in New York. |
|
Watch a video preview of Lucinda's Bed
|
| |
|
|
| The Magic Cabaret |
|
|
The Greenhouse Theater Center |
 |
| |
| In the Golden Age of Magic, during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, Chicago was a major center for magic in the United States. Great magicians gathered here to amaze audiences in theaters and parlors, nightclubs and showrooms, restaurants and bars throughout the city. The Magic Cabaret reawakens the Chicago magic tradition and brings it to modern audiences eager for mystery and wonder. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Magic Chicago |
|
|
City Lit Theater |
 |
| |
| Now celebrating their 5th year as Chicago's premiere showcase for magic, mystery and wonder. Every show is different -- and with every show Benjamin Barnes and Robert Charles welcome unique magical guests.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Man of La Mancha |
|
|
Theo Ubique at
No Exit Cafe |
 |
| |
| The musical Man of La Mancha holds significant importance to one of our theatre's key backers, Michael James (his father was the original producer). Now come see what a production of Man of La Mancha means in the 21st Century!
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Man Who Was Thursday |
|
|
New Leaf Theatre at
Lincoln Park Cultural Center |
 |
| |
| Adapted from G.K. Chesterton's 1908 novel by Neo-Futurist ensemble member and New Leaf collaborator Bilal Dardai, The Man Who Was Thursday is part espionage thriller, part comedy of manners, part outright farce. Directed by New Leaf Artistic Director Jessica Hutchinson, The Man Who Was Thursday interrogates who we really are, where our loyalties lie and how far we’ll go to defend them. |
|
Watch a video preview of The Man Who Was Thursday
|
| |
|
|
| The Mercy Seat |
|
|
Profiles Theatre |
 |
| |
| In a time of national tragedy, the world changes overnight. On September 12, 2001, Ben Harcourt finds himself in the downtown apartment of his lover, Abby Prescott. Over the course of the night, Ben and Abby explore the choices now available to them in an existence different from the one they knew just the day before. LaBute presents the brutal realities of their relationship and explores whether one can be truly opportunistic in a time of universal selflessness. |
|
Watch a video preview of The Mercy Seat
|
| |
|
|
| The Message Is In The Music |
|
|
Black Ensemble Theater |
 |
| |
| The Message Is In The Music (God Is A Black Man Named Ricky) is Black Ensemble’s new look at an old story, the fight of good against evil and the struggle between love and hate, where the battlefield is the universe and beyond. “The Message Is In The Music” tells an old story with a new twist, and in true Black Ensemble fashion, although we already know the ending, the road is paved with rollicking laughter, devilish dance and a whole lot of heavenly sounds. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Million Dollar Quartet |
|
|
Dee Gee Theatricals & John Cossette Productions at
Apollo Theater |
 |
| |
| On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought together Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. The place was Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was the “Father of Rock-n-Roll,” Sam Phillips, who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording session that embodied the birth of rock ‘n’ roll and has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time. |
|
Watch a video preview of Million Dollar Quartet
|
| |
|
|
| The Modern Prometheus |
|
|
RBP Rorschack |
 |
| |
| In the midst of the Franco-Prussian war, Ingolstadt’s substitute doctor is not exactly what he seems to be. Victor Frankenstein is brilliant, yes, but not a traditional physician by any means. Pastor Friedmann already has deep suspicions, but when Elizabeth, Victor’s fiancé, arrives unexpectedly, she ignites a dangerous spark that pits science against religion for the very souls of Ingolstadt, and possibly the world. Passions are high as Victor is convinced science will usher in a brave new world; but this has dangerous repercussions for the institutions of church and state. Elizabeth, as well as the audience, is caught in the middle, forced to consider the dangerous implications of a seemingly impossible future. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Mojo Mickybo |
|
|
Seanachaí Theatre Company at
The Artistic Home |
 |
| |
| Like their heroes Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, it's wee lads Mojo and Mickybo against the world in this bittersweet tale of innocence lost. Two actors play 17 characters in Owen McCafferty's rollicking and poignant thrill ride through 1970 Belfast. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Mrs. Grubers Ding Dong School |
|
|
Robot vs. Dinosaur at
Gorilla Tango Theatre |
 |
| |
| Ding dong! Ding dong! Do you hear the school bell ring? What shall we learn about today? Science? Geography? How about soul-crushing reality? Or what happens when a monkey meets a toaster? Oh, so much to learn! Welcome to Mrs. Gruber’s Ding Dong school! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Murder in Green Meadows |
