Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to celebrate its 25th year, marking a quarter-century of bringing world-class theatre to the heart of Chicago. This celebration not only highlights the incredible journey of growth and achievement but also underscores the pivotal role Broadway In Chicago has played in shaping the City's vibrant cultural scene and enlivening it with over 25 million theatregoers.

In July 2000, Broadway In Chicago was established through a landmark partnership led by the Nederlander Organization, marking a significant milestone in Chicago's theatrical history. This collaboration aimed to bring the magic of Broadway to Chicago, enriching its cultural landscape with pre-Broadway and long-run productions.

Broadway In Chicago transformed the Downtown Theatre District. The Loop Business District went from going to sleep after 5 p.m. each night to having up to 1.7 million Broadway theatregoers filling and lighting up the Loop annually. Both in 2000 and coming out of a pandemic shutdown, Broadway In Chicago led the way to enliven the Loop. Today it continues to thrive with more pre-Broadway productions and long-run engagements than ever before...

Reflecting on this milestone, Lou Raizin, President & CEO of Broadway In Chicago, expressed his gratitude: "Chicago has always been a city that embraces the arts and culture with open arms. We are deeply thankful to Chicago whose unwavering support has made these 25 years possible. Together, we have shared countless unforgettable moments and look forward to many more."

Broadway In Chicago's Highlights from the Past 25 Years

July 2000

Broadway In Chicago is formed as a partnership between the Nederlander Organization and SFX Entertainment

November 2000

Pre-Broadway run of Kathleen Turner in Tallulah

February 2001

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of The Producers: The New Mel Brooks Musical

May 2001

Pre-Broadway run of Mamma Mia!

June 2001

Pre-Broadway run of Tom Selleck in A Thousand Clowns

December 2001

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of John Lithgow in Sweet Smell Of Success

June 2002

Broadway In Chicago's first free concert in Grant Park – "Broadway Rocks Chicago"

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Billy Joel & Twyla Tharp's Movin' Out

November 2002

Disney's The Lion King goes on sale with record-breaking 18-Hour Event

April 2003

Disney's The Lion King begins nine-month run

December 2004

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Monty Python's Spamalot  

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of All Shook Up

February 2005

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity

March 2005

Chicago's fastest-selling musical, Wicked, announces Broadway In Chicago's first sit-down, long-run production to begin in June 2005

November 2005

Record-breaking run of Billy Crystal in 700 Sundays

May 2006

Shubert Theatre Restoration complete - opens as LaSalle Bank Theatre; inaugurated with performance by Michael Crawford

June 2006

Over 365 Witches celebrate Wicked's official First Anniversary in Water Tower Park

October 2006

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of The Pirate Queen

January 2007

BIC Economic Impact Press Conference with Mayor Daley

«   Annual economic impact of nearly $750 million

«   Total annual attendance: 1.7 million theater patrons

«   Over 42% of audiences travel to Chicago from out of state

«   Approximately 88% of long-run show attendees surveyed cite a Broadway In Chicago show as the primary purpose for their visit

«   Broadway In Chicago theatre patrons occupy over 640,000 hotel room nights per year; that is 7% of the occupied hotel room nights in Chicago annually

«   Broadway In Chicago patrons spend approximately $90 million at local restaurants while visiting the area

«   Broadway In Chicago productions support more than 9,200 jobs in the city of Chicago

April 2007

Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple National Tour Launch with Oprah Winfrey in attendance

May 2007

League of Chicago Theatres awards Broadway In Chicago with the League's 2007 Leadership Award

League of Chicago Theatres announces The House Theatre of Chicago as the first recipient of the newly created "Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theatre Award"

June 2007

Over 365 Witches celebrate Wicked's Second Anniversary in Water Tower Park

July 2007

Then-Senator Barack Obama attends Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple

August 2007

Michelle Obama and family attend a performance of High School Musical

October 2007

Jersey Boys sit-down production opens for two-year long run

November 2007

Wicked reaches 1,000 performances

June 2008

Over 365 Witches celebrate Wicked's Third Anniversary in Millennium Park

October 2008

Jersey Boys First Anniversary celebrated with city-wide pizza party

January 2009

Wicked closes after 3 ½ years and 1500 performances

March 2009

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present Mary Poppins launches National Tour at the Cadillac Palace Theatre

June 2009

Jersey Boys welcomes 1,000,000th patron

October 2009

Jersey Boys celebrates Second Anniversary with Mayor Daley and Chicagoland mayors

Over 1,000 guests sport green ears during the special sneak peek of Shrek The Musical at the Cadillac Palace Theatre

December 2009

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of The Addams Family starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth

January 2010

Final Jersey Boys Performance after over two years and 1.3 million patrons

April 2010

Broadway In Chicago announces Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place

Billy Elliot: The Musical National Tour Premiere – star-studded opening night with Elton John & Oprah Winfrey in attendance

June 2010

Broadway In Chicago's eighth free Concert in Grant Park celebrates 10 years of Broadway In Chicago

July 2010

Broadway In Chicago's official 10-Year Anniversary

Shrek The Musical National Tour Premiere

September 2010

Broadway Playhouse opens with An Evening with Sutton Foster

January 2011

Dolly Parton visits Broadway In Chicago with 9 to 5 the Musical

February 2011

Working revival, based on Studs Terkel's book composed by Stephen Schwartz, opens at the Broadway Playhouse

Broadway In Chicago hosts final Chicago mayoral debate between Rahm Emanuel, Gery Chico, Carol Moseley Braun and Miguel Del Valle at Oriental Theatre

November 2011

Pre-Broadway Engagement of Ann – The Ann Richards Play starring Holland Taylor

March 2012

Pre-Broadway run of Bring It On: The Musical

May 2012

Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards created

October 2012

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Kinky Boots starring Billy Porter (Tony Award Winner for Kinky Boots – Best Leading Actor in a Musical)

December 2012

The Book of Mormon National Tour Premiere starring Ben Platt and Nic Rouleau. The Second National Tour kicked off in Chicago and ran for 43 weeks.

April 2013

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Big Fish starring Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin

April 2014

Motown the Musical National Tour Premiere

May 2014

Buyer & Cellar, starring Michael Urie, plays the Broadway Playhouse for six weeks

June 2014

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of The Last Ship with music and lyrics by Sting

October 2014

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Amazing Grace

November 2014

World Premiere of Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale starring Dee Snider

June 2015

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan with the songs of Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine

December 2015

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - 12-week long-run engagement

World Premiere of Gotta Dance starring André De Shields, Georgia Engel, Stefanie Powers and Lillias White

June 2016

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of The SpongeBob Musical

September 2016

Hamilton – Chicago's sit-down, long run engagement is first outside of NYC. Lin-Manuel Miranda attends opening night in September 2016. The 3+ year engagement ends January 2020.

