Buzz Center Stage

Friday, 15 May 2026 12:34

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces 40th Anniversary Season

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes announce today the company's 40th Anniversary Season. America's leading Shakespeare Theater curates a season rooted in Shakespeare and Chicago with a complement of world-class contemporary work—emblematic of the Theater's global, yet unmistakably Chicago perspective. Celebrating four decades of vivid and entertaining performances that captivate minds, spark conversation, and invite new perspectives, CST now embarks on the Theater's next thrilling chapter.

The 2026/27 Season begins with Play On!, a joyful musical inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night set to the songs of Duke Ellington, directed by Sheldon Epps. Next is an unforgettable theatrical event: The Winter's Tale and A Midsummer Night's Dream, both staged by Artistic Director Edward Hall and performed in repertory by a single company of 14 actors, a first-ever in CST's history. The winter will feature Romeo y Julieta, a bilingual English and Spanish adaptation of Romeo and Juliet directed by Henry Godinez; and the return of the Tony Award-winning smash hit Illinoise, based on the Sufjan Stevens album and directed and choreographed by Justin Peck, after a sold-out world premiere at CST in 2024. The season ends with the hilarious whodunnit Reunion in Bartersville directed by Jerry Dixon; and the world premiere of Heartbreakers, a high-voltage reimagining of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet told through the electrifying rock catalog of Grammy-winners Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo and with book and direction by Bradley Bredeweg. CST continues to deepen its commitment to the next generation of theatergoers through award-winning education programs, annually serving more students and teachers than any theater in the city.

"It is only fitting that this celebratory milestone season brings together the best of Shakespeare and the best of contemporary work," said Edward Hall, Artistic Director. "We've long believed that plays of the past can illuminate our present—and that the voices of today shine a light on how much we share with one another: past, present, and future. It is my joy to embrace our audiences with distinctly Chicago-style Shakespeare. This upcoming season is a tribute to the artistry, excellence, and ambition that has come to define Chicago Shakespeare Theater."

"From the moment that the first words 'O for a Muse of Fire...' were spoken on the roof of the Red Lion Pub in Barbara Gaines' debut production of Henry V, a destiny for Chicago Shakespeare Theater was born," shared Kimberly Motes, Executive Director. "Now forty years later, CST has grown beyond what anyone might have imagined—and the sky is the limit as we dream ahead to the Theater's next 40 years and beyond."

The 2026/2027 Season

Launching the season in The Yard is Play On! (September 11–October 18, 2026 | The Yard), a joyful musical retelling of Shakespeare's beloved comedy Twelfth Night set to the timeless jazz tunes of quintessential American composer Duke Ellington. Original creator Sheldon Epps returns to the three-time Tony-nominated musical with book by Cheryl L. West for the first time in 20 years to stage Shakespeare's story for a new generation. Aspiring songwriter Vy takes the A-Train to Harlem in the swinging 1930s with big dreams of a career in showbiz, only to find that it's a man's world. She disguises herself to reach the inner circle of renowned band leader, the Duke—but plans backfire when she catches the eye of Lady Liv, the star singer of the Cotton Club, and mistaken identities make way for romance. Music is indeed the food of love with big band pizzazz and Ellington's hit songs "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "I'm Beginning to the See the Light," and much more. Play On! is presented in association with MMaxwellMedia, WMK Productions, Alyssa Melani, and The Classical Theatre of Harlem.

"Over the last couple of years, Cheryl and I took a deep dive back into the book of the show," revealed director Sheldon Epps. "Our credo in all of this has been to enhance and heighten the celebration of Black Excellence, Black Brilliance, and Black JOY. The Excellence being the celebration of the artists who inspired these characters and the actual cast onstage; the Brilliance is that of Mr. Shakespeare and the Duke of Ellington; and the Joy is consistently the experience of the audience that we hope to achieve with each performance. In simple but very effective ways, we have and will continue to focus on the fact that the show is all about the search for LOVE, and removing the masks that we often wear that keep that hoped-for goal from entering our lives fully."

CST's 40^th Anniversary Season continues with an unforgettable theatrical event in the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater: for the first time in CST's history, two plays will be performed in repertory by one masterfully talented Chicago Shakespeare Company of actors. Under the creative leadership of CST Artistic Director Edward Hall and taking its inspiration from Shakespeare's own company and CST's roots as the Shakespeare Repertory, a company of 14 actors perform both The Winter's Tale and A Midsummer Night's Dream, two of Shakespeare's most beguiling fairy tales. This double header of productions makes for a thrilling theatrical experience, with two beautiful plays exploring the formidable power of love, laughter, and forgiveness. Audiences will have the unique opportunity to experience both repertory productions in one day on November 21 & 24 and December 5 & 12.

"Bringing these two plays together with one group of actors is a genuinely exciting prospect," said Artistic Director Edward Hall. "Audiences will have the rare opportunity of seeing performers switch into completely different roles from one play to another celebrating Chicago's huge well of creative talent. This Chicago Shakespeare Company will have it all: laughter, drama, magic, forgiveness, and love. An unforgettable journey through magic forests and wild seacoasts, with fairies, oracles, bears, kings, and queens. Everything that a good adventure can bring you and all from the safety of your seat!"

The repertory series begins with Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale (October 13–December 12, 2026 | The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater). Once upon a time in a land called Sicilia, King Leontes is infected by an uncontrollable jealousy over his pregnant wife Hermione. Shakespeare's timeless romance takes us on a fairy tale adventure from the drama of Sicilia to the color and music of Bohemia. Shipwrecks, bears, and magic oracles dance across the stage in this story of betrayal, forgiveness, reunion, and reconciliation. Hope and forgiveness sit at the heart of Shakespeare's most magical of fairy stories with an unforgettable ending driven by the power of redemption.

A Midsummer Night's Dream (November 11, 2026–January 3, 2027 | The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater) sparkles with the festive spirit of the holiday season. Shakespeare's magical romantic comedy is a delectable treat for the entire family. A snowy Athens gives way to the warm and colorful dream of a midsummer forest as Shakespeare's best-loved characters are consumed by the absurd chaos of love and the joy of friendship. Young love collides with a fairy feud and an enthusiastic group of amateur theatricals in the most warm-hearted play in the English language. An enchanting story of love, marriage, and magic, this holiday Dream will fill you with happiness and hope.

Next in the Courtyard, Henry Godinez directs Romeo y Julieta (January 26–March 14, 2027 | The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater). Shakespeare's classic tale of star-crossed young lovers from feuding families is transported to Miami in the early 1960s, as an influx of Cuban exiles find their dreams of returning to their homeland at odds with the reality of their new home. As conflict escalates between the Montescos and the Capuletas, the young couple defy the enmity between their families and the prejudices of their community—only to discover that love is the true universal language. This dynamic 90-minute bilingual adaptation from Karen Zacarías and Godinez is performed in both English and Spanish with projected translation. A Havana native, Godinez is a co-founder of Teatro Vista and the Sabl Resident Director at Goodman Theatre, where he most recently directed Inherit the Wind, Fannie, and American Mariachi. He returns to Chicago Shakespeare, where he first appeared thirty-seven years ago in Barbara Gaines' Cymbeline in 1989, and went on to perform in ten productions as well as to direct 2022's highly acclaimed Measure for Measure.

Director Henry Godinez shared, "My favorite old t-shirt, which I've proudly worn to tatters, is from NYC's Shakespeare in the Park with the words 'SHAKESPEARE PARA TODOS' emblazoned on the front. I'm sure at some point I wore that shirt to Chicago Shakespeare Theater 18 years ago when Karen Zacarías and I were first developing this bilingual adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Now, at a time when the Latiné community of Chicago has been horribly villainized and persecuted, made to feel like this country was not our home, the opportunity to present this Romeo y Julieta at one of the great cultural institutions in the heart of our city is a tremendous source of pride and validation. It shows the universality of the greatest writer—and perhaps the greatest story ever written—in the English language. It proves, like my tattered t-shirt says, that 'SHAKESPEARE IS FOR EVERYONE!'"