|
|
Citadel Theatre at
Gorton Center |
 |
| |
| The story involves two couples living in a quiet suburban neighborhood where beneath their middle-American exteriors lurks something truly rotten. The diabolical plot continues to thicken throughout the performance until the final tense showdown between a murderer and an aggrieved widow. With performances held at the intimate setting of the Grotto in the Gorton Center, audience members will get up close and personal with these sensational characters. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Music Man |
|
|
Rising Stars Theatre Company |
 |
| |
| Classical Broadway musical by Meredith Wilson featuring such songs as 76 trombones, Gary, Indiana and Till There Was You. The show revolves around a slick, fast talking traveling salesman who wins over a small Iowa town with the promise of a kids band while falling in love with their stubborn spinster librarian. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Musical DEEP |
|
|
Go Bo Bo Productions at
Gorilla Tango Theatre |
 |
| |
| Musical DEEP is an experimental musical parody about a group of young hipsters who come together with one goal in mind: to create a DEEP piece of experimental theatre. Through musical vignettes and the mysterious guidance from an Elder Artist, the new-generation hipsters come to the conclusion that the way to successfully create DEEP experimental theatre is to corrupt their personal lives in order to create in a RAW, RISK-TAKING manner. What they come to discover is their own hopelessness, confusion, and self-worth that goes along with growing up as an ARTIST. Though their journey to the DEEP tears them apart emotionally, it DOES unite them in one finale song and dance number the whole family is bound to enjoy! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Night Watch |
|
|
Jedlicka Performing Arts Center |
 |
| |
| In Night Watch, an unbalanced society woman witnesses two murders across a dark alley…or does she?! This suspenseful thriller, in the tradition of Rear Window and Wait Until Dark keep you guessing until the very end. |
|
Watch a video preview of Night Watch
|
| |
|
|
| 1985 |
|
|
The Factory Theater at
Prop Theatre |
 |
| |
| Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. There will be no loyalty, except loyalty toward BEAR NATION. There will be no love, except the love of Papa Bear. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on Packers & the like who are helpless. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot shuffling across a human face... Forever! Bear Down! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| ObamaNation: Revised Edition! |
|
|
4 Days Late at
Playground Theater |
 |
| |
| Barack Obama is our new President, and 4 Days Late wants to know… now what? Once described as “a drunken professor taking a leak on a Norman Rockwell painting”, 4 Days Late pokes fun at our new obsession with change in the newly revised and remounted edition of their latest sketch comedy review, ObamaNation. Those who worship Obama, those who fear him, and those who expected just a little bit more, all hit the stage at an absurd angle in ObamaNation: Revised Edition. If you miss this show AGAIN, everything stays the same. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Original Improv Gladiators - Season Eight |
|
|
Cornservatory |
|
| |
| Besides Thanksgiving, November is a boring month…stuck between Halloween and Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza etc etc…So why not get into some improv competition with The Original Improv Gladiators – Season Eight! On the heels of the success of TOIG – Season Seven comes a fun filled packed season of great improv teams, great improv judges and of course great improv gladiators, all here to get your comedy juices going! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Phedra |
|
|
New World Repertory Theater |
 |
| |
| Robert David MacDonald’s translation captures the dramatic beauty and power of Racine’s original French poetry. Based on ancient myths, the tragedy examines how love and unabated passions can destroy us all. “Phèdra” is cursed by the gods to love her step-son, Hippolytus, who hides a secret love affair of his own. Emotional, turbulent and sexy, Phèdra is a mythical soap opera for the contemporary audience. Directed by theater movement specialist Alison Henderson, the production will be based on movement theorist Rudolf Laban’s movement analysis |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Pillowman |
|
|
The Theatre School at DePaul University at
The Greenhouse Theater Center |
 |
| |
| This new award-winning dark comedy centers on a writer, his stories, and
the disturbed inspirations lurking within them. When arrested and
questioned for his violent imaginings by agents of a totalitarian state,
Katurian's resolve is strengthened in a Kafka-esque quest for justice.
