Amelie is an extraordinary young woman who lives quietly in the world but loudly in her mind. She covertly improvises small but surprising acts of kindness that bring joy and mayhem. But when a chance at love comes her way, Amelie realizes that to find happiness she'll have to risk everything and say what's in her heart. Be inspired by this imaginative dreamer who finds her voice, discovers the power of connection, and sees possibility around every corner.

Pete's TV and Video has served Chicagoland for 40+ years, its plucky owner famous for his legendary commercials and customer care. But it's a new era, and Pete's last store location is struggling while Sam-his daughter and family business heir apparent-has different dreams. Starring Chicago's Francis Guinan and Emmy Award-nominee Jenna Fischer (The Office), with Will Allan, Cordelia Dewdney and Chike Johnson, this stunning new play asks what happens when we stop looking after our aging parents and start looking after ourselves?

At the height of the Golden Age of Cinema, starlet Ava Gardner sat for a series of interviews with writer Peter Evans for him to glean the juicy details about her life story, her marriages to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra, and her turbulent relationship to Howard Hughes. Initially barred from publication, Evans’ account of a bygone era was published twenty-five years later with permission from Gardner’s estate and is now reimagined on stage.

The United States is on the cusp of the Great Depression and like many, the Mason family is struggling. Between the precarious economy and racial violence on Chicago's segregated South Side, something's got to give. As different generations strive to secure the Mason family's future, catastrophic decisions are made, leading to a heartbreaking twist and a blistering condemnation of America's Big White Fog.

Join Idle Muse in the Carpathian Mountains to witness the birth of legend as a countess becomes a carnivore and a mother becomes a monster. The shadow of Erzsebet Bathory has endured for over 600 years-but who is the Blood Countess and how did her story of infamy begin, grow and take on a life of its own? In a time when the constructed reputations of those who are given power are all some care about, Idle Muse explores the truth behind the blood-soaked rumors.

Get ready for a wild, heart-shaking ride through the power of the blues. Blue Heaven is a fierce, funny, and deeply moving new production that takes you on a journey from shame to redemption, from heartbreak to healing, one unforgettable song at a time.

Without William Shakespeare, we wouldn't have literary masterpieces like ROMEO AND JULIET. But without Henry Condell and John Heminges, we would have lost half of Shakespeare's plays forever! After the death of their friend and mentor, the two actors are determined to compile the First Folio and preserve the words that shaped their lives. They'll just have to borrow, beg, and band together to get it done. Amidst the noise and color of Elizabethan London, THE BOOK OF WILL finds an unforgettable true story of love, loss, and laughter, and sheds new light on a man you may think you know.

Based on the hit film and the incredible true story, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is the delightfully entertaining musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught. Jet-set to the 1960s where charming, young con man Frank Abagnale Jr. posed as an airline pilot, a lawyer and a doctor - and then escaped police custody, all before he turned 22. When Frank's lies catch the attention of an FBI agent, he is pursued across the globe to pay for his crimes. Created by a Tony Award-winning dream team: book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime) and a swinging score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Some Like it Hot).

Strap in and spiral out - The Second City's 49th e.t.c. Revue takes sketch and improv comedy to brilliantly unhinged new heights. The Chaos Theory of Everything blends razor-sharp satire, audience interaction, and clever, character-driven comedy to explore how wildly connected (and deeply chaotic) it all really is. Smart, hilarious, and full of surprises, this is one laughter-filled ride you won't want to miss.

It's Halloween! Duck, Pig, Cow, and Hen can't wait to throw a party. But when mean ol' Farmer Brown refuses to allow the festivities, it's going to take some clever trickery to enjoy the tasty treats. Join the beloved barnyard crew as they teach Farmer Brown that sometimes a little scare can be big fun, in this musical adaptation from the beloved Click, Clack, Moo series. Recommended for kids 5 and up and their families.

Before they have a clue what's happening, thousands of airline passengers are diverted to the town of Gander, doubling its population overnight and putting the townsfolk to the test. Based on astonishing true events and hundreds of hours of interviews with the townspeople and the "come from aways" who were welcomed with open arms, audiences experience the spirit of small-town generosity that helped the healing begin. Full of songs that celebrate kinship and grit, Come From Away's message is simple and significant: in this day and age, it's more important than ever for kindness to reach across the borders.