The Tony Award-winning phenomenon Illinoise (February 9–March 14, 2027 | The Yard) returns to where it all began. Based on Sufjan Stevens' landmark album Illinois, this "mysterious, deeply moving and unforgettable dance-musical" (The New York Times) is directed and choreographed by Tony winner Justin Peck (New York City Ballet, Steven Spielberg's West Side Story). Peck partners with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jackie Sibblies Drury to tell a hauntingly beautiful original story through live music, dance, and theater. After a sold-out world-premiere at Chicago Shakespeare in 2024, Illinoise took Broadway by storm. Now, it returns to its spiritual home at CST.

Director Justin Peck shared, "It is incredibly meaningful to bring Illinoise back as part of CST's 40^th Anniversary Season. This show has always been about memory, senses, and the quiet poetry of human connection—ideas that feel deeply aligned with a theater reflecting on its own legacy. At the same time, returning to CST with Illinoise feels less like a revisit and more like a continuation shaped by the artists, audiences, and spirit that make Chicago such a vital creative home. The icing-on-the-cake will be hearing Sufjan Stevens' hit song 'Chicago' ring out within the very city that inspired it."

Next in The Yard is the hilarious whodunnit Reunion in Bartersville (April 11–May 9, 2027 | The Yard). The surviving members of the Bartersville High class of 1933 gather in their small Texas hometown to celebrate their 50^th reunion. Over punch bowls and sandwich platters, a decades-old murder case is thrown wide open when the septuagenarians are confronted by a ghost from their past and they must all face their own scandalous secrets. This irreverent comedy will have audiences dying of laughter. Written by award-winning playwright Celeste Bedford Walker, this quick-witted comedy first premiered at the Billie Holiday Theatre in Brooklyn in 1987. Now, it finds new life in Chicago, celebrating its 40^th anniversary alongside CST, directed by Jerry Dixon. Reunion in Bartersville is presented in association with LaChanze Productions, led by Tony Award winner LaChanze who returns to CST after co-producing the acclaimed Jaja's African Hair Braiding in 2025.

"Reunion in Bartersville is the reason I'm a producer today," said LaChanze. "This play is full of truth and humor that keeps you guessing in the traditional style of a murder mystery. My mission is to produce stories that will expand our theatrical appetite, and this play as the inaugural production at LaChanze Productions is setting the bar."

Rounding out the season is a new musical powered by the music of four-time Grammy Award winners and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. Heartbreakers (May 4–June 6, 2027 | Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio) drops Romeo and Juliet into a sweaty, neon-lit underground—reimagining the iconic love story as a high-voltage collision of love, rivalry, and identity that feels dangerous, immediate, and alive. Featuring an electrifying catalog of rock anthems including "Love Is a Battlefield," "We Belong," "Shadows of the Night," "Promises in the Dark," "Heartbreaker," "Invincible," and "We Live for Love," alongside new original songs written for the production by Benatar and Giraldo, the show fuses Shakespeare's timeless romance with a pulse-driving theatrical experience where desire takes over, loyalties fracture, and love is a contact sport. The Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio transforms into an immersive in-the-round space that is part dance floor, part theatrical playground. Married collaborators for over four decades, Benatar and Giraldo have defined a generation of music with multiple multi-platinum albums, 19 Top 40 hits, and more than 40 million records sold worldwide. Bradley Bredeweg, best known for creating the critically acclaimed Television Academy Award-winning drama The Fosters, writes the book and directs. Heartbreakers is presented in association with Madison Wells Live.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo shared, "It is an immense honor to share this new musical with audiences as part of CST's milestone 40^th Anniversary Season. We were inspired by the epic stakes of Shakespeare's story. It truly has the heart and soul of rock music at its core. As artists, it is incredibly rewarding to discover new voice and meaning in this music that means so much to us and to create something completely new. We can't wait for Chicago audiences to rock out and join us on this wild ride."

CST Education and Lifelong Learning

Engaging audiences of all ages with the highest caliber of programming is central to the Theater's mission. CST is proud to serve more students and teachers than any theater in Chicago. In the 2026/27 Season, CST will welcome more than 15,000 young people to 29 dedicated student matinee performances with subsidized ticket prices, post-show discussions with artists, and supplemental curriculum materials for teachers to incorporate in the classroom. Student matinees are scheduled for Play On! and A Midsummer Night's Dream with an extended run of student performances planned for the 90-minute Romeo y Julieta. The 40^th Anniversary Season will also see the return of the celebrated Chicago Shakespeare SLAM program for high school students.

Initiatives for lifelong learners include adult programs like the four-part "Demystifying Shakespeare" course with CST Artistic Director Edward Hall in partnership with the Newberry Library, Backstage Tours, Post-Show Discussions, and PreAmble talks with scholars. The $30 Under 30 program makes CST productions accessible with discounted tickets to students and young adults.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's 40^th Anniversary Season subscriptions are on sale now starting as low as $317 for a 7-play package. Subscribers save up to 25% on the season and receive other benefits including discounts on individual tickets, free exchanges, invitations to behind-the-scenes events, and more. Single tickets will go on sale later this summer. For more information and to purchase subscriptions, visit www.chicagoshakes.com/subscribe or call the CST Box Office at 312.595.5600.

ABOUT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is a leading international theater company and the nation's largest year-round theater dedicated to the works of Shakespeare. Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Edward Hall and Executive Director Kimberly Motes, the Regional Tony Award recipient is committed to creating vivid, entertaining theatrical experiences that invigorate and engage people of all ages and identities by illuminating the complexity, ambiguity, and wonder of our world. Each year, nearly a quarter of a million people experience CST's artistry through hundreds of performances and events each year.

CST exemplifies theatrical excellence. Shakespeare is at the heart of the artistic work, illuminating the 400-year-old playwright as a modern writer for our modern world. CST also produces compelling, contemporary stories from fresh artistic voices of today. CST brings the world to Chicago and sends Chicago out into the world as Chicago's foremost presenter of international theater, and consistent producer of North American and world premieres. Productions originating from Chicago Shakespeare have gone on to Broadway, national and international tours, garnering three Tony Awards, three Olivier Awards, and two Grammy nominations.

The Theater fosters a lifelong relationship with the arts by providing transformational experiences for multigenerational audiences. Serving more students and teachers than any theater in the city, CST annually welcomes more than 20,000 high school and middle schoolers to attend 50+ daytime matinee performances and participate in after-school programs like Chicago Shakespeare SLAM. Professional development opportunities for teachers include the year-long Bard Core intensive for Chicago Public Schools educators. CST's initiatives support the development of young people's crucial skills, including social-emotional competencies, critical literacy, and meaningful collaboration. Learners of all ages deepen their engagement through PreAmble talks and post-show discussions. The $30 under 30 discounted ticket program for young adults and students reduces barriers to participation for thousands of first-time attendees.

CST activates its campus with three best-in-class venues: The Yard, a robust 700-seat space with flexible configurations and expansive proscenium; the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater, an intimate 500-seat thrust theater where the audience surrounds the stage on three sides; and the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio, a 200-seat black box theater. Situated along the picturesque shore of Lake Michigan, CST is the cultural anchor of the iconic Navy Pier, one of the top Midwest tourism destinations attracting 9 million visitors annually.

Fueled by the vitality of the city of Chicago, CST contributes significantly to the vibrancy and economic impact of the arts and culture ecosystem. CST's reach extends beyond the theater's walls with free programs like Shakes in the City, which brings performances and workshops to parks, festivals, and shared community spaces across Chicago's 77 neighborhoods.

For four decades, CST has distinguished itself with a spirit of innovation, dynamism, and ambitious vision. Shared humanity and unforgettable stories—now THIS is Chicago Shakespeare. chicagoshakes.com

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's 40th Anniversary Season

MUSIC IS THE FOOD OF LOVE IN MAJOR MUSICAL REVIVAL

PLAY ON!

Inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Conceived by Sheldon Epps
Book by Cheryl L. West
Music by Duke Ellington
Directed by Sheldon Epps

The Yard
September 11–October 18, 2026

Presented in association with MMaxwellMedia, WMK Productions, Alyssa Melani, and The Classical Theatre of Harlem

EPIC FAIRY TALE ADVENTURE WITH A MESSAGE OF HOPE

THE WINTER'S TALE

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Edward Hall

The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater
October 13–December 12, 2026

SPARKLING WITH THE FESTIVE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Edward Hall

The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater
November 11, 2026–January 3, 2027

SHAKESPEARE'S PASSIONATE ROMANCE TRANSPORTED TO 1960S MIAMI

ROMEO Y JULIETA

By William Shakespeare
Adapted by Karen Zacarías and Henry Godinez
Directed by Henry Godinez

The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater
January 26–March 14, 2027

TONY WINNING PHENOMENON RETURNS TO SPIRITUAL HOME AT CST

ILLINOISE

Music and Lyrics by Sufjan Stevens
Based on the album Illinois
Story by Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury
Directed and Choreographed by Justin Peck

The Yard
February 9–March 14, 2027

A HILARIOUS WHODUNNIT MAKES CHICAGO PREMIERE

REUNION IN BARTERSVILLE

By Celeste Bedford Walker
Directed by Jerry Dixon

The Yard
April 11–May 9, 2027

Presented in association with LaChanze Productions

ELECTRIFYING NEW ROCK MUSICAL FROM LEGENDS
PAT BENATAR AND NEIL GIRALDO

HEARTBREAKERS

Inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Reimagined through the Music of Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
Book by Bradley Bredeweg
Directed by Bradley Bredeweg

Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio
May 4–June 6, 2027

Presented in association with Madison Wells Live

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Friday, 15 May 2026 12:21

Chicago Dance Crash presents expo/sd — a genre-bending, world-premiere repertory performance!

Chicago Dance Crash ensemble in LXIV: (six.four).

On July 24th and 25th at 7:00 pm, Chicago Dance Crash will present expo/sd, a world premiere concert at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Curated by Artistic Director KC Bevis, the evening features new works choreographed by Annie Franklin, Cameron McKinney, and Crash resident choreographer Elijah Motley.

expo/sd

Friday and Saturday, July 24-25th at 7:00 pm
The Ruth Page Center for the Arts
1016 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Tickets: $25 for adults / $15 for children 12 and under

Tickets available at ChicagoDanceCrash.com
Questions or requests? Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The upcoming concert will feature a world premiere by choreographer Annie Franklin that investigates how traditional street and contemporary dance forms can exist in conversation with one another while pushing dancers to embrace the visceral, the intimate, and the imperfect in performance—work that is unsettling, raw, and emotionally charged rather than conventionally beautiful. Rooted in themes of voyeurism and intimacy, the piece will ask what it means for audiences to witness moments they are "not supposed" to see, reflecting the deeply personal practice of freestyle movement and the vulnerability of exploration. Performed to an original score by local music producer e j e c t, this work was made possible by the support of the Chicago Cultural Center and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Also featured in the concert will be a new repertory work, "A 4 Bar Loop", by choreographer and Crash alum Elijah Motley. This dynamic piece explores identity, drawing from Motley's personal experience as a Black man raised in the South. Growing up surrounded by reminders of the Jim Crow era and stories of racial discrimination shared by his grandparents, Motley reflects on the tangible progress made in civil rights, its regressions, and ultimately asks: "Are we any different now?"

Choreographer Cameron McKinney will also premiere a new duet - "Fall From Grace." Rooted in hyperphysicality, McKinney explores how the body can be pushed to (and beyond) its limits, and how that physical threshold becomes a gateway to raw honesty. This work operates in a space of "meditative exhaustion": a state where the energy we normally spend maintaining our facades is stripped away, leaving only the truth of self in the moment.

Seating will be very limited for this weekend-only showing and, as with all freestyle-driven productions, both performances will be entirely different. Join Chicago Dance Crash in July as we celebrate three world-premiere works in expo/sd.

About Chicago Dance Crash
A multidisciplinary dance company existing within the intersection of street dance, concert dance, and physical theater, Crash's fusion-style works and performing ensemble embodies our dedication to being an accessible and innovative dance company, creating intensely physical, authentic, and narrative-driven art. Crash burst onto the scene in its first season with a new and innovative movement play concept and has grown to receive critical acclaim throughout its 24 years of groundbreaking dance.

Learn more at www.ChicagoDanceCrash.com + join the conversation on Facebook and YouTube (Chicago Dance Crash), Instagram @chicagodancecrash

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Tuesday, 12 May 2026 16:41

OAK PARK FESTIVAL THEATRE ANNOUNCES 51ST SEASON "HAMLET" AND "THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST"

The Oak Park Festival Theatre, Oak Park's premiere Equity theatre and the oldest professional classical theatre in the Midwest, today announced the casts and production teams for its Summer 2026 productions of William Shakespeare's HAMLET and Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Presented in repertory for the first time in company history, the productions run concurrently June 30 – August 15, 2026, at Austin Gardens in downtown Oak Park.

Though radically different in tone, HAMLET and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST speak to one another in striking and unexpected ways. Together, the productions explore the tension between performance and truth, asking what happens when individuals are forced to navigate the expectations imposed on them by family, society, and power.

Staged in repertory for the first time in company history, the season invites audiences to experience two master playwrights in conversation across centuries while watching Oak Park Festival Theatre actors tackle radically different worlds of comedy and tragedy throughout the summer.

Directed by Oak Park Festival Theatre Producing Artistic Director Peter Andersen, HAMLET runs July 1 – August 15, 2026. Called home by his father's sudden death and his mother's swift remarriage, Prince Hamlet finds the court of Denmark transformed–and deeply unsettled. When a ghost appears with a terrible accusation, Hamlet is pulled into a relentless search for truth, testing the limits of loyalty, love, and revenge.

The cast of HAMLET features Brew Bos (Hamlet), Brenna Distassio (Laertes), Olive Gallagher (Ophelia), Pedro Jimenez (Rosencrantz), Gabriel Armstrong (Guildenstern), Patrice Egleston (Polonius), Jodi Gage (Gertrude), Josh Carpenter** (Claudius), Lucas Prizant (Horatio), and Charls Sedgwick Hall** (Ghost/Player/Gravedigger).

Directed by Kathryn Walsh in her Oak Park Festival Theatre debut, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST runs June 30 – August 14, 2026. Jack Worthing leads a double life–one in the country, one in the city–while his friend Algernon Moncrieff has troubles of his own. When both men assume the name "Ernest" to win the affections of two very particular women, a web of mistaken identities, secret engagements, and delightful deceptions begins to unravel.

The cast of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST features August Foreman (Algernon), Chad Bay (Jack), Sonia Goldberg (Gwendolyn), Aurora Pennepacker** (Cecily), Drew Bos (Merriman/Lane), Barbara Zahora** (Lady Bracknell), Gabriel Armstrong (Chausible), and Jodi Gage (Miss Prism).

The productions share a repertory creative team including Patrick Starner (Production Manager), Andy Cahoon (Technical Director), Devin Cameron (Lighting Director), Evan Frank (Scenic Designer), Duncan Hon (Master Electrician), Sophia De La Torre (Board Mixer), and Jack Short (Box Office Manager).

Oak Park Festival Theatre's paid Apprenticeship Program, now in its 16th year, provides an educational, inspirational, and career-broadening experience for post-high school and undergraduate students in theatre arts. This season's apprentices are Archer Bart, Karla Valdez, Emily York, Avery Dulak, Anya Moeske, Jo Selmeczy, Jamille Calixte, Evan Ozer, and Ella Boyden.

Season Pass packages ($70), which include admission to both productions at a discounted rate, are available now at www.oakparkfestival.com.

HAMLET

Written By: William Shakespeare

Directed By: Peter G. Andersen

Cast: Brew Bos (Hamlet), Brenna Distassio (Laertes), Olive Gallagher (Ophelia), Pedro Jimenez (Rosencrantz), Gabriel Armstrong (Guildenstern), Patrice Egleston (Polonius), Jodi Gage (Gertrude), Josh Carpenter** (Claudius), Lucas Prizant (Horatio), and Charls Sedgwick Hall** (Ghost/Player/Gravedigger)

Understudy Cast: Lucas Prizant (Hamlet), Avery Dulak (Laertes), Anya Moeske (Ophelia), Ben Crane (Rosencrantz/Guildenstern), Julia Rowley (Polonium/Gertrude), August Foreman (Claudius/Ghost/Player/Gravedigger), Jamille Calixte (Horatio).