In tackling this disquieting tale, director BeVard seeks the truth
behind motive and the legacy of the written word. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Pump Boys and Dinettes |
|
|
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre |
|
| |
| Welcome to Highway 57! Home to fun-loving gas station pump boys Jim and LM and the very vivacious Prudie and Rhetta Cupp of the Double Cupp Diner. They live in their own country, blues and rock n roll heaven, singing through the days and dancing the nights away. Whether they’re singing about checking out the heartthrob cashier at Woolworths, having a private concert with Dolly Parton, or just wanting bigger tips, this cheery crew will get you into the groove of their rockin’ tunes. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Rachel Corn and the Secret Society |
|
|
Cornservatory |
|
| |
| The Corn family is off to Washington, D.C. for another mysterious adventure and Rachel is ready to lead her team to victory in the Brain Bowl but when she discovers there is more to the other team than meets the eye she has to solve the mystery. With secret passages, cryptic messages and too many twists and turns to mention, can Rachel save the day before things get out of hand? Bring the whole family and help the Corn family solve the mystery. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Resurrection |
|
|
eta Creative Arts Foundation |
 |
| |
| Resurrection explores the personal and political complexities of being a black man in America. Through monologues and poetry, Beaty creates a world of six interconnected black men ranging in age from 10 to 60 trying to work through their issues. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Rhymes With Evil |
|
|
InFusion Theatre Company at
Storefront Theater |
 |
| |
| For this Midwest premiere, InFusion Theatre Company brings creepy puppets and visual spectacle to a very human tale of an imaginative and inventive stay-at-home dad. In his Midwest farm house, he creates a beautiful yet bizarre world of puppets, costumed characters and fanciful stories for his young daughter. But all is not what it seems in this suspense-filled and disturbing tale of love, loss and danger appropriate for the Halloween season. |
|
Watch a video preview of Rhymes With Evil
|
| |
|
|
| Richard III |
|
|
Chicago Shakespeare Theater |
 |
| |
| CST Artistic Director Barbara Gains opens the season with this epic history of Shakespeare's most fascinating villain. Fueled by a relentless ambition and savage wit, the hunchbacked Richard, Duke of Gloucester, seduces and murders his way to the English throne in a treacherous tale that has captivated audiences across the centuries. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Romeo and Juliet |
|
|
Janus Theatre Company at
Elgin Art Showcase |
 |
| |
| Shakespeare’s timeless story of fatal young love gets a new look with an all-female cast in Janus Theatre’s modern dress production. This fast-paced production promises to illuminate Shakespeare’s play in a whole new way. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead |
|
|
Writers' Theatre |
 |
| |
| Hamlet, Shakespeare’s greatest drama, is retold from the perspective of his schoolmates, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, in Tom Stoppard’s comedic masterpiece. Equal parts Laurel and Hardy, Waiting for Godot and classic Shakespeare, Stoppard’s scintillating wit, far-reaching imagination and astonishing skill with words traces the journey of these fascinating characters as they struggle to avoid the inevitability of the Bard’s tragic conclusion. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Saints and Sinners |
|
|
Royal George Theatre |
 |
| |
| There's a new nun in town and Vicki Quade, creator of the hit show Late Nite Catechism, introduces us to Mother Superior in her new show, Saints & Sinners. Mother Superior's ruler is quick, her aim is spot-on, and she wants to know who in the audience is a saint and who are the sinners! Quade calls the show “a funny look at fundraising. Mother Superior is called by the archdiocese to St. Bruno's to help in their fundraising. The economy is tough, donations are down, and someone has to save the parish! Her clever idea: a calendar of famous saints and famous sinners. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Sex |
|
|
Prologue Theatre Co. at
North Lakeside Cultural Center |
