"Dear Evan Hansen: Today is going to be a good day and here's why..." That's how Evan starts every day, writing himself a letter about why it's going to be a good day. It's a coping mechanism for this lonely, anxious high schooler looking to fit in. It's because of these letters that Evan finds himself telling a well-meaning, little white lie that snowballs into a blizzard of untruths. In the end, his unforgettable journey demonstrates there is a place for everyone to feel love, acceptance and to be seen-even when you make mistakes.

The Dress-Up Play is a new family-friendly production from Jackalope. New friends gather in a bedroom to play dress up. But who gets to wear what? Do our clothes have to match what we look like outside? And what if our outside doesn't match our inside? Filled with tutus, fake mustaches, scarves and fierce runway walks. The Dress-Up Play is an immersive fashion party for all ages that celebrates self-expression, open-mindedness and the wholeness of everyone.

Escape into the glitz and glamour of ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’, the (fictitious) 1928 musical comedy brought to life in Theo’s intimate cabaret space. As a die-hard musical fan drops the needle on his favorite cast album, the show bursts into hilarious chaos—complete with showgirls, gangsters, mistaken identities, and one very tipsy chaperone.

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!

Our families define us, from the love to the dysfunction to the endless memories to the heartache. A Family Affair tells the story of one family over the course of ten years from the heart of their home. How do the people we love (and hate) most affect our future? No two performances are ever the same, but every show is an instant drama created before your eyes.

Fully Committed is a fast-paced, hilarious one-person comedy that takes audiences behind the scenes of New York's hottest restaurant. One actor brings to life nearly 40 characters-from desperate celebrities and ruthless socialites to frazzled staff and at the center of it all, one very overworked reservationist. It's a razor-sharp satire of status, ambition, and customer service madness. This is the first time FULLY COMMITTED has been seen in Chicago in more than 25 years.

Death is a fact of life: horses get turned into glue, cows get sucked into tornadoes reverse-alien-style, and even pop legend Michael Jackson can't live forever. It's a bummer, but we have the perfect solution: a brand new laugh-out-loud comedy show that invites you to escape your own mortality by celebrating life in all its weirdness.

HAMILTON is a revolutionary piece of theatre, with a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and directed by Thomas Kail, with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations from Alex Lacamoire, it tells the story of America's founding father Alexander Hamilton. It has received numerous awards and accolades, including Tony, Grammy and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, as well as a special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors. Drawing from Ron Chernow's acclaimed biography, HAMILTON is now seen by audiences around the world as an essential representation of America then, told by America now.

"Aaaargh, its a musical for young audiences!" How I Became a Pirate is a musical adventure on the high seas that children will love, based on the beloved picture book. 10-year old Jennifer Jacob is digging in the sand at North Beach when she is recruited by the friendly Captain Braid Beard and his mates to help find the perfect digging spot for their treasure. The silly pirates share the ins and outs of a pirate's life at sea including how to "talk like a pirate" and proper pirate manners and etiquette (or the lack thereof). The pirate world has many surprises for Jenny! But she ultimately learns that true treasure can be found in the heart and home.

The Second City’s Improv Supernova blasts open e.t.c.’s 50th Revue with the art form that started it all. No two performances are ever the same – every night is different, delightfully chaotic, and always funny. Improv this good turns an ordinary night into an unforgettable one. Don’t miss out.

Theo, a young man navigating life in an unfamiliar city, balances the pressures of college and a dead-end data entry job. As the demands of home, work, and school intensify, he encounters a myriad of characters who challenge his notions of right and wrong, ultimately leading him on a tumultuous journey of atonement and self-discovery.

The Irish... and How They Got That Way is an irreverent musical history of Ireland through the tumultuous 20th and 21st centuries seen through the eyes of Pulitzer Prize winning author, Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, Teacher Man) whose razor sharp wit, coupled with his trademark satirical irony and boundless love for the Irish People are all underscored by humor, heartache and a glorious score that spans 100+ years from "Danny Boy," "Galway Bay" and "The Rare Old Times" to "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra" and U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I Am Looking For."

Originally premiering at Black Ensemble Theater in 2000, this outstanding production began a highly successful national tour in 2002, including a record-breaking run at the legendary Apollo Theater in New York. In 2012, The Jackie Wilson Story made history once again by opening the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center.

In the alleys of a sunless Big City, sibling stray cats Kitty and Tom use the garbage around them to make their world a more magical place. But when Kitty trades one of Tom's precious creations for some magic beans, Tom angrily throws them away-only to have them sprout into a magnificent beanstalk. When they climb it, they discover why the sun has vanished from the city below (hint: a giant is involved). A world premiere with music for kids ages 4-10 and their families.

Kubrickian is an existential dark comedy about three men trapped in a white space waiting to have their vocal cords ripped out. And all

The deviously delicious smash hit musical Little Shop of Horrors has devoured audience’s hearts for decades. The charming, quirky, tongue-in-cheek comedy from Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast) follows meek plant store attendant Seymour, his co-worker crush Audrey, her sadistic dentist of a boyfriend and the man-eating plant that threatens them and the world as we know it.

Meet Cio-Cio-San - known as Madama Butterfly - a faithful but doomed geisha in love with B.F. Pinkerton. Everyone but Butterfly knows the Navy lieutenant will break her heart and ruin her life. Opera newcomers will be swept away by the familiar melodies, gorgeous costuming, and colorful sets - and seasoned opera fans will thrill at this beautiful, thoughtful production from Lyric Opera's own Matthew Ozawa that brings new dimension to an age-old story. Conducted by Domingo Hindoyan and starring Karah Son, one of the leading interpreters of Butterfly in our time, Puccini's soaring and often heartbreaking melodies unite with captivating stagecraft for a singular experience.