Production Team: Patrick Starner (Production Manager), Andy Cahoon (Technical Director), Tessa Huber (Stage Manager), Chrissy Roy (Assistant Stage Manager), Devin Cameron (Lighting Director), Evan Frank (Scenic Designer), Taylor Pfenning (Costume Designer) Duncan Hon (Master Electrician), Trent Jones (Scenic Painter), Sophia De La Torre (Board Mixer), and Jack Short (Box Office Manager).

** Denotes Membership in Actors' Equity Association

Dates: July 1 – August 15, 2026 (previews July 1, July 3)

Press Opening: Sunday, July 5, 2026

Schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Select dates only. See website for complete schedule.

Location: Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

Tickets: General Admission ($40); seniors ($30); students ($15); previews ($20); children under 12 ($5). Group discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Additional booking fees apply.

Box Office: www.oakparkfestival.com

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Written By: Oscar Wilde

Directed By: Kathryn Walsh

Cast: August Foreman (Algernon), Chad Bay (Jack), Sonia Goldberg (Gwendolyn), Aurora Pennepacker** (Cecily), Drew Bos (Merriman/Lane), Barbara Zahora** (Lady Bracknell), Gabriel Armstrong (Chausible), and Jodi Gage (Miss Prism).

Understudy Cast: Gabriel Armstrong (Algernon), Pedro Jimenez (Jack), Olive Gallagher (Gwendolyn/Cecily), Evan Ozer (Merriman/Lane/Chasible), Belinda Bremner (Lady Bracknell), Julia Rowley (Miss Prism).

Production Team: Patrick Starner (Production Manager), Andy Cahoon (Technical Director), Chrissy Roy (Stage Manager), Tessa Huber (Assistant Stage Manager), Devin Cameron (Lighting Director), Evan Frank (Scenic Designer), Phoebe Boynton (Costume Designer) Duncan Hon (Master Electrician), Sophia De La Torre (Board Mixer), and Jack Short (Box Office Manager).

** Denotes Membership in Actors' Equity Association

Dates: June 30 – August 14, 2026 (previews June 30, July 2, July 4)

Press Opening: Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. Select dates only. See website for complete schedule.

Location: Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

Tickets: General Admission ($40); seniors ($30); students ($15); previews ($20); children under 12 ($5). Group discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Additional booking fees apply.

Box Office: www.oakparkfestival.com

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Tuesday, 12 May 2026 16:35

METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE ANNOUNCES ITS UPCOMING 2026-27 SEASON INCLUDING RIDE THE CYCLONE, THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER, DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE MATCH GAME AND RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S OKLAHOMA!

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights at 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce its 2026-27 season launching with Ride the Cyclone, September 16 - October 18; followed by a Chicago-rooted holiday classic The Christmas Schooner, November 24 - January 3, 2027; an in-concert production of Disney's The Little Mermaid, January 27 - February 14, 2027; Chicago Premiere, The Match Game, March 3 - 28, 2027 and concluding with Rodgers and Hammerstein's masterpiece from music theatre's golden age, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, September 16 - October 18, 2027. Early bird discounted subscriptions are available now through June 5 at MetropolisArts.com/2627-season or by calling the box office at 847.577.2121, with single tickets available later this year.

The 2026-27 season also includes a limited run of the beloved holiday tradition, A Christmas Carol, as part of the Metropolis Family Series Saturdays at 10 a.m. (December 5 - December 19) and a full-length production December 13 and 20 at 6:30 p.m. and December 24 at 2:00 p.m.

2026-27 Season Sponsors: The season show sponsor is Suburban Accents. The season Paint Sponsor is Marc Poulous Painting and Decorating. The season costume storage sponsor is Jennifer Burnidge, CLU, ChFC, RICP State Farm Agent.

All performances are held at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St. in Arlington Heights. The full Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's 2026-27 season includes, chronologically:

RIDE THE CYCLONE

September 16 - October 25, 2026

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell

Directed by Lillian Castillo

A darkly comical musical about six teens bargaining for a second chance at life in this profound exploration of life, death, and knowing who you are. An added bonus to the Metropolis production features Director Lillian Castillo. Castillo is the original Constance on the World Premiere Cast Recording, and she also originated the role in the American premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER

November 24, 2026 - January 3, 2027

Book by John Reeger

Music and Lyrics by Julie Shannon

Directed by Patrick Tierney

A heartwarming Chicago-based musical that tells the dramatic true story of a Lake Michigan captain who risked his life to share the Christmas spirit.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - LIMITED RUN

Metropolis Family Series: December 5 - December 19 at 10 a.m.

Full Length Production ONLY: December 13 and 20 at 6:30 p.m., December 24 at 2 p.m.

Adapted by Johanna McKenzie Miller

Original Music and Lyrics by Cory Goodrich

The holiday tradition returns to Metropolis for both the Metropolis Family Series and Metropolis Mainstage.

DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, a concert presentation

January 27 - February 14, 2027

Music by Alan Menken

Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater

Book by Doug Wright

Director to be announced

Originally produced by Disney Theatrical Group, this is a concert collaboration with Metropolis School of the Performing Arts and JAM Orchestra. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.

This in-concert production features professional and student actors backed by a full orchestra, allowing the music to shine.

CHICAGO PREMIERE

THE MATCH GAME

Written by Steven Strafford

March 3 - 21, 2027

Director to be announced

This new work, a hilarious and heartbreaking family dramedy, asks us to contend with truths we may be too afraid to name and to laugh at ones we can't change.

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S OKLAHOMA!

April 28 - May 30, 2027

Music by Richard Rodgers

Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Based on the play "Green Grow the Lilacs" by Lynn Riggs

Original Choreography by Agnes de Mille

Director to be announced

The classic, medium-defining musical. A high-spirited romantic comedy set against the backdrop of a tumultuous, yet hopeful, new era.

ABOUT METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is a vibrant cultural hub that enriches the community through inspiring live performances, creative arts education, and impactful partnerships. It fosters artistic excellence, cultivates multi-generational connections, and offers inclusive experiences that engage and uplift all community members. Located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, Metropolis is not just a theatre; it is the cultural pulse of the area, surrounded by premier shopping, dining, and nightlife. Metropolis offers a dynamic year-round season of professional theatre, comedy, concerts, and cabaret performances along with engaging arts education for ages 3 to 85. Serving more than 65,000 patrons annually from across Chicagoland and beyond, Metropolis plays a pivotal role in the community. It provides arts education programs that support thousands of aspiring young artists, as well as community engagement initiatives like the Third Act Players (musical theatre for thespians over 50), Crescendo Chorus (for singers over 55), Flourish in the Footlights (for young artists with disabilities), and Clearbrook on Cue (for artists with disabilities). Metropolis is proud to partner with local organizations such as Endeavor Health, Arlington Heights Senior Center, and Clearbrook. Scholarships are available for students at the School of the Performing Arts to ensure access to the arts for all.

Ride The Cyclone is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing Global, www.broadwaylicensing.com.

The Christmas Schooner is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, www.mtishows.com.

Disney's The Little Mermaid is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, www.mtishows.com.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, www.concordtheatricals.com.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights at 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce its 2026-27 season launching with the return of Ride the Cyclone, September 16 - October 18; followed by a Chicago-rooted holiday classic The Christmas Schooner, November 24 - January 3, 2027; an in-concert production of Disney's The Little Mermaid, January 27 - February 14, 2027; the launch of a new work, The Match Game, March 3 - 28, 2027 and concluding with Rodgers and Hammerstein's masterpiece from music theatre's golden age, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, September 16 - October 18, 2027.

The 2026-27 subscription series includes Ride the Cyclone, The Christmas Schooner, Disney's The Little Mermaid, The Match Game and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!. Early bird discounted subscriptions are available now through June 5 at MetropolisArts.com/2627-season or by calling the box office at 847.577.2121, with single tickets available later this year.