 |
| |
| Margy is one of the most in-demand ladies on the block, and makes plenty of jack to keep herself in furs and gin. However, when her pimp Rocky tries to work over a visiting society dame, Margy's left in a tough spot with the police. She flees Montreal to follow the British fleet with her long-time customer Lieutenant Gregg. In a Trinidad nightclub (complete with rip-roaring live music), Margy meets the kind of man she never expected to love: one who doesn't know about her past. She must decide if she can give up her wild ways for the straight life with a boy who loves her, or if she'll always be just what she is. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Shootin' The Shit with EJ and TJ |
|
|
Annoyance Theatre |
|
| |
| Featuring powerhouse improvisers TJ Jagodowski , EJ Scott, and a different guest each night “Shootin' The Shit” is a single, 40 minute improvised scene set in a bar. The last night of the run, Friday, November 20, will feature a collection of friends for a more raucus night of improv. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Silent Nightmare - A Christmas Dirge |
|
|
Annoyance Theatre |
|
| |
| Santa's elves are plotting a revolution, a killer just escaped from prison and is hitching her way home, the Reingold daughter has gone missing, & Archibald Tuck is one murderously disgruntled employee. These stories and more are all about to experience their own nightmarishly twisted holiday miracle. Bringing you joy whether you want it or not! Come experience all the tragically comedic fun this holiday season at The Annoyance. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Spectacular Comedy Spectacle |
|
|
Lakewood Manor Players at
Theatre Building Chicago |
 |
| |
| Viral video aficionados the Lakewood Manor Players present a one-time-only live comedy event that's guaranteed to be the greatest show you'll ever see them perform on those dates. Enjoy a ride inside the brain of one of Chicago's sharpest troupes, just keep your hands inside at all times. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Spoon River Anthology |
|
|
Saint Sebastian Players at
St. Bonaventure Church |
 |
| |
| Masters created the town of Spoon River as an amalgam of several small towns in central Illinois, where he was raised. A variety of characters from this fictional town deliver epitaphic monologues with haunting honesty, on topics such as their lives, loves, triumphs and tragedies. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| A Streetcar Named Desire |
|
|
Polarity Ensemble Theatre at
Josephinum Academy |
 |
| |
| Set against the steamy backdrop of New Orleans' French Quarter, A Streetcar Named Desire tells the story of Blanche DuBois, a faded Southern belle driven to madness by fate and her brutish brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski. Ann Keen (Director of Polarity's critically-acclaimed Hamlet) has assembled a cast chock full of Polarity ensemble members in a production that, in the Polarity tradition, breaks the play down to its gritty essentials, and rebuilds it with unique elements, such as a live violin playing counterpoint to Blanche's emotional journey. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Studs Terkel's Not Working |
|
|
Second City |
 |
| |
| On the corner of North & Wells, a crowd gathers to laugh, relax and enjoy a cast of six talented actors take the piss out of what our world has become and how we got here. We've lost many things, but one thing will always stay the same – Chicago. We'll always have crooked politicians, civic pride and that crazy guy at Foster & Broadway. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Sublime Beauty Of Hands and Klown Kantos |
|
|
Theatre Zarko |
 |
| |
| Created for the Infinitesimals Festival at Links Hall in Chicago in 2004 and remounted for the Winterroot Festival at Links Hall in 2005 and the Tulipanes Festival in Holland, Michigan in 2007, this piece explores the vicious cycle of modern technology that destroys and then attempts to redress the wrongs it creates. "Sublime Beauty" is paired with "Klown Kantos", a set of seven short comic pieces.
Listen to "Talk Theatre In Chicago" for an interview with Michael Montenegro, the artistic director of the newly-founded puppet theatre, Theatre Zarko, who joins Anne Nicholson Weber to talk about the unique capabilities and limitations of puppet theatre.
