Displaying items by tag: Uptown

TimeLine Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season at its new home in Uptown rolls merrily along in November with the company’s 100th production, the Chicago premiere of Home, I’m Darling by Laura Wade. TimeLine Company Member Mechelle Moe directs Wade’s award-winning, darkly funny exploration of marriage, nostalgia, and the allure—and delusion—of the “perfect” past.

A smash hit on the West End and winner of the 2019 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, Home, I’m Darling is a razor‑sharp satire that feels both timely and timeless. Previews start November 11. Performances run through December 13 at TimeLine Theatre, 5035 N. Broadway in Uptown. For tickets and information, call the TimeLine Box Office, (773) 281-8463 x1 or visit timelinetheatre.com.

LIVING THE DREAM: MORE ABOUT HOME, I’M DARLING

Judy and Johnny are living their dream: the idealized 1950s suburban life. As Judy doubles down on her fully immersive retro domestic fantasy, the seams of their hyper-curated life begin to fray. What begins as a lifestyle choice becomes a revealing—and unsettling—interrogation of gender roles, identity, and what it costs to perform happiness. 

“What I love about Home, I’m Darling,” said director Mechelle Moe, “is how incredibly seductive Judy’s fantasy can be. She has fully embraced the role of a domestic goddess, creating this picture-perfect version of a life that becomes increasingly difficult to sustain. And it’s really funny.”

“The play gives us permission to laugh at the absurdity of it all while also asking some pretty uncomfortable questions about nostalgia and our tendency to romanticize, or even fetishize, a past that was never quite as simple or perfect as we imagine it,” Moe added. “Underneath all of that humor is a very human desire to make a life feel safe, beautiful, and meaningful. I hope audiences will recognize both the seduction of that fantasy and the cost of trying to make it real—and leave with plenty to talk about when the cracks begin to show.”

TimeLine’s Chicago premiere of Home, I’m Darling features Company Member Janet Ulrich Brooks (she/her) as Sylvia. The rest of the cast – Brandon Dahlquist (he/him) as Marcus, Claire Kaplan (she/her) as Judy, Gloria Imseih Petrelli (she/they) as Alex, Maya Rowe (she/her) as Fran, and Elliot Sagay (he/him) as Johnny – are all making their TimeLine Theatre debuts.

The design and production team includes Mechelle Moe (Director, she/her), Courtney O’Neill (Scenic Designer, she/they), Christine Pascual (Costume Designer, she/her), Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (Co-Lighting Designer, she/her), Josiah Croegaert (Co-Lighting Designer, he/him), Andrew Hansen (Sound Designer, he/him), Amy Peter (Properties Designer, she/her), Greg Geffrard (Intimacy Director, he/him), Breon Arzell (Choreographer, he/him), Eva Breneman (Dialect Coach, she/her), Jared Bellot (Dramaturg, he/him), Dina Spoerl (Dramaturgical Display Designer, she/her), Logan Smart (Assistant Director, he/they), Trent Jones (Assistant Scenic Designer, he/him), Paloma Locsin (Assistant Properties Designer, she/her), Katie Klemme (Stage Manager, she/her), and Mia Maccarella (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her). Understudies are Jeannie Affelder (she/her, Sylvia), Dave Honigman (he/him, Marcus), Rachel Kang (she/her, Judy), Ben Murphy (he/him, Johnny) and Heidi Musec (she/her, Fran).

“TimeLine is thrilled to introduce this wickedly smart comedy to Chicago. We’ve been huge admirers of this play since it took London by storm, and we’ve been longing to produce its Chicago premiere ever since,” said TimeLine Theatre Artistic Director PJ Powers. “Coming on the heels of our world premiere of The Birth of the Pill, this production furthers a conversation about gender and progress, through the lens of one of the theatre’s most exciting and provocative playwrights, Laura Wade. As our inaugural season in our new home continues, we’re delighted to have director Mechelle Moe lead a stellar cast and design team, immersing our audience in a seemingly idyllic fantasy world of the 1950s, shining a light on how far we have and haven’t come.”

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Previews of Home, I’m Darling are Wednesday, November 11, Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 14 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, November 15 at 2 p.m.; and Tuesday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m. Press Preview is Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night is Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances continue through December 13: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Exception: No show 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 21.

