Top Chicago Holiday Theatre Offerings And Half Price Tickets For 2023

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

CHICAGO THEATRES GET FESTIVE FOR 

THE 2023 HOLIDAY SEASON

League of Chicago Theatres highlights seasonal productions in annual Holiday Guide and launches Half-Price Holidays

 

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we've seen hundreds of Chicago based plays and touring productions a year since 2008. Chicago's theatre scene is second to none, with 250+ theatres ranging from funky little storefronts to giant, ornate, downtown spaces that seat thousands. Make some memories with family and friends this holiday season and see a show! Tickets make excellent clutter busting gifts and the memories will last a lifetime. Check back like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. We've noted in bold, red type below all the shows we're reviewing this season, and bold green for ones we have covered in past years, at ChiILMama.com (family friendly/family themed) and ChiILLiveShows.com (adult).

Chicago theatres will present a wide variety of festive plays, musicals, dance, and comedy offerings this Holiday season. In support, the League of Chicago Theatres has created a comprehensive Holiday Theatre Guide that is available at guest services at Block 37 Shops on State. The online Holiday Guide is available at https://chicagoplays.com/chicago-theatre-guide/.

An updated list of holiday shows with additional details about each production will be available throughout the season at ChicagoPlays.com. Additionally, Hot Tix is kicking off the holiday season with a brand-new promotion, Half-Price Holidays. From November 24 – December 3, half-price tickets will be available for select holiday productions from participating theaters like the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Greenhouse Theater, Oil Lamp Theater, Court Theatre, Three Brothers and more.  

League of Chicago Theatres Executive Director Marissa Lynn Jones comments, "There’s no better time than the holidays to gather with others for a shared theatrical event. The League of Chicago Theatres Holiday Guide highlights robust offerings from our member organizations throughout Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs, in-person experiences with a story for everyone to share. This year, we are introducing Half-Price Holidays, providing discounted tickets to encourage people to come out and experience a show this season."

 

The following is a selection of Holiday-themed work playing in Chicago this season:

Several theatres present the holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol. Goodman Theatre’s must-see annual production that has enchanted audiences for over four decades runs through December 30. Metropolis Performing Arts Centre presents an adaptation filled with warmth, humor, music, and holiday cheer, November 25 – December 24. Drury Lane celebrates 30 years of its Young Audiences production of A Christmas Carol, running November 24-December 30. Told through puppetry and music, the striking holiday experience of Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol comes to life at Writers Theatre, November 16 – December 24.

Audiences will be transported to the whimsical world of Whoville and be reminded of the true meaning of the holidays when Broadway in Chicago presents Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, December 19 – 31. 

Don’t miss the live theatrical adaptation of Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, based on the beloved television special originally created by the legendary puppeteer Jim Henson with music by the legendary Paul Williams, November 15 - December 30 at The Studebaker Theater at The Fine Arts Building.

For more than 20 years, American Blues Theater has treated audiences to a live retelling of the Frank Capra classic in a 1940s radio broadcast tradition, making It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, the second longest-running holiday play in Chicago. Running December 8 – 31, It’s A Wonderful Life will inaugurate the company’s new home at 5627 N. Lincoln Ave.

Take in a classic or contemporary production of holiday favorite The Nutcracker: Journey to Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair with The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker, reimagined by two-time Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon, at Lyric Opera House, December 2 – 7; Broadway in Chicago presents Hip Hop Nutcracker, a re-mixed version that smashes hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky's timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event, December 12 -17 at Cadillac Palace Theatre; and Sugar Hill: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker reveals the glamour of 1930s Harlem in this jazz-steeped version of the classic tale, December 19 – 30 at the Auditorium Theatre.

Be enchanted by the magic of Cinderella this holiday season: It's the 47th Anniversary of Jackie Taylor's holiday classic hit The Other Cinderella, running at Black Ensemble Theater though December 31, while Drury Lane Theatre presents the beloved musical Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella through January 7.

Cirque du Soleil’s first-ever holiday production ‘Twas the Night Before… is a whirlwind of love, holiday cheer, riotous fun, and adorably endearing characters that will establish a new tradition for families to treasure. Running December 7 – 28 at The Chicago Theatre.

Dash through the snow to The Second City for The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Sweater, where festive family gatherings, office parties, classic holiday movies, and Mariah Carey's entire catalogue will all get roasted like chestnuts on an open fire, November 21 – December 31.

The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry’s classic tale of selflessness and the true meaning of gift-giving runs atOil Lamp Theater, November 17 – December 30

Four Beatrix Potter favorites come to life in The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party, a mesmerizing, interactive trunk and puppet show at Chicago Children’s Theatre, through December 31. 

Strawdog Theatre presents its sixth annual production of the beloved book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, in partnership with The Chicago Loop Synagogue, November 30 – December 23.

Inspired by The Gift of the Magi, The Little Matchstick Girl, A Christmas Carol, and the best 80s pop hits, VHS Christmas Carols is a brand-new retro holiday classic from sensation Team Starkid, running November 17 – 19 at the Apollo Theater.

It's Bethlehem or Bust in the road trip comedy 2,023 years in the making - Wise Guys: The First Christmas Story - at The Factory Theater, through December 16

Be spirited away by The Snow Queen in this new musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fantastical coming-of-age adventure that inspired the hit Disney movie Frozen. Running November 17 – December 31 at Marriott Theatre.

Court Theatre presents The Lion in Winter - Tony Award-winning play that inspired the Oscar-winning film – through December 3. Ron OJ Parson directs this thrillingly clever epic with humor, heart, and renewed relevance.

Chicago's favorite holiday musical, The Christmas Schooner, sets sail once again from Beverly Arts Center's Baffes Theater, December 14 – 23.

Chopin Theatre presents the laugh-out-loud comedy Christmas With Elvis, November 24 – January 7.

Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates its 40th Anniversary with The Big 4-0, ho, ho! a celebration of CGMC’s holiday favorites over the last 40 years, at the Auditorium Theatre on December 8.

Enjoy the magic of movie music at Elf in Concert, played live to picture on November 25 at the Auditorium Theatre, then relive John Hughes' hilarious Home Alone in Concert, as members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra play one of John Williams’ most delightful scores live, December 8 – 10.

You better watch out, you better not cry, because "The Queens of Christmas" are coming back to the Auditorium Theatre with a brand-new edition of the internationally acclaimed The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show on December 10.

Experience the power of nearly 100 voices in magnificent harmony when the award-winning Chicago Symphony Chorus and four world-class soloists join Sir Andrew Davis in this must-see holiday favorite Handel’s Messiah, December 21 – 23 at Chicago Symphony Center.

 

Some notable non-holiday offerings this season include:

Broadway in Chicago presents the new Broadway-bound musical-comedy extravaganza Boop! The Musical at CIBC Theatre, November 19 – December 24 and an all-new 21st-Century production of The Wiz at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, November 28 – December 10

Northlight Theatre’s Dial M for Murder spins a web of suspicion and deception in this edge-of-your-seat adaptation of a modern classic, November 30 – December 31.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents Islander, a WorldStage event featuring a contemporary folk-inspired score and epic storytelling as dramatic as the Scottish coastline. Running November 29 – December 17.

Experience the wacky world of Willy Wonka when Paramount Theatre in Aurora presents the fantastical musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory through January 14. 

Proboscis Theatre Company creates a new adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest featuring a cast of eight women on a journey from isolation to community using Shakespeare's text and stories from their own lives, December 7 – 17 at City Lit Theater.

Enjoy the inspiring true story of Carole King's remarkable journey from teenage songwriter to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, in Beautiful at Marriott Theatre through December 31.

