Fall 2019: Guide to Chicago Theatre

LEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATRES 

FALL 

THEATRE 

GUIDE 

SEE OUR CITY 

BARE ITS 

FEARLESS SOUL 

#2019isYOCT #ChiTheatre 

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DOWNTOWN SHOWS 

ONE WEEK ONLY 

OCT Andares Makuyeika Colectivo Teatral at 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater 800 E. Grand on Navy Pier 

| 312-595-5600 | DRAMA: Woven from ancestral myths, traditional 

music and arts, and a three-person narrative, Andares 

reveals the extraordinary, untold stories of ordinary, humble 

people who inhabit México’s most remote corners. Mainly in 

Spanish. English translation provided. Oct 23 - 27 

*This production is part of Destinos, the 3rd Chicago 

International Latino Theater Festival. 

SEP OCT The Barber of Seville Lyric Opera 

of Chicago 20 N. Wacker | 312-827-5600 | OPERA: Rossini’s 

music — the aural equivalent of champagne — is the last 

word in humor, inspiring smiles and laughter on every page 

of the score, which is what makes Barber the most popular of 

all operatic comedies. Sung in Italian with projected English 

translations. Sep 28 - Oct 27 

SEP OCT Bernhardt/Hamlet Goodman 

Theatre in the Albert 170 N. Dearborn | 312-443-3800 | 

COMEDY/DRAMA: In 1899, legendary leading lady Sarah 

Bernhardt’s decision to assume the title role of Shakespeare’s 

Hamlet left critics and patriarchs aghast and indignant. This 

behind-the-scenes look at Bernhardt’s most ambitious role 

is laced with forbidden romance and backstage gossip. Sep 

14 - Oct 20 

NOV Corduroy Broadway In Chicago and Emerald 

City Theatre at the Broadway Playhouse at Water 

Tower Place 175 E. Chestnut | 800-775-2000 | CHILDREN'S/ 

FAMILY: In this sweet adaptation of the classic book, a small 

bear's quest for a missing button leads to the friendship of a 

lifetime. Along with exciting scenes of clowning and mischief, 

the story teaches the importance of empathy and unconditional 

love. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Nov 15 - Jan 5 

SEP 

OCT 

Dana H. Goodman Theatre in the Owen 

170 N. Dearborn | 312-443-3800 | COMEDY/DRAMA: Dana was 

a chaplain of a psych ward when she met — and was abducted 

by — a charismatic ex-convict searching for redemption. This 

play is based on a harrowing true story, told in Dana's own 

words and reconstructed for the stage by her son Lucas Hnath. 

Through Oct 6 

ONE WEEK ONLY 

OCT Daughter of a Cuban Revolutionary 

Goodman Theatre Healy Rehearsal Room 170 N. 

Dearborn | 312-631-3112 | COMEDY/DRAMA: This one-woman 

tour de force tells an astonishing tale of her family and their 

vital roles during the 1950's Cuban Revolution. In English with 

sprinkles of Spanish. Oct 9 - 13 *This production is part of Destinos, 

the 3rd Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. 

NOV 

Dead Man Walking Lyric Opera of Chicago 

20 N. Wacker | 312-827-5600 | OPERA: A young couple is 

brutally killed, and the convicted murderer sits on death row. 

Sister Helen agrees to be his spiritual adviser. As she meets his 

family, and the families of his victims, she begins questioning 

every attitude she has about how human beings treat each 

other. In English with projected English text. Nov 2-22 

ONLY TWO DAYS 

OCT NOV Disney In Concert: Tim Burton's 

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" 

Auditorium Theatre 50 E. Ida B Wells | 312-341-2300 | 

MUSIC: Get in the Halloween spirit with a screening of Tim 

Burton’s classic stop-motion film, featuring beloved songs like 

“This Is Halloween!” and “Jack’s Lament” performed live-tofilm 

by the Chicago Philharmonic. Oct 31 - Nov 1 

NOV 

Don Giovanni Lyric Opera of Chicago 20 

N. Wacker | 312-827-5600 | OPERA: The seducer. The philanderer. 

The libertine who takes what he wants and lives only 

for his own pleasure. All three are Don Giovanni, antihero in 

Mozart’s drama of lust and revenge. Filled with thrilling music 

and drama and including a finale so overpoweringly dramatic 

that it changed music forever. Nov 14 - Dec 8 

Drunk Shakespeare The Lion 

SEP OCT NOV 

Theatre 182 N. Wabash | IMMERSIVE/COMEDY: Set in a 

hidden speakeasy, one actor drinks at least 5 shots of whiskey 

and then attempts to perform a major role in a Shakespearean 

play. Hilarity and mayhem ensue while the 4 sober actors try 

to keep the script on track. Each show is different depending 

on who is drinking, and what they’re drinking! 21+. Open Run 

the broadway sensation 

“So clever it uplifts, so timely it hurts” 

–THE NEW YORK TIMES 

by THERESA REBECK 

directed by DONNA FEORE 

SEPTEMBER 14 – OCTOBER 20

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S 

TONY AWARDDWINNING MASTERPIECE 

PHOTO BY JOE MAZZA 

OPENING OCTOBER 11 

TICKETS AND MORE AT 

PORCHLIGHTMUSICTHEATRE.ORG 

OCT NOV An Evening with C.S. Lewis 

Broadway In Chicago at the Broadway Playhouse 

at Water Tower Place 175 E. Chestnut | 800-775-2000 | 

COMEDY/DRAMA: The year is 1963 and C.S. Lewis is hosting a 

group of American writers at his home near Oxford. Seated in 

his living room, he recalls the people and events that inspired 

his thought and shaped his life; of his friendship with J.R.R. 

Tolkien; why he nearly abandoned the Narnia Chronicles; how 

he came to embrace Christianity and of the American woman 

who turned his life upside down. Oct 22 - Nov 3 

ONE WEEKEND ONLY 

NOV Everest/Aleko Chicago Opera Theater 

at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance 205 E. 

Randolph | 312-704-8414 | OPERA: A modern masterpiece and 

a romantic Russian gem come together in a massive doublebill. 

Over 150 choristers join a full orchestra on stage to bring 

Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer’s critically acclaimed Everest and 

Rachmaninov’s beautiful Aleko to Chicago for the first time. 

Nov 16 - 17 

SEP OCT NOV Hamilton Broadway In Chicago 

at The CIBC Theatre 18 W. Monroe | 800-775-2000 | 

MUSICAL: With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda 

and a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and 

Broadway, Hamilton is the story of America then, told by 

America now. Through Jan 5 

OCT Jane Eyre The Joffrey Ballet at the 

Auditorium Theatre 50 E. Ida B Wells | 312-386-8905 | 

DANCE: Marston's adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's trailblazing 

novel combines theater and dance to tell the coming-of-age 

story of Jane Eyre, one of literature's most iconic characters. 

With stirring choreography and an enthralling Victorian design, 

this avant-garde ballet breaks the mold of the traditional 

ballet heroine. Oct 16 - 27 

SEP OCT The King's Speech The Yard at 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater 800 E. Grand on Navy 

Pier | 312-595-5600 | DRAMA: The remarkable true story of 

this unlikely bond between a reluctant king and a charismatic 

subject that inspired the Academy Award-winning film is now 

brought to the stage, where writer David Seidler first imagined 

it. Through Oct 20 

ONE WEEK ONLY 

OCT NOV Latin History for Morons Broadway 

In Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre 151 W. 

Randolph | 800-775-2000 | COMEDY: Inspired by the near total 

absence of Latinos from his son’s American history books, 

John Leguizamo embarks on an outrageously funny, frenzied 

search to find a Latin hero for his son’s school history project. 

Recommended for ages 13 and up. Oct 29 - Nov 3 

ONE WEEK ONLY 

OCT Level Kim Brandt and MCA Stage at the 

Museum of Contemporary Art 220 E. Chicago | 312-397- 

4010 | DANCE: A morphing and intersecting mass of bodies 

traverses the MCA’s spaces in Kim Brandt’s Level, a series of 

performances orchestrating the relationships between people 

and environments and the effect our movements have on our 

surroundings. Oct 1 - 3 

SEP OCT NOV Love, Chaos, and Dinner 

Teatro ZinZanni and Broadway In Chicago at 

Spiegeltent ZaZou in the Cambria Hotel 32 W. Randolph 

| 800-775-2000 | PERFORMANCE ART: Enter a realm where 

reality and dreams converge — an experience unlike any other! 

Teatro ZinZanni is a whirlwind of international cirque, comedy, 

and cabaret served with a multi-course feast. Open Run 

OCT NOV Luchadora! The Theatre School at 

DePaul University at the Merle Reskin Theatre 60 E. 

Balbo | 773-325-7900 | CHILDREN'S/FAMILY: When Vanessa 

discovers a pink lucha libre mask, Nana Lupita tells her granddaughter 

about the family’s history in the wrestling ring in 

1960s Texas. The life of a secret female warrior emerges as 

Vanessa learns about family, honor, and friendship. Recommended 

for ages 7 and up. Oct 3 - Nov 9 

OCT 

Luisa Miller Lyric Opera of Chicago 20 N. 

Wacker | 312-827-5600 | OPERA: Verdi’s sumptuously beautiful 

romantic drama tells the story of sweet, vulnerable Luisa, 

who loves the son of a ruthless, unethical nobleman whom 

Luisa’s father loathes. The young couple’s relationship leads to 

catastrophe in a drama that breathes passion and excitement. 

In Italian with projected English translations. Oct 12 - 31 

DOWNTOWN SHOWS 

CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE >>> 

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SEP OCT NOV The Magic Parlour The House 

Theatre of Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel 

17 E. Monroe | 773-769-3832 | MAGIC: Award-winning, 

third-generation magician Dennis Watkins delivers an evening 

of sophisticated tom-foolery in one of the Windy City’s most 

unique entertainment experiences. Recommended for ages 

12 and up. Open Run 

OCT A Man of Good Hope Isango Ensemble at 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater 800 E. Grand on Navy Pier 

| 312-595-5600 | MUSICAL: Chronicling one man’s life as it 

crisscrosses some of the world’s most charged contemporary 

issues — human trafficking, migration, poverty, and xenophobia 

— this modern African odyssey, leavened by humor, is rich 

with fresh insights into resilience and survival. Oct 4 - 13 

SEP OCT Oslo TimeLine Theatre Company at 

the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place 175 E. 

