ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar
The League of Chicago Theatres shines a spotlight on
Black History Month
in conjunction with
Chicago Theatre Week, February 6-16, 2025,
and Chicago Theatre Week Continued, February 17-23, 2025.
The League of Chicago Theatres presents the first event in its Cultural Conversation Series. Join theatre leaders for a community conversation celebrating Black History Month at 6pm on Monday, February 17 at Definition Theatre, 1160 E 55th St, Chicago.
The League of Chicago Theatres’ Cultural Conversation Series intends to uplift theatres and artistic organizations who have a commitment to their communities and cultures. The program will engage industry leaders in thoughtful discission and showcase opportunities for attendees to get involved in their initiatives. The February Cultural Conversation will be moderated and curated by Definition Theatre Executive Director Neel McNeil.
The following is a selection of work in Chicago available in February in celebration of Black History Month:
(*Those in red are shows we're reviewing here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama. We'll update with reviews as we see them.)
• First Lady of Song: Alexis J Roston sings Ella Fitzgerald (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre):
• We Always Bounce Black (The Second City)
• Debate: Baldwin v. Buckley (TimeLine)
Recommended. ★★★ Three out of four stars. B Kenaz-Mara, ChiIL Live Shows
(Unique site specific debate that rings as true today, 60 years later. Truly a treat for architecture geeks, history buffs, and debate nerds alike. Not your typical night of theatre. Spot on for our political times and entirely captivating!)
• Fat Ham (Goodman)
Highly recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars. B Kenaz-Mara, ChiIL Live Shows
(This "Juicy" collab's so nice they extended it twice! FAT HAM is Goodman Theatre's co-production with Definition Theatre and an absolute must see. Now playing through March 9, 2025)
• 1619: The Journey of a People (3rd Dimension Performance Group)
• A Raisin in the Sun (Court)
• Policy: Running Numbers A Family Business (Harold Washington Cultural Center)
• The Promotion (MPAACT—Ma’at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre)
• Big Black Comedy (The Den)
Discounted tickets to many of the productions are available at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com and HotTix.org. Otherwise, tickets may be purchased through the respective theatre companies.
Chicago Theatre Week (#CTW25), presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in participation with Choose Chicago, is an annual celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago during which visitors and residents can access value-priced tickets. Chicago Theatre Week is February 6-16, 2025. For the third consecutive year, HotTix.org will host Chicago Theatre Week Continued from February 17-23, 2025, which will extend Theatre Week discounts to participating productions for an additional week.
The value-priced CTW tickets will be $30, $15, or less. Tickets are on sale at ChicagoTheatreWeek.com .
Last year’s Chicago Theatre Week saw massive ticket sales with more than 18,000 tickets sold to 81 participating productions for more than 446 performances. 64 theaters participated in CTW 2024, with 29 neighborhoods and suburbs represented. The program continues to bring in new audiences to area theatres with approximately 58% of patrons visiting their chosen theatre for the first time. Chicago Theatre Week also raises the visibility of the theater industry, as evidenced by the 144,689 unique visitors to ChicagoTheatreWeek.com from the ticket onsale through the end of Theatre Week.
Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago. Subscribe to the Theatre Week email newsletter for updates and announcements.
The official hashtag for Chicago Theatre Week 2025 is #CTW25.
About Chicago theatre
Chicago theatre is the leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 7 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. Each year Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. For more information, visit www.chicagoplays.com. #ChiTheatre
The League of Chicago Theatres’ Mission Statement
Theatre is essential to the life of a great city and to its citizens. The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres, which leverages its collective strength to support, promote and advocate for Chicago’s theatre industry. Through our work, we ensure that theatre continues to thrive in our city.
About Choose Chicago
Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city and its member business community.
Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and tag #ChicaGOandKNOW. For more information, visit choosechicago.com. Support the theatre community this fall during Theater Season and explore more than 100 shows happening now through the end of the year at TheaterSeason.com.