BUYING TICKETS

Single tickets to Home, I’m Darling are on sale now, priced $40–$100. Preview tickets are $40 - $63. Tickets to regular performances are $65 - $100. Prices vary based on performance date and seat location. Listed prices include fees. For tickets and information, visit timelinetheatre.com or call the TimeLine Box Office at (773) 281-8463 x1. 

Pay What You Will pricing is available for these previews: Wednesday, November 11, Thursday, November 12, and Friday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m. Student discount to all performances is 35% off regular price with valid ID. TimeLine is also a member of TCG’s Blue Star Theatre Program and is offering $30 tickets to U.S. military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their spouses and family. 

Ticket buyers ages 18-35 may join TimeLine’s free MyLine program to obtain access to discounted tickets, special events and more. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are also available.Visit timelinetheatre.com/discounts for more about available discounts.

COME EARLY, STAY LATE AT TIMELINE THEATRE’S NEW BAR & CAFE

TimeLine’s new Bar & Café is a central gathering place that welcomes you to the building, offering a cozy space to enjoy refreshments and conversation. Enjoy coffee, drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), and light snacks. The Bar & Café is now open Wednesdays through Fridays, 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. and Saturdays 12 p.m. - 11 p.m, with additional hours during performance weeks. For more including the menu, visit timelinetheatre.com/bar-cafe.

DISCUSSIONS

Pre-Show Discussions: Starting one hour before the performance, a 30-minute introductory conversation will be hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and the dramaturg on Tuesday, November 24, 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Post-Show Discussions: A brief, informal post-show discussion hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and featuring the dramaturg and members of the production team on Sunday, November 22; Thursday, December 3; and Thursday, December 10.

Company Member Discussion: A post-show discussion with the team of artists who choose TimeLine’s programming and guide the company’s mission on Wednesday, December 2.

Sunday Scholars Panel Discussion: A one-hour panel discussion featuring experts on the themes and issues of the play in a moderated discussion, following the performance on Sunday, December 6.

All discussions are free and open to the public.

ACCESSIBILITY

Captioned Performances: Open-captioned performances with a text display of words and sounds heard during performances are Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m.

Audio Described Performance: The performance on Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. will feature narration about visual elements of the production around the dialogue, available for individual patrons via headphones. 

ASL Interpreted Performance: The performance on Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. will be interpreted live in American Sign Language.

TIMELINE’S INAUGURAL 2026-27 SEASON AT ITS NEW HOME IN UPTOWN

Following Home, I’m Darling, TimeLine Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season continues with:

• The Chicago premiere of The Far Country by Lloyd Suh, directed by TimeLine Company Member Helen Young—a sweeping immigration epic and 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist exploring identity, sacrifice, and generational resilience in the shadow of exclusionary U.S. policy (February - March 2027).

• Merrily We Roll Along, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth, based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, directed by TimeLine Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling with music direction by Otto Vogel—a Tony Award–winning musical unfolding in reverse, tracing the shifting relationships and ambitions of three friends over two decades (April - May 2027).

See all three plays for yourself … from the best seats in the house! Save up to 25% off regular ticket prices and enjoy ultimate flexibility, priority access, and preferred reserved seating with a TimeLine FlexPass. Three- and four-admission options are now on sale, priced from $144 to $389. MyLine FlexPasses (exclusively for patrons age 18-35) are also available for $85 (after enrolling in TimeLine’s free MyLine program). For more information and to purchase, call (773) 281-8463 x1 or visit timelinetheatre.com.

TimeLine Theatre Company is thrilled to announce its 2026–27 Inaugural Season in the company’s first permanent home at 5035 N. Broadway in Uptown. This long‑awaited milestone launches a bold new era for TimeLine, inviting audiences to experience the company’s work in a dynamic, state‑of‑the‑art facility designed to enhance artistic possibilities and deepen community engagement for years to come. 

Coinciding with the company’s 30th Anniversary, this inaugural season in Uptown showcases four extraordinary productions that span continents, generations, and pivotal historical moments. Together, they invite audiences not only to engage with TimeLine’s signature mission—presenting plays that explore today’s social and political issues through the lens of the past—but to be among the very first to experience that mission come to life in TimeLine’s new home and see it for yourself.

TimeLine’s 2026–27 Subscription Season includes:

• The world premiere of The Birth of the Pill by Jessica Huang, based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago author Jonathan Eig, directed by Sandra Marquez—a bold and eye‑opening story about the controversial creation that reshaped women’s lives.