At the center of this poetic and innovative work are Marianne, a theoretical physicist, and Roland, a beekeeper. Their relationship unfolds across a multitude of parallel universes, with scenes repeating in variation, shifting subtly or drastically based on a single gesture, a different word, or a change of heart. Through this kaleidoscopic lens, playwright Nick Payne explores not only the nature of time and reality but also the deeply human experiences of love, regret, and the fragile beauty of connection. Constellations is part of the Athenaeum Center's fall series Entangled Beauty: Conversations on Quantum Science.

"Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller is an American tragedy about Willy Loman, an aging traveling salesman struggling to reconcile his life with the American Dream. His failing career, strained relationships, and fading grasp on reality lead to a mental and emotional breakdown. The play explores themes of disillusionment, family conflict, and the destructive nature of the American Dream. Our production centers the point of view on Linda Loman, as she plays the willing witness to the downfall of her once safe, nuclear family. Alongside the shortcomings of the Loman's, we see the rise of a different kind of American family through the ensemble cast of Willy's life.

An affair, a fortune on the line, and the perfect murder...But what happens when it all goes wrong? Find out in this riveting new adaptation.

One actor takes five shots and attempts an epic retelling of Transylvania's thirstiest bachelor... DRACULA! Sink your teeth into the Halloween event of the season, presented by the illustrious Drunk Shakespeare Society (the drinkers behind the hit off-Broadway comedy, Drunk Shakespeare!) When history's most famous vampire (sorry, Edward Cullen) is loosed upon Manhattan, do you want to stop him? Or let him have his way with you?

The stage is set in a hidden library with over fifteen thousand books. Five classically trained actors meet as members of "The Drunk Shakespeare Society." One of them has at least 5 shots of whiskey and then they overconfidently attempt to perform a major role in a Shakespearean play. Hilarity and mayhem ensues while the four sober actors try and keep the script on track. Every show is different depending on who is drinking ... and what they're drinking!

The brilliant creators of "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" return to YPT with a delightful Vaudeville-style musical for all ages. MO WILLEMS and in-demand TYA composer DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA adapt Willems' best-selling early-reader series into a rollicking musical that celebrates friendship, forgiveness, personal eccentricities, and the glorious fun of actually being in a musical!!

A Korean American teen and her best friend navigate the terrors of the 1980s midwestern suburbs. Now entering junior high, all Mo wants to be is "normal," and assimilate into invisibility. Unfortunately, this will alienate her best friend, Steff, who only wants to be "special." Will their friendship survive? The F*ck House is a new play developed through Strawdog's BIPOC Playwright Residency.

In 1950, Gertrude Berg was the popular creator and star of America's first family sit-com, The Goldbergs. When co-star Philip Loeb is accused of communism, Gertrude must make an enormous decision: fire him to keep the sponsors at bay or defend him and risk the show being canceled. In this new play based on the true story of a pioneering American entertainer, onstage comedy balances with the offstage intersection of art, religion, and politics that is shockingly relevant for today.

Little kids love Frederick and his quirky family of field mice who play and sing their way through the four seasons. As they gather food for the winter, Frederick seems as quiet as a mouse, daydreaming his way through summer while the other mice are hard at work. But when dreary weather arrives - surprise! - it?s Frederick, the artist among them, who has been storing up something special to help everyone survive the long cold winter.

Junior is a queer sex worker in Hastings suffering from PTSD. His life is plunged into further turmoil during a booking with a new client when his homophobic gangster father ?Senior? returns home. Why has his father returned? What does he want from his son? And why now? From writer and performer Cameron Raasdal-Munro, and director Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE, GANGSTA BABY explores themes of class, environmental issues, and how being shunned by a parent for being LGBTQIA+ can develop into internalized homophobia.

The audience is invited to step into the suspenseful world of Gaslight (Angel Street), where secrets lurk in the shadows and reality blurs with deception. When Bella begins to suspect that the flickering lights and missing objects in her home aren't just in her imagination, her world unravels into a chilling game of manipulation and control. This thriller that premiered in 1938 is where the term "gaslighting" originated.

Step back to the fabulous 50’s and rock the night away in Metropolis’ first ever Main Stage production of Grease! Join bad boy Danny Zuko, new girl Sandy Dombrowski, and the bubblegum-popping hip-shaking Pink Ladies as they navigate their teen years, frolic with friends, and fall In love amidst the backdrop of Rydell High. Grease features an unforgettable soundtrack including hits from both the blockbuster movie and Broadway musical, including “You’re The One That I Want,” “We Go Together”, and “Hopelessly Devoted To You.” Pull out your poodle skirt and hand-jive your way to Metropolis and see the musical that has dazzled generations of audiences.