April 2017

Aladdin National Tour launches at the Cadillac Palace and runs for 22 weeks

November 2017

Pre-Broadway tour of Escape To Margaritaville featuring Jimmy Buffett songs

«   Full Cast of Escape To Margaritaville performs live on Michigan Avenue for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

«   Lin-Manuel Miranda attends Escape To Margaritaville and performs with Jimmy Buffett

March 2018

Pre-Broadway World Premiere Pretty Woman the Musical

June 2018

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of The Cher Show starring Stephanie J. Block (Tony Award winner for The Cher Show – Best Actress in a Musical)

«   Cher attends The Cher Show

September 2018

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Tootsie starring Santino Fontana (Tony Award winner for Tootsie – Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical)

February 2019

Dear Evan Hansen inaugurates the newly dedicated James M. Nederlander Theatre, renamed from the Oriental Theatre

July 2019

Broadway In Chicago introduces a new theatrical venue, Spiegeltent ZaZou, in the Theatre District for Teatro ZinZanni 

September 2019

Oslo – TimeLine Theatre Company Regional Theatre Premiere at the Broadway Playhouse

March 2020 – September 2021

COVID 19 closure for 18 months

«   Shows that Closed: What The Constitution Means To Me

«   Shows that we Missed:

The Bachelor Live, Keane, The Choir Of Man, Once Upon A One More Time (Pre-Broadway World Premiere), The Office: A Musical Parody, Waitress, The Crown Live!, Goshen Deeply Rooted, Lisa Lampanelli's Losin' It!, Dear Evan Hansen, Some Like It Hot (Pre-Broadway World Premiere)

October 2021

Post-COVID – Broadway In Chicago re-opens theatres with sold-out engagement of RENT at the CIBC Theatre beginning October 5, 2021

November 2021

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Paradise Square starring Joaquina Kalukango (Tony Award winner for Paradise Square – Best Actress in a Musical)

Disney's Frozen – Nine-week long-run engagement

December 2021

The Play That Goes Wrong – Sit-down, long run production at the Broadway Playhouse

March 2022

Moulin Rouge! The Musical National Tour Premiere

Six National Tour Premiere

July 2022

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of The Devil Wears Prada

«   Elton John attends The Devil Wears Prada

October 2022

The Twenty-Sided Tavern - New work based on Dungeons & Dragons plays the Broadway Playhouse for 11 weeks

April 2023

Into the Woods starring Montego Glover, Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus, and Gavin Creel.

August 2023

MJ National Tour Premiere

October 2023

Pre-Broadway Engagement of A Wonderful World starring James Monroe Iglehart

November 2023

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Boop! The Betty Boop Musical introducing Jasmine Amy Rogers

Pre-Broadway Engagement of The Wiz

Boop! The Musical and Hamilton perform on top of the Wrigley Building for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, broadcast nationwide

April 2024

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Death Becomes Her starring Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard, Christopher Sieber and Michelle Williams

How I Learned What I Learned starring Harry Lennix – Congo Square Theatre's regional premiere at the Broadway Playhouse

May 2024

Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA) celebrates 13 years of programs, with 80 schools participating and impacting over 6500 students and eight Alumni of the program on Broadway

June 2024

Pride Parade - Broadway In Chicago participates in more than 10 years of Pride Parades

August 2024

21 Free Summer Concerts, attracting nearly 20,000 people each year to Millennium Park. The 2024 Concert will kick off Broadway In Chicago's 25th year

September 2024

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child North American Tour Premiere

April 2025

Titanique – Porchlight Music Theatre regional premiere at the Broadway Playhouse

Pre-Broadway World Premiere Ali the Musical

July 2025

Disney's Beauty and the Beast launches 30th Anniversary Tour at the Cadillac Palace Theatre

Broadway In Chicago:

The largest Broadway Theatre Market outside of NYC

Entertaining over 25 Million People

In 25 years:

«   Over 35 Pre-Broadway engagements

«   Over 565 productions

«   Over 2500 weeks of entertainment

«   56 Long Runs (8 weeks or more)

«   Presenting 10 tours of Mamma Mia! and over seven engagements each of Rent, Chicago, Les Miz, Rain: A Tribune to the Beatles, Stomp

Broadway In Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre are delighted to announce that the Lortel Award-Winning musical comedy TITANIQUE will play Broadway In Chicago's Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.) for a limited eight-week engagement, March 25 – May 18, 2025. Group tickets for 10 or more are on sale now by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. TITANIQUE will be part of the upcoming Broadway In Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre subscription seasons and is presented by special arrangement with Eva Price. The on sale date for individual tickets, creative team and casting will be announced at a later date.

TITANIQUE, the irresistibly funny and irreverent send-up of the blockbuster film Titanic, driven by the songs of pop icon Céline Dion, is originally produced by Tony Award-winning producer Eva Price (Oklahoma!, &Juliet). "I am thrilled that Broadway In Chicago will be presenting our show in the city that loves to laugh and in collaboration with such an important local Chicago theatre company. Titanique continues to be what audiences need most right now, not only in New York, but across the globe and especially, across this country," said Price

Broadway In Chicago President and CEO Lou Raizin said, "Broadway In Chicago is proud to be sharing its Broadway Playhouse stage with another distinguished local theatre company, Porchlight Music Theatre."

All aboard NYC's must-sea musical comedy! When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster film Titanic, you get TITANIQUE, off-Broadway's most award-winning splash hit, which turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia. Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic's beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalog. Sailing on fierce powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as "My Heart Will Go On," "All By Myself," and "To Love You More" – backed by the unparalleled energy of a full live band – TITANIQUE is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart, and campy chaos.

Co-written by Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue, TITANIQUE celebrated its Off-Broadway premiere in June 2022 at Asylum Theater, starring the musical's co-authors Mindelle (Sister Act, Netflix's Special) and Rousouli (Cruel Intentions, Hairspray) as Celine Dion and Jack Dawson. After several sold-out extensions, the musical transferred to the Daryl Roth Theatre on November 20, 2022, and won seven major awards of the 2022-23 theater season, including the Lucille Lortel Award and Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical.