Chestnut | 800-775-2000 | COMEDY/DRAMA: When the Israeli 

prime minister and the chairman of the Palestine Liberation 

Organization shook hands in 1993, the world had no idea what 

it took to orchestrate. This humorous, surprising, and inspiring 

true story is about the people inside politics, and the incredible 

progress that is possible when we focus on what makes us 

human — together. Through Oct 20 

Romeo and Juliet Chicago Shakespeare 

NOV 

Theater 800 E. Grand on Navy Pier | 312-595-5600 | 

CLASSIC: In a society torn apart by hate, Shakespeare sets 

his immortal tale of love and senseless tragedy. For Chicago 

Shakespeare Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, now is the time 

to direct her first Romeo and Juliet, as Chicago awaits her 

vision for one of the most famous love stories of all time. Nov 

1 - Dec 22 

NOV The Simon & Garfunkel Story Broadway 

In Chicago at the Broadway Playhouse at Water 

Tower Place 175 E. Chestnut | 800-775-2000 | MUSIC: 

Using huge projection photos and original film footage, the 

show also features a full live band performing all of their hits, 

including "Mrs. Robinson," "Cecilia," "Bridge Over Troubled 

Water," "Homeward Bound," and many more. Nov 19 - Dec 1 

The Steadfast Tin Soldier Lookingglass 

NOV 

Theatre 821 N. Michigan | 312-337-0665 | LITERARY 

ADAPTATION: Hans Christian Andersen’s story about a little 

tin soldier who never gives up comes back for a winter-time 

curtain call. The Chicago Reader trumpets this marvel of invention, 

beauty, and magical storytelling as “an absolute GIFT.” 

Recommended for ages 5 and up. Nov 1 - Jan 26 

SEP The Storefront Project MCA Stage at 

the Museum of Contemporary Art & Prop Thtr 220 E. 

Chicago & 3502 N. Elston | 312-397-4010 | IMMERSIVE: A celebration 

of the city’s long traditions of storefront and devised 

theatre. Six Chicago-based directors each choose a text — not 

written for theatre — and devise a new project, tailor-made for 

MCA Chicago and Prop Thtr — a major downtown institution 

and a scrappy Avondale theater. Sep 14 - 15, 21 - 22 

OCT NOV Sunset Boulevard Porchlight Music 

Theatre at the Ruth Page Theater 1016 N. Dearborn | 

773-777-9884 | MUSICAL: This Tony Award-winning masterpiece 

of obsession, romance, and the golden age of Hollywood 

stars Hollis Resnik, one of the most celebrated leading ladies 

of Chicago theatre. Oct 11 - Nov 24 

OCT NOV Twice, Thrice, Frice Silk Road 

Rising at The Historic Chicago Temple Building 77 W. 

Washington | 312-857-1234 | NEW WORK: In this 90-minute 

comedy, three Muslim women confront adultery and polygamy 

when one of their husbands marries a second wife. Friendship, 

fidelity, and faith are called into question as each woman 

reevaluates bonds once believed unbreakable, and discovers 

humor amongst the heartbreak. Oct 1 - Nov 10 

Enjoy your city. Ignite your soul. Stretch your dollars. 

Half-Price 

Theatre 

Tickets 

FIND A SHOW & BUY TICKETS ONLINE: 

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BREAK THE ROUTINE 

with world premiere theatre 

SEP 

19 

FALL EVENTS: 

HIS SHADOW 

16TH STREET THEATER 

OCT GREY HOUSE 

A RED ORCHID THEATRE 

31 

NOV THE WICKHAMS: 

7 

CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY 

NORTHLIGHT THEATRE 

DEC PEG 

5 

BROKEN NOSE THEATRE & 

THE NEW COLONY 

MORE AT: 

bit.ly/theatrethursday 

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= Family-friendly option 

Please note: All information is subject to change. 

Shows and dates subject to change.

NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWS 

NEAR NORTH: LAKEVIEW 

OCT NOV 

Accidental Death of a Black 

Motorist The Conspirators at the Athenaeum 

Theatre 2936 N. Southport | COMEDY/DRAMA: A highenergy, 

high-style, hard-hitting satire that skewers the culture 

of police violence and the complicity of the Code of Silence. 

Oct 24 - Nov 23 

SOUTH: PILSEN | ONLY TWO DAYS 

OCT Aliens, Immigrants & Other Evildoers 

José Torres-Tama and ArteFuture Productions at the 

National Museum of Mexican Art 1852 W. 19th | 312-631- 

3112 | COMEDY/DRAMA: A visually dynamic, profoundly moving, 

and provocatively funny sci-fi solo show that challenges 

the anti-immigrant hysteria gripping the “United States of 

Amnesia.” Oct 5 - 6 *This production is part of Destinos, the 

3rd Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. 

NEAR WEST: WICKER PARK 

NOV Always... Patsy Cline Firebrand Theatre 

at The Den Theatre 1331 N. Milwaukee | 773-697-3830 | 

MUSICAL: Based on the true story of Patsy’s friendship with 

Houstonite Louise Seger. Louise was an avid fan of Patsy’s 

and in 1961 when Patsy went to Houston for a show, Louise 

and her buddies arrived about an hour-and-a-half early and, 

by coincidence, met Patsy, who was traveling alone. The two 

women struck up a friendship – a friendship that lasted the 

rest of Patsy Cline’s life. Nov 16 - Dec 15 


SEP OCT NOV The Annoyance Theatre & 

Bar Annoyance Productions 851 W. Belmont Ave | 

773-697-9693 | COMEDY/IMPROV: The Annoyance uses 

improvisation to create new and original plays, musicals, 

sketch comedy, and more in a vibrant, uncensored atmosphere. 

The age restriction is 14+ for all shows and some shows may 

have content that’s more for mature audiences. Shows include 

Baby Wine, Chuckle F***ers, The Customer is Always Right, Fire 

and Beer, Fishbowl, Hitch*Cocktails, A Lill Annoyance Stand-Up 

Show, Matt Damon Improv, MINt: Music Improv Night, Naked 

Angels, The Oddball Social Club, The Perfect Walking Stick, 

Shark Tank: The Musical, SHEBEAST, Suited Up, Super Human, 

Trigger Happy, and more. 

FAR NORTH: EDGEWATER 

SEP At The Wake of a Dead Drag Queen 

The Story Theatre at Raven Theatre 6157 N. Clark | 

773-338-2177 | NEW WORK: A one-act, two-hander play about 

blackness, queerness, and the fine art of drag. From African 

goddesses to Shirley Brown to Trina, At the Wake thoughtfully 

uses the conceit of drag performance—the taking on of another 

persona—to explore identity, illness, and the narratives 

we construct for ourselves. Through Sep 22 

NEAR WEST: HUMBOLDT PARK 

OCT Back in the Day: An 80s House Music 

Dancesical UrbanTheater Company 2620 W. 

Division | 312-737-8821 | MUSICAL: This house music dancesical 

follows the Northside Chicago dance crew, The All Stars 

and their frenemies, The Culitos, and Imported Taste when 

teenagers dominated the 1980's afterhours scene and found 

family and acceptance through street dancing. Oct 8 - 27 *This 

production is part of Destinos, the 3rd Chicago International 

Latino Theater Festival. 


SEP OCT Be Here Now Shattered Globe Theatre 

at Theater Wit 1229 W. Belmont | 773-975-8150 | COMEDY/ 

DRAMA: Bari, an atheist and misanthrope, loses her job teaching 

nihilism in NYC and ends up working in a fulfillment center 

in her small hometown. Her empathetic co-workers push her 

toward yoga, meditation, and a blind date in the pursuit of 

happiness. But recently, her recurring headaches have gotten 

more intense, manifesting as ecstatic and almost religious 

experiences — and they are changing her entire outlook. 

Through Oct 19 

NEAR NORTH: LINCOLN PARK 

SEP OCT NOV Bible Bingo Nuns4Fun at the 

Royal George Theatre Center 1641 N. Halsted | 312-988- 

9000 | COMEDY: A comedy about the Catholic culture of 

fundraising and bingo, featuring a new character, Mrs. Mary 

Margaret O’Brien, a former nun who now heads a fictitious 

archdiocese fundraising department. Open Run 


SEP OCT NOV Big Fish BoHo Theatre at the 

Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N. Lincoln | 773-404- 

7336 | MUSICAL: A heartfelt, powerful, and truly magical musical 

about fathers, sons, and the stories that we use to define 

our identities. Sep 28 - Nov 17 


Blue Man Group Briar Street 

SEP OCT NOV 

Theatre 3133 N. Halsted | 773-348-4000 | PERFORMANCE 

ART: A unique and thrilling multi-sensory experience that 

fuses innovative theatrical spectacle and powerful original 

music with hilarious comedy, art, vaudeville, and science to 

create a performance experience unlike any other. Open Run 


SEP OCT Blue Stockings Promethean Theatre 

Ensemble at The Den Theatre 1331 N. Milwaukee | 773- 

340-3599 | COMEDY/DRAMA: A moving, comical, and eyeopening 

story of four young women fighting for education and 

self-determination against the larger backdrop of women's 

suffrage. Through Oct 13 


OCT The Brothers Size Steppenwolf for Young 

Adults 1650 N. Halsted | 312-335-1650 | DRAMA: In this fierce 

and honest look at the complex bonds of brotherhood, Tarell 

Alvin McCraney weaves together poetry, music, and Yoruba 

mythology to magnify the tug-of-war between freedom and 

the need to belong somewhere, to something, to someone. 

Oct 4 - 19 

NEAR NORTH: LAKEVIEW | SATURDAYS AT 8PM 

SEP OCT NOV Bye Bye Liver: The Drinking 

Play Stage 773 1225 W. Belmont | 773-327-5252 | COMEDY: 

Two parts comedy and one part drinking game, this show 

blends Chicago’s two favorite pasttimes: drinking and laughing. 