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Wednesday, 13 May 2026 16:29

BrightSide Theatre announces 2026-27 season - THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE SECRET GARDEN: IN CONCERT, KEN LUDWIG'S BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY, and AVENUE Q

BrightSide Theatre has announced its 15^th season of presenting professional theatre in Naperville. Its 2026-27 mainstage slate of four productions will include Chicago-area favorites that have not previously been produced professionally in the western suburbs. The season will open in October with THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a musical based on the characters from cartoons by Charles Addams for THE NEW YORKER Magazine. The gloriously ghoulish family members Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, and Grandma; along with their servants Lurch and Thing, will take the stage of the Theater at Meiley-Swallow Hall from October 2 – 18, under the direction of BrightSide's De Haddad, with music direction by Phil Videckis and choreography by Shane Brown.

BrightSide will return from the holidays with a concert performance of the lush and sweeping score of THE SECRET GARDEN. The musical, based the ever-popular novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, opened on Broadway in 1991 and has enjoyed worldwide popularity ever since. BrightSide Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass will direct, with Phil Videckis providing music direction. THE SECRET GARDEN will be performed in the Madden Theatre at North Central College from January 8-17, 2027.

The third show of the season will be a hilariously wacky take on one of the most famous Sherlock Holmes mysteries, crafted by one of the masters of stage comedy, Ken Ludwig (LEND ME A TENOR, MOON OVER BUFFALO). KEN LUDWIG'S BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY takes the tale by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle about Holmes and Dr. Watson investigating a supernatural curse and a demonic hound and transforms it into a farce and mystery performed by five actors playing over 40 different characters. Jason Harrington, who showed his skill with comic mystery in his direction of DEATHTRAP for BrightSide in 2025, will direct. KEN LUDWIG'S BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY will be performed in the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall from March 5-27.

Closing the season in June will be the bold and brash humor of AVENUE Q, the 2004 winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical. AVENUE Q uses the style of SESAME STREET to teach life lessons to a group of young adults trying to make it in New York City, with characters portrayed by puppets as well human actors. BrightSide Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass will direct the musical, with music direction by Phil Videckis. AVENUE Q will be performed in the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall from June 11- 17, 2027.

Tickets for individual shows are $37.00 for adults and $32.00 for students and seniors. Season subscriptions and individual show tickets will be on sale beginning July 1, 2025 at www.BrightSidetheatre.com or by phone at 630-447-TIXS (8497).

LISTING INFORMATION

THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL
Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Orchestrations by Larry Hochman
Based on Characters Created by Charles Addams
Director: De Haddad
Music Director: Phil Videckis
Choreographer: Shane Brown
October 2 - 18, 2026
Fri & Sat @ 7:30pm | Sun @2pm
The Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family—a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn't upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before—keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents.

THE SECRET GARDEN in CONCERT
Book and Lyrics by Marsha Norman
Music by Lucy Simon
based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Director: BrightSide Theatre Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass
Music Direction: Phil Videckis
January 8 - 17, 2027
Fridays & Saturdays @ 7:30pm | Sat & Sun @ 2pm
Madden Theatre, 171 Chicago Ave, Naperville

This enchanting classic of children's literature is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of 'NIGHT MOTHER. Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his disabled son Colin. The estate's many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the "Dreamers," spirits from Mary's past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing THE SECRET GARDEN's compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal.

BASKERVILLE: A SHERLOCK HOLMES MYSTERY
by Ken Ludwig
Director: Jason Harrington
March 5 -21, 2027
Fri & Sat @ 7:30pm | Sun @ 2pm
The Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES is now a murderously funny adventure performed by five actors playing more than forty characters. Sherlock Holmes is on the case. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one. To find their ingenious killer, Holmes and Watson must brave the desolate moors before a family curse dooms its newest heir. The intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises and deceit. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be.

AVENUE Q
Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Book by Jeff Whitty
Based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Orchestrations & Arrangements by Stephen Oremus
Director: BrightSide Theatre Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass
Music Direction: Phil Videckis
June 11 - 27, 2027
Fri & Sat @ 7:30pm & Sun @ 2pm, Thursdays June 17 and 24 at 7:30 pm
No performances Saturday, June 19
The Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville

An adult-oriented version of SESAME STREET with a cast featuring puppets and human actors. This laugh-out-loud Tony-Award-winning musical comedy tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that, although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

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Thursday, 14 May 2026 14:25

Steppenwolf Presents LAURA BENANTI: NOBODY CARES - August 6 – 9, 2026

Direct from an acclaimed run at Edinburgh Fringe and two sold-out Off-Broadway engagements, Steppenwolf Theatre is pleased to present Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, a one-woman comedy show from the mind of Tony Award winner Laura Benanti, playing five performances only August 6 – 9, 2026 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Tickets ($79* – $125*) are now on sale at steppenwolf.org or by calling the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. *includes $10 processing fee

Known for her dazzling Broadway performances and razor-sharp wit, Benanti takes the stage to share her hilarious, heartfelt and sometimes brutally honest takes on motherhood, people pleasing and the joys of aging. Blending side-splitting storytelling with original songs, New York Times Critic's Pick Nobody Cares is a love letter to recovering people pleasers, mothers and anybody working on themselves.

Nobody Cares is created by Laura Benanti with songs co-written by Todd Almond and direction by Annie Tippe. The Steppenwolf presentation marks the first stop on a national tour for the project following a summer run at London's Underbelly Soho this July, with further stops to be announced. For more information, visit nobodycaresisacomedy.com.

Performance Schedule:

Thursday, August 6 at 7:30 pm
Friday August 7 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 8 at 3 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, August 9 at 3 pm

About the Artists

Laura Benanti (Star and Creator):

"The divine Laura Benanti appears to have reached a point where there's nothing she can't do..."

–Hollywood Reporter

Tony Award winner Laura Benanti is a highly celebrated stage and screen actress. Ms. Benanti debuted her critically acclaimed comedy show Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares at the Minetta Lane Theater in NYC. Ms. Benanti created, wrote (songs co-written with Todd Almond) and starred in the show, which earned rave reviews and was chosen as a New York Times Critics' Pick. The show then had a sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2025 with encore performances in London and Berkeley.

Ms. Benanti can currently be seen as a series regular in the role of 'Cindy' on the acclaimed Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown, starring opposite Jeremy Renner. Ms. Benanti co-starred in the hit comedic film No Hard Feelings with Jennifer Lawrence and Matthew Broderick. Ms. Benanti's iconic impression of Melania Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has earned praise from across the industry. Other comedic work includes regular appearances on Elsbeth and Inside Amy Schumer. In television, Ms. Benanti has played dynamic characters in Younger, The Gilded Age, Nashville, Supergirl and Gossip Girl. Ms. Benanti earned rave reviews for her portrayal of a grieving widow in Netflix's film Worth, starring opposite Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci and Amy Ryan.

In the theater, Ms. Benanti has been nominated for 5 Tony Awards. She took Broadway by storm at the age of 18 as Maria in The Sound of Music and has subsequently starred in ten more Broadway shows (musicals, straight plays, comedies and dramas), including Into the Woods, Nine, (opposite Antonio Banderas), Gypsy (for which she won a Tony Award), She Loves Me, My Fair Lady and Steve Martin's Meteor Shower opposite Amy Schumer and Keegan-Michael Key.

