The League of Chicago Theatres announces the return of It's Theatre Season, a campaign inviting Chicagoans and visitors to discover something new on stages across the city and suburbs while supporting the theatres that make Chicago one of the country's great theatre communities. Through the campaign, the League brings together the collective strength of its 200+ member theatres to expand access, reach new audiences and celebrate the breadth of live performance across Chicagoland.

Now in its second year, It's Theatre Season includes a promotion featuring buy one, get one half-price tickets to select shows on Hot Tix. It's Theatre Season tickets are available at HotTix.org from October 1 - October 31, 2026, for select performances October 6 -December 2, 2026. For a complete list of more than 50 participating productions and to purchase tickets, visit https://hottix.org/itstheatreseason/. Use promo code SEASON for the buy one, get one half-off offer.

More than a ticket promotion, It's Theatre Season reflects the League's larger work to support, promote and advocate for Chicago's theatre industry. Representing more than 200 member theatres, the League connects audiences with a community that spans storefront and small-to-midsize companies, major resident institutions and touring productions. By making it easier and more affordable to experience that range of work, the campaign encourages attendance this fall while creating opportunities for theatres of all sizes to connect with new patrons.

"We invite all of Chicago to take a seat this fall, to see something brand new or step into a storefront venue you have never visited before," said Marissa Lynn Jones, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres. "The goal with It's Theatre Season is to break down barriers to attendance, expand audiences, encourage opportunities for connection and discovery, and help theatres of all sizes to build long-term relationships with new patrons."

The broader economic impact of Chicago's creative sector is significant. According to Arts Alliance Illinois' 2026 The Creative Economy of Chicago & Illinois: Impact and Assets, Chicago's creative economy supports 212,875 jobs, generates $50 billion in economic output and $5.7 billion in tax revenue. Representing 11.3% of the city's economy, the creative sector ranks as Chicago's third-largest industry, underscoring the role that arts and culture play not only in the city's identity, but in its economic vitality. The League of Chicago Theatres' Impact Report is an indicator of the influence the League of Chicago Theatres has on the success of  the theatre industry. The report highlights the organization's ongoing role in supporting, marketing, and advocating for the diverse member theatres across the Chicago region. The organization drives local attendance, collaborates on policy advocacy, and administers financial grants to inclusive cultural projects.

Theatre is an important part of Chicago's cultural and economic life, supporting artists and jobs while contributing to the vitality of neighborhoods throughout the region. A night at the theatre can also become a way to experience more of Chicago: audiences can pair a performance with dinner or drinks, seek out spooky-season programming, plan a suburban outing or use a show as a reason to explore a neighborhood or venue they have never visited before. It's Theatre Season includes theatres of all sizes across the city and suburbs, giving audiences an affordable invitation to experience the range of work that makes Chicago theatre distinctive.

"The impact of theatre extends far beyond the performance itself. Theatre creates opportunities for connection, belonging and discovery, and the League helps strengthen the ecosystem that makes Chicago's theatre community one of a kind," comments Marissa Lynn Jones, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres. "Chicago's theatre ecosystem is fundamental to the fabric of our city."

Expanding access is also central to the League's work. Many participating theatres offer accessible and inclusive performance options, including American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, audio description, open captioning and sensory-friendly performances. Hot Tix serves as a year-round affordable gateway to discovering theatre across Chicago and the region.

For a list of the participating productions and to purchase tickets during It's Theatre Season, visit: https://hottix.org/itstheatreseason/. Use promo code: SEASON to use the buy one, get one half-off offer. A select list of participating productions includes:

• The Front Page at Northlight Theatre (world premiere)
• Detroit '67, Pulse Theatre at eta Creative Arts
• Carmela Full of Wishes at Chicago Children's Theatre

• What the Constitution Means to Me at Ways and Means Theatre

• Memphis the Musical, The Seven Thirty Theatre at Studebaker Theater

• Eureka Day at Citadel Theater

• Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at Drury Lane Theatre

The League of Chicago Theatres Fall Theatre Guide is a comprehensive list of theatre productions in the Chicago area. To view the Fall Theatre Guide, visit: https://chicagoplays.com/chicago-theatre-guide/.

Chicago's theatre industry is the leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including six which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago's theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. Each year, Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. For more information and for a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit www.chicagoplays.com.

The League of Chicago Theatres' Mission Statement
Theatre is essential to the life of a great city and to its citizens. The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres, which leverages its collective strength to support, promote and advocate for Chicago's theatre industry. Through our work, we ensure that theatre continues to thrive in our city.