Now in its 10th year! Ages 21+. Open Run 

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SEPTEMBER 10 — OCTOBER 20 • BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE 

OCTOBER 22 — NOVEMBER 3 • BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE 

NEAR WEST: BUCKTOWN | FREE 

SEP The Camino Project Theatre Y at Ipsento 

606 1813 N. Milwaukee | 708-209-0183 | IMMERSIVE: 

Combining a five-mile walk through Bucktown and Humboldt 

Park, a celebratory meal, and performative events that combine 

theater, dance, and performance art, The Camino Project 

is a thoroughly unique invention that challenges the confines 

of traditional spectatorship. Through Sep 22 

FAR NORTH: UPTOWN 

SEP Casa Valentina Pride Films and Plays at 

The Broadway 4139 N. Broadway | 800-737-0984 | DRAMA: 

Based on real events and infused with Fierstein's trademark 

wit, this moving, insightful, and delightfully entertaining 

work offers a glimpse into the lives of a group of "self-made 

women" as they search for acceptance and happiness in their 

very own Garden of Eden. Through Sep 29 

FAR NORTH: ANDERSONVILLE | ONLY TWO DAYS 

SEP 

Come Rain or Come Shine: A Judy 

Garland Cabaret Brown Paper Box Co. at Mary’s 

Attic 5400 N. Clark | MUSIC: A celebration of an international 

icon, a queer movement, and exactly how far the LGBTQ+ 

community has come over the past 50 years. Sep 20 - 21 

NEAR NORTH: LINCOLN PARK | ONE WEEKEND ONLY 

OCT Contractions The Comrades at the 


7336 | DRAMA: Emma thinks she’s in love with her coworker 

Darren. In a series of cordial but increasingly tense conversations 

with her boss, the two dissect the differences between 

“sexual” and “romantic,” negotiate the length of Emma’s 

interoffice relationship, and face the consequences of shrinking 

privacy and binding contracts. Oct 10 - 13 


SEP OCT 

The Delicate Tears of the 

Waning Moon Water People Theater at 

Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre 1700 N. Halsted | DRAMA: 

Paulina, a human rights journalist, emerges from a coma 

and must recover her memory, and fight against a world of 

violence in order to achieve justice and tell the truth. Sep 19 - 

Oct 13 *This production is part of Destinos, the 3rd Chicago 


MULTIPLE LOCATIONS 

SEP OCT 

Destinos - 3rd Chicago 

International Latino Theater Festival 

Chicago Latino Theater Alliance Multiple Locations | 

FESTIVAL: An annual festival showcasing Latino stories as 

told by Latino theatre artists from Chicago, the U.S., and Latin 

America, through full theatre presentations, student matinees, 

and post show talk-backs with artists. Sep 19 - Oct 27 


OCT Directors Haven 2019 Haven Theatre 

Company at The Den Theatre 1331 N. Milwaukee | 

COMEDY/DRAMA: Back for the 5th consecutive year! Each 

director will helm a fully produced 30-45 minute play of their 

choosing that will run back-to-back at each performance. See 

what the next generation can do when provided with that alltoo-rare 

commodity: a room to share their vision. Oct 14 - 30 

NEAR WEST: WEST TOWN | ONLY TWO DAYS 

NOV 

Earth to Kenzie, an Opera for Young 

Audiences Lyric Opera of Chicago at the Vittum 

Theater 1012 N. Noble | 312-827-5600 | CHILDREN'S/ 

FAMILY: A new opera featuring a cast of four singers with 

piano accompaniment, this family offering is specifically programmed 

to introduce young audiences ages 7-12 to the magic 

of opera. Nov 9 - 10 

FAR NORTH: NORTH CENTER 

The Effect Strawdog Theatre 

OCT NOV 

Company 1802 W. Berenice | 773-644-1380 | COMEDY/ 

DRAMA: Hearts pounding, thoughts racing, and sleepless 

nights. Connie and Tristan are falling in love - or are they? 

Stuck in a clinical trial for an antidepressant, it's hard to know 

what is love and what is the drug. As the trial's supervising 

doctors untangle this relationship, everyone involved has to 

question what they know. Oct 13 - Nov 23 


Please note: All information is subject to change.

OCTOBER 29 — NOVEMBER 3 • CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE 

PHOTO BY MARK ABRAHAMS 

NOVEMBER 15 — JANUARY 5 • BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE 


SEP OCT Equivocation Idle Muse Theatre 

Company at The Edge Theater Off-Broadway 1133 W. 

Catalpa | 773-340-9438 | COMEDY/DRAMA: The Globe Theatre 

becomes the stage for Shag’s darkest play yet - and the 

battle for a nation’s soul. Fact, fiction, politics, and comedy all 

vie for control in this critically acclaimed dramatic account of 

an historical national crisis. Sep 20 - Oct 20 

NORTHWEST: BELMONT-CRAGIN 

OCT 

Exquisita Agonía Aguijón Theater 2707 

N. Laramie | 312-631-3112 | DRAMA: From the Pulitzer Prizewinning 

playwright, an opera singer loses her husband in a 

car accident, she indulges her grief by obsessively pursuing 

the recipient of his transplanted heart. In Spanish with English 

supertitles. Oct 17 - 27 *This production is part of Destinos, 

the 3rd Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. 


SEP OCT Equus AstonRep Theatre Company at 

The Edge Theater 5451 N. Broadway | 773-828-9129 | 

DRAMA: When teenager Alan Strang’s pathological fascination 

leads him to blind six horses in a Hampshire stable, 

psychiatrist Martin Dysart is tasked with uncovering the motive 

behind the boy’s violent act. As Dysart delves into Alan’s 

world of twisted spirituality, passion, and sexuality, he begins 

to question his own sanity and motivations in a world driven 

by consumerism. Sep 27 - Oct 26 

SOUTH: SOUTH LOOP 

SEP OCT NOV Every Brilliant Thing Windy 

City Playhouse South 2229 S. Michigan | 773-891-8985 | 

COMEDY/DRAMA: From childhood to adulthood, the protagonist 

guides the audience through a personal chronicle of life’s 

joys in the face of her mother’s depression. Audiences are invited 

to speak on behalf of a vet, a father, a lecturer, and even 

a therapist sock in this “come-as-you-are performance” (no 

prior acting experience or rehearsal required!). Sep 18 - Dec 8 

FAR NORTH: ANDERSONVILLE 

SEP OCT NOV The Facts of Life: The Lost 

Episodes - Satan's School for Girls Hell in 

a Handbag Productions at Mary’s Attic 5400 N. Clark | 

COMEDY: The Eastland School for Girls seemed to be the place 

for the best and the brightest. But when a series of girls die 

mysterious accidental deaths, ace reporter Claudia Collin, who 

is as beautiful as she is talented, goes undercover to avenge 

her kid sister’s death. Sep 29 - Nov 2 

NEAR WEST: WICKER PARK | ONE WEEKEND ONLY 

SEP Feos Chopin Theatre 1543 W. Division | 312-631- 

3112 | PUPPETRY: A visual feast of Bunraku-style puppetry 

incorporating stop motion projections and a story that challenges 

audiences to look at their own faults with honesty and 

acceptance. It's an adult work about desire and love by two 

people who are physically disfigured. Sep 19 - 22 *This production 

is part of Destinos, the 3rd Chicago International Latino 

Theater Festival. 


NOV The First Deep Breath Victory Gardens 

Theater 2433 N. Lincoln | 773-871-3000 | NEW WORK: This 

is the story of Pastor Albert Jones, who is planning a special 

church service to honor his late daughter Diane on the sixth 

anniversary of her death. But when his eldest son, Abdul- 

Malik, returns home from prison, the first family of Mother 

Bethel Baptist Church is forced to confront a hornet's nest of 

long-buried secrets. Nov 15 - Dec 22 


SEP OCT Five Presidents American Blues 

Theater at Stage 773 1225 W. Belmont | 773-327-5252 | 

COMEDY/DRAMA: There was only one day in history when 

all five of these U.S. Presidents were in the same room at the 

same time: the holding room prior to entering the memorial 

service for President Richard Nixon. Through Oct 19 

For more information, visit 

CHICAGOPLAYS.com 

Half-price tickets may be available at 

HOTTIX.org

WINDY 

CITY 

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HOUSE 

With venues spanning the 

North Side to the South Loop, 

Windy City Playhouse offers 

three unique, immersive 

experiences (because why just 

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live inside of it?). 

Be it the long-running 

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SOUTHERN GOTHIC, 

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immersive thriller THE 

RECOMMENDATION, or 

the Chicago premiere of the 

stunning EVERY BRILLIANT 

THING, join us for a 

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SOUTH FLAGSHIP THE LOFT 

THE 

SOUTHERN RECOMMEN 

GOTHIC DATION 

By Leslie Liautaud 

Directed by 

David H. Bell 

ON SALE 

THRU OCT 27 

By Jonathan Caren 

Directed by 

Jonathan Wilson 

ON SALE 

THRU SEPT 22 

EVERY 

BRILLIANT 

THING 

By Duncan Macmillan 

Directed by Jessica Fisch 

Starring Rebecca Spence 

ON SALE 

THRU DEC 8 

773.891.8985 | WINDYCITYPLAYHOUSE.COM 

FAR NORTH: ANDERSONVILLE | ONLY TWO DAYS 

SEP 

Danztheatre Ensemble at Ebenezer Lutheran Church 

Auditorium 1650 W. Foster | DANCE: Through performance 

and visual art, this one-weekend presentation highlights the 

intricacy and complexity of emotional expression, sexual 

liberation, reproductive rights, and motherhood. Sep 20 - 21 

The Forward March of Women Chicago 


SEP OCT Goliath and The Returning 

Akvavit Theatre at Rivendell Theatre 5779 N. Ridge 

| 773-655-9441 | DRAMA: Goliath retells the classic biblical 

story as an epic family drama. In The Returning, we meet a 

mother and a father grieving the loss of their son, Gustav, 

whom they assume to be dead. Both plays examine tragedy 

and history through the lens of family dynamics, exploring the 

importance of understanding the narrative of our times 

as both epic and personal. Sep 24 - Oct 13 


The Great Leap Steppenwolf Theatre 

SEP OCT 

Company 1650 N. Halsted | 312-335-1650 | COMEDY/ 

DRAMA: Set amidst the friction of post cultural revolution 

China, this witty and weighty Chicago premiere explores the 

cultural collision of identity and politics through the game of 

basketball. Through Oct 20 

NEAR NORTH: OLD TOWN 

OCT NOV 

Grey House A Red Orchid Theatre 

1531 N. Wells | 312-943-8722 | NEW WORK: After a brutal car 

wreck in the mountains of Oregon, a young couple seeks shelter 

from a blizzard in a small cabin. But the cabin’s seemingly 

innocent inhabitants: five children and their minder, quickly 

start to expose the couple’s secrets, unmake everything they 

know about themselves, and hurl them towards a potentially 

sinister destination. Oct 10 - Dec 1 


SEP OCT NOV Grinning from Fear to Fear 

The Second City e.t.c. Theater 1608 N. Wells | 312-337- 

3992 | COMEDY: From psycho killers to big pharma, coming 

out to your family to coming undone in your nightmares, The 

Second City's fearless force of comedy commandos takes on 

everything that makes us all unfalteringly unique. Open Run 


OCT NOV Hell Followed With Her WildClaw 

Theatre at The Den Theatre 1331 N. Milwaukee | NEW 

WORK: Willow Parker has spent two years with revenge on 

her mind. Tonight she's found the man she's been looking for, 

but in this small Texas town where their bloody paths have 

converged, the undead have followed behind her. Oct 7 - Nov 9 


OCT NOV 

Holy Ghost Bingo: God, Goblins, 

& Games Nuns4Fun at the Royal George Theatre 

Center 1641 N. Halsted | 312-988-9000 | COMEDY: It's a 

crazy night of Halloween trivia, audience interaction, and the 

funniest costume contest you've ever seen. Add to that a box 

of wacky prizes, some Halloween candy, fun bingo cards, and a 

lot of Catholic humor for a night of entertainment you'll never 

forget. Oct 4 - Nov 10 


NOV 

Hoodoo Love Raven Theatre Company 6157 

N. Clark | 773-338-2177 | DRAMA: After escaping the cotton 

fields of Mississippi, a young woman arrives in depression-era 

Memphis with dreams of becoming a blues singer. Almost immediately, 

she falls in love with a rambling musician while her 

born-again brother, Jib, is hot on her heels. Oct 31 - Dec 15 


SEP OCT Hope: Part II of A Mexican 

Trilogy Teatro Vista at The Den Theatre 1331 N. 