Listen
|
|
Watch a video preview of The Sublime Beauty Of Hands and Klown Kantos
|
| |
|
|
| Summer People |
|
|
The Gift Theatre |
 |
| |
| Set in coastal Maine and Fallujah , Iraq in the summer of 2004, Summer People is about what happens behind the Home Front with a girl about to grow up, a family about to rebuild, and a soldier about to return. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Supernatural Chicago |
|
|
Excalibur Nightclub |
 |
| |
| "Is it real? Or isn't it?," marvels the Chicago Tribune. So will you, when you experience this funny and slightly creepy one-man show by Neil Tobin, Necromancer that explores the true stories of Chicago's paranormal past, and brings them to life for the audience through interactive demonstrations of psychic magic. It all takes place in the landmark (and reputedly haunted) Excalibur nightclub. Now in its fourth year of weekly performances. |
|
Watch a video preview of Supernatural Chicago
|
| |
|
|
| Ten Square |
|
|
MPAACT at
Truman College- O'Rourke Theatre |
 |
| |
| On the heels of the government’s apology to African-Americans for slavery, the Reparations Movement was born. The movement was successful, checks were written to the descendants of slaves and the seeds for a new America were sown. Ten Square is one of the cities that emerged in "New America" and the life of the African-American community has been forever altered. We watch Roosevelt, a soldier duty bound to protect the new world order and a resident of Ten Square, negotiate his obligations to his lover, his family and his government.
|
|
Watch a video preview of Ten Square
|
| |
|
|
| These Shining Lives |
|
|
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble at
Raven Theatre |
 |
| |
| Melanie Marnich’s play chronicles the real lives of women who worked at the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois and their fiercely fought battle-as part of a class-action lawsuit-to hold the Radium Dial Company accountable for its negligence involving radium poisoning. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Thoroughly Modern Millie |
|
|
Drury Lane- Oakbrook |
 |
| |
| Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the humorous story of a young girl from Kansas who takes New York City by storm as she flaps, taps and Charlestons her way into the Roaring ‘20s. Millie experiences the hustle and bustle of Jazz Age Manhattan at a time when women were just entering the workforce and rewriting society’s rules. A funny, romantic story about following dreams and falling in love, Thoroughly Modern Millie was hailed as "a thoroughly delightful experience" by USA Today. The show features new hits including "I Turned the Corner,” "They Don't Know,” and "Long As I'm Here with You." |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Tommy Gun's Garage |
|
|
Tommy Gun's Garage |
 |
| |
| The restaurant-cabaret presents a Roaring 20s-themed musical comedy revue in a speakeasy seting, with dining and drinking integrated into the show. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind |
|
|
Neo-Futurists |
 |
| |
| Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind is the theater's signature show and one of the longest-running shows in Chicago. A one-hour blitz of 30 extremely brief plays, it changes every week as ensemble members add new plays. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| The Tortoise and the Hare |
|
|
Chicago Kids Company at
Beverly Arts Center |
 |
| |
| It’s a race to the finish—but who will win? The “Slow and Steady” Tortoise or the “Fast and Furious” Hare? Cheer along with a cast of crazy animals as two contestants race across town. This musical version of the fable features five original songs, including two sing-alongs. Expect lots of fun for everyone and audience participation. Recommended for ages 2-12. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Tosca |
|
|
Lyric Opera |
|
| |
| There stands Scapia- Rome's feared chief of police- savoring the thought of ravishing the diva Tosca and murdering her rebel lover - as he listens to mass! Will Tosca endure a fate worse that death to save her Cavaradossi from the firing squad? The desperate heroine does what she needs to do in this famous all-time crowd pleaser that bristles with lust, politics, and violence. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Treasure Island |
|
|
Lifeline Theatre |
 |
| |
| A treasure map discovered in a dead pirate’s sea-chest leads young Jim Hawkins on an expedition across the ocean to recover a fortune in plundered gold. Fair winds and favorable seas soon give way to mutiny, greed and the evil machinations of a one-legged scoundrel named Long John Silver. Join Jim on an unforgettable adventure to Skeleton Island, as he fights for his life - and the lives of his friends - in this legendary tale of piracy and heroism. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Two By Pinter: The Lover and The Collection |