Todd Almond (Songs Co-Writer) is an acclaimed performer, songwriter and playwright. His solo show I'm Almost There was hailed by The New York Times as "a work of wonder," and his recent Broadway performance in Girl from the North Country was praised as "stunning" by The Washington Post and "roof-raising, uplifting, and invigorating" by The Hollywood Reporter. Almond co-wrote the songs for and music-directed Audible's hit comedy Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, and also appeared opposite Ms. Benanti as Gideon Wolfe in the HBO Max reboot of Gossip Girl. His musical adaptation of The Odyssey, produced at Shakespeare in the Park's Delacorte Theater in Central Park, was hailed by The New York Times as "brash, funny and heart-stirring." Todd recently toured the U.S. in his original musical Kansas City Choir Boy, co-starring rock icon Courtney Love; Rolling Stone called the piece "awesome, slyly punk rock." He also starred in three of his original musicals at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park: The Tempest, The Winter's Tale and The Odyssey. His musical Girlfriend, based on the Matthew Sweet album of the same title, has become a perennial favorite for theater companies across the U.S. and in Japan. His past collaborators include Sarah Ruhl (Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical), Jenny Schwartz (Iowa), Laura Benanti (In Constant Search for the Right Kind of Attention), Sherie Rene Scott (Piece of Meat), Kelli O'Hara (Live at Carnegie Hall) and Andrew Rannells (Live from Lincoln Center). As a composer and orchestrator, Almond has written and arranged music for Noises Off on Broadway, Iowa at Playwrights Horizons, Fcking A* at Signature Theatre, How to Transcend a Happy Marriage at Lincoln Center Theater and the film adaptation of Michael John LaChiusa's Hello Again. Other New York acting credits include Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl at Playwrights Horizons, People Are Wrong at the Vineyard and Law & Order: SVU.

Annie Tippe (Director) is an award-winning director and creator of new work, music theater and film. Off-Broadway: Octet (World Premiere; Signature. Lortel Award: Best Direction, Best Musical), Three Houses (World Premiere; Signature. Lortel Award: Best Musical), Ghost Quartet (World Premiere; Bushwick Starr. Norton Award: Best Visiting Production), Magnificent Bird / Book of Travelers (Playwrights Horizons), Your Own Personal Exegesis (LCT). Regional: HUZZAH! (World Premiere; Old Globe), Life After (Ed Mirvish CAA; Goodman, Jeff Award Nom), COWBOY BOB (World Premiere; Alley), Cult of Love (World Premiere; IAMA), POTUS (Berkeley Rep). Film: Help Me Mary (Lower East Side Film Fest; Best Narrative Short), Egg Timer (Austin Film Fest). Former Ars Nova Director-in-Residence, Drama League Directing Fellow, Williamstown Directing Corps. Upcoming: Cyrano at Old Globe; Babysitters Club with Mark Sonnenblick and Kate Weatherhead. annietippe.com

Nobody Cares is produced by rigor + ruckus, Jenny Gersten and Ashley Melone & Nick Mills in association with LD Entertainment, Avadon Broadway LLC, Creative Partners Productions and Steve and Cindy Chao. To learn more about other cities to see Nobody Cares, visit nobodycaresisacomedy.com.

Based on Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares, an Audible Original.

Accessibility:

Steppenwolf is committed to making the theatergoing experience accessible to everyone. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance and all our spaces are equipped with an induction hearing loop. Our building features wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, push-button entrances, a courtesy wheelchair and all-gender restrooms, with accessible counter and table spaces at our bars. For additional information regarding accessibility, visit steppenwolf.org/access. If you have questions or would like to make a specific request, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call our box office at (312) 335-1650.

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Monday, 11 May 2026 16:10

American Blues Theater announces its 2026-2027 Season

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces its 2026-2027 Season, including the world premieres of Black Girl from a White Suburb by Tania Richard, directed by J. Nicole Brooks, and Ken Urban's Blue Ink Award winner The Conquered, directed by Jonathan Berry. The season includes the Chicago Premiere of UHURU by Gloria Majule, directed by Mikael Burke and the 25^th Anniversary of the beloved holiday favorite It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago, directed by Gwendolyn Whiteside. All programming is produced at American Blues Theater's home at 5627 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

Subscriptions to the 2026-2027 Season are available through the American Blues Theater box office, www.americanbluestheater.com, (773) 654-3103.

"We are thrilled to announce Season 41, featuring an entire lineup of work developed at American Blues Theater," comments Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside. "This season includes two World premieres, one Chicago premiere, and the 25th Anniversary of our beloved holiday staple, It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! Each production explores themes of identity and the complex reconciliation of self-perception versus how we are viewed by others."

The 2026-2027 Season includes:

World Premiere

Black Girl from a White Suburb

By Artistic Affiliate Tania Richard

Directed by J. Nicole Brooks

September 4 – October 4, 2026

Press Opening: September 10, 2026 at 7:00pm

Tour-de-force solo show by artistic affiliate Tania Richard. Growing up in an all-white Chicago suburb, she spent her days dodging microaggressions, striving to fit in, and yearning to see herself reflected. Her transformation began when cast as The Caterpillar in "Alice in Wonderland." Blending cautionary tales, social commentary, and humor, Tania takes the leading role in a culture that often relegates Black women to supporting characters

25^th Anniversary Production of

Chicago's Original Holiday Hit

It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!

Based on the film by Frank Capra

Directed by Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside

Music Direction by Ensemble Member Michael Mahler

November 19 - December 27, 2026

Opening night: November 22, 2026 at 2:30pm

George Bailey—the Everyman from small town Bedford Falls whose dreams of escape and adventure were stopped by family obligation and civic duty—has fallen onto desperate times. Only a miracle can save him from despair. Told as a radio play with original music and classic holiday carols, it's "the don't miss show of the season" (Chicago Tribune). The annual production will feature favorite American Blues actors.

Chicago Premiere

UHURU

By Gloria Majule

Directed by Mikael Burke

April 2 – May 9, 2027

Press Opening: April 8, 2027 at 7:00pm

An unlikely foursome ascends Mount Kilimanjaro in this sharp satire. The dramedy follows a tour guide, Tanzanian-American tourist, and two missionaries as they make their way to the "Roof of Africa." They must confront questions of identity, access, and who deserves a place on the mountain. Featuring American Blues artists Manny Buckley, Ian Paul Custer, William Anthony Sebastian Rose II,

and J.G. Smith.

World Premiere

The Conquered

By Ken Urban

Directed by Jonathan Berry

June 11 – July 18, 2027

Press Opening: June 18, 2027 at 7:00pm

Jane is adrift. She suffers a recurring nightmare in which a young man breaks into her house. Her husband recommends that she speak to someone about her growing anxiety. Jane finds a therapist who could help, but her quest leads to a dangerous discovery. Featuring American Blues ensemble member Editha Rosario-Moore. Winner of the 2024 Blue Ink Award for playwriting.

Ken Urban notes, "It's such an honor to win for The Conquered. It's a story that has haunted me ever since I first dreamed it up after reading THE NEW YORKER article that inspired it. Writing a thriller for the stage inspired by advances in neurotechnology always felt a little dangerous. Would an audience be into this dark mysterious story? This recognition's greatest gift is that it means that Jane's story resonates with people and that's the thing every playwright is always hoping for."

Public Programming and Special Events

American Blues Theater is excited to offer audiences even more ways to engage with artists, neighbors and the larger community through its two programs The Commons and @Home Accessibility Series, July 2026-June 2027.

The Commons features readings, live concerts, open mics, game nights, town halls and more at American Blues. The @Home Accessibility Series features readings, live concerts, and town halls from the comfort of home via Zoom. Featuring the talents of the American Blues ensemble and artistic affiliates.

The Rubber Banned Book Club chooses one banned book from PEN America's list to read, discuss, and advocate for its bounce back into circulation. We concentrate on literature that made its way to stage. Join our book club to hear our award-winning artists read and stay for the discussion. We host both in-person and live-streamed gatherings for national members. Admission is free. Growth is priceless.

Arts Education programs include:

Classes for the Masses offers a variety of classes for all ages. Learn an instrument, improve your public speaking, refresh your audition monologue and resume, or sharpen your writing skills. All our incredible instructors are Ensemble members, Artistic Affiliates, or staff members. Classes are self-paced, individual instruction for the curious beginner, the industry insider, student, or the continuing-education adult. The location (in-person, via Zoom, email, or phone call) will be decided by your needs.

The Check it Out Project in partnership with the Budlong Woods Public Library. The most popular (public domain) children's book checked-out from the Budlong Woods Public Library annually will be adapted and performed by American Blues artists. The adaptation will be presented as an audio play with Foley sound FX and live score atop our holiday set of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!

School Matinees offer a limited number of free school matinees throughout the year for students of all ages. Students receive complimentary study guides, in-class visit from educators and select artists, and opportunity to participate in a post-performance discussion with the actors.