The Infinite Wrench is a mechanism that unleashes a barrage of two-minute plays for a live audience. Each play offers something different-some are funny, others profound. Some are elegant, disgusting, topical, irrelevant, terrifying, or put to song. All of the plays are truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With new plays every week, The Infinite Wrench is The Neo-Futurists' ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and speak to the present audience, including those unreached or unmoved by other types of theater.

Experience the phenomenon as it once again leaps onto the Cadillac Palace Theatre stage. Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by award-winning director Julie Taymor, whose visual images for this show you'll remember forever. Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the African Pridelands and an unforgettable score including Elton John and Tim Rice's Oscar-winning song "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and "Circle of Life." Let your imagination run wild at the Tony Award-winning Broadway sensation Newsweek calls "a landmark event in entertainment."

Shakespeare’s most underrated rom-com. The fun begins when four noble bros take a vow: no women, no distractions, just scholarly study. Cue the arrival of the Princess of France and her fierce lady friends, and the real education begins. Witty wordplay, foolish disguises, and a supporting list of “in-lovable” oddballs. Rated “S” for Shakespearean shenanigans, swoons and self-discovery.

Award-winning, third-generation magician Dennis Watkins delivers an evening of sophisticated tom-foolery in one of the Windy City's most unique entertainment experiences presented by The House Theatre of Chicago. The Magic Parlour is an elegant night out in the heart of downtown. This intimate magic show is replete with mind-blowing magic and mind reading in a small suite at the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel.

Medieval Times is an exciting, family-friendly dinner attraction inspired by an 11th century feast and tournament. Guests are served a four-course banquet and cheer for one of six knights as they compete in the joust and other tests of skill. Expect lots of jousting, swordsmanship, thrilling hand-to-hand combat, and displays of extraordinary horsemanship as part of an exciting story set in Medieval Spain.

Evanston's Savoyaires present "The Mikado (my-KAY-doe), formerly know as The Mikado (mi-KAH-doe)," an ingenious reimagining of what for more than a century was Gilbert & Sullivan's most popular operetta. Featuring all of Sullivan's infectious music and virtually all of Gilbert's hilarious English dialogue and lyrics, the production is set in a totally make-believe locale that audiences should find just as remote and exotic as Victorian audiences found Gilbert & Sullivan's fanciful version of "Japan." See this comic masterpiece on a big proscenium stage with full orchestra.

Four Legends. One Night. Music History Made. You may have loved Million Dollar Quartet in 2017 at Paramount Theatre - now imagine it set in Sun Studio itself. The new Stolp Island Theatre will be designed to immerse you in the experience so you can say "I was there!" On December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins had a chance encounter at Sun Studio in Memphis. What transpired 
was one of the greatest impromptu jam sessions in music history.

Romance novelist Paul Sheldon is rescued from a car crash by his obsessed fan, Annie Wilkes, and held captive after she discovers he killed off her favorite character. Forced to rewrite his novel under her watch, Paul finds himself trapped in a nail-biting cat-and-mouse game that will have you at the edge of your seat.

After a merciless punishment, Medusa loses her way—and her memory—traveling to the Underworld. She awakens at The Crossroads of Erebus, the land between life and death. Beguiled by the whispers of loyal but unreliable snakes in her ear, Medusa vows to return to the land of the living to take vengeance against the mortal enemy who led her to this state.

12 years ago, Theresa was stolen from her parents. Now a precocious 15-year-old, she has been rescued and returned to a family that had nearly forsaken hope-a family she neither recognizes nor understands. In ensemble member Rajiv Joseph's unflinching play, a miraculous reunion sets the stage for provocative conversations: what makes a house a home? What nightmares are we willing to face for the sake of our children? And ultimately, what part do we play in the grand saga of human existence?

Three kids, an old woman with a shotgun, and a mysterious creek monster. Set firmly in the southern gothic tradition, Terry Guest's OAK dives into the world of three Black kids as they navigate a community where children aren't safe, and the adults fail to protect them. It's 7pm, do you know where your children are?

When soldier and aspiring musician Hampton Weems comes home from Afghanistan, he finds the South Side of Chicago is also occupied territory-and he's accidentally joined the resistance. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and The Nightwatchman) brings a ground-breaking new punk/metal/hip-hop musical to our intimate Owen Theatre about a young artist finding his voice, why violence is as American as cherry pie, and how young radicals-across generations-are still motivated by love.