|
|
Piven Theatre |
 |
| |
| Is it all a game, or isn't it? Flirting between sexual fantasy and danger, acts of betrayal are turned upside down in these two short plays by Harold Pinter. Joyce Piven (Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus) returns to the stage to direct these two tales of sexual intrigue. |
|
Watch a video preview of Two By Pinter
|
| |
|
|
| UFC: Under Forced Closure |
|
|
Annoyance Theatre |
 |
| |
| For 30 years Jon Broadway and the LeSabre sisters have been hosting a gaggle of quality variety acts... and some that they just can't get rid of. The Las Vegas lounge is being demolished to make way for the Ultimate Fighting Championship's new mixed marital arts-themed casino. The theatre is set to go under the wrecking ball after the show, so please be prompt - we don't want to run long! |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Votes For Women! |
|
|
ShawChicago at
Ruth Page Center For Arts |
 |
| |
| Written by the American actress Elizabeth Robins in 1906, Votes for Women! is an early feminist work that confronts how men sexually exploit women. The story’s heroines must not only open the eyes of their fellow female peers, but also must save men from their own dark nature. Votes for Women! is being presented in celebration of the 90th anniversary of women's suffrage in the U.S. Robins was noted for her feminist views and was a fan of playwright Henrik Ibsen, a fellow champion of women's rights. Robins was very active in the Women’s Suffrage Movement in England and wrote this play to further the cause in England and America. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| When She Danced |
|
|
TimeLine Theatre Company |
 |
| |
| Travel to Paris in 1923 for this gorgeous and incredibly funny portrait of legendary dancer Isadora Duncan. The so-called mother of modern dance is desperate to keep herself financially solvent and to realize her dream for retirement: the chance to inspire young dancers with her art. With a multi-lingual script of great heart and appeal, Sherman mixes the high comedy of a colorful cast of characters with a poignant view of the importance of the arts to move and inspire us. Through the eyes of those in Duncan’s life we glimpse her greatness and how she touched so many lives when she danced. |
|
Watch a video preview of When She Danced
|
| |
|
|
| Yeast Nation (the triumph of life) |
|
|
American Theatre Company |
 |
| |
| The Primordial Soup. 3,000,458,000 B.C. The world’s first family, a colony of salt-eating yeasts, float in the brine of the primordial soup under the rule of a tyrannical baritone. When resources deplete and fear pervades, the faith of a single-celled dreamer starts an evolutionary chain reaction that changes the course of existence forever. ATC brings together an all-star Chicago cast including Barbara Robertson, Gary Houston, Michael Mahler, Phil Ridarelli and many more. Here come the Yeasts! |
|
Watch a video preview of Yeast Nation
|
| |
|
|
| You Can't Take It With You |
|
|
Village Players Performing Arts Center |
 |
| |
| Can your in-laws top the Sycamores? This family is excited to hear of daughter Alice's engagement to Wall Street heir Tony Kirby. However, Alice doesn't want to introduce Tony to her mother's bad plays, her father's hand-made fireworks, and her sister's horrible ballerina skills. As the two families get to know each other over dinner, disaster ensues causing Alice and Tony's engagement to be on the rocks. Can the ordinary and dull Kirbys learn to love the extraordinarily bizarre Sycamores? "You Can't Take It With You" is an uproarious tale of love and strange circumstances that shows why family is so important in this fast moving country. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| Young Frankenstein |
|
|
Cadillac Palace Theatre |
 |
| |
| The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE! The sensational cast delivers favorite moments from the classic film, plus brand-new numbers for the stage. This inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein as he attempts to create a monster—but not without scary and hilarious complications. The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three-time Tony Award-winner Mel Brooks who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book—along with his record-breaking team from The Producers. |
|
Watch a video preview of Young Frankenstein
|
| |
|
|
| Your Friends and Enemies |
|
|
Annoyance Theatre |
|
| |
| Dark and satirical, “Your Friends and Enemies” proposes that the people you like and the people you hate are actually one and the same. Scoffing at the idea of an autobiographical one-man show, Hartman chooses instead to explore the creepy, the marginalized, and the perverse. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
