A man and woman stand closely together on a balcony at night, looking into each others eyes. They are dressed formally, with brick walls and shadows in the background, suggesting a dramatic or romantic scene.

Music Theater Works Captures the Majestic Scope of “West Side Story” This production of Leonard Bernstein’s classic goes big in every way, featuring tremendous singers and actors, fabulous costumes, explosive choreography and a nimble twenty-two-piece orchestra.

Mary Wisniewski August 20, 2026

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A large crowd gathers at an outdoor amphitheater in a city, seated and standing near the stage under a steel canopy, with skyscrapers and trees in the background.

Broadway in Chicago’s Millennium Park Summer Concert Previews Their 2026-27 Season The evening of performances gave Chicago audiences a sampling of the productions that will appear on the company's stages in the year to come.

Dennis Polkow August 19, 2026

A person with long dark hair partially covering their face holds their hair with one hand. They are wearing a black sleeveless top and have a feather tattoo on their upper arm. The background is plain and light.

Understanding Rage: Haas’ “The Anger Project” Comes to Bim Bom Studios “I start with anger because it’s the most taboo.”

Sharon Hoyer August 18, 2026

A large group of people pose and smile together in a cozy room with bookshelves, decorative ceiling, and warm lighting. Most are casually dressed and relaxed as they look at the camera.

Let Composers Rock Instrumental Theatre Company introduces the Chicago Theatre Composers Club.

Robert Eric Shoemaker August 17, 2026

FEATURED STORIES

A woman in old-fashioned clothing holds a broom and stands in front of a white sheet, with a man’s shadow cast behind her. Beside her is a wooden rocking chair, a chest, and a portrait on the wall.

Gwydion Reclaims the Risk-Taking Heritage of Chicago Storefront Theater These recent transplants represent a new generation of theater artists who have chosen this city based on its reputation as a place open to brash, bright young thespians willing to do their own thing on their own terms.

Two performers, one wearing a large theatrical mask and carrying a suitcase, embrace warmly on a dimly lit stage with dark brick walls in the background.

From Dance to Circus: A Riotous Journey with Physical Theater Festival The annual festival brings many performance types under its umbrella.

A barefoot man in a black outfit and cap sits with arms crossed on a large stone, with one leg extended and the other bent, against a plain concrete wall background.

Round and About: The Driehaus Dance of Brendan Fernandes Fernandes’ practice encompasses just about any medium you can name—dance, sculpture and design, textiles and fashion, photography and film—and is often in conversation with the spaces that contain it.

A man with gray hair wearing a blue suit jacket stands against a blue brick wall, looking at the camera with his hand partially covering his mouth.

The Science Behind “Theater of the Mind” David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar's immersive theater project combines neuroscience experiments, art and storytelling.

Smiling woman with long braided hair wears a red leather vest over a patterned shirt, large earrings, and jewelry, standing against a white background.

Comedian Kellye Howard Doesn’t Mess Around With MS Howard's nonprofit helps people with multiple sclerosis find a way to laugh through the pain and live for today.

Carl Kozlowski August 14, 2026

Squares of translucent material with embedded objects are attached to a wall, illuminated by green and blue reflections that resemble water or nature scenes. The atmosphere is calm and artistic.

It Was a Pleasure To Burn Non:op’s "Inventory of Lost Books" immerses itself in design and abstraction.

Robert Eric Shoemaker August 12, 2026

Two dancers in flowing burgundy and rose costumes pose gracefully against a gray background, one leaning back with her skirt flared, the other supporting her, both displaying expressive movement and emotion.

Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project Honors Legacy Bearers in Dancing the Archive at the Harris Theater "We’ve been through this before. We've been through erasure. We’re asking the legacy bearers how they got through it."

Sharon Hoyer August 11, 2026

Five actors perform on a dimly lit stage, with two kneeling and embracing at center. A couch, props, and dramatic lighting set an emotional, theatrical scene.

Broadway in Chicago’s “The Notebook” Shows Love Through the Ages Bring a tissue to this retelling of a modern classic at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, which adds details that greatly expand the experience.

Tristan Bruns August 10, 2026

Two men in suits stand in a room with arched ceilings, facing a seated woman. Another person sits in the background at a table. The scene is dimly lit with lamps and chandeliers.

Gift Theatre’s “Marble” Starts Strong Before Going Cold and Hard Endings are never easy, but rarely does a play that begins so well move so decisively in the wrong direction as does Marina Carr’s 2009 work, an Irish dramedy that’s almost salvaged by a quartet of powerful performances.

Hugh Iglarsh August 7, 2026