• The Chicago premiere of the Olivier Award-winning Home, I’m Darling by Laura Wade, directed by TimeLine Company Member Mechelle Moe—a sharp, dark comedy examining nostalgia, marriage, and the seductive fantasy of a “simpler” past.

• The Chicago premiere of The Far Country by Lloyd Suh, directed by TimeLine Company Member Helen Young—a sweeping immigration epic and 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist exploring identity, sacrifice, and generational resilience in the shadow of exclusionary U.S. policy.

• Merrily We Roll Along, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth, based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, directed by TimeLine Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling—a Tony Award–winning musical unfolding in reverse, tracing the shifting relationships and ambitions of three friends over two decades.

“I am thrilled beyond words to announce the first full season in our new home in Uptown,” said Artistic Director PJ Powers. “The fulfillment of a long-held dream, this dynamic new venue will elevate the work on stage, while also offering audiences the opportunity to engage further in our exhibit galleries and bar/café, to foster conversation, and to dig deeper into the timely issues explored in each of these plays.”

Powers continued: “This collection of plays and a musical, selected by TimeLine’s Company Members, exemplifies the enhanced artistic possibilities that our new home provides, allowing us to bring to life the remarkable musical Merrily We Roll Along, alongside three incredible new plays that probe history while provoking discussion, laughter, compassion, and curiosity. Welcoming award-winning, renowned artists, this inaugural season will further what’s distinguished TimeLine for the past 30 years, while ushering in a new era of theatre-making, community engagement, and conversations about the connections between past, present and future. We can’t wait to share these productions and start making new history together in Uptown.”

See it for yourself … from the best seats in the house! Save up to 25% off regular ticket prices and enjoy ultimate flexibility, priority access, and preferred reserved seating with a TimeLine FlexPass. Four options, priced from $189 to $389, are now on sale. MyLine FlexPasses (exclusively for patrons age 18-35) are also available for $85 (after enrolling in our free MyLine program). For more information and to purchase, call (773) 281-8463 x6 or visit timelinetheatre.com.

ABOUT TIMELINE THEATRE’S  2026–27 SUBSCRIPTION SEASON:

World Premiere

THE BIRTH OF THE PILL

by Jessica Huang

based on the book by Jonathan Eig

directed by Sandra Marquez

September – October 2026

The origin story of the birth control pill and an eye-opening world premiere about science, power, and the women who paid the price for progress.

In the mid‑20th century, a radical dream begins to take shape: a simple pill that would give women full control over their reproductive futures. Championing this groundbreaking idea are feminist activist Margaret Sanger, scientist Gregory Pincus, gynecologist John Rock, and philanthropist Katharine McCormick—visionaries working under intense secrecy amid legal, scientific, and religious roadblocks. Meanwhile, in Puerto Rico, clinical trials place the burden of experimentation on women like Ramona Delgado, whose lives and bodies become entangled in the quest for scientific advancement.

Commissioned and developed by TimeLine and based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Eig (King: A Life), this world premiere brings an untold chapter of global history to the stage, probing urgent questions about consent, sacrifice, and the complicated cost of social change.

The commission and development of The Birth of the Pill was supported in part by the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation.

Chicago Premiere

HOME, I’M DARLING

by Laura Wade

directed by Mechelle Moe

November – December 2026

A darkly funny exploration of marriage, nostalgia, and the allure—and delusion—of the “perfect” past.

Judy and Johnny are living their dream: the idealized 1950s suburban life. As Judy doubles down on her fully immersive retro domestic fantasy, the seams of their hyper-curated life begin to fray. What begins as a lifestyle choice becomes a revealing—and unsettling—interrogation of gender roles, identity, and what it costs to perform happiness.

A smash hit on the West End and winner of the 2019 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, Home, I’m Darling is a razor‑sharp satire that feels both timely and timeless.

Chicago Premiere

THE FAR COUNTRY

by Lloyd Suh

directed by Helen Young

February – March 2027

A sweeping, urgent, and deeply human epic about immigration, identity, and carving out a future in America.

In the wake of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Moon Gyet leaves his village in Taishan, China and travels to America, hoping to build a better life for his family. At San Francisco’s Angel Island immigration station, he enters a labyrinth of interrogation—where every answer, every detail, and every story could mean the difference between entry and deportation.