TITANIQUE's storied history includes a smash hit live-streamed concert – Titanique: The Maiden Voyage Concert – on the premium streaming service Stellar, on May 2, 2021, which followed sold-out pop-up concert engagements in Los Angeles and New York, earning the show a 2019 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award. Upon the show's Off-Broadway premiere in 2022, The New York Times praised the musical as, "very funny! This 'Titanique' Musical Finds Its Sea Legs.... Near, far, wherever you are, Celine Dion will be there, in this camp reimagining of the maritime blockbuster that revs up into increasing absurdity." Vulture raved, "Titanique is f*cking great. Swim, Don't Walk, to see this Celine Dion jukebox fantasia!" The New York Post hailed the show as, "Sensational, hilarious and deranged! Titanique is, by a nautical mile, the funniest musical in town!" Upon the show's reopening at the larger Daryl Roth Theatre, People magazine declared, "Just when you think it couldn't get better, Titanique makes you love it more, with a glow-up that makes the show even more impactful and irresistible. Yet, there's still a scrappy, endearing 'let's put on a show' energy to it, that gives the musical its Titanic-sized charm. You're guaranteed to laugh your iceberg off." TITANIQUE won seven major awards of the 2022-23 theater season, including three Lucille Lortel Awards (Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lead Performer: Marla Mindelle, Outstanding Costume Design: Alejo Vietti), the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical, Las Culturistas' Culture Award for Best Indoor Performance, and two Dorian Awards (Outstanding Off-Broadway Production, Outstanding Off-Broadway Performance: Marla Mindelle). The show earned an additional nine award nominations, including two 2023 Drama League Award nominations (Outstanding Musical, Distinguished Performance: Marla Mindelle), two Outer Critics Circle Award nominations (Book of a Musical, Lead Performer: Marla Mindelle), two Lortel Award nominations (Choreography, Featured Performer: John Riddle), and a Drama Desk Award nomination (Book of a Musical).

TITANIQUE recently announced that the musical will voyage into international waters this fall, with its Australian premiere in September 2024 at The Grand Electric in Sydney. In October, the show will mark its Canadian premiere in Montréal (24 km from Céline Dion's hometown of Charlemagne!) at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts from October 27–November 24, 2024, followed by an engagement at Toronto's CAA Theatre from December 3, 2024–January 12, 2025.  A London production, co-produced by Eva Price and Michael Harrison, is set to follow (further information, including official dates and theater, will be announced at a later date).

For more information about the show, visit www.titaniquemusical.com.     

@titaniquemusical (IG) / @titanique (TW)

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including the  Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway  Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● TikTok @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE

Porchlight Music Theatre, celebrating its 30th season, is the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago.  Porchlight impacts tens of thousands of lives each season bringing the magic of musicals to its theatre home at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in the Gold Coast and to neighborhoods across the city as well as its expansive education and community offerings. Porchlight has built a national reputation for boldly reimagining classic musicals, supporting new works and young performers, and showcasing Chicago's most notable music theatre artists, all through the intimate and powerful theatrical lens of the "Chicago Style." Programming, classes and more at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.

ABOUT EVA PRICE

EVA PRICE (Producer) is an NYCLU/ACLU honoree and a three-time Tony award-winning, and two-time Olivier award-winning producer. Her productions have garnered 6 Olivier Awards, 2 Grammy Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, and 19 Tony Awards. Current: & Juliet (Broadway, 9 Tony nominations); Titanique (Off-Broadway, Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Musical) The Hip Hop Nutcracker (Touring Live Show, Disney +). Upcoming: Redwood (Broadway); Take the Lead (Paper Mill Playhouse). Selected credits: Redwood (La Jolla Playhouse), A Transparent Musical (Center Theatre Group); Mindplay (Arena Stage & Geffen Playhouse); Jagged Little Pill (2 Tony Awards); Oklahoma! (2 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, Best Musical Revival, National Tour, West End); Tina - The Tina Turner Musical; What the Constitution Means to Me; Angels in America (Tony-winning Broadway Revival starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield); Dear Evan Hansen (6 Tony Awards, 3 Olivier Awards); Peter and the Starcatcher (5 Tony Awards) along with several solo shows and critically acclaimed concerts starring The Temptations & The Four Tops; Kathy Griffin; Lewis Black; Colin Quinn; and Hershey Felder.

Ex Machina, Côté Danse, Dvoretsky Productions and presenting partner Show One Productions today announced the U.S. premiere of The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, a captivating fusion of theater and dance by internationally acclaimed artists: the legendary director Robert Lepage (Metropolitan Opera, Stratford Festival, Cirque du Soleil) and the renowned dancer/choreographer Guillaume Côté, best known for his long tenure as a Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada. Following the sold-out world premiere in Toronto last spring and a presentation at Le Festivalul Internațional Shakespeare in Craiova, this re-imagining of Shakespeare's timeless and haunting tragedy Hamlet will debut at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph St.) for three performances, Saturday, November 23-Sunday, November 24.

This wordless rendition of the emblematic tale of a man engulfed by doubt and possibly slipping into madness following the tragic death of his father offers a fresh perspective on the enduring masterpiece. The 100-minute-long performance delves into the core narratives of Shakespeare's intricate exploration of the human condition, seamlessly blending classical and contemporary choreography. Featuring a company of carefully selected dancers, Côté himself stars as the tormented Dane.

Côté and Lepage's creation pulls the audience deep into a world of deception, where phantoms and humans mingle on a minimalist set on which light, shadow and transparency play an integral role. This metaphorical reinterpretation of the Shakespearian drama draws a fine line, connecting movements of the body with what may or may not be lurking within the corners of the mind.

"Robert has staged numerous award-winning productions of Hamlet globally and has even played the role himself. His deep and nuanced understanding of the play became a topic of discussion as we worked on another multi-disciplinary experience in 2018, Frame by Frame produced by The National Ballet of Canada" Côté recalls. "Hamlet remains a deep exploration of the human experience, and by gaining a deeper understanding of this character, we can appreciate the importance of taking action to address the problems of humanity. Shakespeare's canon of works exemplifies the power of art, and there is no better time than now to unite through shared experiences."

"Hamlet, both the play and the character, have left an indelible mark on my career," adds Lepage. "When Guillaume expressed an interest in revisiting the character, the proposition of working with him to find a nonverbal expression of the inner contradictions and the paradoxes of Hamlet was, for me, an immensely inspiring idea."

Hailed as "the can't-miss dance event of the year," by the Toronto Guardian, Lepage and Côté's The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark made its World Premiere on April 3, 2024, at Toronto's Elgin Theater. Described as a "tantalizing glimpse into the creative masterminds of Lepage and Côté as a single creative unit," by Intermission Magazine, the performance was lauded as one of the dance world's most innovative productions of 2024.  

In The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, Côté and Lepage adopt a theatrical approach to the narrative, focusing on the dynamic movements of the nine-dancer ensemble. Lepage infuses the production with his renowned visual signature, crafting a powerfully symbolic world using expressive lighting design, movable set pieces, and a striking original score by award-winning composer John Gzowski.

"This piece is really based on bodies, on movement, on how to use the space," says Lepage. "I think people will recognize my signature...any technology we employ is very supportive of the strong ideas underpinning the production."

The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark is produced by Lepage's Ex Machina and Côté's Côté Danse, in partnership with veteran producer Svetlana Dvoretsky's Dvoretsky Productions, and is presented by Show One Productions, which celebrates 20 years as a leading global arts producer and presenter in 2024. Dvoretsky recently produced a new work with Côté, an acclaimed multimedia dance production TOUCH and with Lepage, she presented his immersive VR project The Library At Night in Toronto.