Q Brothers Collective (GQ, JQ, JAX & POS) is back to partner with CST to debut their satirical new "add-rap-tation" of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, after more than a decade of wildly successful collaborations including Othello: The Remix, Funk It Up About Nothin', and Q Brothers' Christmas Carol. Hailed by MTV as "nothing short of brilliant," their work blends hip hop and theater-adapting classic stories with a wholly original style of performance that has amassed a cult following of fans in Chicago and beyond. Igniting Julius Caesar with the pulse of '90s hip hop and New Jack Swing, Rome Sweet Rome infuses Shakespeare's political intrigue with bold satire and electrifying beats. Razor-sharp wit collides with revolutionary rhythm, proving that power struggles never go out of style. This is Shakespeare that bumps, breathes, and breaks boundaries.

At Saint Barbara, another year means another retreat heralding the perilousness of premarital sex and the importance of abstinence. For this reason (among others), Hana (Rocky Nguyen) is convinced that hell on earth exists at the young women's retreat. Elena (Liam Bouza Diaz) finds the experience quite life-affirming, and Idalia (Angelina Davila) has no idea what awaits her. With no adults in sight, this year's retreat will be unlike any before.

Enter a realm where reality and dreams converge; an experience unlike any other! Teatro ZinZanni is a whirlwind of international cirque, comedy and cabaret served with a multi-course feast. Described as the "Kit Kat Klub on acid," the fast-paced action unfolds around, above and alongside you as world-class acrobats, musicians, divas, illusionists, madmen and aerialists fill the intimate Spiegeltent ZaZou, a unique jewel box mirror tent. Teatro ZinZanni's signature blend of Love, Chaos & Dinner has played to sold out audiences in Seattle and San Francisco, and now comes to Chicago's Cambria Hotel with its "feast for the senses." (The New York Times)

The Second City's 113th Mainstage Revue This Too Shall Slap is a wild sketch comedy show that spins the familiar into the absurd... and makes the absurd feel oddly familiar. Performed by a hilarious six-person ensemble who specialize in chaos, charm, and comedic whiplash, this show will keep you laughing, guessing, and possibly questioning your entire reality. Join us for a night where nothing is what it seems. Except the laughter. That's real.

Following a critically acclaimed world premiere at Diversionary Theatre in San Diego, this is TL;DR: Thelma Louise; Dyke Remix, a fantasy-driven, irreverent, funny, rock musical for a new generation. From the Richard Rogers winning writing team of EllaRose Chary and Brandon James Gwinn, Theo presents the Midwest Premiere of this exciting new musical that takes the story of Thelma & Louise and reimagines it into a queer rock musical, in which strong female characters don't "always gotta die."

TWIHARD! A Twilight Musical Parody is a side-splitting, fangtastic romp that hilariously reimagines the iconic Twilight saga with catchy tunes, uproarious humor, and an unforgettable twist. Audiences will sink their teeth into the beloved story of Bella and Edward, while poking fun at the supernatural world we all adore. Whether you are a die-hard Twilight fan or just looking for a howling good time, this musical parody promises an evening of laughter, love, and unforgettable moments.

After three tours in Afghanistan, Jess returns home to a changed world, and body. With biting dark humor and virtual reality therapy, she begins to rebuild her life one puzzle piece at a time, confronting scars both seen and unseen in this powerful story of how beauty endures beneath the surface.

Following a violent coup, a young woman named Chelsea becomes Queen of North America. Into her new palace walk three friends from middle school - Franny, Lulu and Noa - with whom she hasn't spoken in years. They've come to ask Chelsea for a big favor, but before she grants it, she's going to make them revisit their shared friendship - and its terrible end.

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is National Public Radio's Peabody Award-winning comedy news quiz show. Host Peter Sagal leads a rotating panel of comedians, writers, listener contestants, and celebrity guests through a rollicking review of the week's news. Contestants vie for the most coveted prize in all of public radio: a custom-recorded greeting by any of our cast members for their voicemail. Every week, Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me! records in front of a live audience, then carefully edits out all the raunchy, inappropriate, shocking, and hilarious stuff so we can broadcast something that doesn't get NPR in trouble... well, more trouble. The

Set in Iran from 1978 to 1991, this breathtaking and unabashed comedy-drama explores the evolving relationships among a group of five women during the escalation, height and aftermath of the Iranian Revolution.

Audiences will follow our friends in the woods who are celebrating Halloween Break from their monster-sory school. Wolfie's birthday is approaching, and they can't wait to celebrate. But when new and exciting plans come up, the creatures try to cram too much into their break. Can they do it all before Wolfie's birthday? Is there a lesson here? How many Halloween puns can fit into one kids' sized show??