Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment on stage at Chicago’s theaters. From local productions to Broadway hits, our guide has the latest on shows in the city. Bookmark this page and check back for updates and ticket information.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the Parks
Yin He Dance is part of “Dream: A Community Reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”Yin He Dance
WHAT: Chicago Shakespeare Theater celebrates the 10th anniversary of Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks with “Dream: A Community Reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The new staging was created in collaboration with Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel, Cage Sebastian Pierre, GQ and Joriah Kwame with artists and organizations from Englewood, Austin, Hermosa, Little Village, West Pullman and Chinatown including Me’Lo the Generation Hero, DJ Jeremy Heights, Move Me Soul, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Yin He Dance and Fulton Street Collective.
WHEN: From Aug. 24-Sept. 4 at various city parks.
TICKETS: Admission is free. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies as well as park locations, visit chicagoshakes.com.
Music Theater Works
Alexis Armstrong (top) and Heather Banks rehearse “Mamma Mia!”Music Theater Works
WHAT: Music Theater Works begins its new season with the popular musical “Mamma Mia!,” Catherine Johnson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson’s musical featuring the music of ABBA. Heather Banks stars as Shopine Sheridan, a young woman about to be married who is intent on discovering who her father is so he can walk her down the aisle. Justin Brill directs.
WHEN: From Aug. 19-29 at Music Theater Works at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie.
TICKETS: $20.50-$108. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit musictheaterworks.com.
PrideArts
Elissa Newcorn (from left), Kyra Leigh, Carl Herzog and Nate Hall star in PrideArts’ productoin of “The Things I Never Could Tell Steven.” Marisa KM
WHAT: PrideArts presents Jye Bryant’s “The Things I Never Could Tell Steven,” a four-character musical in which the four most important people in one man’s life struggle to communicate meaningfully with him and really know him. The cast features Carl Herzog, Kyra Leigh, Elissa Newcorn and Nate Hall under the direction of Jay Espano.
WHEN: From Aug. 19-Sept. 19
WHERE: The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway.
TICKETS: $30. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit pridearts.org.
‘Mr. Burns, a post-electric play’
Theater Wit rehearses its 2021 restaged production of “Mr. Burns, a post-electric play.” Elizabeth Lovelady
WHAT: Theater Wit returns with a restaging of its hit 2015 production of Anne Washburn’s “Mr. Burns, a post-electric play,” directed by Jeremy Wechsler. The story begins after a global catastrophe where life as we know it has ended (sound familiar?) and a small band of survivors attempt to keep civilization on a path to survival. And, yes, an episode of “The Simpsons” (“Cape Feare” in which Sideshow Bob attempts to murder Bart on a houseboat) plays a role here. From Aug. 27-Sept. 5 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont. Tickets: $36-$54. For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit theaterwit.org.
‘Off The Map’
WHAT: The storytelling collective 2nd Story kicks off its new virtual season with “Off the Map.” a program featuring three world premiere stories that explore how to move forward in a world that is no longer familiar. Included is Jared Bellot’s “Finding Mr. Bellot,” about his first year teaching English in a public school plus stories from Katie Hauser and Karla Estela Rivera.
WHEN: Aug. 28-Sept. 4
TICKETS: pay-what-you-can.
INFO: For a look at the entire season, go to 2ndstorycom.
‘Faces’
Goose Island Beer Co and Do312 present “Faces,” showcasing a special drag performance featuring Shea Coulee, the winner of season 5 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.”Courtesy Goose Island
WHAT: Goose Island Beer Co and Do312 present “Faces,” showcasing a special drag performance featuring Shea Coulee, the winner of season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Goose Island brewers also have teamed with Coulee to create Shea Coul-Ale: Royal Edition, with a portion of proceeds going to Brave Space Alliance, the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQIA+ center on the city’s South Side.