PlayMakers Laboratory Theatre’s ensemble brings stories from Chicago elementary school students to life in That’s Weird, Grandma! at The Neo-Futurarium, December 8 – 17.

When a White House PR nightmare spins into a legit sh*tshow, seven brilliant and beleaguered women must risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble in POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. Running through December 10 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

TimeLine Theatre Company presents The Lifespan of a Fact, a comedic showdown between truth and fact set in the world of non-fiction publishing through December 23.

Mel Brook’s hilarious musical comedy Young Frankenstein continues at Mercury Theater Chicago through December 31, 2023.

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Tickets available in the Half-Price Holidays promotion will be listed at HotTix.org.

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 6 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.

 

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.

 

Best Chicago Theatre For Fall 2023

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

LEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATRES 

FALL 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Here at ChiILMama.com and ChiILLiveShows.com we adore Chicago's live theatre scene. I've been catching shows in Chicago since I moved here in 1990 and I've been reviewing as an official theatre critic since 2008. Over the past 15 years I've seen incredible productions and world class talent on stage and behind the scenes. This September alone, I'm personally catching 25 shows! Chicago's theatre scene is second to none and residents and visitors alike are in for a treat this fall, with an incredible array of stellar openings. 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 6 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation.

Offerings from the city’s more than 250 producing theatres include a wide variety of plays and musicals, as well as comedy, dance, festivals, and more. For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Additionally, many fall shows will be available at Hot Tix, Chicago’s local, discounted ticketing service. Hot Tix operates online at HotTix.org and in-person at Guest Services inside Block 37 Shops on State, 108 N State Street. The Block 37 location is open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.

League of Chicago Theatre Executive Director Marissa Lynn Jones comments, “Theatre is an important part of the cultural and vibrant fabric of Chicago, adding to the soul and character of our city. The Fall Theatre Guide is full of theatre, music, dance and comedy productions, giving people a reason to leave their homes and take in a show, whether it be downtown, in a neighborhood, or in a suburb. We hope to share the joy of experiencing live theatre to as many residents and visitors as possible this season.”

The following is a selection of notable work playing in Chicago this Fall, organized by location.

A selection of productions playing in theatres located in the Loop are:

Hamilton

Broadway In Chicago at the James M. Nederlander Theatre

Playing September 13 – December 3

Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, HAMILTON has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.

The Nacirema Society

Goodman Theatre

Playing September 16 – October 15

Every year since Emancipation, The Nacirema Society of Montgomery, Alabama introduces six elegant African-American debutantes to a world of wealth, privilege and social responsibility. For these young ladies, bus boycotts and freedom marches are less interesting than making a perfect entrance or plotting the perfect blackmail.

 

The Lehman Trilogy

Broadway In Chicago at Broadway Playhouse

Playing September 19 – October 29

On a cold September morning in 1844, a young Jewish man from Bavaria stands on a New York dockside dreaming of a new life in the new world. He is soon joined by his two brothers, and an American epic begins. 163 years later, the firm they establish—Lehman Brothers—spectacularly collapses into bankruptcy, triggering the largest financial crisis in history.

 

The Flying Dutchman

Lyric Opera of Chicago

Playing September 23 – October 7

The Flying Dutchman is the story of a young woman's obsession. Senta dreams of the Dutchman, who's cursed to wander the earth. He comes ashore every seven years, searching for a woman who will be faithful to him until death. When she meets him, Senta's fate is sealed.

 

Frankenstein

The Joffrey Ballet

Playing October 12-22

The critically acclaimed adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein, is a visceral, profoundly emotional tale of life, death, love, and identity. Set to Liebermann’s original sweeping score and immersed within the stunning stage design by world-renowned artist John Macfarlane, this must-see Chicago premiere is one of the most innovative works of ballet today.

 

Twelfth Night

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Playing October 25 – November 26

Tyrone Phillips, a first generation Jamaican-American, reimagines Illyria in the Caribbean in an exuberant production that makes the play’s oft-quoted line, “If music be the food of love, play on,” ring truer than ever. Separated from her twin brother in a shipwreck and washed ashore in Illyria, the spirited Viola dresses as a man to work for charming Duke Orsino—and finds herself in the middle of a love triangle of hilarious mistaken identities.

 

Company

Broadway In Chicago at Cadillac Palace Theatre

Playing October 31 – November 12

It’s Bobbie’s 35th birthday party, and all her friends keep asking, Why isn’t she married? Why can’t she find the right man and isn’t it time to settle down and start a family? As Bobbie searches for answers, she discovers why being single, being married, and being alive in the 21st-century could drive a person crazy.

 

Beetlejuice

Broadway In Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre

Playing November 7-19

It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes.

Theatres are located in almost every neighborhood in Chicago. A selection of productions playing throughout Chicago are:

 

A Taste of Soul

Black Ensemble Theater

Playing August 26 – October 15

Experience how Soul music has evolved from its Gospel roots to the pop culture sensation of today. With songs from some of Soul’s greatest hit makers like Barry White, Lou Rawls, Al Green, Bobby Caldwell, Gladys Knight and duets from legends like Peaches & Herb, Ashford & Simpson – and the list goes on and on!

 

A Hit Dog will Holler

Artemisia

Playing August 29 – September 17

When racism and oppression manifest in a scary, physical form, a social media influencer and a boots-on-the-ground activist form a complex bond of friendship to help each other survive. What happens when there’s no more outside space for the growing monster that is American racism?

 

Cat’s Cradle

Lifeline Theatre

Playing September 1 – October 22

Join the famed Hoenikker family on the Caribbean Island of San Lorenzo for a satirical tale of how “pure” scientific research, banana republic politics, and an organized religion based on lies bring about the end of the world.

 

Revolution

A Red Orchid Theatre

Playing September 7 – October 29

Who celebrates their 26th birthday in the alley? Puff, that's who. With the help of her best friend Jame and the unlikely company of Georgia, Puff rings in her new year with laughter, connection, a dose of danger, and Miller High Life.

 

Sanctuary City

Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Playing September 14 – November 18

Newark, NJ. Post-9/11. Two teenagers, brought to America as children, now face an unlikely foe: unexpected, unreciprocated love. Their friendship is no longer enough (for one of them) and their adopted country doesn’t love them back.

 

Blues for an Alabama Sky

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

Playing September 14 – October 15

It’s 1930 in Harlem and jazz singer Angel has just gotten fired from The Cotton Club. Supported by her closest friends, Angel hopes for her next big break as costume designer Guy imagines sewing dresses in Paris, and Delia works to bring family planning centers to the community. But all of their dreams are put in jeopardy when Angel meets Leland, a recent Alabama transplant. Will he be the true love Angel has been waiting for or will he forever alter the dynamic of their precious inner circle?

 

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice

The Gift Theatre at Filament Theatre

Playing September 14 – October 15

Little Voice has a hidden talent: she can emulate every chanteuse from Judy Garland to Edith Piaf. She hides in her room, crooning and dreaming of love, while her disheveled mother mistakes a seedy agent’s interest as affection rather than enthusiasm for the gold mine buried in her daughter’s throat. This is an engaging fairy tale of despair, love and finally hope as LV finds a voice of her own.

 

American Psycho: The Musical

Kokandy Productions at Chopin Theatre

Playing September 14 – November 26

Based on the electrifying novel by Bret Easton Ellis, the musical tells the story of Patrick Bateman, a young and handsome Wall Street banker with impeccable taste and unquenchable desires. Patrick and his elite group of friends spend their days in chic restaurants, exclusive clubs and designer labels. But at night, Patrick takes part in a darker indulgence, and his mask of sanity is starting to slip…

 

Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery

Chicago Children’s Theatre

Playing September 23 – October 15

Through fabulous storytelling and fast-paced comedy, Ben Franklin and his want-to-be-inventor niece, Sarah, travel to France where they us the Scientific Method to test a mystical man’s magical cure-all in Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery.

