“After more than a year of introspection, planning, and change while theatres have been closed, it is a thrill to have live theatre back—and to experience this great, collective art form in Chicago again,” comments League of Chicago Theatres Executive Director Deb Clapp.
A list of season openers follow. For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Available half-price tickets will be listed at HotTix.org.
Chicago theatres prioritize safely gathering. Patrons are encouraged to confirm current protocols at each theatre. Shows and protocols are subject to change.
Now Open
The Second City reopened its Chicago venue with two productions: Happy To Be Here on the Mainstage, and Safer, Shorter & Still So Funny at e.t.c. The Second City welcomes back audiences with 60-minute shows Thursdays through Sundays. secondcity.com
Teatro ZinZanni returned on July 8 with a cast of comedians, aerialists, acrobats, singers, dancers, and a gourmet meal inside the Spiegeltent on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel. zinzanni.com/Chicago
The Annoyance returned mid-July with a variety of comedy and improv shows at their Lakeview theatre including Dick Wolf: Special IMPROV Unit, Fire & Beer: The Annoyance House Ensemble, Hitch*Cocktails, and SuperHuman among others. theannoyance.com
*Dennis Watkins returns to perform live magic in The Magic Parlour at The Palmer House beginning August 6. themagicparlourchicago.com &
Drunk Shakespeare returns to performing in the Loop at The Lion Theatre starting August 6. drunkshakespeare.com
*Paramount Theatre produces the regional premiere of the flashy, sexy story of Kinky Boots, August 18 – October 17. paramountaurora.com
*Theater Wit opens its venue with the return of Mr. Burns, a post electric play, an open run beginning August 27. theaterwit.org
City Lit Theater opens the world premiere adaptation of Thirteen Days running September 10 – October 24. citylit.org
*Marriott Theatre celebrates the songbook from the multi-Tony award-winning team of John Kander and Fred Ebb with The World Goes ‘Round opening on September 15. marriotttheatre.com
Chicago Opera Theater performs Carmen in concert at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance on September 16 and 18. chicagooperatheater.org
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre begins their season by transporting audiences to the 1960s with SHOUT: A Mod Musical September 16 – October 30. metropolisarts.com
The Lyric Opera of Chicago opens its season September 17 with a new production of Macbeth, marking the inaugural production of Music Director Enrique Mazzola's tenure. lyricopera.org
Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest opens its Mainstage season on September 18 with Brighton Beach Memoirs. citadeltheatre.org
*Northlight Theatre opens with a tour-de-force performance by Bethany Thomas in Songs for Nobodies, celebrating the music of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holliday, Edith Piaf and Maria Callas from September 23 – October 31. northlight.org
The Factory Theater in Rogers Park presents Last Night in Karaoke Town, October 1 – November 6. thefactorytheater.com
Broadway In Chicago presents Rent at the CIBC Theatre from October 5 – 10 in the 25th Anniversary “Farewell Season of Love” tour. broadwayinchicago.com
*Mercury Theater Chicago returns to the stage with Sister Act the musical based on the 1992 film, November 5 – January 9. mercurytheaterchicago.com
Harris Theater for Music and Dance returns October 5 with its Mix At Six series featuring Nathalie Joachim + Spektral Quartet in a celebration of Haitian female artists. harristheaterchicago.org
*Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse opens its run of the new immersive theater, food, and farce experience A Recipe for Disaster at Petterino’s in the Loop on October 6. windycityplayhouse.com
*Court Theatre produces The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice live from October 7 – November 21 on a set that places audience in the middle of the action, along with an at-home, on-demand streaming option. courttheatre.org
Beverly Theatre Guild begins its new season with Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical from October 8 –10. btgonline.org
*Black Button Eyes Productions opens Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog at The Edge Theater to benefit the charity Season of Concern on October 8. blackbuttoneyes.com
The Den Theatre presents four stand-up comedians to kick off its season this fall, beginning with Erik Griffin October 8 & 9. thedentheatre.com
First Folio Theatre returns to in-person performances with The Jigsaw Bride: A Frankenstein Story, an eerie and suspenseful tale, playing October 13 – November 14. firstfolio.org
The Joffrey Ballet marks its return to the stage with Home: a Celebration, mixed repertory of original work and a beloved classic by co-founder Gerald Arpino from October 13 – 24. joffrey.org
The Auditorium Theatre welcomes back resident company Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater as part of their “Made in Chicago Dance Series” on October 16. auditoriumtheatre.org
*Raven Theatre begins its season with the world premiere of Joshua Allen’s The Last Pair of Earlies playing October 27 – December 12. raventheatre.com
*Broadway In Chicago presents the pre-Broadway premiere of Paradise Square at the Nederlander Theatre November 2 – December 5. broadwayinchicago.com
*Steppenwolf Theatre Company revives Tracy Letts’ mind-bending cult classic Bug November 11 – December 12. steppenwolf.org
More theatre reopenings will continue to be announced. For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Available half-price tickets will be listed at HotTix.org.
Chicago theatres prioritize safely gathering. Patrons are encouraged to confirm current protocols at each theatre. Shows and protocols are subject to change.
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 5 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.
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.