Ripped in Schools Our educators, using Illinois standards for civics, social studies, creative writing, and public speaking, will engage 5th-8th grade students during in-classroom instruction for an experience they won't forget. Students will choose an event ripped from today's headlines and write a short play.

Selected plays will be performed by professional actors in the annual Ripped Festival.

For the most up-to-date programming schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.americanbluestheater.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Additional programming will be announced throughout the season.

Currently On Stage

Hit Jukebox Musical

Always...Patsy Cline

Created by Ted Swindley

Band and Vocal Orchestrations by August Eriksmoen & Tony Migliore

Directed by Harmony France

Music Direction by Ensemble Member Michael Mahler

Playing through June 7, 2026

Tickets: $34.50-$64.50, www.americanbluestheater.com, (773) 654-3103

This musical play, complete with down home country humor and big-hearted emotion, includes hits "Crazy", "I Fall to Pieces", "Sweet Dreams", "Walkin' After Midnight" and more! Starring Ensemble member and award winner Liz Chidester as Patsy Cline and featuring guest artist Molly Hernández as Louise.

About American Blues Theater

Winner of the prestigious National Theatre Company Award from American Theatre Wing (Tony Awards). American Blues Theater is an Ensemble of artists committed to producing new and classic diverse stories that ask the question: "What does it mean to be American?"

The diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second-oldest professional Ensemble theater in Chicago. As of 2025, the theater and artists received 246 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and 44 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. The artists are honored with Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades.

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Thursday, 07 May 2026 11:13

Citadel Theatre announces a mix of classics and 21st Century works for its 2026–27 mainstage season

Lake Forest's Citadel Theatre has announced its 2026-27 mainstage season, which will include two favorites and two acclaimed recent pieces that may be new to north shore audiences. The season will commence with the satirical comedy EUREKA DAY, which examines the frequently contradictory practices of a fictional, highly progressive private school located in Berkeley, California. The play, which premiered in Berkeley in 2018, deals with topical subjects like vaccinations, privilege, and communication, utilizing sharp wit, farce, and intense dialogue to create laughter It was produced on Broadway in the 2024-25 season and won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Revival of Play. Scott Westerman, the director of such Citadel hits as MISERY, A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN, THE MOUSETRAP, and SEX WITH STRANGERS, will direct. EUREKA DAY will open Friday, September 11 at 7:30 pm, following a preview on September 9, and play through October 11.

In November and December, Citadel will be visited by Clarence the Angel and the beleaguered George Bailey when the company presents IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: THE LIVE RADIO PLAY, based on the perennial favorite holiday film that starred James Stewart and Donna Reed. When the film premiered in 1946, before the television era, it was a common practice for popular films to be performed as live radio plays, and IT'S WONDERFUL LIFE was performed live on THE LUX RADIO THEATRE with Stewart recreating his role as George Bailey on December 23, 1947. This radio play adaptation by playwright Joe Landry not only brings the film's beloved story to the stage, but it also recreates the magic of the heyday of radio dramas. Landry has added original pastiches of commercial jingles that run throughout the play and created characters of the radio actors who are playing the characters of the film. Jack Hickey, the former Artistic Director of Oak Park Festival Theatre, who directed Citadel's THE COTTAGE in 2024, will return to Citadel to direct. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY will open on Friday, November 13 after previews on November 11 and 12, and play through December 13.

Citadel will follow IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE with another story from the 1940's that has never faded in popularity: Tennessee Williams' THE GLASS MENAGERIE. In depression-era St. Louis, Amanda Wingfield dreams of her past as an attractive, sought-after southern belle and wants to believe her painfully shy daughter can enjoy the same sort of popularity. Amanda's adult son Tom spends his days working in a shoe warehouse and his nights at the movies, dreaming of a way to find a more exciting life. THE GLASS MENAGERIE premiered in Chicago on December 26, 1944, and was an instant sensation, establishing Williams as a major American playwright. This poetic and emotional work exploring the tension between reality and illusion, will be directed by Scott Shallenbarger, who helmed Citadel's I AND YOU and MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET. Citadel co-founder Ellen Phelps will take on the iconic role of Amanda Wingfield. THE GLASS MENAGERIE will open on Friday, February 12, following previews on February 10 and 11 and play through March 14.

Closing Citadel's 2026-27 season will be ORDINARY DAYS, a musical about four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love and cabs. This sung-through musical featuring 21 songs has been an international hit since it premiered in 2008 in a production at Penn State University. Over the next ten years, it was produced in London (six times), Paris, Barcelona, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Wellington, New Zealand before finally making its off-Broadway premiere in 2018. It has enjoyed continued popularity around the world since then, and its ballad, "I'll Be Here" has been recorded by such artists as Audra McDonald and Liz Callaway. ORDINARY DAYS will be directed for Citadel by Christina Ramirez, who directed RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL for Citadel Theatre in April and May 2026. ORDINARY DAYS will open to the press on Friday, April 16, following previews on April 14 and 15, and play through May 16.

Season subscriptions are available for the full four-show season at $140.00, or as flex passes that can be used for the patron's choice of either three shows for $115.00 or two shows for $80.00. Preview flex passes are also available for $45 (two shows), $55 (three shows), or $65 (four shows). Subscriptions and single tickets priced at $50 (plus ticketing. Fees) are now on sale at www.citadeltheatre.org.

Citadel Theatre is in residence in the West Campus of the Lake Forest School District at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. Further information and ticketing is available on the company's website at www.citadeltheatre.org.

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Monday, 04 May 2026 13:59

No Grown-Ups - The Second City - Through August 29th

Your favorite kids show is back! The Second City is excited to welcome the return of its wildly popular summer hit for young audiences. No Grown-Ups Allowed is a high-energy, fast-paced sketch and improv comedy show delivering 60 minutes of non-stop laughter for the whole family. Tickets sell fast every year! For tickets and more information, visit secondcity.com or call The Second City box office at 312-337-3992.

The show features a mix of family-friendly songs and sketches from The Second City's iconic comedy archives, alongside fresh new material created just for young audiences. And of course, it's all brought to life with the ridiculous improv hijinks The Second City is known for.

Starring a hilarious cast, No Grown-Ups Allowed is a one-of-a-kind interactive theatrical experience, giving kids the chance to jump into the action, whether from their seats or by joining performers live onstage.

No Grown-Ups Allowed runs Saturdays at 11am and 1pm, June 6 through August 29, with one added Sunday performance on July 5 at 11am and 1pm. Tickets are $29. Perfect for ages 6-13.

About The Second City

The Second City opened its doors in 1959 as a small comedy cabaret and has since grown into the world's most influential name in improvisation and comedy, celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2024. The Second City's stages, Touring Companies, and Training Centers across North America have proudly been the launch pad and artistic home for many of the funniest performers, writers, directors, and comedic minds on the planet. As well, for decades The Second City's corporate education and entertainment arm, Second City Works, has supported global businesses using the same methods pioneered on its stages to drive individual growth and organizational improvement.

For more information on The Second City, visit www.secondcity.com and follow The Second City on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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Friday, 01 May 2026 14:31

Nunsense - Drury Lane Theatre - Through August 2nd

Drury Lane Theatre continues its 2026/2027 season with the divine extravaganza Nunsense, featuring book, music and lyrics by David Goggin, directed by E. Faye Butler. Enjoy some holy hilarity with the Little Sisters of Hoboken in Nunsense, running June 10 – August 2, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Get ready to laugh the summer away with nuns from the Little Sisters of Hoboken. This beloved revue will have you in stitches as the five sisters stage a variety show fundraiser filled with outrageous musical numbers and zany comedy.

The cast of Nunsense includes Aurora Boe (Sister Mary Leo), Rachel Carreras (Sister Robert Anne), Kelly Felthous (Sister Mary Amnesia), Cory Goodrich (Reverend Mother), and Sharriese Hamilton (Sister Mary Hubert). Understudies include Marta Bady, Caron Buinis, and Kayla Shipman.

The creative team of Nunsense includes E. Faye Butler (Director), Kenny Ingram (Choreographer), Julia Schade (Music Director), Lauren Nichols (Scenic Design), Anna Finerty (Costume Coordinator) Lee Fiskness (Lighting Design), Stephanie Farina (Sound Design), Cassy Schillo (Properties Design), Casie Morell (Production Stage Manager).