 

Destinos: 6th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival

Chicago Latino Theater Alliance

Running September 28 – November 12

Chicago’s annual citywide festival showcasing Latino theater artists and companies from Chicago, the U.S. and Latin America, returns for Chicago’s Latino Heritage Month. The festival is produced by the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA), and is presented annually to drive Chicago’s vibrant Latino theater scene to a more prominent level locally, nationally and internationally. The 2023 line-up includes 17 productions all new to Chicago, including four world premieres, two North American premieres, one U.S. premiere, and five Midwest premieres. For additional information and tickets visit destinosfest.org.

 

Night Watch

Raven Theatre Company

Playing October 5 – November 12

Moonlit streets, a restless mind and a large window have become Elaine’s nightly routine in her luxurious city townhouse. But insomnia is the least of her worries when a dead body appears in the window of an abandoned, squalid unit across the street. To make matters worse, the body disappears before her husband, best friend or maid have a chance to witness the atrocity.

 

Blackademics

MPAACT at Greenhouse Theater Center

Playing October 6 – November 19

There’s something strange about the trendy new restaurant in town. When Ann and Rachelle meet there for dinner, there’s already tension in the friendship they’ve built on their common experience navigating academia as black women: While Ann just got tenure at her tiny liberal arts college, Rachelle’s struggling to find her place at the less prestigious State University. So at first, it’s easy to overlook odd things like the single water glass they are offered, or the mysterious server who keeps assigning points to their conversational gambits. But as the hunger sets in, the two professors find themselves the unknowing stars of an absurdist dinner theater performance of black plight. Somebody’s got to take the first bite, after all. A sharp, surreal satire about who gets a place at the table.

 

Port of Entry

Albany Park Theater Project

Playing October 6 – December 16

Port of Entry invites you to step inside the real-life stories of immigrants and refugees from all parts of the world living side by side in a single apartment building in one of the country’s most diverse immigrant communities: Chicago’s Albany Park. Formed by APTP’s youth ensemble, Port of Entry will take you on a journey through time and across cultures.

 

Young Frankenstein

Mercury Theater Chicago

Playing October 13 – December 31

Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced “Fronk-en-steen”) inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced “Eye-gore”), and a leggy lab assistant, Inga (pronounced normally), Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors. “It’s alive!” he exclaims as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity continuously abounds.

 

That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven

Vision Latino Theatre Company at UrbanTheater Company

Playing October 14 – November 4

Vision Latino Theater Company presents That Must Be the Entrance to Heaven by Franky D. Gonzalez for CLATA’s “Destinos”, the 6th annual International Latino Theater Festival.

 

The Night of the Hunter

City Lit Theater Company

Playing October 20 – December 3

A world premiere stage adaptation of the noir novel The Night of the Hunter by Davis Grubb, adapted by Chicago adaptor Shawna Tucker. Inspired by the crimes of West Virginia serial killer Harry Powers, who was executed in Grubb’s home town in 1932 for the murders of two widows and three children, The Night of the Hunter is about Henry “Preacher” Powell, who has LOVE tattooed on the knuckles of his right hand and HATE on those of his left, and preys on widows in Depression-era West Virginia.

 

POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive

Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Playing October 26 – December 10

It’s just another (omg, wtf, lmfao) day at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. When a White House PR nightmare spins into a legit sh*tshow, seven brilliant and beleaguered women must risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble. POTUS: or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive is a bawdy and irreverent look at sex, politics and the women in charge of the man in charge of the free world. Who knew that global crisis is always just a four-letter word away.

 

Productions playing in the suburbs of Chicago include:

Little Shop of Horrors

Paramount Theatre

Playing August 30 – October 15

Join us on Skid Row as meek and mild Seymour Krelborn eeks out a living at the failing Mushnik’s Flower Shop. Until one day, he discovers a strange and unusual plant he names Audrey II – one that feeds on human blood. Seymour becomes caught up in a wild scheme of trying to acquire fresh blood for his carnivorous plant – all while attempting to save the love of his life from her evil dentist boyfriend.

 

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash

Drury Lane Theatre

Playing August 30 – October 22

Ring of Fire showcases the story of Johnny Cash through his music. From country rock n’ roll to searing ballads of love and faith, Cash’s iconic songs highlight the incredible struggles and triumphs of his life. Performed by an incredible group of actor/musicians, Ring of Fire celebrates the music that has become a part of our collective experience.

 

Gypsy

Marriott Theatre

Playing August 23 – October 15

Gypsy is the tale of the ultimate ambitious stage mother, fighting for her daughters’ success while secretly yearning for her own. Arthur Laurents’ landmark show explores the world of two-bit show business with brass, humor, heart, and sophistication. This lavish classic boasts a celebrated score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim including: “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Let Me Entertain You,” “Some People,” and “Together Wherever We Go.”

 

Welcome to Matteson!

Congo Square Theatre Company

Playing September 6 – October 1

A dark comedy by Inda Craig-Galván, Welcome to Matteson! follows two Black couples over the course of a dinner party; one couple has lived in the Chicago suburb of Matteson for years, the other has just moved in after being forcibly relocated from the Cabrini-Green housing projects. A uniquely Chicago story, the play explores universal themes of gentrification, housing justice, and inter-class relationships.

 

Birthday Candles

Northlight Theatre

Playing September 7 – October 8

Ernestine Ashworth spends her 17th birthday agonizing over her insignificance in the universe. Soon enough, it’s her 18th birthday. Even sooner, her 41st. Her 70th. Her 101st. Five generations, an infinity of dreams, and one cake baked over a century.

 

The Mousetrap

Citadel Theatre Company

Playing September 13 – October 15

After a local woman is murdered, the guests and staff at Monkswell Manor find themselves stranded during a snowstorm. It soon becomes clear that the killer is among them, and the seven strangers grow increasingly suspicious of one another. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate.

 

The American Dream

Subtext Studio at Madison Street Theater

Playing October 5-29

Guatemalan immigrant Corina has made her way across the border guided by Efren, a human smuggler, aka coyote. Efren imprisons her while awaiting the final payment from her husband. Lies and truth get tangled as each desperately battles for their own definitions of freedom.

 

Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon

Music Theater Works

Playing October 12 – November 12

You can only see it for a single day every hundred years. No, not the show, but the enchanted town in the misty highlands. You’ll get lost in Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon with our hero and heroine and the wonderful residents of this mythical place singing such standards as “Almost Like Being In Love,” “Come to Me, Bend to Me,” and “Heather on the Hill,” made famous by the classic MGM film and numerous productions, each more beloved than the last.

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, www.chicagoplays.com. Available discounted 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’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.

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.

 

ADULT NIGHT OUT: Chicago Premiere of MotherFreakingHood! at Chicago's Venus Cabaret Theater May 4 – June 11, 2023

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

The uproarious new musical comedy

MotherFreakingHood!

makes its Chicago premiere at the Venus Cabaret Theater

at Mercury Theater Chicago

The critically acclaimed musical features

original book and music by Julie Dunlap and Sara Stotts

with direction by Heidi Van

and music direction by Linda Madonia

 

Featuring Leah Morrow, Jacquelyne Jones, Tafadzwa Diener and Maya Rowe 

May 4 – June 11, 2023

Grab your friends, hire a sitter, and get ready to laugh your abs off! MotherFreakingHood!, the uproarious musical comedy celebrating the world’s second-oldest profession, is coming to Chicago’s Venus Cabaret Theater. This new, original musical by Julie Dunlap and Sara Stotts is directed by Heidi Van, with music direction by Linda Madonia. MotherFreakingHood! runs May 4-June 11, 2023 in the intimate Venus Cabaret Theater at Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue. I'll be out for the press opening May 13th, so check back soon for my full review.

