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As spring blossoms in Chicago, so does the vibrant theater scene, bringing a myriad of captivating plays and musicals to the city's stages. This season, Chicago offers theatergoers a delightful array of shows that capture the essence of life, love, and drama. Whether you're a fan of side-splitting comedies, intense dramas, or inspiring musicals, there's no shortage of quality plays in Chicago this spring. Here's a look at some of the standout productions you won't want to miss.
Titanique at Broadway Playhouse
Mar 25 - May 18, 2025This delightfully outrageous musical comedy reimagines the iconic love story of "Titanic" through the lens of Celine Dion's legendary music catalog. "Titanique" offers a fresh, hilarious take on Jack and Rose's fateful journey, with Dion herself (or rather, a fabulous impersonation) serving as your guide through this alternate version of events. The production features spectacular performances of Dion's greatest hits including "My Heart Will Go On," "All By Myself," and "To Love You More," performed by powerhouse vocalists backed by a dynamic live band. With its perfect blend of nostalgia, camp, and genuine heart, this Off-Broadway sensation makes its Chicago debut with a theatrical experience that's as unsinkable as the spirit of Celine herself.
The Book of Grace at Steppenwolf Theatre
Mar 27 - May 18, 2025Steppenwolf presents this tense family drama from Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks. The story centers on Grace, an eternal optimist who struggles to maintain peace between her border patrol officer husband and his estranged son who has suddenly returned home. As family secrets surface and long-buried tensions erupt, "The Book of Grace" examines how the past shapes our present and questions whether reconciliation is always possible. This taut, unflinching production explores themes of borders-both literal and metaphorical-while delivering a powerful meditation on family, forgiveness, and the limits of hope in divided times.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Cadillac Palace Theatre
Apr 2 - Apr 20, 2025Step into the spectacular world of turn-of-the-century Paris with this lavish adaptation of Baz Luhrmann's revolutionary film. "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" transforms the Cadillac Palace into the legendary Parisian nightclub where bohemian ideals clash with aristocratic privilege against a backdrop of breathtaking spectacle. This Tony Award-winning production features a sensational soundtrack that remixes pop hits spanning decades into a thrilling musical experience. With its opulent set design, stunning choreography, and a love story that transcends social boundaries, this theatrical extravaganza celebrates truth, beauty, freedom, and love in all their splendor. For sheer visual and musical magnificence, few shows in Chicago this spring can compare to this "spectacular spectacular."
Henry Johnson at Victory Gardens Theater
Apr 8 - May 4, 2025Making its Chicago premiere after a critically acclaimed Los Angeles debut in 2023, "Henry Johnson" invites audiences into a morally complex narrative that challenges our assumptions about compassion and redemption. The production follows its titular character through parallel storylines-one in the cutthroat corporate world and another within the confines of prison-creating a thought-provoking examination of how environments shape our ethical choices. As Henry navigates these contrasting realms, the play raises uncomfortable questions about what we owe to one another and whether true compassion comes with hidden costs. Victory Gardens continues its tradition of presenting socially relevant works with this nuanced drama that refuses easy answers.
The Da Vinci Code at Drury Lane
Apr 9 - Jun 1, 2025Dan Brown's global literary phenomenon springs to life in this pulse-pounding stage adaptation. When renowned symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu discover a murder victim arranged in the style of Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, they're thrust into a race against time to decode ancient mysteries that could shake the foundations of history. This Chicago regional premiere transforms the bestselling thriller into an immersive theatrical experience complete with elaborate puzzles, shadowy conspiracies, and heart-stopping action sequences. As secret societies and religious zealots close in, audiences will find themselves unraveling centuries of enigmas alongside our protagonists in this intelligent, fast-paced production that proves some of the best shows in Chicago can captivate both the mind and the senses.
Prayer for the French Republic at Northlight Theatre
Apr 10 - May 11, 2025Winner of the 2022 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best New Off-Broadway Play, Joshua Harmon's sweeping family saga makes its Chicago debut at Northlight Theatre. Spanning five generations of a French-Jewish family, the narrative alternates between 1944 Paris-as a couple desperately awaits news of relatives during the Holocaust-and their great-grandchildren facing rising antisemitism in modern-day France. With remarkable historical insight and deeply human characters, "Prayer for the French Republic" examines how the echoes of history reverberate through generations and poses the haunting question that persists across time: "Are we safe?" This profound exploration of identity, home, and perseverance in the face of hatred stands as one of the most significant plays in Chicago this spring.
Berlin at Court Theatre
Apr 19 - May 11, 2025Court Theatre presents this innovative adaptation of Jason Lutes's acclaimed graphic novel series, bringing to life the twilight of Weimar Germany through a kaleidoscopic view of interconnected lives. As fascism tightens its grip and revolutionary movements gain momentum, "Berlin" follows artists, journalists, students, and working-class citizens navigating a city on the brink of catastrophic transformation. This original commission employs inventive staging to capture the visual language of Lutes's storytelling while creating a powerful allegory for our own polarized times. As each character confronts the impossible choice between flight or resistance, this theatrical mosaic offers a haunting meditation on how ordinary people respond when democracy begins to crumble around them.
Bust at Goodman Theatre
Apr 19 - May 18, 2025Acclaimed playwright Zakkiyah Alexander delivers a powerful new work that begins with an ordinary evening and spirals into an exploration of race, policing, and community tensions in contemporary America. When Retta and Reggie witness their neighbor's routine traffic stop unexpectedly escalate, the incident triggers a chain of events that forces everyone in their community to confront uncomfortable truths. Directed by the visionary Lileana Blain-Cruz, "Bust" employs innovative theatrical techniques to examine how systemic issues manifest in personal relationships and neighborhood dynamics. The Goodman continues its commitment to urgent, socially conscious storytelling with this world premiere that asks us to consider how we navigate the spaces between justice, safety, and understanding in our most intimate communities.
Hymn at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Apr 29 - May 25, 2025Following her acclaimed "Red Velvet" at CST in 2017, Olivier Award-winning playwright Lolita Chakrabarti returns with this deeply moving exploration of male friendship and vulnerability. Specially adapted to a Chicago setting for this production, "Hymn" follows two middle-aged Black men who form an unexpected bond after meeting at a funeral. As their relationship deepens, they navigate the complexities of masculinity, fatherhood, ambition, and the unspoken rules that have shaped their lives. With remarkable emotional intelligence and moments of surprising humor, Chakrabarti crafts a nuanced portrait of how men connect and the cost of the masks they wear. Chicago Shakespeare Theater's intimate staging highlights the exceptional two-person cast in what promises to be one of the most emotionally resonant plays in Chicago this spring.
Gorgeous at Raven Theatre
May 1 - Jun 7, 2025Raven Theatre closes the spring season with this world premiere comedy that finds unexpected humor and grace in the aftermath of loss. Professional dog handler Jenny thought she had a simple life plan: care for the elderly, show dogs competitively, and maintain her comfortable relationship with her older boyfriend Bill. But when Bill suddenly dies during a dog show, Jenny finds herself in an unexpected battle with his ex-wife Bernie over both his house and his champion Bulldog, aptly named Gorgeous. As these two women sort through the physical and emotional remnants of Bill's life, they discover surprising common ground amid their grief. This funny, poignant new work explores female friendship, accountability, and the complicated ways we move forward when life's carefully arranged plans collapse around us.