Milwaukee | 312-631-3112 | COMEDY/DRAMA: A grand exploration 

of Mexican American life in the ’60s, Hope follows the 

voyage of the Morales family through that turbulent, transformational 

time, marked by a new young president, the dawn 

of the sexual revolution and the rock ‘n’ roll explosion. Sep 21 

- Oct 27 *This production is part of Destinos, the 3rd Chicago 



SEP Horse Girls Exit 63 Theatre at the 


7336 | COMEDY/DRAMA: An immersion into middle school deception 

and lies, Horse Girls infiltrates the world of pre-teens, 

their obsessions, their insecurities, their selfies, and their 

desperate need to find a place in the world. Through Sep 22

LINDIWE 

Nov 7 – Jan 5 

THE GREAT LEAP 

Sept 5 – Oct 20 

steppenwolf. org | 312-335-1650 

SOUTH: BRIDGEPORT | ONE WEEKEND ONLY 

OCT Hotel-Ó Repertorio Latino Theater Company 

3622 S. Morgan | 312-631-3112 | DRAMA: A lyric experiment 

that departs from the classical Othello to cultivate the concept 

of “compersion” as the opposite of jealousy. The focus is to 

bring attention to the arguments surrounding gender violence. 

Oct 24 - 27 *This production is part of Destinos, the 3rd 

Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. 


SEP OCT NOV 

The Hound of the 

Baskervilles City Lit Theater Company 1020 W. 

Bryn Mawr | 773-293-3682 | CLASSIC: Holmes and Watson 

investigate the centuries-old legend of a hound from hell that 

stalks the Baskerville family in the greatest Sherlock Holmes 

adventure of them all. Sep 27 - Nov 10 


SEP OCT Howard's End Remy Bumppo Theatre 

Company at Theater Wit 1229 W. Belmont | 773-975-8150 

| NEW WORK: Adapted for the stage by Chicago playwright 

Douglas Post, this world premiere of the beloved novel will tell 

the story of three very different families whose lives intertwine 

at the dawn of a fast-changing 20th century. Through Oct 5 

NORTHWEST: AVONDALE 

OCT NOV 

I Am Going To Die Alone and I 

Am Not Afraid Prop Thtr 3502 N. Elston | 773-539- 

7838 | DRAMA: Exploring ancestral trauma and remembrance 

as rebellion, this devised play uses stories of exceptional 

bravery to expand the legacy of the Holocaust and examine 

oppression today. What lessons do we take from history, and 

how can we make sure Never Again means Never Again, for 

anyone? Oct 25 - Dec 6 

FAR NORTH: ANDERSONVILLE 

SEP OCT NOV The Infinite Wrench The 

Neo-Futurists at The Neo-Futurarium 5153 N. Ashland | 

773-878-4557 | EXPERIMENTAL: A mechanism that unleashes 

a barrage of two-minute plays for a live audience. Each play 

offers something different — funny, profound, elegant, 

disgusting, topical, irrelevant, terrifying, or put to song. All 

of the plays are truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired 

by the lived experiences of the performers. Open Run 


OCT NOV Invisible Her Story Theater at Stage 

773 1225 W. Belmont | 312-835-1410 | NEW WORK: Set in 

1920s Mounds, Mississippi when Klan was a mainstream social 

club across America, it follows the lives of three women forming 

a new Klavern and the lives they impacted. In a world of 

“ISMS”,”Poison Squads”, Patriotism, and Secrets, Invisible reveals 

the quick rise and fall of the Women’s KKK. Oct 3 - Nov 3 


SEP OCT NOV 

The iO Theater iO Improv 1501 

N. Kingsbury | 312-929-2401 | IMPROV: A premier venue for 

long-form improvisational performances and classes. Shows 

include The Armando Diaz Experience, Deep Schwa, The 

Deltones, FELT, The Improvised Shakespeare Co., The Late 90’s, 

Meridian, The Scene, Virgin Daiquiri, Whirled News Tonight, and 

more. Shows Every Night 


NOV Keely and Du Intrinsic Theatre Company 

at The Frontier 1106 W. Thorndale | DRAMA: Du, a right to 

life activist, and Keely, a pregnant rape victim she is confining, 

transcend their circumstances and the ideological issues that 

separate them. Keely and Du is a mind-probing issue play with 

a gripping human face. Nov 2 - 24 


OCT 

NOV 

Keely and Du Redtwist Theatre 1044 

W. Bryn Mawr | 773-728-7529 | DRAMA: In this Pulitzer Prize 

Finalist, Du, a right-to-life activist, and Keely, a pregnant rape 

victim Du is confining, transcend their circumstances and the 

ideological issues that separate them. Oct 9 - Nov 11 


OCT NOV Kentucky The Gift Theatre at Theater 

Wit 1229 W. Belmont | 773-283-7071 | COMEDY/DRAMA: 

When her sister, a born-again Christian, decides to marry at 

22, NYC-transplant Hiro, takes it upon herself to return home 

to Kentucky to stop the wedding and salvage her sister's 

future. Identity, religion, and love collide in this unique coming 

of age story. Oct 17 - Nov 16 

8

SECONDCITY.COM • 312.337.3992 

SOUTH: HYDE PARK 

SEP OCT 

King Hedley II Court Theatre 5535 S. 

Ellis | 773-753-4472 | DRAMA: Placing his hopes and dreams 

on the line, a man pieces together his life in Pittsburgh after 

seven years in prison. Family ties are tested and crime and retribution 

collide in August Wilson's ninth play in the American 

Century Cycle. Through Oct 13 

NEAR WEST: WEST TOWN 

OCT NOV La Ofrenda Adventure Stage Chicago 

at the Vittum Theater 1012 N. Noble | 773-342-4141 | 

CHILDREN'S/FAMILY: After the tragic loss of his parents on 

9/11, fourth grader Alex – Alejandro to his Abuela – is forced to 

leave behind the home he loves and move across the country 

to live with his grandmother. His Abuela, Marta, must bridge 

the gap of grief, age, and culture between her and Alex so 

they may find shelter in each other. Oct 23 - Nov 22 

SOUTH: PILSEN | ONE WEEKEND ONLY 

SEP La Tía Mariela Once Once Producciones at 

the National Museum of Mexican Art 1852 W. 19th | 312- 

631-3112 | COMEDY: Renowned Mexican actress and dramaturg 

Conchi León joins Regina Orozco and Montserrat Marañón 

to tell the stories of their 12 aunts whose names all begin 

with “M.” With Yucatan humor, audiences will laugh and cry 

throughout this saga about the pain and joy of Mayan women, 

told through live traditional Yucatecan music, song, and dance. 

In Spanish with English supertitles. Sep 26 - 29 *This production 

is part of Destinos, the 3rd Chicago International Latino 

Theater Festival. 


SEP OCT NOV Late Nite Catechism 

Nuns4Fun at the Royal George Theatre Center 1641 

N. Halsted | 312-988-9000 | COMEDY: Call it Loretta Young 

meets Carol Burnett. This is part catechism class, part standup 

routine. It’s an interactive comedy, one of the longest 

running shows in Chicago and U.S. theater history. Open Run 

9 


Please note: All information is subject to change. 


OCT NOV 

Ensemble 5779 N. Ridge | 773-334-7728 | NEW WORK: It’s 

company outing day, and Laura, one of the top travel agents, 

is having the best/worst day of her life. So much so that she 

decides to end it all. Afterwards, her colleagues try to piece 

things together on a memorial blog. But how do you mourn 

someone you didn’t know that well? Oct 25 - Dec 8 

Laura and the Sea Rivendell Theatre 


NOV Lindiwe Steppenwolf Theatre Company 1650 

N. Halsted | 312-335-1650 | NEW WORK: The evocative live 

music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo forms the foundation of 

this world premiere production. As the story travels from Chicago's 

Kingston Mines to South Africa and beyond, Lindiwe's 

love story challenges us to define the boundaries between this 

world and the next, all the while exploring the sacrifices we 

make for love. Nov 7 - Jan 5 

NEAR WEST: BUCKTOWN 

SEP OCT Love and Information Trap Door 

Theatre 1655 W. Cortland | 773-384-0494 | COMEDY/ 

DRAMA: Through a kaleidoscopic lens of over 100 characters 

in 57 different scenes, this exhilarating play explores how our 

incessant consumption of information and virtual connectivity 

penetrates and frames our sense of ourselves and our relationships 

with others. Through Oct 19 

NORTHWEST: PORTAGE PARK 

SEP OCT NOV Luna Filament Theatre 4041 N. 

Milwaukee | CHILDREN'S/FAMILY: Soledad, the child of 

migrant farm workers, goes where her family goes, where the 

crops will grow. With every move comes the struggle to make 

new friends. She finds solace in books, and in her constant 

companion Luna — the moon — who follows her wherever she 

goes. Recommended for ages 4-10. Sep 21 - Nov 3 

FAR NORTH: ROGERS PARK 

OCT NOV Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Lifeline 

Theatre 6912 N. Glenwood | 773-761-4477 | CHILDREN'S/ 

FAMILY: The Primm family is shocked to discover a crocodile 

in their bathtub! His name is Lyle, he performs tricks, and, oh, 

he only eats Turkish caviar. The Primm's are quick to welcome 

Lyle into the family, but not everyone is so thrilled about a 

crocodile living on the block. Oct 19 - Nov 24


OCT NOV A Man of No Importance Pride 

Films and Plays at The Broadway 4139 N. Broadway | 

800-737-0984 | MUSICAL: The heartwarming story of Alfie 

Byrne – a Dublin man with a passion for staging Oscar Wilde’s 

plays for his quirky community theatre group. The songs will 

celebrate Irish lives and loves and the joys of putting on a 

theatrical production. Oct 10 - Nov 10 


OCT NOV Master Comic MPAACT at the 

Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N. Lincoln | 773- 

404-7336 | NEW WORK: Inspired by the enduring ideas 

and enigmatic characters found in The Master Builder, this 

play explores issues of race and respectability politics, and 

examines the existential and identity related problems specific 

to African Americans negotiating perceptions of success in the 

U.S. Oct 4 - Nov 17 


OCT NOV The Merchant of Venice Invictus 

Theatre Company at The Buena 4147 N. Broadway | 

800-737-0984 | CLASSIC: Shakespeare's story of the lender 

Shylock who proposes collateral of a pound of flesh against a 

loan will be set in 1938 Italy, when racial laws disenfranchised 

and discriminated against Italian Jews during the rise of European 

Fascism. The concept promises to shed new light on a 

classic story of revenge, justice, and mercy. Oct 17 - Nov 17 


SEP OCT Midsummer (A Play With Songs) 


7336 | COMEDY: A wickedly funny story about a high-powered 

attorney looking for revenge sex and a thief who is always 

on the prowl. As fate would have it, a night of raucous sex 

turns into a weekend of car chases, gangsters, wedding busts, 

midnight trysts - and a second chance at life and love - all set 

in Edinburgh to a joyous indie folk-pop score. Through Oct 6 


SEP 

Miracle Royal George Theatre Center 1641 N. 