WHEN: At 9 p.m. Aug. 27
WHERE: at Hydrate Nightclub, 3458 N. Halste. To enter a drawing for a chance to meet Shea Coulee before the show and for updated information regarding the club’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies visit do312.com/shea-coulale-faces.
‘Kinky Boots’
Michael Wordly makes his Paramount Theatre debut as Lola in “Kinky Boots.”Thomas J. King
What: Live performances return for a new season at the Paramount Theatre with Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s high-kicking “Kinky Boots.” This first regional production of the Broadway musical, directed by Trent Stork, stars Devin DeSantis as Charlie, the shoemaker attempting to save his failing shoe factory, and Michael Wordly as Lola, the fierce drag queen who shows him the way.
When: Aug. 18-Oct. 17
Where: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora
Tickets: $36-$74
For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit paramountaurora.com.
Theatre Y
WHAT: Theatre Y’s ambitious new adventure “You Are Here: The Emerald Camino Project” is a return of its urban pilgrimages, this time through Daniel Burnham’s Emerald Necklace — the boulevard system that links the public parks on Chicago’s West and South sides. The immersive 12-part walking experience was created with artists, community leaders and organizations across a dozen communities. “This is a joyful post-pandemic experience that connects Chicago’s diverse communities through the intersection of conversation and art,” says Theatre Y’s artistic director, Melissa Lorraine. If you are walking through the neighborhood in which you live, admission is free; all other participants are Theatre Y Members or encouraged to become members (for as little as $5/month).
WHEN: Aug. 21-Sept. 26 For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies as well as dates and times for each walk, visit theatre-y.com.
Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group Caroline Talbot Photography
What: Those crazy characters in blue return for more goofy fun. The show, which encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner child, is a combination of art, music, comedy and technology.
When: Ongoing
Where: Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted.
Tickets: $49-$89
For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit blueman.com.
Teatro ZinZanni
The artistry and the excitement of Teatro ZinZanni returns to Chicago starting July 8. Pictured: Lea Hinz.Michael Doucet
What: The immersive, whirlwind theater experience that is Teatro ZinZanni has reopened featuring a new show with a cast of comedians, aerialists, acrobats, singers, dancers and a gourmet meal, it brings comedy, music and cirque back after a long pandemic hiatus. Included among the performers are powerhouse vocalists Storm Marrero and Cunio, aerial acts Lea Hinz and Duo 19, veteran comedians Frank Ferrante and Joe DePaul and acrobatic dancers Mickael and Vita.
When: Ongoing
Where: Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel, 32 W. Randolph
Tickets: $119-$189; limited show only tickets $69. Visit zinzanni.com/chicago.
The Artistic Home Theatre
What: The Artistic Home presents “Summer on the Patio,” a seasonlong event which invites theatergoers to share in the creative workshop process via free staged readings and open rehearsals of three contemporary plays: Maria Irene Fornes’ “Mud” (To Aug. 27), Martyna Majok’s “Ironbound” (To Aug. 28) and Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion” (To Aug. 22).
Where: It all takes place at the company’s new space at 3054 N. Milwaukee with rehearsals in July and staged readings in August.
Admission: free
Visit theartistichome.org
Steppenwolf Theatre
Donnetta Lavinia Grays in “Where We Stand”Joan Marcus/WP Theater
What: The final entry in the Steppenwolf NOW virtual season is “Where We Stand,” a storytelling tour-de-force about community and accountability written and performed by Donnetta Lavinia Grays. Through poetic verse and music, the drama challenges our ability to forgive and our ideas of mercy and who might deserve it. The filmed play captures a performance originally presented at Baltimore Center Stage co-produced with WP Theater.
When/tickets: A $75 ticket includes all six of the productions in the NOW series available online through Aug. 31
Visit: steppenwolf.org/now
Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective
What: Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective presents “Emerge,” a cabaret series featuring music, drag performance, comedy and spoken word.
When: every second Friday of the month
Where: Porkchop, 1132 W. Grand
Tickets: $20. Visit labyrinthartsperformance.com.