A 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist, The Far Country is a strikingly intimate and expansive examination of survival, displacement, and the fragile lineage of memory passed from one generation to the next.

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

book by George Furth

based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart

directed by Nick Bowling

April – May 2027

A bittersweet, Tony Award–winning musical about friendship, ambition, and the choices that shape a life—told entirely in reverse.

Spanning 20 years and moving backward through time, Merrily We Roll Along traces the unraveling of a once inseparable trio of friends and creative collaborators: composer Franklin Shepard, writer Charley Kringas, and novelist Mary Flynn. Beginning at the height of Franklin’s fame—wealthy, celebrated, and isolated—this innovative musical journeys back to the hopeful early days of their artistic dreams.

Featuring some of Stephen Sondheim’s most iconic songs, this cult favorite serves as a resonant capstone to TimeLine’s 30th Anniversary, echoing the company’s own origins as a group of passionate young theatre-makers asking: How did we get to be here?

Merrily We Roll Along received the 2024 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. It first premiered on Broadway in 1981. Featuring orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, it was originally directed on Broadway by Harold Prince and originally produced on Broadway by Lord Grade, Martin Starger, Robert Fryer, and Harold Prince in association with Ruth Mitchell and Howard Haines.

For nearly 30 years, TimeLine Theatre Company has been a vital force in Chicago’s arts scene, producing socially and politically relevant work inspired by history that engages audiences across the region. Building on this legacy, TimeLine has reimagined a former warehouse, converting it into a vibrant cultural destination that honors Uptown’s rich theatrical heritage while meeting modern performance needs. 

TimeLine will celebrate the Grand Opening of its new home at 5035 N. Broadway with its inaugural production, An Enemy of the People, May 6 – June 7, 2026. The new TimeLine Theatre more than doubles the company’s previous seating capacity, fosters community engagement, and creates spaces for both performances and public enjoyment.

Project highlights include:

• Total facility spanning 33,600 square feet, combining new construction and adaptive reuse
• 21,000 square feet of new construction along North Broadway
• 12,600 square feet of adaptive reuse of a 1920s Reebie Bros. warehouse for production support and offices
• Flexible 250-seat black box theater with seven stage configurations and advanced acoustic and staging systems
• Street-level bar and café with patio, exhibit galleries, and education/community room
• Publicly visible fourth-floor rehearsal and event space
• Back-of-house spaces organized around a central Green Room intended as a living room for staff, artists, and collaborators
• Located steps away from the newly renovated Argyle CTA Red Line station
• Adjacent space available for future expansion

Since launching It’s Time: The Campaign for TimeLine’s New Home, TimeLine has successfully raised more than $42.9 million toward the approximately $46 million project cost, including $12.9 million in public support ($2.9 million from the State of Illinois, $10 million from the City of Chicago), and funds from more than 200 generous individual donors.

ABOUT TIMELINE THEATRE COMPANY

TimeLine Theatre Company, recipient of the 2016 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, was founded in 1997 with a mission to present stories inspired by history that connect to today’s social and political issues. Now celebrating its 29th Anniversary Season, TimeLine has presented 97 productions, including 16 world premieres and 44 Chicago premieres, and launched the Living History Education Program, which brings the company's mission to life for students in Chicago Public Schools. Recipient of the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence and the Richard Goodman Strategic Planning Award from the Association for Strategic Planning, TimeLine has received 62 Jeff Awards, including an award for Outstanding Production 11 times.

TimeLine is led by Artistic Director PJ Powers, Executive Director Mica Cole, and Board President Thaddeus J. Malik. TimeLine Company members are Will Allan, Nick Bowling, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Behzad Dabu, Charles Andrew Gardner, Lara Goetsch, Juliet Hart, Anish Jethmalani, Mildred Marie Langford, Mechelle Moe, David Parkes, Ron OJ Parson, PJ Powers, Maren Robinson, and Helen Young.

Major corporate, government and foundation donors providing season support via TimeLine’s Annual Fund include Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, Bayless Family Foundation, Bulley & Andrews LLC, Crown Family Philanthropies, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation, Laughing Acres Family Foundation, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and Walder Foundation. TimeLine also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

For more information, visit timelinetheatre.com, or Facebook or Instagram (@TimeLineTheatre on both platforms).