Halsted | 312-988-9000 | MUSICAL: Set against the backdrop 

of the Cubs 2016 Championship season, Miracle tells the story 

of a typical blue collar Chicago family and what it means to 

have faith, lose it, and try to regain it again. Through Sep 29 


OCT NOV Mosquitoes Steep Theatre Company 

1115 W. Berwyn | 773-649-3186 | DRAMA: Inside the Large 

Hedron Collider, two high-energy particle beams travel at 

close to the speed of light before being forced to collide. 

Outside, two sisters run on an ideological collision course that 

threatens to upend the fragile gravity holding their family 

together. Oct 4 - Nov 9 


OCT NOV N Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N. 

Lincoln | 773-404-7336 | NEW WORK: A young liberal white 

actor takes a job as a caregiver for an elderly passionate 

conservative African-American woman. He lands the role of a 

lifetime, but is challenged with using the N-word. N challenges 

us to look at our personal attitudes and prejudices. Oct 24 - 

Nov 17 

SOUTH: HYDE PARK 

NOV 

Oedipus Rex Court Theatre 5535 S. Ellis | 773- 

753-4472 | DRAMA: Oedipus seeks to cure his city of a mysterious 

plague by discovering the murderer of the former king. 

Captivating and cathartic, Sophocles’ seminal Greek tragedy 

brings to light enduring questions of identity, fate, and free 

will. Nov 7 - Dec 8 


SEP OCT NOV Oh Sh#t! It's Haunted! The 

Factory Theater 1623 W. Howard | NEW WORK: They say 

that the old Lockwood place is haunted. Sounds of polka music, 

acid guitar, and people chomping on pierogi are witnessed 

from outside. Can the gang of Darla, Mo, Slats, and Henry get 

to the bottom of this mystery before the opportunistic Mrs. 

Ingersson buys the property? Sep 27 - Nov 9 

NEAR WEST: HUMBOLDT PARK | ONE WEEKEND ONLY 

SEP Organic Sofrito or Other Recipes 

For Disaster Venessa M Diaz at UrbanTheater 

Company 2620 W. Division | 312-631-3112 | COMEDY/ 

DRAMA: Three generations of Puerto Rican women, four 

courses, and a whole lot of crazy! This dark comedy incorporating 

spoken word poetry and original music explores the 

elusive beauty of dysfunction and how it makes us who we 

are. Sep 19 - 22 *This production is part of Destinos, the 3rd 

Chicago International Latino Theater Festival.


OCT NOV Our Lady of Kibeho The Theatre 

School at DePaul University 2350 N. Racine | 773-325- 

7900 | COMEDY/DRAMA: Alphonsine claims to have seen 

visions of the Virgin Mary and is ostracized in the all-girls’ 

Catholic school she attends… until others confirm seeing the 

same visions that foretell the genocide in Rwanda. Based on 

true and tragic events. Oct 30 - Nov 10 


OCT Our Town Loyola University Chicago at 

Newhart Family Theatre 1020 W. Sheridan | 773-508- 

8400 | CLASSIC: This American classic is an examination 

of everyday life. Famous for its use of minimalist staging to 

emphasize the nuances of new and old relationships, Wilder 

expertly intertwines the lives of the Gibbs and Webb families 

in a celebration of the simpler things. Oct 10 - 20 


OCT NOV Our Town Saint Sebastian Players at 

St. Bonaventure Church 1625 W. Diversey | 773-404-7922 

| DRAMA: The play is a microcosm of the life cycle, portraying 

the everyday lives of the citizens of a fictional American small 

town between 1901 and 1913. Oct 25 - Nov 17 


NOV Packing About Face Theatre at Theater 

Wit 1229 W. Belmont | 773-784-8565 | NEW WORK: Half of 

discovering who you are is finding where you belong. Packing, 

a solo performance from writer/performer Scott Bradley, is the 

tale of a genderqueer vagabond leaving small-town Iowa on 

a three-decade long odyssey, continually reinventing himself 

through new identities across multiple cities. Oct 31 - Dec 7 


SEP OCT Pakalolo Sweet Nothing Without a 

Company (NWaC) at Berger Park Coach House 6205 

N. Sheridan | COMEDY/DRAMA: This prequel to Not One Batu 

follows Papa's family and is the second in Hannah Ii-Epstein's 

trilogy of drug plays set on the North Shore of O'ahu. During 

a night of karaoke, beer, and weed, the medical uses, benefits, 

and cultural aspects of marijuana and its self care are discussed. 

What follows is unexpected and heartbreaking as we 

witness Junior Boy's struggle to do what he believes is best 

for his 'ohana (family). Through Oct 5 


NOV Peg Broken Nose Theatre and The New 

Colony at The Den Theatre 1331 N. Milwaukee| 773-697- 

3830 | NEW WORK: Peg and Steve have opened a nice bottle 

of wine, dinner smells delicious... but the brand new strap-on 

they ordered has just arrived, and tonight's plan is to flip the 

script. Peg wants to peg Steve. And even though he was all 

for it initially, his last-minute hesitation will force this ordinary 

couple to face their kinks, quirks, and societal conditioning, as 

they're quickly reminded that gender politics follow them everywhere 

- including the bedroom. Nov 13 - Dec 14 


OCT NOV POE Theatre Above The Law at The 

Jarvis Square Theatre 1439 W. Jarvis | 773-655-7197 | 

COMEDY: Welcome to the Mystic Moon, a cabaret bar where 

the denizens of Edgar Allen Poe's most frightful and delightful 

tales gather night after night. Let the lost Lenore and her cast 

of ghouls lead you through four of Poe's classic stories as 

they are transported onto the stage in an evening of creepy 

comedy. Oct 24 - Nov 17 


OCT Polaroid Stories The Theatre School at 

DePaul University 2350 N. Racine | 773-325-7900 | 

COMEDY/DRAMA: Based on interviews with homeless 

youth, Naomi Iizuka's Polaroid Stories weaves together myths 

from Ovid's Metamorphoses to raise the voices of street kids 

to the level and importance of the gods. A story of transformation, 

this poetic and profane journey follows kids through 

the dangerous and sometimes fantastical world of the streets 

as they tell stories to survive. Oct 16 - 27 

FAR NORTH: RAVENSWOOD 

OCT NOV Proxy Underscore Theatre Company 

at The Understudy 4609 N. Clark | 617-777-0364 | 

MUSICAL: 15 years ago, when she was a kid, Vanessa was 

almost murdered by her best friend. Now she is an investigative 

journalist in a bind, and she decides to do what anyone 

would do — exploit her personal story by disguising herself 

and interviewing her childhood best friend and attempted 

murderer. Oct 18 - Nov 24 


NOV 

P.Y.G. or The Mis-Edumacation of 

Dorian Belle Jackalope Theatre Company at the 

Broadway Armory 5917 N. Broadway | COMEDY/DRAMA: 

Dorian Belle is a Canadian pop sweetheart and he’s ready to 

be taken seriously. So his people hire his favorite hip-hop artists 

— Black and Alexand, the ‘bad boy’ rappers of Petty Young 

Goons — to help him toughen up his image. They’re black, he’s 

white. They’re from Chicago, he’s from Canada. It’s all on reality 

TV. What could go wrong? Nov 5 - Dec 14 


SEP OCT The Raveling Walkabout Theater at 

Victory Gardens Theater 2433 N. Lincoln | PHYSICAL 

THEATRE: As the borders of home are redefined across 

generations, The Raveling teases apart the threads of heritage, 

history, and hearsay in its cast of co-creators hailing from 

Chicago, Toronto, and New Delhi. It is part family fever dream, 

part fairy tale, and part detective story as the knot of belonging 

is stretched and pulled across countries and decades of 

legends, heroes, and misadventures. Sep 25 - Oct 13 

NORTHWEST: IRVING PARK 

SEP The Recommendation Windy City 

Playhouse Flagship 3014 W. Irving Park | 773-891-8985 

| IMMERSIVE: This psychological thriller follows two friends 

through the trials and tribulations of life and tests just how far 

they will go to get what they want. Presented in an immersive 

style, audiences are invited to (literally) walk a mile in these 

young men's shoes. Through Sep 22 


OCT NOV Richard III Eclectic Full Contact 

Theatre at the Athenaeum Theatre 2936 N. Southport | 

773-935-6875 | CLASSIC: Before Game of Thrones, there was 

this masterpiece. Will Richard stop at nothing to reach the pinnacle 

of power? Will he deceive, seduce, even commit murder? 

Meet the unlikely man who schemed so cleverly (and bloodily), 

we're still talking about him today. Oct 1 - Nov 3 


NOV Rutherford and Son TimeLine Theatre 

Company 615 W. Wellington | 773-281-8463 | COMEDY/ 

DRAMA: Named one of the “100 plays of the century” by the 

Royal National Theatre, Githa Sowerby’s rarely produced family 

drama is a smart and absorbing twist on a woman’s “place” 

in a male dominated society. Nov 6 - Jan 12


SEP OCT Season Pass: Deux Over The 

Plagiarists at The Jarvis Square Theatre 1439 W. 

Jarvis | 773-655-7197 | COMEDY: This show is like Be Kind 

Rewind crossed with Star Tours crossed with Choose Your 

Own Adventure crossed with a childhood spent watching too 

many cartoons and eating too much sugary cereal. Only you, 

the audience, can travel through time and save humanity from 

destruction. From the depths of the ocean, to all of time and 

space… and beyond. Through Oct 5 


SEP OCT NOV The Second City The Second 

City at UP Comedy Club 230 W. North | 312-337-3992 

| COMEDY/IMPROV/STAND-UP: A diverse array of comedic 

performers and formats, including: 

She The People: The Resistance Continues (Open Run) 

This mimosa-and-madness-fueled foray roasts the patriarchy, taking on 

everything from having it all… to having that sick feeling your government 

is trying to send you back to the Middle Ages. Rated R. 