MotherFreakingHood! is an irreverent, yet sentimental, original musical comedy that follows first-time mom Rachel, second-time mom Angie, and fourth-time mom Marcia, as they sing and dance their way from pregnancy tests to empty nests...one bottle at a time! The uncensored trio takes on the world with unmotherly charm, discovering that this inconceivably hilarious adventure is best shared with friends. MotherFreakingHood! takes a blunt look at the parenting journey, told through all original music and unbridled humor.

After debuting in Kansas City at the Goppert Theatre in 2015, MotherFreakingHood!enjoyed a limited off-Broadway run at the 2017 New York Musical Festival in New York City, receiving rave reviews and continuing its development in Chicago and Kansas City. The musical then had a limited, sold-out run at The Black Box in Kansas City in September 2022 where it was named Broadway World's Best New Play or Musical for 2022 in the region.

“I am thrilled to be bringing this show to my hometown, sweet home Chicgo,” says co-playwright Sara Stotts. “Between Heidi [Van], Linda [Madonia)], Keely [Vasquez, casting director], and our all-female cast, we have a great team of extraordinary women bringing this critically acclaimed musical to the beautiful Venus Cabaret Theater.”

“MotherFreakingHood! is a full experience that gives mothers a place to laugh at the absurdities of child-rearing and reminds them they are not alone,” adds co-playwright Julie Dunlap.

The cast includes Leah Morrow (Marcia Burger), Jacquelyne Jones (Angie Miller),Tafadzwa Diener (Rachel Nixon) and Maya Rowe (Everywoman).

Tickets for MotherFreakingHood!, priced $65 for single tickets and $260 for premium reserved tables of four, are on sale now at the box office, 3745 N. Southport Avenue in Chicago, www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com. Discounted tickets available for groups of 8 or more.

About the Artists

Playwrights Julie Dunlap and Sara Stotts know the power of friendship well. The former roommates met at

the University of Kansas and quickly bonded while co-writing a short musical for the campus variety show, Rock Chalk Revue. While their careers led them to different cities, they maintained their friendship and shared love of music and writing, teaming up to writeMotherFreakingHood! while coping with raising their own kids, a move they claim was cheaper than therapy. With the primary goal of celebrating unsung heroes with unsung songs, the musical comedy became a labor of love.

Julie Dunlap (Playwright / Producer), a Kansas City native and mother of five, entered motherhood with a degree in Human Biology she used to make her own humans. To cope, she started a mom blog that was soon picked up by the Lawrence Journal-World as a weekly humor column. Within three years, though, she no longer felt 500 words each week sufficiently expressed the stories that made up her days as a mom and partnered with her former college roomie to write an entire musical about the experience. Julie lives in Lawrence, KS where she is a freelance writer and pianist.

Sara Stotts (Playwright / Producer), a mother of two, grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma. After graduating from the University of Kansas, Sara earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University. While in Chicago, she studied improvisation at both the Annoyance Theater and The Second City. There, she seasoned her funny bone and honed her music writing skills as the former front woman of the funk-blues band Chubby Nothin’ and the Bone. Sara lives in Wilmette, IL and practices Physical Therapy by day and by night she practices being a mom to her two delightful and loving and not at all angsty teenagers.  

Heidi Van (Director / Producer) is an actor, creator, and producer of contemporary experimental live theatre. She is the founder of Fishtank Theatre, Inc, a stalwart in the Kansas City arts community, which has been nurturing local artists and entrepreneurship in the arts since 2009. In 2019, Heidi opened The Black Box, an ever-evolving stage in Kansas City's West Bottoms. She leads with experience, wit and creativity both within the theater and in her favorite role: as a mother of three.

Dates: May 4 – June 11, 2023

Previews: May 4 – 7, 2023

Regular Run: May 11 – June 11, 2023

Press Performances: Friday, May 12 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 13 at 3pm and 8pm; Sunday, May 14 at 3 pm

 

Schedule:                             

Thursdays: 8pm

Fridays: 8pm

Saturdays: 3pm and 8pm

Sundays: 3pm

 

Location: Venus Cabaret Theater at Mercury Theater Chicago; 3745 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago

 

Single Tickets: $65

Premium Reserved Tables for 4 people: $260

Box Office: 3745 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago; www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com

 

COVID PROTOCOL: Mercury Theater Chicago follows the CDC and State of Illinois recommendations about maintaining a COVID safe environment. Any interaction with the public poses an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19. By visiting Mercury Theater Chicago, it is understood that everyone voluntarily assumes all risks related to exposure.

 

About Mercury Theater Chicago

The beautifully renovated Mercury Theater Chicago is in the heart of the Southport Corridor at 3745 North Southport Avenue, within a sophisticated neighborhood of restaurants and boutiques just steps from Wrigley Field. A delightful destination, Mercury Theater Chicago is a live-theater seating 280 people, adjoining Venus Cabaret Theater (seating 80). 

The building that houses the Mercury opened in 1912 as a silent film nickelodeon, named The Blaine Theatre after actor and former Senator and Secretary of State James G. Blaine. The Blaine became obsolete when talking pictures became popular nationwide in 1928. The building served a variety of uses until 1994, when it was purchased by theater producer Michael Cullen and transformed into a live theatre, named the Mercury Theatre.

In 2010 the building was sold again and reopened as Mercury Theater Chicago under the direction of Walter Stearns, a veteran theater director and producer. Mercury Theater Chicago's second performance space, Venus Cabaret Theater, offers a unique intimate theatrical experience complemented by specialty cocktails. Mercury Theater Chicago is thrilled to be part of the city's vibrant theatre community, boasting record-setting long runs, employing hundreds of artists and recognized with dozens of award nominations. Mercury Theater Chicago's team includes L. Walter Stearns and Eugene Dizon (Executive Producers), Christopher Chase Carter (Artistic Director), and Kristi J. Martens (Managing Director). Visit www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com.

 

ADULT NIGHT OUT: FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA Via Lifeline Theatre and Pegasus Theatre Chicago April 27— June 18, 2023

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

LIFELINE THEATRE CAPS 40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH POWERFUL RETELLING OF 

FROM THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA 

A CO-PRODUCTION WITH PEGASUS THEATRE CHICAGO

Performances with Open Captioning on May 20 and June 9

Performance with Touch Tour and Audio Description on May 28

The production runs approximately 2 hours with an intermission. 

The autobiography will be on sale in the lobby.

  

Lifeline Theatre presents From the Mississippi Delta, based on the autobiography of and written by Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland. Lifeline Theatre’s Artistic Director ILesa Duncan directs From the Mississippi Deltaand the production runs Thursday, April 27— Sunday, June 18 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. (free parking and shuttle; see below.)  

I'll be out for opening night, Monday, May 1, so check back soon for my full review.

Previews are Thursday, Apr. 27 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Apr. 28 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday Apr. 29 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, May 30 at 2:30 p.m. Regular performance times (May 5 – June 18) are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $45 for regular single tickets, $25 for previews, $35 for seniors and active/retired military personnel (with ID), $15 for students (with ID), with group rates for 10 or more available upon request. Tickets may be purchased visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com or at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477.  

From the Mississippi Delta is based on Dr. Holland’s memoir of the same title as she recounts her 20-year journey from humble beginnings in Greenwood, Mississippi to achieving her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota.  Directed by Lifeline Artistic Director ILesa Duncan (Neverwhere [2018], Middle Passage,) experience a story of triumph in the face of extreme adversity that expertly weaves through the trials and tribulations of Dr. Holland’s life relayed through the bodies and voices of only three actors, all in tribute to one of America’s unsung “sheroes”.

