Max Amini is a world-renowned comedian, producer, director, and podcaster who has redefined stand-up comedy in the digital age. As the founder and CEO of Abstraction Media, he has built a comedy empire from the ground up. With over 25.7 million followers and 5.8 billion views in 2025 alone, he is currently the most-watched comedian on Instagram globally. His YouTube channel ranks as the #1 fastest-growing comedy channel in the US, with audiences tuning in from every country in the world.

In this original dark comedy, 36-year-old actress Nina Sallinen, portrays a 90 year-old Grande Dame (also named Nina Sallinen) of the Scandinavian Theater. The old actress has brazenly chosen Shakespeare’s King Lear as the material for her final artistic farewell performance. She has a special interest in the theme as she believes her own two daughters to be just as greedy and neglectful as King Lear’s. The performance, which she stages in her own apartment, unintentionally highlights the artist’s own life story, as she gradually becomes cognizant of the deeper parallels between her life and that of King Lear’s. Instead of shaking up her own daughters with her performance, the old diva shakes up herself. Her priorities and past choices come into question.

Peppa Pig, along with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, George and new baby sister Evie, are coming to SKOKIE for PEPPA PIG: MY FIRST CONCERT - a fun, interactive introduction to a live orchestra for ages 18 months and older. Join Peppa and George to learn all about the different sounds that instruments make together! Enjoy some of your favorite music from the show played by a live orchestra and discover some other exciting orchestral pieces perfect for children. Plus, some little piggies can join Peppa and her family to make music of their own!

On the Day of the Dead, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo crosses over from the underworld for 24 short hours with Diego Rivera, who remains in the living world, alone and grieving her loss. Lyric Opera of Chicago presents El último sueño de Frida y Diego, which had its critically acclaimed world premiere in 2022 and brings the legendary marriage — and revolutionary art — of Frida and Diego to the stage with vivid colors, surrealist touches, and lush, evocative music sung in Spanish and inspired by Mexican folk music traditions.

Candlelight: Anime Soundtracks brings a glowing, multi-sensory concert experience to life as the Metropolis String Quartet performs iconic themes from beloved anime by candlelight, transforming familiar melodies into rich, cinematic string arrangements that move from adrenaline and drama to tenderness and nostalgia. The program draws from major hits across genres and eras—featuring music from Demon Slayer (“Gurenge”), Jujutsu Kaisen (“Kaikai Kitan”), BEASTARS (“Monster”), Detective Conan (the “Case Closed Theme”), ONE PIECE (“New Genesis” and “The Peak”), Yuri!!! On Ice (“In Regards to Love – Eros”), and Neon Genesis Evangelion (“A Cruel Angel’s Thesis”), alongside lyrical selections tied to celebrated animated films such as Your Name. (“Sparkle”) and multiple Studio Ghibli favorites—creating a fan-forward night that’s as transporting for longtime anime lovers as it is welcoming for newcomers who simply want to hear stunning themes played live.

Ten 25th celebrates the long-awaited return of TEN, The Gift Theatre’s annual 10-minute new works festival, as the company heads into its 25th anniversary season in 2026. This edition showcases the talents of ensemble members Cyd Blakewell, Erica Weiss, Gregory Fenner, Jennifer Glasse, Jennifer Rumberger, Jim Farruggio, John Gawlik, Kenny Mihlfried, Pat Weber, Paul D’Addario, and Shanésia Davis, performing a slate of 10-minute world premiere plays from Chicago playwrights John Gawlik, Jennifer Rumberger, Gregory Fenner, Kimberly Dixon-Mays, Dolores Diaz, Stephanie Alison Walker, Emilio Williams, and Brett Neveu.

Idle Muse celebrates 20 years of productions with The Three Musketeers. Based on Alexander Dumas' celebrated 1844 novel, the Jeff Award-winning Robert Kauzlaric adapts the French tale of swashbuckling intrigue, adventure and fellowship as newly-minted musketeer D'Artagnan and the famous "three inseparables," Athos, Porthos and Aramis take on the machinations of a scheming cardinal and his minions.

Candlelight: Songs from Magical Movie Soundtracks is a warm, immersive concert experience that brings beloved film music to life through the rich, cinematic sound of the Metropolis String Quartet, surrounded by the gentle glow of hundreds of candles. Over the course of about an hour, you’ll hear iconic themes and sing-along favorites reimagined for strings—sweeping from Disney classics like “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “Tale As Old As Time,” “A Whole New World,” “Let It Go,” and “You’ll Be in My Heart,” to crowd-pleasers such as “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” “My Favorite Things,” the playful “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” and unforgettable moments from Star Wars including the “Theme,” “Imperial March,” and “The Throne Room,” all crafted to feel intimate, nostalgic, and downright magical.