"I am honored to produce this momentous collaboration of these two extraordinary artists come to fruition in this stunning and innovative new work," commented Dvoretsky. "Guillaume Côté and Robert Lepage are unique talents on a global stage, and their visual worlds blend beautifully. A project like this is a dream come true for a producer, and it is a thrill to be part of their ongoing collaboration."

The brooding and provocative design elements of The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark are brought to life by a carefully selected team of distinguished designers. Leading the charge is Steve Blanchet, Creative Director at Ex Machina, who has over twenty-five years of experience in the arts and cultural sector. Blanchet's notable works include Shakespeare's Coriolanus at the Stratford Festival and Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Quebec Opera Festival. Lighting Designer Simon Rossiter, known for his specialization in dance, has collaborated on over three hundred designs with prestigious companies such as The National Ballet of Canada and Toronto Dance Theatre, earning multiple Dora Mavor Moore awards. Costume Designer Michael Gianfrancesco has an extensive portfolio spanning theater, opera and dance, with his designs showcased at the Stratford Festival, The National Ballet of Canada and the Rossini Festival in Italy. Together, this talented trio ensures a visually stunning and immersive experience for the audience.

Tickets for Côté and Lepage's The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark will go on sale Friday, July 12 at 10 a.m. CST, with tickets beginning at $59. Tickets will be available at www.harristheaterchicago.com or by calling the Harris Theater box office at 312.334.7777. The U.S. Premiere will run at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago from November 23- 24, with a limited number of available performances. For more information, visit www.harristheaterchicago.com.

The performance schedule is as follows:

The Tragedy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark
Saturday, November 23 – Sunday, November 24, 2024
At Harris Theater for Music and Dance

Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 24 at 1 p.m.
Sunday, November 24 at 6:30 p.m.

About the Artists:

Robert Lepage is internationally considered one of the most versatile and esteemed theatre artists worldwide. His original approach to theatre has won him international acclaim, particularly for his use of new technologies. He is the recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada. He is the founder and artistic director of Ex Machina and has directed numerous plays, operas and films including work for Cirque du Soleil and the Metropolitan Opera.

Choreographer and dancer Guillaume Côté is one of Canada's most celebrated dance artists. He has been the leading male figure of The National Ballet of Canada as a Principal Dancer since 2004 and has choreographed many works for the company including Frame by Frame, Being and Nothingness and Le Petit Prince. He has also been invited to perform at the most prestigious companies in the world like The Royal Ballet in London, Teatro alla Scala in Milan and the New York City Ballet. Côté is also Artistic Director of the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur.

Composer, sound designer, musician and instrument maker John Gzowski worked on over 250 theater, dance and film productions for which he has composed, created sound designs, performed live foley and live music and acted as musical director. He has played banjo for opera in Banff, studied Carnatic classical music in India and played oud and guitar in jazz and folk festivals across Canada and Europe. His theater work has won him 6 Dora's, from 18 nominations for companies like Ex Machina, Stratford, Shaw Festival, Luminato, National Arts Centre, the Mirvishes, MTC, the Arts Club, Canstage, Soulpepper, Dancemakers, Red Sky, Tarragon, Factory Theatre and YPT. Gzowski has played on numerous CD's, with releases with Patricia O'Callaghan, Tasa, and Autorickshaw as well as a Juno nomination with Maza Meze. He has run Canada's first microtonal group, touring Canada playing the works of Harry Partch, composed and performed with several new music groups and worked as co-artistic director of the Music Gallery.

About Ex Machina

Led by artistic director Robert Lepage, Ex Machina creates, produces, and disseminates multidisciplinary artistic works, most often theatrical.

The company brings together creators from several fields of activity and offers a broad range of artistic production: original plays written and performed solo or collectively, plays based on existing texts, productions in which various disciplines (dance, music, museology) mingle with theater, operas and multimedia productions featuring a predominantly technological dimension. Ex Machina mainly develops its shows in the city of Quebec, then presents them abundantly in Quebec, Canada and elsewhere in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

Beyond their diversity, the company's projects have some features in common. Anecdotes lead to the exploration of ideas such as the revelation of identity through exposure to the other. Cultural intersections, the nature of the creative act, interrupted communication and states of dependence are recurring themes.

Several dramatic situations oppose the quotidian to the extraordinary, the naturalism to the metaphor, and somehow diffident characters to historical figures. The multilingualism, the massive use of images, the reversal of perspective, the variations in scale, the use of narrative codes borrowed from the cinema and the use of technological tools aim to spark meaning and emotion, reflecting a desire to poeticize theatrical expression.

About twenty permanent employees and a large number of artists, artisans, designers, authors, performers, and freelance technicians work each year to create Ex Machina's shows. They are seen year after year by hundreds of thousands of spectators.

About Côté Danse

Côté Danse burst onto the Canadian dance scene in 2019, thanks to the collaboration between Choreographer Guillaume Côté and Producer Etienne Lavigne. Since then, they have been actively presenting a range of original works, films, and immersive dance experiences.

Under the artistic direction of Guillaume Côté, Côté Danse establishes a unique vision, combining classical dance knowledge with captivating geometries and intense human connections. Their style is characterized by contemporary lines, sleek contours, and refined athleticism, creating a distinct and dynamic aesthetic.

Through collaborations with a diverse group of designers, artists, and partners such as Robert Lepage, Mirari Studios, and Son Lux, Côté Danse has successfully produced four full-length productions. These creations have garnered significant attention, with over 125 performances, over four years, in more than 20 cities.

Richard Willis, lead producer of ALI, the new musical celebrating the life and legacy of the heavyweight boxing champion and humanitarian Muhammad Ali, today announced the production will premiere in Chicago at the James M. Nederlander Theatre April 22 through May 18, 2025. Groups of 10+ are on sale now by calling (312) 977-1710 or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. ALI will be part of the next Broadway In Chicago subscription. Current subscribers can begin renewals in August, and the season will be available to new subscribers in September. The sale date for individual tickets will be announced later.

From his early days as Cassius Clay, growing up with dreams of greatness, to his transformation into Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer and humanitarian - ALI follows the pivotal moments, the triumphs, and the struggles of the man who was not only 'The Greatest' inside the ring, but also a fighter for justice and a beacon of hope outside of it. Experience the story that's as vibrant and powerful as the man himself. With an original score blending jazz, classical, hip-hop, funk, soul and rock and roll, ALI is a tribute to a man who continues to inspire millions around the world.

Richard Willis said "It's very exciting and fitting that ALI is premiering in Chicago. Muhammad called the South Side home, and the city held a special place in his heart. We are thrilled to be working with everyone at Broadway In Chicago to bring this powerful new musical to such a passionate, theatre loving audience that will help us shape the show's future. We can't wait to be there." 