 

Co-producer Pegasus Theatre Chicago is developing a series of city-wide community engagement events and post-performance talk-backs.  Events include: #ProtectBlackGirls: A Panel Discussion on Organizing, Advocacy, and Action; “Dirt to Delta,” a poetry performance; and a writing workshop. Dates and locations will be updated on the Lifeline and Pegasus websites.

 

The complete cast and production team for From the Mississippi Delta includes guest artists LaKecia Harris, Arielle Leverett, & Jenise Sheppard; with understudies Tierra Matthews.

 

PRODUCTION TEAM: Lifeline ensemble member ILesa Duncan (Director); with guest artists Deon Custard (Sound Designer), Adi Davis (Production Manager), Gregory Geffrard (Intimacy Consultant), Gregory Graham (Costume Designer), Tanji Harper(Choreographer/Movement Designer), Ricky Harris (Music Director), Wendy Ann Huber (Props Designer), Roxie Kooi (Stage Manager), Angela Weber Miller (Scenic Designer), Harrison Ornelas (Technical Director), Shadana Patterson (Dialect Coach), Jocelyn Prince (Dramaturg), Karen Wallace (Lighting Supervisor), and Levi Wilkins (Lighting Designer).

 

ABOUT DR. ENDESHA IDA MAE HOLLAND  

Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland (1944-2006) was a writer and an emeritus professor of theater at the University of Southern California. She was best-known for her play, From the Mississippi Delta, which was based on her memoir of the same name. Delta chronicled her journey from Jim Crow-era poverty, rape and prostitution to civil rights activism. Holland became involved with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and participated in numerous civil rights protests. She left Mississippi in 1965 as a dropout to further her education.. Although it took 20 years, she earned her bachelor's, master's degree and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota

 

ABOUT ILESA DUNCAN, Director and Artistic Director of Lifeline Theatre

ILesa Duncan became Lifeline’s artistic director and joined the ensemble in January 2019, where she directed Neverwhere (Jeff Recommended 2018), and Blue Shadow (2010 KidSeries Premiere). A producer, director, writer, educator and theater-maker, Duncan is an avid collaborator on new work. Other directing credits include Eclipsed (Jeff Recommended), Shakin’ The Mess Outta Misery (Jeff Nominated), Rutherford’s Travels (Jeff Nominated, co-adapter), The Green Book, For Her as a Piano, and Blacula: Young, Black & Undead at Pegasus Theatre (where is the Producing Artistic Director); Broken Fences at 16th Street Theater; The Nativity (Congo Square; Jeff nominated); and the Jeff Award-winning Jar the Floor at ETA Creative Arts. Duncan has also worked with The Goodman, Writers Theatre, Victory Gardens, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Stage Left, and Chicago Dramatists, as well as Contemporary American Theatre Company (Ohio), The Alliance Theatre (Atlanta), Arena Stage (Washington DC), and Lincoln Center Theater (New York). As an educator, Duncan has led youth development and arts education programs in Chicago for more than 13 years. She is a past awardee of an NEA/TCG Directing fellowship and a 3 Arts Ragdale’s Fellowship. She is member of the Lincoln Center Theatre Director’s Lab and the Chicago Director’s Lab, and is an associate artist with Chicago Dramatists (where she previously served as education and community engagement director).

 

Accessible Performances: The Saturday, May 20, 2:30 p.m. performance and the Friday, June 9, 7:30 p.m. performances will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The Sunday, May 28, 2:30 p.m. performance will feature a pre-show touch tour of the set at 1 p.m. and live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. For more information about Lifeline’s accessibility services, please contact our Accessibility Coordinator at 773.761.4477 x703 or at access@lifelinetheatre.com.

 

From the Mississippi Delta runs Thursday, April 27— Sunday, June 18 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. (free parking and shuttle; see below.)  The press opening for From the Mississippi Delta is Sunday, Apr. 30 at 2:30 p.m. Opening night is Monday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m. (Previews are Thursday, Apr. 27 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Apr. 28 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday Apr. 29 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, May 30 at 2:30 p.m.).  Regular performance times (May 5 – June 18) are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $45 for regular single tickets, $25 for previews, $35 for seniors and active/retired military personnel (with ID), $15 for students (with ID), with group rates for 10 or more available upon request. 

Tickets may be purchased visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com or at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477.  The production runs approximately 2 hours with an intermission. The autobiography will be on sale in the lobby.

 

Celebrating its 40th season, Lifeline Theatre continues to explore, interpret, and reimagine books and other literary works to create stories that move us beyond the margins of our own lives. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close. 

 

Lifeline Theatre’s MainStage programs are partially supported by Carol Oppenheim + Jerome Lamet Charitable Fund; a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events;  Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; Flex Print, Inc.; Illinois Arts Council Agency; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; Rogers Park Social; S&C Electric Company Fund; The Shubert Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

 

Pegasus Theatre Chicago is supported by generous grants from The MacArthur Fund at the Richard Driehaus Foundation, the Walder Foundation, The David & Reva Logan Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (CityArts), and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

World Premiere of Galileo’s Daughter Via Remy Bumppo Theatre Company At Theater Wit April 5 - May 14, 2023

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:

Adult Night Out

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

Announces Cast, Creative and Production Team for the 

WORLD PREMIERE OF 

GALILEO’S DAUGHTER

by Jessica Dickey

Directed by Marti Lyons

April 5 - May 14, at Theater Wit

 Run Time:  90 minutes with no intermission

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce the cast, creative and production teams for the final production of its 2022-2023 season, the world premiere of Galileo’s Daughter by Jessica Dickey and directed byMarti Lyons, April 5 - May 14, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Avenue. Previews are Wednesday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 9 at 2:30 p.m. with press opening Thursday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances will run Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. with matinees Saturday, April 22 at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 29 at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 11 at 2:30 p.m. Post-show discussions are held following Sunday and Thursday performances, April 16 - May 11. The audio description/touch tour performance is Saturday, April 22 at 2:30 p.m. and the open caption performance is Saturday, April 29 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 - $40 and are now on sale at RemyBumppo.org. 

I'll be out for the press opening April 13th, so check back shortly after for my full review.

Rattled by a personal crisis, a playwright flees to Florence to study the letters between Galileo Galilei and his eldest daughter, Maria Celeste. Maria Celeste, caught up in the threats against her father, must abandon her work and join a convent. Alternating between past and present timelines, award-winning playwright Jessica Dickey’s captivating world premiere features the directorial debut of Artistic Director Marti Lyons for Remy Bumppo and is a personal examination of faith, forgiveness and the cost of heeding one’s truth.

“I am delighted to be making my Remy Bumppo debut directing Jessica Dickey’s exquisite world premiere,” said Artistic Director Marti Lyons. “Jessica and I have been looking for an opportunity to collaborate in Chicago for many years and found the perfect opportunity at Remy Bumppo with Galileo’s Daughter.”

The cast for Galileo’s Daughter features Linda Gillum (she/her/hers, writer 1)~; Emily Bosco (she/her/hers, writer 2); Chike Johnson (he/him/his, writer 3); Laura Resinger (she/her/hers, writer 1 U/S); Drew Michele Billman(she/her/hers, writer 2 U/S) and Chris Hainsworth (he/him/his, writer 3 U/S). 