The Best of The Second City (Mon at 8PM, Sat & Sun at 4PM) 

Some of the best sketches, songs, and improvisations from their 58 year 

history performed by The Second City Touring Company. Rated R. 

After Hours: A Late Night Improv Show (Fri & Sat at 11PM) 

Stay up late with an entirely improvised, entirely ridiculous 60 minutes 

that’ll leave you with a full-fledged comedy hangover. Rated R. 

Improv Brunch (Sundays at 12PM) 

A scrumptious spread followed by an all-you-can-laugh, totally improvised 

experience from the city’s finest. Rated R. 

Legendary Laughs (Saturdays at 4PM) 

Politics aside and laughter in the spotlight! See some of the all-time 

favorite sketches and songs. Rated PG-13. 

Improv Comedy Hour (Mondays at 8PM) 

A wildly unpredictable display of classic improvisational games and 

techniques finessed for the modern age. Rated R. 


SEP OCT NOV 

The Second City's 108th 

Mainstage Revue The Second City Mainstage 

1616 N. Wells | 312-337-3992 | COMEDY: This is the most 

exciting time to see a show on the Second City stage. The cast 

is fresh, new material is worked into the show every night, and 

your laughter helps shape the final show. Open Run 


SEP OCT Seventy Scenes of Halloween 

Theatre L'Acadie at the Athenaeum Theatre 2936 N. 

Southport | 773-935-6875 | HALLOWEEN: This turbulent tale 

abandons linear narrative in favor of 70 brief scenes played 

out of order, resulting in a wild, dreamlike ride that blends realism 

with psychological surprise and humor. Partners become 

wolves and phantoms in this domestic drama about a marriage 

dying of familiarity. Their haunted home offers a weirdly 

comical and thought-provoking glimpse into the nature of 

relationships. Sep 26 - Oct 13 

NEAR NORTH: LINCOLN PARK | ONE WEEKEND ONLY 

OCT Soltera, Casada, Viuda y Divorciada 

Producciones Aragua Inc. at Steppenwolf’s 1700 

Theatre 1700 N. Halsted | 312-631-3112 | COMEDY: A frolicsome 

comedy told through four points of view on the same 

topic, MEN. In Spanish with English supertitles. Oct 17 - 20 

*This production is part of Destinos, the 3rd Chicago International 

Latino Theater Festival. 


HOTTIX.org > > > > 

FAR NORTH: RAVENSWOOD 

OCT NOV Songs in the Key of Stevie Black 

Ensemble Theater 4450 N. Clark | 773-769-4451 | 

MUSICAL: Prodigy, genius, and phenomenon are just a few of 

the words used to describe the amazing Stevie Wonder. This 

show is a musical journey that pays tribute to Stevie's incredible 

body of work and sheds a little light on the life and times 

of this phenomenal artist. Oct 5 - Nov 17 


SEP Sons and Lovers Greenhouse Theater 

Center and On The Spot Theatre at Greenhouse 

Theater Center 2257 N. Lincoln | 773-404-7336 | DRAMA: 

Based on the novel set in late 19th century England, Sons and 

Lovers dramatizes the early years of the spirited and brilliantly 

flawed writer D.H. Lawrence as he charted his course from a 

Midlands coal mining town into the larger world. Through Sep 29 

SOUTH: SOUTH LOOP 

SEP OCT NOV Southern Gothic Windy City 

Playhouse South 2229 S. Michigan | 773-891-8985 | 

IMMERSIVE: With just 30 audience members per performance, 

this immersive production welcomes you to wander about 

the “set” at your own leisure. You’ll act as a fly on the wall, 

overseeing all the juicy drama unfold up close. Open Run 


SEP OCT NOV Spamalot Mercury Theater 

Chicago 3745 N. Southport | 773-325-1700 | MUSICAL: 

Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy Monty Python 

and the Holy Grail, Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur 

and his Knights of the Round Table, featuring ridiculous men in 

tight pants — not to mention cows, killer rabbits, and French 

people. Through Nov 3 


NOV The Suffrage Plays Artemisia, A Chicago 

Theatre at The Den Theatre 1331 N. Milwaukee 

| 773-697-3830 | COMEDY: Celebrate the upcoming 100th 

anniversary of the 19th Amendment with an evening of three 

one-act comedies focused on the importance of voting rights 

for women. Nov 1 - 24 

12


OCT NOV Sugar in Our Wounds First Floor 

Theater at The Den Theatre 1331 N. Milwaukee | 773-697- 

3830 | DRAMA: On a plantation during the Civil War, a mystical 

tree stretches toward heaven. It protects James, a young slave, 

while he reads newspapers about the imminent possibility of 

freedom, as war rages on. When a brooding stranger arrives, 

James and his makeshift family take him in. Soon, an unexpected 

bond leads to a striking romance, and everyone is in 

uncharted territory. Oct 19 - Nov 23 


OCT NOV Sundown, Yellow Moon Raven 

Theatre Company 6157 N. Clark | 773-338-2177 | DRAMA: 

Twins Joey and Ray have just taken their first steps into 

adulthood while their newly divorced father, Tom, has been 

suspended from his job. But honest communication doesn't 

come easy. Seemingly stuck between the future and the past, 

this family of musicians sings what they can't bring themselves 

to say. Oct 3 - Nov 17 

FAR NORTH: ANDERSONVILLE | SUNDAYS AT 3PM 

OCT NOV 

That’s Weird, Grandma: Goes 

Trick or Treating Barrel of Monkeys at The 

Neo-Futurarium 5153 N. Ashland | 773-506-7140 | 

CHILDREN'S/FAMILY: Stories about ghosts, orphans, and silly 

horrors imagined by Chicago elementary school students and 

performed by adults will be sure to get audiences in the 

Halloween mood. Oct 6 - Nov 3 

FAR NORTH: RAVENSWOOD | ONE WEEKEND ONLY 

OCT The Thirteenth Chair Ghostlight 

Ensemble Theatre at Vagabond School of the Arts 

4001 N. Ravenswood | STAGED READING: Written in 1916, 

this play takes place at the home of the wealthy Crosby family. 

But the phony séance turns out to be the scene of a very 

real murder. All the doors and windows are locked and the 

murder weapon can’t be found. How will the real murderer 

be uncovered? Oct 18 - 20 


SEP OCT Tiny Beautiful Things Victory 

Gardens Theater 2433 N. Lincoln | 773-871-3000 | COMEDY/ 

DRAMA: Based on the best-selling book by Cheryl Strayed, 

this play personifies the questions and answers that "Sugar" 

was publishing online from 2010-2012. When the struggling 

writer was asked to take over the unpaid, anonymous position 

of advice columnist, Strayed used empathy and her personal 

experiences to help those seeking guidance. Through Oct 13 


OCT NOV Tippy: Stories from the River The 

Impostors Theatre Co. at the Flat Iron Arts Building 

1579 N. Milwaukee | NEW WORK: "Night after night, the 

Fisherman can be seen traveling up and down the Tippecanoe 

searching for the one he loved and lost, a woman called 

Tippy..." So Kirk tells his young niece and nephew every summer 

for as long as they can remember. Now grown, Ella and 

her family reflect back on the stories Kirk told and the ones 

they’ve told themselves. Oct 18 - Nov 2 


SEP OCT 

Traumarama: A Story of 

Recovery The Den Theatre 1331 N. Milwaukee | 773- 

697-3830 | COMEDY/DRAMA: Liz Greenwood provides an honest, 

darkly comedic take on the after-effects of trauma in her 

solo show about her recovery process following an assault. This 

show explores PTSD, the criminal justice system, and the way 

we talk about violence against women. Sep 27 - Oct 6 


OCT NOV TRU Gosz & Fotos at Stage 773 1225 

W. Belmont | 773-327-5252 | MUSICAL: A thoughtful and 

thought-provoking story that paints a picture of what it could 

be like to live with mental illness. Oct 28 - Nov 24 

SOUTH: MORGAN PARK | ONE WEEKEND ONLY 

OCT Urinetown: The Musical Beverly Theatre 

Guild at the Morgan Park Academy 2153 W. 111th | 

773-284-8497 | COMEDY: A hilarious musical satire of the 

legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, 

corporate mismanagement, municipal politics, and 

musical theatre itself. Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, 

Urinetown provides a fresh perspective on one of America's 

greatest art forms. Oct 11 - 13 

NEAR WEST: WEST TOWN 

SEP OCT Vanya on the Plains The Artistic 

Home 1376 W. Grand | COMEDY/DRAMA: Elijah has a hard 

job. He's a Content Moderator living in a a totalitarian future, 

struggling to cope with the technological divide that separates 

him from his family. To bridge the gap, he decides to cast his 

family in a production of Uncle Vanya, despite the fact that 

none of them have seen a play or have any conception of acting. 


NEAR NORTH: LAKEVIEW | SATURDAYS AT 10:30PM 

SEP OCT NOV 

Vaudezilla! Burlesque 

Spectacular Stage 773 1225 W. Belmont | 773- 

327-5252 | VARIETY: Enjoy a diverse cast of one-of-a-kind 

burlesque, drag, and aerial acts ranging from classic Vegasstyle 

showgirls to cutting-edge, gender-non-conforming 

performance artists, and everything in between. Show 

theme changes monthly. Open Run 

NEAR WEST: WEST LOOP 

SEP OCT The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

Show Chicago Children's Theatre at The Station 

100 S. Racine | 312-374-8835 | CHILDREN'S/FAMILY: Based 

on the beautifully-crafted work of Eric Carle comes a bold new 

spectacle featuring 75 larger-than-life puppets. Featuring the 

tales of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, The Very Lonely Firefly, Ten 

Little Rubber Ducks, and of course, The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

– this new show captures the magic of Carle’s world. Ideal for all 

ages. Sep 24 - Oct 27 


Waiting for Godot Victory Gardens Theater 

NOV 

2433 N. Lincoln | 773-871-3000 | COMEDY/DRAMA: Irish 

writer Samuel Beckett's "tragicomedy in two acts" in which 

two men meet near a tree to wait for the arrival of the mysterious 

Godot, who continually sends word that he will appear 

but never does. Nov 14 - Dec 15 


OCT NOV Who Killed Joan Crawford? 