ALI is written and directed by Clint Dyer (Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre; Olivier Award®-nominated Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical), with original music by composer Teddy Abrams (Music Director Louisville Orchestra, 2024 Grammy Award® winner The American Project, Musical America's Conductor of the Year 2022), with choreography by Rich + Tone Talauega (MJ The Musical, upcoming MJ Movie, and they have worked with artists including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus, Usher and more), and co-lyricist/ music producer Q-Tip (Grammy Award® winning hip-hop legend and founder of A Tribe Called Quest).

The creative team for ALI also includes set design by Anna Fleischle (Olivier Award® winner, Tony Award® nominee - Hangmen, Once Upon a One More Time, Time Traveller's Wife), costume design by Emilio Sosa (Sweeney Todd, 2-time Tony Award® nominee for Trouble In Mind and The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess), lighting design by Jen Schriever (A Strange Loop - Tony Award® nominee, 1776), video/projections/media design by Tal Yarden (Network – Tony Award® nominee, Sunday in the Park with George) and Gino Ricardo Green (Get Up Stand Up, The National Theatre's Othello), sound design by Benjamin Grant (The National Theatre's Othello , Get Up Stand Up) and Kai Harada (The Band's Visit - Tony Award® winner, Merrily We Roll Along and New York, New York - Tony Award® Nominee, Once Upon a Mattress), orchestrations and arrangements by Teddy Abrams and Sean Mayes, associate director Asmeret Ghebremichael (The Notebook, Dreamgirls), music supervisor Sean Mayes (MJ, Hadestown), creative dramaturge Fred Carl (Associate Arts Professor in the NYU Tisch Graduate School for Musical Theatre Writing), special boxing consultant and fight coordinator Michael "Silk" Olajide, Jr. (former Middleweight Champion; trained by Angelo Dundee, Muhammad Ali's World Champion trainer; Blade to the Heat; Fetch Clay, Make Man), and associate music producer emeritus, Grammy Award® winning saxophonist and vocalist Casey Benjamin.

ALI is produced by Tony Award® winner Richard Willis (War Horse, Jerusalem, Next Fall, One Man Two Guvnors, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Burn This) along with co-producers Brook T. Smith, David & Michelle Campbell, Ian Rupert, Jim and Kathy Mora and TheTribecaWorkshop in collaboration with ABG Entertainment in partnership with Lonnie Ali.

Casting will be announced soon. For more information, visit www.ALImusical.com.

ABOUT MUHAMMAD ALI

Muhammad Ali is one of the most influential athletes and humanitarians of the 20th century and has created some of the most legendary moments in sports and civil rights history. More than 50 years after he emerged as a Gold Medalist in Boxing at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Ali's legacy extends beyond the ring, and he continues to be widely recognized as one of the most celebrated and beloved icons of all time.

His incomparable work ethic, signature boxing techniques, and fearlessness towards standing up for his beliefs, all contribute to the legend that is Muhammad Ali. Among his countless awards and accolades, he was named Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Century," GQ's "Athlete of the Century," a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Amnesty International Lifetime Achievement Award. Muhammad Ali's legacy is celebrated across cultures and continues to inspire today's most influential athletes, artists, musicians, and humanitarians around the world.

Follow Muhammad Ali on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the BroadwayPlayhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Follow @broadwayinchicago on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok #broadwayinchicago

Broadway In Chicago announced today that the individual tickets for the National Tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, will go on sale tomorrow, July 12. Ticket prices range from $25.00 to $125.00 with a select number of premium seats available. THE BOOK OF MORMON will play 8 performances at Broadway In Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph) from September 10 through September 15. Individual tickets will be available at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Tickets for groups of 10 or more will be available by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. The Broadway production is directed by Parker and two-time Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw and choreographed by Nicholaw. The tour is directed and choreographed by Jennifer Werner based on the original Broadway direction and choreography. Set design is by three-time Tony Award winner Scott Pask, costume design is by Tony Award winner Ann Roth, lighting design is by five-time Tony Award winner Brian MacDevitt, sound design is by two-time Tony Award winner Brian Ronan, and hair design is by Josh Marquette. Orchestrations are by Tony Award winner Larry Hochman and two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Oremus. Music supervision and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus. Casting is by Carrie Gardner.

Since opening on March 24, 2011, THE BOOK OF MORMON has become one of the most successful shows in Broadway history, breaking the Eugene O'Neill Theatre house record more than 50 times. In addition to nine Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album, THE BOOK OF MORMON won five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the Drama League Award for Best Musical and four Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Musical.

The West End production opened in February 2013, winning four Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, and breaking the record for the highest single day of sales in West End history. The first-ever UK and European tour launched in Manchester in June 2019, winning 'Best Theatre Show' at the Manchester Evening News City Life Awards before touring throughout the UK and Europe.

THE BOOK OF MORMON has been performed on three continents and has won over 30 international awards. The musical has smashed long-standing box office records in New York, London, Melbourne, Sydney and in cities across the U.S. and the world.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on Ghostlight Records.

NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS (Producer) is an industry-leading producer of touring theatrical productions, committed to delivering quality entertainment to audiences worldwide for more than 25 years. www.networkstours.com

For more information, visit thebookofmormontour.com 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Sep. 10 at 7:00 PM

Wednesday, Sep. 11 at 7:00 PM

Thursday, Sep. 12 at 7:00 PM

Friday, Sep. 13 at 7:30 PM

Saturday, Sep. 14 at 2:00 PM

Saturday Sep. 14 at 7:30 PM

Sunday, Sep. 15 at 1:00 PM

Sunday, Sep. 15 at 6:30 PM

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the BroadwayPlayhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Follow @broadwayinchicago on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok  #broadwayinchicago

Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) and Executive Director David McDermott today announced programming for its 2024/25 season, Season 47. This year, the company ushers in a new era with prestigious collaborations, including the company's Steppenwolf Theatre Company debut. HSDC's 47th Season will also inaugurate a partnership with The Verdon Fosse® Legacy, making Hubbard Street Dance Chicago the only company in the world to be granted approval to add a Bob Fosse® work in its repertoire.

Blending timeless choreography with contemporary flair, the Season 47: Fall Series (Nov. 15-24) will mark Hubbard Street's first engagement at Chicago's landmark Steppenwolf Theatre Company (1650 N. Halsted St.). The program is set to feature the Company Premiere of Sweet Gwen Suite choreographed by American dance legend Bob Fosse with his longtime muse Gwen Verdon through a milestone collaboration with The Verdon Fosse® Legacy. Verdon's admiration for HSDC began in the 1980s when she sought to adapt Fosse's works for concert dance, which included staging Fosse's Percussion 4 for the company during Fisher-Harrell's tenure as a HSDC dancer.

"Gwen Verdon adored the Hubbard Street dancers for their diversity and abilities to authentically embody a wide variety of styles," said Nicole Fosse, founder and artistic director of The Verdon Fosse® Legacy. "The current company's limitless abilities, under Artistic Direction of Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, continue to hold true today." Nicole Fosse, daughter of Verdon and Fosse and Allen Fields (Director of Creative Development of The Verdon Fosse® Legacy) continue the mission of bringing the genius of Bob Fosse® to world-wide audiences.