The creative and production team for Galileo’s Daughter includes Marti Lyons (she/her/hers, director/artistic director); Christopher Thomas Pow (he/him/his, assistant director); Sarah Ellen Miller (she/her/hers/they/them/theirs, movement designer); Abhi Shrestha (they/them/theirs, dramaturg); Cori Lang (she/her/hers/they/them/theirs, assistant dramaturg); Sammi Grant (she/her/hers, dialect and vocal designer); Greg Geffrard (he/him/his, intimacy choreographer);Yeaji Kim(she/her/hers, scenic design)+; Finnegan Chu (she/her/hers/they/them/theirs, costume designer);  Renee Moreno(she/her/hers, assistant costume designer); Becca Jeffords (she/her/hers/they/them/theirs, lighting designer); Liz Gomez (she/her/hers, assistant lighting designer); Christopher Kriz (he/him/his, sound design and original music)+; John Boesche (he/him/his, projections designer) and Amanda Herrmann (they/them/theirs, properties designer); Marcus Carroll (he/him/his, rehearsal stage manager); Jean Compton (she/her/hers, stage manager); Anna Vu(she/her/hers, assistant stage manager); Addoris Davis (they/them/theirs/she/her/hers, production manager); Harrison Ornelas (he/him/his, technical director); Emily Altman (she/her/hers, scenic charge artist); Nick Chamernik (he/him/his, head electrician); Gabi Sitze-Martin (she/her/hers, wardrobe supervisor) and Christina Casano (she/her/hers, creative producer).

~ Connotes Remy Bumppo Core Ensemble Member

+ Connotes Remy Bumppo Associate Artist 

 

ABOUT MARTI LYONS, director

Marti Lyons is the Artistic Director of Remy Bumppo and most recently directed Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon at Northlight Theatre. She recently directed the co-world premiere of Wife of a Salesman by Eleanor Burgess at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Sense and Sensibility adapted by Jessica Swale at American Players Theatre and the world-premiere of John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower at Studio Theatre in D.C. Lyons’s other productions include The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess at Writers Theatre; Cymbeline at American Players Theatre; The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe and both the stage and audio productions of Kings by Sarah Burgess at Studio Theatre; the world-premiere of How to Defend Yourself by liliana padilla, a Victory Gardens and Actors Theatre of Louisville co-production; Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee at Victory Gardens and City Theatre; Witch by Jen Silverman at Geffen Playhouse and Writers Theatre (LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Direction); Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías at Victory Gardens; Botticelli in the Fire by Jordan Tannahill at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; I, Banquo at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Title and Deed by Will Eno at Lookingglass Theatre Company; Laura Marks’s Bethany and Mine at The Gift Theatre. Marti is an ensemble member at The Gift Theatre and a proud member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. 

 

ABOUT JESSICA DICKEY, playwright

Jessica Dickey is an award-winning playwright whose writing was hailed by The New York Times as having “freshness, economy, cheeky vulgarity, with a fine measure of poetic insight”, and the New Yorker magazine as “funny, smart, deep and sad”. She recently signed a development deal with ABC and Touchstone (Fox21). Dickey’s most recent play, The Convent, a dark comedy about a group of women who try to live like nuns in the middle ages, premiered Off-Broadway this year in a sold-out co-production with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Rising Phoenix, and WeatherVane, and is now being developed into a series for Sarah Jessica Parker’s company Pretty Matches. Her play, The Rembrandt, (about a museum guard who decides to deliberately touch a Rembrandt painting) had a sold out run at Steppenwolf starring John Mahoney. Other plays have been premiered Off-Broadway in New York and produced around the country — The Amish Project, about the 2006 Nickel Mines school shooting in an Amish community; then Charles Ives Take Me Home, about a violinist father and his basketball star daughter; and Row After Row, a dark comedy about Civil War re-enactors. In television, Dickey recently joined the writers room for Apple TV’s comedy “Physical”, starring Rose Byrne. She is also developing a show with Tom McCarthy’s company, Slow Pony, about young female clergy. Her next world premiere is coming up this season on the west coast: Nan and the Lower Body, a dark comedy about the creation of the Pap Smear and her maternal grandmother (commissioned by Manhattan Theater Club and the Sloan Foundation). Dickey is a member of the exclusive New Dramatists and a recipient of the prestigious Stavis Award.

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s production of Galileo’s Daughter will run from April 5 through May 14 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Avenue in Chicago. Single tickets are on sale now at RemyBumppo.org or by calling the Theater Wit Box Office at 773.975.8150.

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s 2022-2023 Presenting Sponsor is Geoffrey A. Anderson. Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s 2022-2023 Season Sponsors are Brenda and James Grusecki, Lynne and George Simon, and Charlotte Toerber.

Remy Bumppo’s programs and operations are also partially funded by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince Charitable Trusts, and the Shubert Foundation..

 

ABOUT REMY BUMPPO THEATRE COMPANY:

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company expands and enriches their community’s view of the world, and their own, by producing both the great plays of the past and the important plays of today. As an ensemble-driven theater company, Remy Bumppo authors a more humane culture that listens to, and seeks to understand, the voices, the ideas and the stories of one another. 

Since its inception in 1996, Remy Bumppo has produced a blend of modern classics and complex contemporary works, presented in an intimate setting with clarity, wit and passion. We invite audiences to engage directly with the art through conversation with the artists.

 Photo of Linda Gillum, photo by Joe Mazza/Brave Lux

 

Cast (in alphabetical order): Emily Bosco (she/her/hers, writer 2); Linda Gillum (she/her/hers, writer 1) and Chike Johnson (he/him/his, writer 3)

Understudy Cast (in alphabetical order): Drew Michele Billman (writer 2 U/S); Chris Hainsworth (he/him/his, writer 3 U/S) and Laura Resinger (writer 1 U/S)

Artistic Director: Marti Lyons

Assistant Director: Christopher Thomas Pow

Movement Designer: Sarah Ellen Miller 

Dramaturg: Abhi Shrestha

Assistant Dramaturg: Cori Lang

Dialect and Vocal Designer: Sammi Grant

Intimacy Choreographer: Greg Geffrard

Scenic Designer: Yeaji Kim

Costume Designer: Finnegan Chu

Assistant Costume Designer: Renee Moreno

Lighting Designer: Becca Jeffords

Assistant Lighting Designer: Liz Gomez

Sound Designer: Christopher Kriz

Properties Designer: Amanda Herrmann

Creative Producer: Christina Casano

Stage Manager: Jean Compton

Production Manager: Addoris Davis

Assistant Stage Manager: Anna Vu

Technical Director: Harrison Ornelas

Scenic Charge Artist: Emily Altman

Wardrobe Supervisor: Gabi Sitze-Martin

Casting Director: Katie Galetti

Casting Associate:Jasmine B. Gunter

Location: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657

Dates: Previews: Wednesday, April 5 - Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 9 at 2:30 p.m.

Press/Opening Performance: Thursday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Regular Run: Thursdays - Saturdays, at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Matinee Performances (other than Sundays): Saturday, April 22 at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 29 at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 11 at 2:30 p.m.

Post Show Discussions: Post-show discussions are held following Sunday and Thursday performances, April 16 - May 11. 

Audio Description/Touch Tour Performance: Saturday, April 22 at 2:30 p.m.

Open Caption Performance: Saturday, April 29 at 2:30 p.m.

 

Tickets: 

Previews: $30.00

Regular Run: $32.00 - $40.00

Industry Tickets: $15.00, available for all performances using code INDUSTRY

Student Tickets: $10.00, available for all performances

Group Discounts: For groups of 10 or more, call the Theater Wit Box Office at 773-975-8150.

 Photo of Linda Gillum, photo by Joe Mazza/Brave Lux

THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF THE BROADWAY REVIVAL OF 1776 NOW PLAYING THROUGH MARCH 12, 2023

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Tony Award®-winning Best Musical

1776

Co-Directed by Tony Award® Winning Director Diane Paulus and 

MTV Music Video Award-winning choreographer Jeffrey L. Page

“Deeply meaningful. A remarkable revival.” 

– The Washington Post

“Thought-provoking and an absolute delight.”