Single tickets, priced $85-$150, are on sale now and are available by phone at (630) 530-0111 or online at www.drurylanetheatre.com. Groups of 10 or more can receive special group pricing.

About the Artists

Aurora Boe (Sister Mary Leo) is thrilled to be back on the Drury Lane Stage! On-stage Credits Include: Drury Lane's "Sister Act" (Tina, Waitress, Ensemble, Mary Robert US), The Beautiful City Project's "Designer Run" (Choreographer, Dancer) & "We Will Rock You" (Ensemble), or Columbia College's "Sunday In The Park With George" (Dot/Marie). Aurora graduated with a BA in musical theatre from Columbia College Chicago in 2025, and recently received Chicago Cabaret Professionals 2025 Emerging Artists scholarship & 2026 New Vocalist Award. She gives special thanks to Gray Talent Group and her Family & friends that have supported her on this journey.

Rachel Carreras (Sister Robert Anne) is thrilled to be back in the habit after playing Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act at Drury Lane last season! Other recent credits include: Amélie (Kokandy Productions), Brighter Futures (Paramount Theatre), Mary Poppins and Cinderella (Metropolis PAC), Honky Tonk Angels (LTOTS) and Into the Woods (Summer Lyric). Rachel is a Naperville native and proud Neuqua Valley alum! She is also a member of the professional Chicago/Macomb choir withonevoice. Special thanks to her family and friends for their unending love and support! Represented by Talent X Alexander. Psalm 28:7. I'm always singing for you, Grandma! www.rachelcarreras.com

Kelly Felthous (Sister Mary Amnesia) is thrilled to be back at Drury Lane having previously performed in Elf and Jeff nominated roles in Chicago and Little Shop of Horrors. Favorite credits include: Violet in Violet, Sally Bowles in Cabaret , Lauren in Kinky Boots, Judy in White Christmas, Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda and Dawn in Waitress. She originated the roles of Caroline in Trip of Love, Ruby in Max and Ruby, Eva in Bring it On, and Gloria in Flashdance. National Tours: Marty in Grease and Galinda/Nessarose u/s in Wicked. Kelly has also appeared on Law and Order SVU, Night Sky, and numerous commercials. NYU/CAP21 grad and proud AEA/SAG member. Shout out to her agents at DDO, her mama and Jess! Couldn't do this without y'all. Follow @KellyFelthous for more!

Cory Goodrich (Reverend Mother) is a Jeff Award-winning actress, singer/songwriter, and author. She began her professional career at Drury Lane playing another Nun - Maria in The Sound of Music, and received Jeff awards for her roles as Mother in Ragtime (Drury Lane) and June Carter Cash in Ring of Fire (Mercury Theater Chicago). Most recently, she played Heidi in What the Constitution Means to Me at Paramount's Copley Theatre. Her many projects include five albums, Hush, Wiggly Toes, W.O.M.A.N, Wildwood Flower, and Long Way Around, and her memoir, Folksong: A Ballad of Death, Discovery, and DNA. Visit corygoodrich.com.

Sharriese Hamilton (Sister Mary Hubert) is excited to be back at Drury Lane. Tour credits include: Come from Away (Broadway National/Australian). Regional credits include: Ain't Misbehaving Rock of Ages, James and The Giant Peach (Drury Lane), The Color Purple, The Nacirema Society, Wonderful Town (Goodman Theatre), Falsettos, Big White Fog (Court Theatre) It Came from Outer Space, Pericles (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying , Pal Joey, Ain't Misbehavin, A Class Act, (Porchlight Music Theatre) Thaddeus and Slocum (Lookingglass Theatre) Rock of Ages (Mercury Theatre) Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas (Studebaker Theater) Passing Strange, See What I Wanna See, The Wild Party, (Bailiwick Chicago)The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Monty Python's Spamalot, Working (Timberlake Playhouse).

Season and Membership Information

The 2026/2027 season includes the wedding of the season in Father of the Bride (April 8 – May 31, 2026); holy hilarity with the Little Sisters of Hoboken in Nunsense (June 10 – August 2, 2026); the toe-tapping tribute to a rock'n'roll pioneer Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (August 19 - October 11, 2026); the heartwarming family classic Annie (November 4, 2026 – January 10, 2027); and the musical office rebellion in heels 9 to 5 (January 27 - March 21, 2027).

Drury Lane Theatre's performance schedule for the 2026/2027 season is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Fridays at 7:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Lock in your seats for a season of spectacular theatre with Drury Lane's Membership Program! Members have exclusive access to uniquely tailored benefits designed to enrich their Drury Lane experience, all at a cost savings of up to 50% off single ticket prices. Membership includes Tier One seating for all five Drury Lane Theatre productions, free ticket exchanges, dedicated dining credits at Lucille Restaurant, one complimentary Champagne Brunch, exclusive event invitations, Member pre-sales and unlimited single ticket discounts. Membership prices range from $254 - $285. For more information, Call Memberships at 630-570-7280 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Group tickets start at $45 and Student group tickets start at just $35. On-site dining is available at Lucille Restaurant with convenient pre-show or post-show prix fixe menus. To book a group of 10 people or more, call Group Services at 630-570-7272 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Gift certificates to Drury Lane can be purchased in any denomination, never expire, and can be used for performances, at Lucille Restaurant or for Drury Lane Events. Gift certificates can be purchased online at drurylanetheatre.com/gift-certificates or by calling the box office.

Dining and Special Events

Excellence isn't limited to the stage at Drury Lane! Before or after the show, theatergoers can indulge in delicious onsite dining at Lucille Restaurant featuring seasonal pre-fixe menus and an elevated atmosphere to complete their experience. Boasting over a century of collective expertise in hospitality, the dedicated team ensures that you will be cared for with freshly prepared meals, handcrafted cocktails, and exceptional service. At Drury Lane, everything is in one place, so you will never be late for your performance.

Fact Sheet / Nunsense

Title: Nunsense

Book, Music and Lyrics by: David Goggin

Directed by: E Faye. Butler

Featuring: Aurora Boe (Sister Mary Leo), Rachel Carreras (Sister Robert Anne) Kelly Felthous (Sister Mary Amnesia), Cory Goodrich (Reverend Mother), Sharriese Hamilton (Sister Mary Hubert), understudies include Marta Bady, Caron Buinis, Kayla Shipman

Creatives: E. Faye Butler (Director), Kenny Ingram (Choreographer), Julia Schade (Music Director), Lauren Nichols (Scenic Design), Lee Fiskness (Lighting Design), Stephanie Farina (Sound Design), Cassy Schillo (Properties Design), Casie Morell (Production Stage Manager)

Dates: June 10 – August 2, 2026

Press Opening: Wednesday, June 17 at 7pm

Schedule: Wednesdays: 1:30 p.m.

Thursdays: 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Fridays: 7:00 p.m.

Saturdays: 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Sundays: 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Location: Drury Lane Theatre at 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace

Tickets: Tickets range from $85-150

Group discounts available to groups of 10 or more

Dining and show packages available

Senior discounts available

Box Office: 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace

(630) 530-0111

Monday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm or visit DruryLaneTheatre.com

About Drury Lane Theatre   

Built from scratch. Built in Oakbrook. Built for you.

Founded by Anthony DeSantis over 70 years ago, Drury Lane remains a family-run organization under the leadership of President Kyle DeSantis. Drury Lane Theatre continues as a major force in the Chicagoland theatre scene, producing world-class theatre in collaboration with some of the nation's leading actors, directors, and creative minds. Drury Lane Theatre produces the highest quality theatrical experience that immerses and supports artists and audiences in the exploration of what it means to be human and to experience the transcending power of the performing and visual arts. Drury Lane strives to create an environment in which every individual or group is welcomed, respected, supported, valued and able to fully experience and participate in this transformative art form.

The theatre has staged more than 2,000 productions and has been nominated for over 360 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Drury Lane proudly employs thousands of professional actors, musicians, designers, and crew members to entertain upwards of nine million audience members and counting.

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