The Fall Series will also feature the tour de force solo piece Show Pony by Kyle Abraham and the intimate Prelude to a Kiss by Lar Lubovitch. Two pieces by Resident Artist Aszure Barton, now in her second year of residency with HSDC, will round out the program; the contemplative return to patience and the breathtaking hit BUSK. The Chicago Tribune raved, "BUSK and return to patience make crystal clear why Barton and Hubbard Street are so good for each other. Both are works Hubbard Street can do better than just about anyone else."

"Steppenwolf is thrilled to welcome Hubbard Street Dance to our artistic home this year," said E. Brooke Flanagan, Executive Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. "We invite audiences to buckle-up for this exhilarating ride of a program and celebration of a globally recognized Chicago-based dance company that shares our theater's commitment to ground-breaking innovation and thought-provoking work."

In February 2025, Hubbard Street returns to its Chicago home at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph St.) for Winter Series (Feb. 13-16). Featuring Johan Inger's fantastical adventure IMPASSE, hailed by See Chicago Dance as "immensely entertaining" and a World Premiere by the dynamic, genre-defying choreographer James Gregg, Winter Series will also include additional works to be announced.

HSDC caps Season 47 with Spring Series at the Harris (May 16-18) which will feature a World Premiere by the Interim Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Matthew Rushing. Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon will light up the Harris stage, in addition to the Company Premiere of Resident Artist Aszure Barton's spectacular choreographic collage Blue Soup.

HSDC Artistic Director Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell said about Season 47, "The 2024/25 Season line-up perfectly demonstrates our values of artistry, belonging and curiosity - and how thrilling it is to work toward our mission of awakening the human spirit through contemporary dance with our incredible new partners at The Verdon Fosse Legacy and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Not only do we get to continue our collaboration with Resident Artist Aszure Barton, but what better way to harken back to our jazz roots than with Fosse? When Gwen Verdon came to HSDC in the early 90s to stage Percussion 4 on the Company, it was just magical, and I am honored that Nicole and The Verdon Fosse Legacy are entrusting us with this delicious work. With Steppenwolf, I have admired how Glenn, Audrey, and Brooke are reimagining what the Company means to Chicago and the greater arts community, so to be welcomed in by them so warmly is a tremendous gift. We are so looking forward to reaching even more new audiences with our 47th season."

Subscriptions for Season 47 will be available starting in July 2024, with subscription prices beginning at $104 plus a $12 handling fee, based on price zones selected. HSDC is also proud to once again offer Young Professionals Subscription packages for just $60 plus a handling fee, which includes one Section 3 ticket per series. Visit hubbardstreetdance.com/subscribe to learn more.

Hubbard Street is grateful to our Season 47 Partners Athletico Physical Therapy and the Illinois Arts Council for their continued support.

The Season 47 performance schedule is as follows:

FALL SERIES

Friday, November 15 – Sunday, November 24, 2024

At Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Downstairs Theater

Friday, November 15 at 7pm

Saturday, November 16 at 7pm

Sunday, November 17 at 2:30pm

Thursday, November 21 at 7pm

Friday, November 22 at 7pm

Saturday, November 23 at 7pm

Sunday, November 24 at 2:30pm

Featuring:

return to patience by Aszure Barton

Show Pony by Kyle Abraham

Prelude to a Kiss by Lar Lubovitch

Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon

BUSK by Aszure Barton

WINTER SERIES

Thursday, February 13 – Sunday, February 16, 2025

At the Harris Theater for Music & Dance

Thursday, February 13 at 7:30pm

Friday, February 14 at 7:30pm

Saturday, February 15 at 7:30pm

Sunday, February 16 at 3pm

Featuring:

IMPASSE by Johan Inger

A World Premiere by James Gregg

And more to be announced.

SPRING SERIES

Friday, May 16 – Sunday, May 18, 2025

At the Harris Theater for Music & Dance

Friday, May 16 at 7:30pm

Saturday, May 17 at 7:30pm

Sunday, May 18 at 3pm

Featuring:

A World Premiere by Matthew Rushing

Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon

Blue Soup by Aszure Barton

Choreographer Bios can be found here.

About Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's mission is to awaken the human spirit through contemporary dance, envisioning a dance landscape that is relevant and accessible to all.

For 47 years, Hubbard Street has been one of the most original forces in contemporary dance – bringing top choreographers and works to Chicago and beyond. Hubbard Street's ever-evolving repertory, created by today's leading choreographic voices, makes them a company that dancers aspire to join and performance venues all over the world are eager to host. To date, the main company has performed globally in 19 countries and 44 U.S. states.

At home in Chicago, Hubbard Street performs 20 times a year and delivers renowned education programs in 50 classrooms across 17 Chicagoland schools. HSDC Education utilizes the choreographic process to teach essential problem-solving skills, creativity, and collaboration - expanding our reach beyond traditional concert dance audiences, ensuring that everyone has access to world-class dance and instruction.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago grew out of the Lou Conte Dance Studio in 1977, and Conte served as Artistic Director for 23 years. Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell began her tenure at the company in March 2021. In January 2022, HSDC moved to their new home in Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue and acclaimed choreographer Aszure Barton was named Resident Artist in January 2023. Visit www.hubbardstreetdance.com for more information.

The Joffrey Ballet announces the programming for the Joffrey for All free performance, which will feature a mixed repertory program in Millennium Park by Joffrey Company Artists and students from the Joffrey Academy of Dance Community Engagement programs. The program is comprised of a series of powerful performances by the most pioneering choreographers from around the globe, including Cathy Marston, Justin Peck, Yuri Possokhov, Christopher Wheeldon, and 2024 Winning Works Choreographer Manoela Gonçalves. The Joffrey Ballet for All free performance kicks off with family-friendly movement classes featuring partner organizations, including the Poetry Foundation and Ensemble Español, starting at 4:15pm on the lawn, followed by the mixed rep program at 5:30pm on Sunday, June 16, 2024.

The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE says, "The Joffrey for All free performance is truly a gift to the people of Chicago, offering the opportunity to see works by powerhouse choreographers, in addition to pieces illustrating the breadth of our Academy and Community Engagement programs. I am especially delighted to share an excerpt from Carousel: A Dance by Christopher Wheeldon, which will be the final performance by retiring artist Christine Rocas, who celebrates 20 illustrious years at the Joffrey. Audiences will also see works from our upcoming 2024-2025 season: Yuri Possokhov's Andante and Cathy Marston's Heimat (a preview of the beauty to come in our season opener, Atonement)."

Joffrey President and CEO Greg Cameron says, "The first-ever Joffrey for All free performance took place in June 2023, opening our arms to over 7,500 Chicagoans in the heart of the city. This year, with gratitude to our Producing Sponsor, Gallagher, we are planning an even larger celebration by partnering with community organizations for free dance workshops to allow everyone to experience the joy of dance. The Joffrey for All free performance reflects the collaborative spirit of the city of Chicago and the power of the arts to bring people together."