Ma Rainey's band is waiting. It's 1926 Chicago, and "The Mother of the Blues" takes her time getting ready to record. Tensions and temperatures rise as the musicians recount tales of rage, joy, betrayal and faith in astonishing stories and a heart-stopping climax. Chicago legends Chuck Smith and Harry J. Lennix reunite for the play that smashed box office records in its 1997 Goodman premiere for this major revival of "a genuine American masterpiece" (Chicago Reader).

This groundbreaking twist on The Wizard of Oz changed the face of Broadway—from its iconic score packed with soul, gospel, rock, and 70s funk to its stirring tale of Dorothy’s journey to find her place in a contemporary world. With direction by Schele Williams (The Notebook, revival of Disney’s Aida), choreography by JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Black Is King) and additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer and TV host Amber Ruffin (The Amber Ruffin Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers), this dynamite infusion of ballet, jazz, and modern pop brings a whole new groove to easing on down the road. Everybody rejoice!

Delight in Shakespeare's glorious comedy! In the middle-class and very English hamlet of Windsor, joyous revelry abounds as the ladies of the town-the ebullient Mistress Page and Mistress Quickly-band together to have the last laugh over the lewd, but loveable, Falstaff. The production is staged by foremost Shakespeare director Phillip Breen, who has quite literally written the book on Merry Wives and leads a Shakespeare Institute seminar entitled "Walking in A Windsor Wonderland: Some Ramshackle Reflections on Directing Shakespeare's Greatest Comedy." Breen's eclectic range of work expands beyond theater to encompass opera, musicals, and cabaret, as well as being a regular collaborator with Vivienne Westwood for London Fashion Week.

Shane Gillis is an actor, writer and comedian from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. In 2021, Gillis released his triumphant self-funded debut Shane Gillis: Live in Austin, a breakthrough hit with over 40 million views. In 2023, he released his follow-up Netflix special, Beautiful Dogs. The critically acclaimed and fan-favorite special reached the Netflix Top 10 in five countries and spent two weeks in the US Top 10 list. Beautiful Dogs was produced by All Things Comedy and Gillis' own production company, Dad Sick Productions, which he runs with longtime comedy partner and fellow Philadelphia local John McKeever.

Experience the timeless music of Mexican icon Juan Gabriel reimagined in an intimate candlelit setting at Stan Mansion, where a talented string quartet performs his most beloved songs in a stunning 60-minute tribute concert. The Listeso String Quartet breathes new life into classics like "Amor Eterno," "Querida," "Así Fue," and "El Noa Noa," transforming these passionate ballads and upbeat favorites into elegant string arrangements that honor the legendary singer-songwriter's emotional depth and musical genius. Surrounded by the warm glow of hundreds of candles in the historic Masonic lodge-turned-performance venue, audiences will be transported through a journey of Juan Gabriel's greatest hits, from the heartfelt "Abrázame Muy Fuerte" to the festive "No Tengo Dinero," all performed with the rich textures and sophisticated harmonies that only a live string ensemble can deliver.

Direct from New Zealand comes the joyfully immersive Mrs. Krishnan's Party. Step into the back room of Mrs. Krishnan's corner shop where garlands decorate the ceiling, music flows, and Mrs. Krishnan is throwing a party like no other. Food simmers on the stove, laughter abounds, and strangers become friends in this celebration of life. The actors juggle cooking, music, and guests in an unfolding drama where no two nights are the same. This production marks the Chicago debut of New Zealand's acclaimed Indian Ink Theatre Company, which for more than two decades has mined the collision of East and West to create spirited, artful storytelling.

Father of the Bride is the classic comedy that has touched our hearts for decades. Based on the novel that inspired the Elizabeth Taylor and Steve Martin films, this hilarious yet bittersweet play reminds us that sometimes the greatest love a father can give to his daughter is to let her go.

This is a story about money. Don't let them fool you otherwise. When Mac loses his child in a clash with the local police, he is visited by three strangers who advise him to take the city's cash settlement, relocate and forget his grief - or else stay and remain impoverished surrounded by memories of the world his child fought so hard to protect. This world premiere from Academy Award-winning ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney explores how grief, justice, sexuality, gender, history and even pride become secondary concerns in the wake of currency.

Jane, an employee at a big tech company, has been placed on leave after video of her screaming breakdown at work went viral. Her employers tell Jane she must be evaluated by crisis therapist Loyd before she can be reinstated to the job that gives her life meaning. Their first session together, however, quickly escalates into an epic showdown with a shocking and disturbing twist. A Broadway and Off-Broadway sensation, this intense psychological thriller skewers the insidiousness of the internet, the meaning of work and the ramifications of a secret revealed.