The Fall 2020 teatre season will look a little different this year. But there’s still a lot to be excited about. The Chicago Theatre community–that is second to none–has put together a creative line-up of programing from outdoor performances and drive-ups to virtual and audio performances.

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS (with more in the works)

“As Chicagoans gather on the park greens or around their computers, we celebrate the resiliency of Chicago theatre and the resolve of the industry to continue the work using new media and new ways of working. Theatre is an important part of all of our lives and theatres are striving to make sure we can all stay connected,” comments League of Chicago Theatres Executive Director Deb Clapp. 

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES

Music Theater Works will perform Richard Rodgers’ Greatest Hits in the parking lot of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts live in Skokie on September 29. The performance will be available online from October 2-11.

E. Faye Butler (Fannie Lou Hamer) in Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak On It! by Cheryl L. West, directed by Henry Godinez (September 17 – October 3) GoodmanTheatre.org/SpeakOnIt

Goodman Theatre in collaboration with the Chicago Park District brings Fannie Lou Hamer, Speak on It! to parks across Chicago, playing now through October 3. The production featuring E. Faye Butler, directed by Henry Godinez, is inspired by the life of famed civil and voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer—and uses storytelling and music to remind us there’s courage in the face of fire, hope in tomorrow and that we all have a stake in our country.

Oil Lamp Theater presents ICONIC: A Broadway Hits Cabaret in Glenview in a parking lot adjacent to the theatre on September 25 and 27.

Theater Wit offers the Park n’ Play Cabaret, a traveling cabaret act performed on the back of a customized 26′ flatbed truck. A live accompanist and Chicago stage performers will perform a private, socially distanced 35-40 minute Broadway cabaret at a host’s location.

VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES

The Second City’s Happy Hour is a live weekly show with a hilarious cocktail of interactive games, special guests, music, sketch comedy and suggestion-driven improv, now through November 5.

The Neo-Futurists performs 45 Plays for America’s First Ladies, a companion piece to the past Neo-Futurist production 43 Plays for 43 Presidents The play follows an identical format as its predecessor, with a chronological series of 1-5 minute plays that – in typical Neo style – adopt a variety of shapes, tones, and theatrical conventions. October 8 – November 2

Congo Square Theatre’s Hit ‘Em on the Blackside is a new, online sketch comedy series with Congo Square’s award-winning African American acting ensemble on the company’s Instagram and Facebook pages. October 9 – December 18

International Voices Project presents a virtual staged reading festival of international playwrights, including 2 readings in collaboration with Silk Road Rising on October 14 and 21.

Theatre in the Dark presents an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ A War of the Worlds performed live on Zoom, October 15 – November 15.

Strawdog Theatre offers a dark fairytale about one man’s obsession in Run the Beast Down. Filmed as a series of single shots, this production runs October 2-25.

Collaboraction’s Peacebook 2020 is a free program of Chicago artists/activists premiering short new works about peace in Chicago, on Zoom October 17 – November 14.

Broadway by the Decade

Porchlight Music Theatre’s Broadway by the Decade is a tour of Broadway musical history from the late 1800s to present day with performances by Chicago musical theatre performers, September 25 – October 25. 

FAMILY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES

Families can experience Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Beatrix Potter and Friends, an outdoor drive-in movie theatre and puppet show experience. The made-for-film puppet performances will be projected on a giant screen in the theatre’s parking lot, October 1-18.

PlayMakers Laboratory is producing its signature revue online. That’s Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay, written by elementary school students and performed by professional actors, plays through October 5.

Northwestern University theater students, faculty and alumni will share 15-minute stories for young audience through its online weekly ImagineU Storytime program from The Wirtz Center. 

AUDIO PLAYS

16th Street Theater’s Rastus and Hattie is an audio play by Lisa Langford, adapted and directed by Lanise Antoine Shelley with illustrations by Roy Thomas. The provocative comedy runs now through October 24.

Northlight Theatre is one of a select group of nonprofit arts organizations across the nation participating in a free livestream theatrical event, an adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’ novel It Can’t Happen Here. The radio play, produced by Berkeley Rep and featuring David Strathairn (Good Night, and Good Luck), will broadcast live via YouTube on October 13. 

MORE

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres websites,  ChicagoPlays.com and HotTix.org.

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