Glitterati Productions at the Athenaeum Theatre 

2936 N. Southport | 773-935-6875 | COMEDY: On a dark 

stormy night, five men arrive at a cabin for a soap star's 

surprise birthday party. Each guest has been asked to dress 

as the birthday boy's favorite actress, Joan Crawford. As they 

wait for the star, the five "Joans" begin drinking and dishing, 

dark secrets emerge, and soon there's one Joan less... and 

then another... Oct 4 - Nov 9


SEP OCT 

Whose Body? Lifeline Theatre 6912 

N. Glenwood | 773-761-4477 | LITERARY ADAPTATION: When 

a dead body turns up in a bathtub wearing nothing but a pair 

of pince-nez, amateur detective Lord Peter Wimsey assigns 

himself to the case. However, when the mystery becomes 

labyrinthine he enlists the help of close friend Inspector Parker 

to follow his only lead, a teaching hospital near the scene of 

the crime. Through Oct 27 


NOV 

Why Torture is Wrong, and the 

People who Love Them Eclipse Theatre 

Company at the Athenaeum Theatre 2936 N. Southport 

| 773-935-6875 | COMEDY: It is the story of a young woman 

suddenly in crisis: Is her new husband, whom she married 

when drunk, a terrorist? Or just crazy? Or both? Is her father's 

hobby of butterfly collecting really a cover for his involvement 

in a shadow government? Nov 14 - Dec 15 


SEP OCT X Sideshow Theatre Company at Victory 

Gardens Theater 2433 N. Lincoln | 773-809-4782 | DRAMA: 

First they called it X. Then they called it Pluto. Now they’re not 

calling at all. Billions of miles from home, a lone research base 

waits to receive another message from Earth. It’s been three 

weeks. It’s never been this long. The crew attempts to maintain 

normal operations, but as the silence grows louder, the 

darkness outside the station starts to creep in. Sep 22 - Oct 27 


OCT NOV You Are Happy Red Theater Chicago 

at The Edge Theater Off-Broadway 1133 W. Catalpa | 

773-733-0540 | COMEDY/DRAMA: Bridget finds her brother 

Jeremy in a closet attempting suicide. Again. Determined 

to help him find some kind of happiness, she carts around 

grocery stores looking for his potential wife. She meets Chloe 

and her plans to stage a happily-ever-after are finally set. In 

English and American Sign Language. Oct 26 - Dec 8 

The City of Chicago, in partnership with 

the League of Chicago Theatres, has 

designated 2019 as the Year of Chicago 

Theatre. This citywide, year-long focus on 

theatre is the first of its kind in the U.S. and 

features performances and special events 

throughout the city. During this year, there 

will be increased marketing support for 

Chicago theatres; additional financial grants for theatre projects; more 

dialog around inclusion and equity; and a call for civic, philanthropic, arts, 

and business leaders to support the theatre community. #2019isYOCT 

PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES INCLUDE: 

PROMISE TO PLAY 

When you "Promise To Play" online or at Hot Tix locations, 

you will be entered to win a special monthly prize package. 

Plus, share your next theatre experience on Instagram with 

the hashtag #PromiseToPlay, and you could win the Grand 

Prize – a show a month in 2020. Contest ends Nov 3 

ART ON THEMART 

Fall projections on the 2.5-acre river façade of theMART will 

include select soliloquies by Year of Chicago Theatre artist 

John Boesche, plus a projected performance by Cheryl Lynn 

Bruce backgrounded by images of paintings by Kerry James 

Marshall. Projections begin approximately 30 minutes after 

sunset and audio is available. Wed-Sun through Nov 22 

ARTS IN THE DARK HALLOWEEN PARADE 

Unique floats, spectacle puppets, and creative performances 

will delight attendees along State St. in the Loop. Oct 19 

MILLENNIUM PARK THEATRE RESIDENCIES 

Site-specific performances by local theatre companies 

will engage the unique architecture, design, and public 

art in Millennium Park. Select dates through Oct 12 

SETTING THE STAGE: 

OBJECTS OF CHICAGO THEATRE 

This Design Museum of Chicago exhibit at 72 East Randolph 

emphasizes the diversity, depth, and breadth of Chicago 

theatres and explore how words are translated by designers 

into a production. Through Jan 5 

THEATRE THURSDAYS 

An annual program of the League of Chicago Theatres, each 

monthly Theatre Thursday event features an inside look at 

the creative process behind a world premiere production. 

Sep 19, Oct 31, Nov 7, Dec 5 

Find more Year of Chicago Theatre events and book your next show today: 

ChicagoPlays.com/Year-of-Chicago-Theatre

SUBURBAN SHOWS 


NOV 9 to 5, the Musical Dominican University 

Performing Arts Center 7900 W. Division St, River 

Forest | 708-488-5000 | MUSICAL: Set in the late 1970s, this 

hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era 

is outrageous, thought-provoking, and even a little romantic. 

Nov 15 - 17 

SEP OCT The Addams Family Williams Street 

Repertory at the Raue Center for the Arts 26 N. 

Williams St, Crystal Lake | 815-356-9212 | MUSICAL: In the 

kooky, upside-down world of the Addams family, this quirky 

family has to deal with many of the same challenges faced by 

any other family, none more frightening than this… Wednesday 

Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up. Sep 

27 - Oct 20 

NOV Afghanistan/Wisconsin Three 

Brothers Theatre 115 N. Genesee, Waukegan | 319-621- 

0024 | DRAMA: A collection of stories from service members 

and their spouses. These stories come directly from their lips 

and are reborn on the stage. Nov 15 - Dec 7 

SEP OCT NOV Anything Goes Metropolis 

Performing Arts Centre 111 W. Campbell, Arlington 

Heights | 847-577-2121 | MUSICAL: A high-seas romp showcasing 

one of Cole Porter’s most magical scores. Music, dance, 

and romance are set to the age-old tale of boy meets girl in 

this breezy classic. Sep 19 - Nov 2 

NOV Anything Goes The Rising Stars Theatre 

Co. at West Leyden Auditorium 1000 N. Wolf Rd, 

Northlake | 773-736-2490 | MUSICAL: Music, dance, laughs, 

and the age-old tale of "boy meets girl." It is a hilarious shipboard 

romp, wrapped around one of Cole Porter’s most magical 

scores. It’s delightful, delicious, and de-lovely. Nov 2 - 10 

Beauty and the Beast Paramount Theatre 

NOV 

23 E. Galena Blvd, Aurora | 630-896-6666 | CHILDREN'S/ 

FAMILY: What is beauty? Step inside this classic storybook 

tale and discover that beauty isn’t always what it appears. Nov 

13 - Jan 19 

The Color Purple Drury Lane 

SEP OCT NOV 

Theatre 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace | 630-530-0111 | 

MUSICAL: Join the heroic journey of Celie, an African-American 

woman in the American South during the early 1900s, as 

she navigates the love she has for her sister, the strife of being 

in an abusive relationship, and her adoration for her beloved 

children. Sep 13 - Nov 3 


NOV Disney's The Lion King Jr. 

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre 111 W. Campbell, 

Arlington Heights | 847-577-2121 | CHILDREN'S/FAMILY: The 

African savannah comes to life on stage with Simba, Rafiki, 

and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from 

Pride Rock to the jungle... and back again, in this inspiring, 

coming-of-age tale. Recommended for grades K-9. Nov 7 - 9 

SEP 

OCT 

NOV 

A Doll's House Writers Theatre 

325 Tudor Court, Glencoe | 847-242-6000 | DRAMA: This focused 

one-act adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen classic reinvigorates 

the compelling story of the vibrant young Nora Helmer, 

deeply devoted to her husband Torvald. However, all is not as 

it appears: when Nora takes action to protect her husband, she 

unwittingly puts them both in jeopardy. Sep 25 - Dec 15 

OCT NOV Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat 

Northbrook Theatre 3323 Walters Ave, Northbrook | 847- 

291-2993 | CHILDREN'S/FAMILY: With the trickiest of tricks 

and the craziest of ideas, The Cat in the Hat turns a rainy afternoon 

into an amazing adventure. Watch everyone’s favorite 

cat come to life in this theatrical adaptation of the classic Dr. 

Seuss book of the same name. Oct 12 - Nov 3 

NOV The Falling and the Rising Petite Opera 

Productions at Mary Wilson House Beyer Auditorium 

306 S. Prospect Ave, Park Ridge | 847-553-4442 | OPERA: 

An exciting new American opera that salutes the service and 

sacrifice of military service men and women. Created in hopes 

of capturing the indomitable spirit of our U.S. military veterans 

and to shed light on the inspirational power of their often 

overlooked stories, it is a story of family, service, and sacrifice 

inside a period of great uncertainty. Nov 2 - 24 

SEP OCT The Fantasticks MadKap 

Productions at the Skokie Theatre 7924 Lincoln Ave, 

Skokie | 847-677-7761 | MUSICAL: A funny and romantic musical 

about a boy, a girl, two fathers, and a wall. It is the world's 

longest running musical and has entertained generations of 

audiences the world over. Sep 6 - Oct 6 

Fun Home Chicago Heights Drama Group 

OCT 

330 W. 202nd St, Chicago Heights | 708-755-3444 | MUSI- 

CAL: Moving between past and present, Alison relives her 

unique childhood playing at the family’s Bechdel Funeral 

Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality, and 

the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden 

desires. Oct 4 - 13 

NOV Fun Home Wirtz Center at Northwestern 

University in the Ethel M. Barber Theater 30 Arts Circle 

Dr, Evanston | 847-491-7282 | MUSICAL: A Tony Award winner 

for Best Musical, Fun Home is a refreshingly honest, wholly 

original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up 

eyes. Nov 8 - 24 

SEP OCT NOV Hello Again Theo Ubique 

Cabaret Theatre 721 Howard St, Evanston | 800-595-4849 

| MUSICAL: A series of love affairs among 10 characters during 

the 10 different decades of the 20th century as seen through 

the lens of a combination time machine and bawdy, old-time 

kinescope. Sep 13 - Nov 3 

SEP OCT His Shadow 16th Street Theater at the 

Berwyn Cultural Center 6420 16th St, Berwyn | 708-795- 

6704 | NEW WORK: A disgruntled college freshman tries to 

step out of his older brother's towering shadow and make a 

name for himself on the football field. When tragedy strikes, 

the course of his career is challenged, and his life is altered. 