The Joffrey for All free performance features world-class works that are captivating for audiences of all ages. Highlights include Yuri Possokhov's Andante, a pas de trois set to Shostakovich's Piano Concerto #2; Cathy Marston's Heimat, which paints a halcyon picture of a family in the Swiss countryside; an excerpt from Carousel: A Dance by Christopher Wheeldon, the internationally renowned choreographer of the Joffrey's perennial favorite, The Nutcracker; and The Times Are Racing, a modern piece by West Side Story and Illinoise choreographer Justin Peck, set to the last four tracks of Dan Deacon's expansive 2012 album, America.

The program also features a moving new solo by 2024 Winning Works choreographer Manoela Gonçalves, Benteveo (saudade), set to a score by Nina Simone. Benteveo, named after the famous Latin American bird known for its singing, is Gonçalves's tribute to her late father, who she describes as "the inspiration for this piece. His freedom could only be represented by a bird following the melody of its own song."

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of the Joffrey for All free performance Producing Sponsor Gallagher, and Presenting Sponsors The Chicago Free for All Fund through the Chicago Community Trust, Anne L. Kaplan, The Negaunee Foundation, The Women's Board of The Joffrey Ballet, and Zell Family Foundation.

Co-Chairs: AARP Illinois, Abbott, Crain's Chicago Business, Brendan Fernandes, Sonja and Conrad Fischer, ITW, Kovler Family Foundation, Willie and Nichelle Mayberry, and Sarah Wills.

About Joffrey for All

The Joffrey Ballet's Joffrey for All free performance commemorates the Joffrey's mission to create a Joffrey for All. In the last decade, Joffrey has launched several initiatives to welcome dancers of all backgrounds into the Chicago dance community. These include offering more than $500,000 in scholarships and financial aid annually to increase access to professional and educational opportunities regardless of financial barriers, and a state-of-the-art studio space at 1920 S. Wabash to expand the Company's access to students from Chicago's south and west sides.

The Joffrey for All strategic plan forms pathways for every person to experience the joy of dance. Launched in summer 2023, Dancing with Parkinson's, offered by the Joffrey Ballet's Community Engagement division in partnership with Northwestern Medicine, is a supportive space to explore dance for people with Parkinson's and their caregivers. The Joffrey Academy of Dance also offers Adaptive Dance programs for neurodivergent students and students with diverse movement abilities to improve their mind and body awareness while engaging in creative expression. 

About The Joffrey Ballet­­

The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for more than 65 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works.

Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron.

The Joffrey Ballet is grateful for the support of its 2023–2024 Season Sponsors: Abbott Fund, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, Anne L. Kaplan, The Florian Fund, and Margot and Josef Lakonishok.  

Live Music Sponsors: Sandy and Roger Deromedi, Sage Foundation, Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, The Marina and Arnold Tatar Fund for Live Music. The Joffrey also acknowledges our Season Partners: ATHLETICO, Chicago Athletic Clubs, and Jewell Events Catering. 

For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre's 2024 season of four productions will open with the original musical 1619: THE JOURNEY OF A PEOPLE by Chicago writer and performer Ted Williams III. The musical commemorates the arrival of the first 20 Africans on the shores of Point Comfort, Virginia on August 20, 1619. In it, three modern characters lead audience members on a journey through multiple performance pieces, leaving viewers both inspired and challenged about the progress of America's African sons and daughters. This production uses various musical forms including hip-hop, jazz, and blues, to commemorate the struggle for survival and equality and to celebrate the stories and journeys of America's African sons and daughters. FJT is partnering with Evanston Public Library and Northwestern University for this production. 1619: THE JOURNEY OF A PEOPLE will play Saturdays and Sundays from June 15-30, 2024, with the press opening on Sunday, June 16 at 3 pm.
 
Performances will be Saturdays at 7:00 pm and Sundays at 3:00 pm, at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. Tickets are $30.00 and are on sale now at www.fjtheatre.com. Additionally, 2024 Premium Gold Member Cards, good for all three 2024 summer and fall play productions and A MOODY EXPERIENCE: MUSIC BEYOND THE MARGINS, are now on sale for a very limited time for only $90 - a nearly 30 percent discount off of the regular season ticket prices.
 
LISTING INFORMATION
 
1619: THE JOURNEY OF A PEOPLE
A Musical by Ted Williams III
Directed by Tim Rhoze and Ted Williams III
This is a co-production with Evanston Public Library and Northwestern University
June 15-30, 2024
Saturdays at 7 pm, Sundays at 3 pm
Press opening Sunday, June 16 at 3 pm
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
927 Noyes St., Evanston
Tickets $32.00, on sale now at www.fjtheatre.com
Phone 847-866-5914
 
From the beginning of American slavery to Reconstruction, the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Era, and modern movements for justice, 1619 packs generations of history into an amazing musical theater experience that traces the African American journey toward freedom and equality.

The Gift Theatre is pleased to announce its 2024-25 season featuring Suzan-Lori Parks' masterpiece Topdog/Underdog directed by Shanésia Davis and the world premiere of Cygnus by Susan Soon He Stanton, directed by Co-Artistic Director Brittany Burch. These mainstage productions will be followed by the annual 10-minute performance festival, TEN. In addition, there will be three In The Works staged readings of plays in development and three live lit performances with GiftLit. All productions will be presented at Filament Theatre (4041 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 6064).

The Gift's 2024-25 Season includes:

TOPDOG/UNDERDOG

by Suzan-Lori Parks

Directed by Shanésia Davis

Featuring Ensemble Members Martel Manning and Gregory Fenner

September 12- October 20, 2024

This darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity tells the story of two brothers, Lincoln (Manning) and Booth (Fenner), names given to them as a joke by their father. Haunted by the past and their obsession with the street con game, three-card monte, the brothers come to learn the true nature of their history.

Co-Artistic Director Jennifer Glasse commets, "While envisioning our upcoming season we wanted to choose a blend of stories that would be both personal and challenging to the artists involved. Topdog/Underdog has been a dream project with roles Ensemble Members Martel Manning and Gregory Fenner have wanted to play for years. We are thrilled to reunite them with the vision and direction of the incomparable Shanésia Davis. They are all deeply connected to this story and I am over the moon for Chicago to see their dreams come to fruition."

The world premiere of

Cygnus

by Susan Soon He Stanton

Directed by Co-Artistic Director Brittany Burch

February 6 - March 16, 2025

Cydney believes an angel rescued her from an ineffable trauma, and the truth may prove stranger than she imagines. In this mythic, hilarious, and poetic new play, a burnt feather may illuminate the possibility of a divine intervention.