 – The Wall Street Journal

“The great power of this 1776 will stay with you and 

will resonate on Broadway and across the country.”

– The Boston Globe

The Chicago Premiere of the Broadway Revival of 1776 is now playing a limited engagement at the CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe) through March 12, 2023. Tickets are on sale now at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. I'll be out for the press opening March 1st, so check back soon for my full review.

This production was developed and premiered by the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University before playing on Broadway with Roundabout Theatre Company at the American Airlines Theater. The national tour of 1776 makes its premiere engagement in Chicago at the CIBC Theatre as part of a major national tour across North America. 

The 1776 company includes Shelby Acosta (she/her) as ‘Sec. Charles Thomson,’ Gisela Adisa (she/her) as ‘John Adams,’ Nancy Anderson (she/her) as ‘Thomas Jefferson,’ Tiffani Barbour (she/her) as ‘Andrew McNair,’ Dawn Cantwell (she/her) as ‘Col. Thomas McKean,’ Julie Cardia (she/her) as ‘Stephen Hopkins,’ Sara Gallo (she/her) as a Standby, Joanna Glushak (she/her) as ‘John Dickinson,’ Anissa Marie Griego (she/her) as ‘Roger Sherman,’ Kassandra Haddock (she/her) as ‘Edward Rutledge,’ Shawna Hamic (she/her) as ‘Richard Henry Lee,’ Lisa Karlin (she/her) as a Standby, Connor Lyon (she/her) as ‘Martha Jefferson/Dr. Lyman Hall,’ Liz Mikel (she/her) as ‘Benjamin Franklin,’ Oneika Phillips (she/her) as ‘John Hancock,’ Lulu Picart (she/her) as ‘Samuel Chase,’ Ariella Serur (she/they) as ‘Judge James Wilson,’ Brooke Simpson (she/her) as ‘the Courier,’ Sav Souza (they/them) as ‘Dr. Josiah Bartlett,’ Tieisha Thomas (she/her) as ‘Abigail Adams/Rev. Jonathan Witherspoon,’ Jill Vallery (she/her) as ‘Caesar Rodney,’ Zuri Washington (she/her) as ‘Robert Livingston,’ Gwynne Wood (she/they) as ‘George Read,’ and Candice Marie Woods (they/them) as ‘Joseph Hewes.’

The Tony Award-winning Best Musical 1776 has catapulted to blazing new life in a thrillingly new production, and New York Magazine/Vulture says, “it’s an absolute blast!” Suddenly, the songs, humor, and passion of this musical masterpiece soar as never before. A glorious multiracial cast of female, transgender, and nonbinary actors portrays the fiery founders of this country, putting history in the hands of the humans who were left out the first time around—and the result is an epic show of passion, debate, and roof-raising musical fireworks. Experience “a 1776 worth celebrating!” (Variety) “It pulsates with energy and snaps with attitude.”

1776 features music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. It is based on a concept by Sherman Edwards.  Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus (Jagged Little Pill, Waitress, Pippin) and MTV Music Video Award-winning choreographer Jeffrey L. Page (Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” video, Memphis in Tokyo; Violet starring Sutton Foster at Roundabout Theatre Company) direct the production.

The 1776 design team includes Tony Award-winning Scenic Designer Scott Pask (Waitress, Finding Neverland, Pippin); Tony Award-nominated Costume Designer Emilio Sosa (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess); Lighting Designer Jennifer Schriever (In the Body of the World at A.R.T./New York City Center; Fingersmith at A.R.T.); Tony Award-nominated Sound Designer Jonathan Deans (Jagged Little Pill, Waitress, Finding Neverland at A.R.T./Broadway; Pippin on Broadway) and Drama Desk Award-nominated Projection Designer David Bengali (We Live in Cairo at A.R.T., Associate Designer of Witness Uganda at A.R.T./Invisible Thread at Second Stage). 

The 1776 music team is comprised of Music Supervisor/Music Director Ryan Cantwell (Pippin); Original Music Supervisor David Chase (Finding Neverland); Tony Award nominated Orchestrator John Clancy (Fun Home; Mean Girls); Vocal Designer AnnMarie Milazzo (Finding Neverland). Casting is by Stewart/Whitley. The Associate Director is Brisa Arelis Muñoz and the Associate Choreographer is Courtney Ross.

NETworks Presentations tour stage management team of 1776 is led by Production Stage Manager Genevieve Kersh with Assistant Stage Managers Devin Day and Sage Lumsden. National Artists Management Company’s management team is led by Company Manager Katie Cortez with Safety Assistant Company Manager Ryan Buchholz. 

For more information worldwide, visit: www.1776musical.com Facebook, Instagram & TikTok: @1776Musical  • Twitter: @Musical1776  •  Hashtag: #1776Musical

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for the Chicago premiere of a limited Broadway revival tour of 1776 are on sale now. Ticket prices range from $30 - $98 with a select number of premium tickets available. Individual tickets are available at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

WEEK ONE

Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, Mar. 1 at 7:30 pm 

Thursday, Mar. 2 at 7:30 pm 

Friday, Mar. 3 at 7:30 pm 

Saturday, Mar. 4 at 2 pm & 8 PM

Sunday, Mar. 5 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm

WEEK TWO

Tuesday, Mar. 7 at 7:30 pm

Wednesday, Mar. 8 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm

Thursday, Mar. 9 at 7:30 pm 

Friday, Mar. 10 at 7:30 pm 

Saturday, Mar. 11 at 2 pm & 8 PM

Sunday, Mar. 12 at 2 pm

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 22 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

AUDIENCE GUIDANCE

This production contains stylized representations of racialized violence, particularly related to enslavement. Additionally, this production contains haze, a brief strobe effect, a non-firing replica firearm, and a gunshot sound effect.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com

Follow Broadway In Chicago: ● Facebook ● Instagram ● TikTok @BroadwayInChicago

● Twitter @broadwaychicago #broadwayinchicago

World Premiere of MIA "Where Have All the Young Girls Gone?" Via Her Story Theater at Greenhouse Theater Center

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

World Premiere of  

MIA

"Where Have All the Young Girls Gone?"

Written and directed by Mary Bonnett

Featuring Jamise Wright with Tristin Hall

In 2020, 268,884 women were reported missing, according to the National Crime Information Center, with nearly 100,000 of those being Black women and girls. 

Mary Bonnett’s world premiere play, MIA "WHERE HAVE ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS GONE?" is taken from interviews and research on girls and women who have vanished into the world of the missing in America. The play goes beyond the statistics to portray the crisis in personal and human terms, mirroring the plight of the missing and their loved ones trying to solve the mystery of their disappearance.

Bonnett will direct this production of her script, and Jamise Wright, who earned raves for her performance of a bereaved mother in Her Story Theater’s 2018 MONGER, will perform the lead. The cast also includes Tristin Hall. The production team includes Blake Cordell (Lights and Sound Design), CCDM (Music Design), Melinda Wilson (Choreography), Sean Smyth (Stage Manager), and Genevieve Swanson (Assistant Stage Manager). MIA "WHERE HAVE ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS GONE?" will be performed at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. 

I'll be out for the press opening, March 12, so check back shortly for my full review. Following previews from March 9-11, 2023, this production will play through April 9, 2023. 

Through a driving sound design, MIA "WHERE HAVE ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS GONE?" tries to put the puzzle pieces together and answer the questions surrounding this crisis. How can so many young girls go missing with so little response? Where are the 6000 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and the thousands of missing and murdered girls from the south, west and north sides of Chicago? Who took them? Why don’t we have systems in place to protect women from this form of Femicide and abuse? Why isn’t more being done to find and protect them?