15 



SEP OCT Holmes and Watson Buffalo 

Theatre Ensemble at McAninch Arts Center 425 Fawell 

Blvd, Glen Ellyn | 630-942-4000 | COMEDY/DRAMA: Three 

years following the mysterious “death” of Sherlock Holmes at 

Reichenbach Falls, there have been many who have claimed to 

be Holmes, all de-bunked as imposters by the faithful partner 

of the sleuth, Watson. Now three separate men insist that they 

are the famous sleuth. Through Oct 6 

Into the Woods Writers Theatre 325 Tudor 

SEP 

Court, Glencoe | 847-242-6000 | MUSICAL: This epic fairy 

tale adventure is reimagined in a newly-configured Nichols 

Theatre, staged "in the round," drawing audiences into a 

theatrical experience unlike anything you've seen at Writers 

Theatre. Through Sep 22 

OCT Lerner and Loewe’s Greatest Hits 

Music Theater Works at Nichols Concert Hall 1490 

Chicago Ave, Evanston | 847-920-5360 | MUSICAL: Showstopping 

songs from the classic musicals Brigadoon, My Fair 

Lady, Gigi, Paint Your Wagon, and Camelot. Oct 4 - 13 

OCT NOV Machinal Wirtz Center at 

Northwestern University in the Josephine Louis 

Theatre 20 Arts Circle Dr, Evanston | 847-491-7282 | 

DRAMA: Inspired by the real-life case of convicted and executed 

murderer Ruth Snyder, this 1928 play is considered one of 

the highpoints of Expressionist Theatre on the American stage 

and is reimagined for a 21st century audience in an electrifying 

new staging. Oct 25 - Nov 10 

OCT NOV Madagascar - A Musical 

Adventure Marriott Theatre 10 Marriott Dr, 

Lincolnshire | 847-634-0200 | CHILDREN’S/FAMILY: Based on 

the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, this musical 

follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin' friends as they escape 

from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo and find 

themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of 

King Julien's Madagascar. Oct 4 - Dec 29 

OCT NOV The Madness of Edgar Allan 

Poe: A Love Story Oak Park Festival 

Theatre at Cheney Mansion 220 N. Euclid Ave, Oak Park | 

708-300-9396 | DRAMA: During this production, Virginia and 

Edgar guide the audience from room to room through Oak 

Park’s historic Cheney Mansion, taking them from the garrets 

to the dungeons… and deep into a tortured mind, teetering 

on the brink of sanity. Experience favorites like “The Pit and 

the Pendulum,” “The Tell-Tale Heart," and “The Masque of the 

Red Death” as you’ve never heard or seen them before. Oct 

25 - Nov 17 

SEP Mamma Mia! The Highland Park Players 

at Northbrook Theatre 3323 Walters Ave, Northbrook | 

847-291-2993 | MUSICAL: Told through the legendary music 

of ABBA, Mamma Mia! has become a worldwide sensation that 

has audiences everywhere dancing. Sep 13 - 22 



OCT The Man Who Came to Dinner North 

Riverside Players at Scheck Village Commons 2401 S. 

Des Plaines Ave, North Riverside | 708-512-7015 | COMEDY: 

Sheridan slips on the Stanleys' doorstep, breaking his hip. 

A tumultuous six weeks of confinement follow. The Stanley 

living room is monopolized by the irascible invalid; ex-convicts 

are invited to meals; and transatlantic calls bring a $784 

phone bill. The arrival of strange gifts from his friends further 

destroys domestic tranquility. It would take a stoical housewife 

to harbor penguins in her library, an octopus in her cellar, and 

10,000 cockroaches in her kitchen. Oct 11 - 20 

NOV Marjorie Prime MadKap Productions at the 

Skokie Theatre 7924 Lincoln Ave, Skokie | 847-677-7761 | 

COMEDY/DRAMA: Marjorie Prime takes place 20 years in the 

future and examines the next generation of artificial intelligence 

systems like Google Assistant and Alexa. What will they 

evolve into, and how will they interact in our lives in regards to 

elder care and grief management? Nov 8 - 24 

NOV 

Mary Poppins Drury Lane Theatre 100 

Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace | 630-530-0111 | CHILDREN'S/ 

FAMILY: Mary Poppins flies to the stage to delivery whimsey, 

excitement, and memorable songs to a story that will melt 

your heart. Based on the award-winning film of the same 

name and the beloved children's books by P.L. Travers, Mary 

Poppins is an entertaining adventure of enchantment and fun. 

Nov 15 - Jan 19 

SEP OCT Mother of the Maid Northlight 

Theatre at North Shore Center for the Performing 

Arts 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie | 847-673-6300 | DRAMA: 

Isabelle Arc is a hard-working, pious peasant woman whose 

daughter Joan begins an odd and extraordinary rise from 

farm girl to holy martyr. Through Oct 20 

Murder on the Nile Oil Lamp 

SEP OCT NOV 

Theater 1723 Glenview Rd, Glenview | 847-834-0738 | 

LITERARY ADAPTATION: Kay Ridgeway has led a charmed life. 

Blessed with beauty, enormous wealth, and a new husband, 

she embarks on a honeymoon voyage down the Nile. Fatal circumstances 

await when the idyllic surroundings are shattered 

by a shocking and brutal murder. Under scrutiny is a multitude 

of memorable passengers, all with a reason to kill. The tension 

and claustrophobia builds, as a shocking and audacious 

conspiracy is laid bare. Sep 26 - Nov 10 

ONLY TWO DAYS 

NOV 

New Philharmonic with Jens 

Lindemann McAninch Arts Center 425 Fawell Blvd, 

Glen Ellyn | 630-942-4000 | MUSIC: Lindemann’s talents will 

be showcased in the show-stopping Alexander Arutiunian 

Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major. Other works featured 

includes Richard Wagner’s Overture to “Rienzi” and Nikolai 

Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade,” Op. 35. Nov 2 - 3 

SEP OCT Newsies Paramount Theatre 23 E. 

Galena Blvd, Aurora | 630-896-6666 | MUSICAL: High in 

the skyscrapers of NYC, Joseph Pulitzer is plotting a way to 

increase the revenue of his declining newspaper, while down in 

the streets, newsboys hawk papers on corners barely making 

enough to survive. When Pulitzer raises the price of the paper, 

delivery boy Jack Kelly organizes a strike to show the news 

tycoon and his gang of cronies they're not going to be pushed 

into the gutter. Through Oct 20 

16

The Niceties Writers Theatre 325 Tudor Court, 

NOV 

Glencoe | 847-242-6000 | COMEDY/DRAMA: What happens 

when theoretical arguments suddenly turn personal in the 

ivory tower of an elite East Coast university? This taut, intelligent 

new play will make you question your own assumptions 

and reevaluate whether generation gaps can be bridged while 

gaps in knowledge—and in experience—remain. Nov 6 - Dec 8 

NOV Old Ringers 2nd Act Players at 

Northminster Presbyterian Church 2515 Central Park 

Ave, Evanston | 224-307-4190 | COMEDY: Four senior women 

try to fight the shrinking economy and their shrinking pocketbooks 

by opening up a phone-sex service after receiving an 

unsolicited obscene phone call. Nov 2 - 17 

OCT NOV Oliver! Marriott Theatre 10 Marriott Dr, 

Lincolnshire | 847-634-0200 | MUSICAL: One of the most 

beloved family musicals of all time – featuring “Food, Glorious 

Food” and “As Long as He Needs Me.” Oct 30 - Dec 29 

ONLY TWO DAYS 

OCT 

“AMAZING” 

ELAINE PAIGE, BBC RADIO 2 

NOVEMBER 19 — DECEMBER 1 • BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE 

The Olympians Piven Theatre Workshop 

927 Noyes St, Evanston | 847-866-8049 | DRAMA: Explore the 

lives and ideas of Jewish political philosopher Hannah Arendt, 

African-American writers James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison, 

and their intersection in the political realm, and the meaning 

of their political ideas today. Oct 21 - 22 

SEP OCT Peter and the Starcatcher Citadel 

Theatre Company at Lake Forest High School West 

Campus 300 S. Waukegan Rd, Lake Forest | 847-735-8554 | 

MUSICAL: The Tony Award-winning Peter and the Starcatcher 

upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan 

comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter 

Pan). Sep 18 - Oct 19 



OCT NOV Sherlock's First Case First Folio 

Theatre at Mayslake Hall 1717 W. 31st St, Oak Brook | 

630-986-8067 | COMEDY/DRAMA: When Sherlock Holmes' 

life is threatened, it's up to the ever-dependable Dr. Watson to 

solve the case. But as the tale wends its way along, bringing in 

not only Inspector Lestrade but also the children of their arch 

nemesis Professor Moriarty, will anyone be ready for the truths 

that are revealed? This is the Holmes and Watson story you 

never expected. Oct 2 - Nov 3 

OCT 

Somebody's Child Three Brothers Theatre 

115 N. Genesee, Waukegan | 319-621-0024 | DRAMA: Dan 

and Jan are married, and they aren’t happy. In the midst of an 

especially aggravated talk one morning, Jan finds the unthinkable: 

an infant child in the kitchen cereal cabinet. Somebody’s 

child has entered their home. But whose? And why? Oct 4 - 26 

SEP 

Something Rotten! Marriott Theatre 

10 Marriott Dr, Lincolnshire | 847-634-0200 | MUSICAL: Set in 

1595, this hilarious smash tells the story of two brothers who 

are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of 

that Renaissance rock star known as "The Bard." When a local 

soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, 

dancing, and acting at the same time, they set out to write the 

world's very first MUSICAL! Through Oct 20 

OCT Songs for a New World North Central 

College Fine and Performing Arts at Madden Theatre 

171 E. Chicago, Naperville | 630-637-7469 | CHILDREN'S/ 

FAMILY: Each piece in this modern song cycle is a glimpse 

into the life of a different character and an instance when 

they realize something new about themselves, seemingly find 

a whole new world to explore. The score blends elements 

of pop, gospel, and jazz music and features many intricate 

harmonies. Oct 18 - 27 

SEP 

OCT 

Spring Awakening Three Brothers Theatre 

115 N. Genesee, Waukegan | 319-621-0024 | MUSICAL: 

Silenced and dismissed by authority figures in the firmly 

censored world of 19th century Germany, a group of teenagers 

are forced to discover the truth behind their feelings unaided. 

They find that through each other they unlock a new world – 

with both beautiful and tragic consequences. Through Sep 28 

OCT NOV Wendigo Three Brothers Theatre 115 

N. Genesee, Waukegan | 319-621-0024 | DRAMA: An ages old 

tale. A tale you will all find familiar. The tale of a writer and an 

actor creating the next Great American Horror Film. But what 

happens when your creation consumes your entire life? What 

happens when greed and lust for something great summons a 

monster buried inside of you? Oct 11 - Nov 2 

NOV Winnie the Pooh Wirtz Center at 

Northwestern University in the Wallis Theater 1949 

Campus Dr, Evanston | 847-491-7282 | CHILDREN'S/FAMILY: 

Featuring a folk music score infused with acoustic harmonies, 

this charming and whimsical musical adaptation also uses 

poetry from A.A. Milne's original books that will surely touch 

the heart and delight young audiences and their families alike. 

Recommended for ages 3 and up. Nov 1 - 17 

SEP OCT You Can Only Take the A.C.T. 

12 Times Piven Theatre Workshop 927 Noyes St, 

Evanston | 847-866-8049 | NEW WORK: Tracy Egan presents 

a hilarious one-woman show, playing 15 characters exploring 

the way different families navigate the roller-coaster end of 

high school. Sep 20 - Oct 6 

17 



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The Field Foundation of Illinois, The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, 

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