Co-Artistic Director Brittany Burch states, "Cygnus is a modern-day fairytale that weaves fantasy into a very honest story of trauma and recovery. I immediately resonated with its themes of escapism as a defense mechanism and codependent, mother-daughter relationships but I fell in love with Stanton's use of dark humor, absurdism, and Greek mythology to guide her richly layered characters through their search for meaning in life's adversities."

TEN

A 10-minute performance festival of new work written, directed, and performed by various local artists.

May 8 - 19, 2025

IN THE WORKS

The Fires by Jennifer Rumberger

Monday, June 10, 2024

Jennifer Rumberger (The Locusts) is returning to The Gift for a one-time reading of her latest play, The Fires.

Two men sit outside a 7/11 in downtown Los Angeles, watching a wildfire come closer and closer, the latest in a series of natural catastrophes that have caused massive casualties all over the United States. Other than a traveling newsman bringing stories of the fates of other Americans, they are the last people alive. As the fire gets closer, they are forced to contend with the end of not only their relationship, but their lives as well.

Two additional IN THE WORKS readings are scheduled for October and December, 2024. Titles and additional information are TBA. 

Artist Biographies

Shanésia Davis (Director, Topdog/Underdog) is a veteran Chicagoan who has graced the stages of theaters in Chicago and regionally and is honored to direct at The Gift Theatre. Some of her credits include works at Steppenwolf, Northlight, Porchlight Music Theatre Goodman, Congo Square, Mark Taper Forum, Cleveland Playhouse, CenterStage Baltimore, The Gift Theatre, Kansas City Rep and The Court theatre to name a few. This actress has several Jeff Award nominations included the recent Fences. Ms. Davis is a multi–NAACP Image Award nominee and is a Black Theatre Alliance Award recipient and Excellence in The Arts Award recipient. Film credits include Chicago Stories: Ida B. Wells, The Thing about Harry, Working Man, BLUEPRINT, External Rivals, Consumed, Damaged Goods, Cleveland Abduction, Morning Due, The Weatherman, Uncle Nino, Life Sentence, Chicago Cab among others. Television credits include Emmy nominated LOVECRAFT COUNTRY(HBO), Proven Innocent (FOX), Empire (FOX), Chicago Fire (NBC), CRISIS (ABC), Detroit 187 (ABC), and series regular on Early Edition (CBS). Her directing credits include Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. Shanésia is Program Director of Acting at Roosevelt University CCPA where she directed a very successful production of Indecent. Other directing includes Spunk, Mother Courage and Her Children. Other university directing includes Our Lady of 121st Street, good night, Desdemona good morning, Juliette as well as several workshops and readings with Congo Square Theatre. She is a published writer of "Nine questions every actor of color should consider when tokenism is not enough," (Routledge, Taylor & Fracis publishing).

Suzan-Lori Parks (Playwright, Topdog/Underdog) is a multi-award-winning American writer/musician and the first African-American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Topdog/Underdog which recently enjoyed its twentieth anniversary Broadway revival. The production won both the 2023 Tony Award, (Best Revival of a Play) and the Outer Critics Circle Award. Just last year, in 2023, Parks also had three new works which all received world premieres: at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Sally & Tom (Steinberg New Play Award finalist) at Joe's Pub in New York City, Plays for the Plague Year (winner of The Drama Desk Award for Best Music in a Play), and, at the Public Theatre, Parks world-premiered a musical adaptation of the 1972 film The Harder They Come (winner: Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.)

Brittany Burch (Director, Cygnus) is a co-artistic director and ensemble member with the Gift Theatre where she was last seen in The Locusts. Other credits with the Gift include: The Lonesome West, Northwest Highway, Absolute Hell, Oh The Humanity, Thinner Than Water, Othello, Royal Society of Antarctica, Good For Otto, Unseen, and Pilgrims. Additional Chicago credits include A Red Orchid, Steppenwolf, Wildclaw, Lakeside Shakespeare, The Goodman, and Redtwist. Regionally, Brittany has worked with Artists Repertory Theatre and Profile Theatre in Portland, OR; Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, AK; Chautauqua Theatre Company in NY; and The New Theatre in Kansas City. She has a BA from Willamette University and studied with the British American Drama Academy, Chautauqua Theatre Company, Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre, as well as the School at Steppenwolf.

Susan Soon He Stanton (Playwright, Cygnus) is a playwright, television writer, and screenwriter originally from 'Aiea, Hawai'i, and now living in New York and London. Her plays have been produced internationally and regionally across the United States: WE, THE INVISIBLES (Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival); TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY (Page 73, Yale Repertory Theatre); BOTH YOUR HOUSES (ACT New Strands/ Crowded Fire); TAKARAZUKA!!! (Clubbed Thumb, East West Players, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Workshop); CYGNUS (WP Theater Pipeline, Kilroys List); SOLSTICE PARTY! (Live Source); THE THINGS ARE AGAINST US (Washington Ensemble Theatre); MOANA, JR (book) for Disney Theatrical Group, among others. Her reimagined TURANDOT, music by Puccini and Christopher Tin, will be produced by Washington National Opera in 2024.

Susan worked on all four seasons of HBO's SUCCESSION as a writer/producer, for which she has received Emmy, Writers Guild of America, and Peabody Awards.

Jennifer Rumberger (Playwright, The Fires) is a playwright and essayist. Her notable productions include The Locusts at The Gift Theatre Company and Night in Alachua County with Wildclaw Theater in Chicago and Open Blue Sky at Tisch School of the Arts in New York. She is a two-time selectee and finalist for Seven Devils, a semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Award, a semifinalist for the P73 Fellowship, and a 2022 Tennessee Williams Scholar at the Sewanee Writers Conference. She's published her nonfiction in The Deadlands and performed her essays and poetry live with 2nd Story, You're Being Ridiculous, and Brooklyn Poets. She is an Associate Artist with Second Site in Chicago and has an MFA in dramatic writing from Northwestern University.

Season Subscription Information

To purchase subscriptions, contact the box office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-283-7071.

Preview-Only Subscriptions: $90

Perfect for those who want the full Gift experience at the best discount offered. Includes a ticket to Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks and the world premiere of Cygnus by Susan Soon He Stanton, as well as 3 readings from the In the Works program.

GiftFlex Subscriptions: $120

Includes a ticket to any performance of Topdog/Underdog, Cygnus, TEN, and three staged readings from the In The Works program.

About The Gift Theatre

Since 2001 and with over 70 productions, The Gift Theatre has been dedicated to telling great stories onstage with honesty and simplicity. Our unwavering dedication to accessibility and intimacy as a professional equity theatre has garnered national recognition for both our company and ensemble. We strive to push boundaries, broaden perspectives, and ignite a cultural revolution on Chicago's northwest side. www.thegifttheatre.org

About Filament Theatre

Filament Theatre, on Chicago's Northwest Side, has been creating innovative theater for young audiences since 2007. Filament's mission is to create a more equitable society by celebrating and amplifying the perspectives and experiences of young people through the performing arts. www.filamenttheatre.org