The crisis is especially acute among the African American community. In 2020, 268,884 women were reported missing, according to the National Crime Information Center, with nearly 100,000 of those being Black women and girls. While Black women account for just over 13% of our U.S. female population, they made up more than one-third of all missing women reported in 2020. 

Her Story Theater was founded in 2011 and has focused primarily on raising awareness of the epidemic of sexual exploitation of minors and homelessness. The four produced plays in Her Story’s “Chicago Sex Trafficking Cycle” include SHADOW TOWN (2013), THE JOHNS (2014), MONEY MAKE'M SMILE (2016, 2017) and MONGER (2018).  As a group, the plays depict domestic sex trafficking from the perspectives of the various participants – the traffickers, youth who are trafficked, and the men who buy them. INVISIBLE (2019) is concerned with issues of bigotry, nativism and violence against minorities. Her Story Theater continues its work to raise awareness of the prevalence of domestic sex trafficking and the trauma-based victim through its touring presentations and programs.

Tickets to MIA "WHERE HAVE ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS GONE?" will be on sale soon and will be available at www.greenhousetheater.com or by phone at 773-404-7336. Fir information for group tickets or questions, email: HerStoryTheatre@gmail.com More information on MIA and Her Story Theatre is available at www.herstorytheater.org.

Her Story Theater is seeking professionals in the field for our post-show discussions of MIA. For more information or to volunteer, email: Mary Bonnett at HerStoryTheatre@gmail.com

March 9 – April 9, 2023

Previews Thursday, March 9 through Saturday, March 11, 2023

Press Opening Sunday, March 12 at 2:00 pm

Thursdays – Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 2:00 pm

Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

For information on group rates, visit www.herstorytheater.org or call 312-835-1410.

Tickets: www.greenhousetheater.org, 773-404-7336

PRICES: $20.00, Students $10.00

Info: www.herstorytheater.org

Mary Bonnett’s world premiere play, MIA "WHERE HAVE ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS GONE?" is taken from interviews and research on girls and women who have vanished into the world of the missing in America. The play goes beyond the statistics to portray the crisis in personal and human terms, mirroring the plight of the missing and their loved ones trying to solve the mystery of their disappearance.

BIOS

MARY BONNETT (Producing Artistic Director, Playwright, Director) is the cofounder and Artistic Director of Her Story Theater. As a professional playwright, Mary’s plays include her highly acclaimed series from her Chicago Sex Trafficking Cycle: SHADOW TOWN, THE JOHNS, MONEY MAKE'M SMILE and MONGER. They are based on interviews Mary conducted with hundreds of professionals, survivors, sellers and buyers involved with sex trafficking in the Chicagoland area. These interviews are ongoing and continue to contribute to her work in the SIDE SHOW series, a national program for field professionals, educators and youth on domestic sex trafficking and the impact on the trauma based survivor.

Her main stage productions and touring shows have been quoted as “life changing.” Mary’s sex trafficking plays have reached across the country. THE JOHNS was performed in Houston, Texas for Super Bowl 2017. Her SIDE SHOWS have been presented at conferences across central Pennsylvania, Southern and Northern IL., Wisconsin, Wyoming and California.

Mary has won awards for excellence and outstanding contributions in professional theater, including writing, directing and theater education which includes the prestigious Dr. Margaret Burroughs Award. She most recently received a Civic Engagement Award for Outstanding Community Cause Leadership.  Her Story Theater is the recipient of the Illinois State Senate Hero Award in Sex Trafficking Prevention and Backstage Magazine’s “Top Ten Best Theaters That Change Lives.”

With a grant from the Chicago Teachers Union and the participation of educators, Mary led the development of a 7th-12th grade curriculum on domestic sex trafficking for youth. This curriculum with accompanying study guide complimented her play MONEY MAKE’M SMILE presented to over 5000 inner city students free of charge.

Her Story received a Commonwealth Edison Educational Grant, where Mary will develop script and curriculum, teaming with professional in the field to create in-school workshops on Child Exploitation for 3rd through 6th graders. 

She speaks regularly to organizations, high schools and universities on sex trafficking and the impact the current culture has on our youth. Mary has appeared on television and radio shows, championing the need for change in laws to protect children and women. Under Mary's leadership, Her Story Theater has raised thousands of donated dollars for their partner organizations.

Mary’s other works include GLOSS OVER, based on the lives of homeless women from Deborah’s Place as well as highly proclaimed women’s history plays such as RADICAL IDEAS! WOMEN AND THE VOTE based on the struggle of women in Illinois to ratify and win the vote, THE 9TH FLOOR: Blocked Justice of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.  INVISIBLE, an exploration and its impact in history of the 1920s Women’s KKK.

Mary is a member of SAG-AFTRA, American Dramatist Guild NYC, The Author’s Guild, SCBWI. She holds a BFA in Theater Arts, a BFA in English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University, England.

She has worked as advisory and support for Traffick Free, The Dreamcatcher Foundation and has held workshops with Girls Forward and the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force Conferences. As a side note, during the Covid pandemic she wrote a children’s novel entitled The Adventures of Cleaver and Whizjam On The Isle of Oogle.

 

Jamise Wright (Lead). Chicago native, Jamise “Slim”  Wright has been an Artistic Associate of Her Story Theater since 2018 where she created the original role of Ruth Edwards in the world premiere of Mary Bonnett’s MONGER along with co-lead Ira Amyx. Her performances received rave reviews from both critics and audiences noting her “riveting”, “heart breaking elegance” and “brilliant” performance.  In 2019, she oversaw the management of Her Story Theater’s acclaimed INVISIBLE at Stage 773 performing multiple duties making for a smooth run. During the Covid pandemic, Jamise revised the role of Ruth Edwards into a half-hour online monologue presentation riveting audiences with the power of her performance while raising awareness on domestic sex trafficking.

She has appeared in film, theater, and television. She was seen in the CHICAG FIRE episode, “The One Hundred”, “Windy City” an Indie film directed by Gunjan Badjatya., Dearly You Come to Me, Illumination, and the theater production of JUST RANTING THE BLUES, where she played the role of Death. Jamise has showcased her improvisational skills with Second City and is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. Jamise is currently represented by The Stewart Talent Agency.

Tristin Hall (they/them, Essence) is excited to working with Her Story Theater for the first time!  Credits include: FALLING (Interrobang Theater), SPRING FLING (Stage Left), 12 FIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS (Otherworld) CARRIE AND FRANCINE (Haven Theater), DOG ACT (Columbia College), and A SEPARATE PEACE (Point Theatre Project).Recent choreography credits include: THE GARBOLOGISTS (Northlight), PARIS (Steep), ON THE GREENBELT, THE EFFECT (Strawdog), COMEDY OF ERRORS (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), STICK FLY (Writers Theater), KRUGOZOR, HUMAN RESOURCES (Theater Evolve), SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (Bard in the Burbs), FOOTHOLDS (Imposters Theatre), SOME LIKE IT RED, MUNSTERSPIEL (The Plagiarists), THIN MINTS a workshop production (Greenhouse Theater), AFFECTION AS A SPACE VACUUM (Rhinofest 2020), MAD GIRLS (Rhinofest 2020). Assisting credits include: Sam Hubbard-YEN, (Raven Theater), TOO HEAVY FOR YOUR POCKET (Timeline), Rachel Flesher -SICKLE (Red Theater), and John Mcfarland- MARISOL (Northeastern). 

 

HER STORY THEATER

Her Story Theater is a theater for social change. Through theater and the written word, our mission is to shine bright lights in dark places on women and children in need of social justice and community support. Since 2011, we have partnered with countless organizations to raise awareness on current issues that impact women and children.  Her Story Theater is supported by Driehaus Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, Susan and Ted Oppenheimer Foundation, Com Ed Powering The Arts, Northern Trust, Sunlight Project, Vanguard Charitable and private donations.