Chicagoans can find a range of plays, musicals and dance shows at local theaters large and small. Our guide has the latest on what’s on stage in the city.
Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment on stage at Chicago’s theaters. From local productions to Broadway hits, our guide has the latest on shows in the city. Bookmark this page and check back for updates and ticket information. WHAT: “Songs for Nobodies” is Joanna Murray-Smith’s one-woman tour-de-force that celebrates the iconic work of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Maria Callas. Bethany Thomas stars in the story of the unexpected encounters between these divas and the ordinary women whose lives they changed. Rob Lindley directs. WHEN: From Sept.23-Oct.31 WHERE: Northlight Theatre at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts,9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. TICKETS: $30-$89 VISIT: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit northlight.org. WHAT: Chef Rick Bayless teams up with Windy City Playhouse for “A Recipe for Disaster,” an immersive experience. Bayless, artistic director Amy Rubenstein and associate artistic director Carl Menninger created the farcical play which revolves around a trendy restaurant where everything that could go wrong does. Audiences will sample cocktails, wine and food created by Bayless. David H. Bell directs. WHEN: Performances begin Oct.6 in an open-ended run. WHERE: staged at the Club Level at Petterino’s,150 N. Dearborn. TICKETS: $90-$130. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit windycityplayhouse.com. WHAT: Shakespeare meets The Beatles in Daryl Cloran’s adaptation of the classic romantic comedy “As You Like It.” Cloran, who also directs, sets the play in the ‘60s and infuses it with the music of the Beatles. More than 20 musical numbers from the Fab Four’s songbook are performed by a cast led by Lakeisha Renee as Rosalind and Liam Quealy as Orlando. WHEN: From Oct.6-Nov.21 WHERE: Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier,800 E. Grand TICKETS: $49-$90. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit chicagoshakes.com. WHAT: PrideArts presents Peter Quilter’s “4000 Days,” a comedy-drama about a man who wakes up from a three-week coma and finds he remembers nothing from the past 11 years including his relationship with his partner; directed by Jay Espano. WHEN: From Oct.1-31 WHERE: The Broadway, Pride Arts Center,4139 N. Broadway TICKETS: $30. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit pridearts.org WHAT: The Second City’s 109th revue, not yet titled, is a comedic examination of how we’re all striving to find joy in a seemingly never-ending stream of apocalyptic change from conspiracy theories to social anxiety to navigating the current political landscape. WHEN: Presented in an open-ended run beginning Sept.30 WHERE: The Second City,1616 N. Wells TICKETS: $29-$55 VISIT: For more information on the festival and updated information regarding the Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, secondcity.com/chicago-shows/ WHAT: The “Rent 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour” is the last chance to catch this celebrated touring production. Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award-winning musical follows a diverse group of artists and friends struggling to follow their dreams. It’s the first production to open to a live audience in a Broadway in Chicago theater in more than a year. WHEN: From Oct.5-10 WHERE: CIBC Theatre,18 W. Monroe TICKETS: $25+ VISIT: For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit broadwayinchicago.com. Vicki Quade’s “Holy Ghost Bingo: God, Goblins & Games” returns Oct.1-31 at the Greenhouse Theater Center,2257 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $35. Visit greenhousetheater.org. Black Ensemble Theater’s cabaret series begins with “The Feel Good Musical Revue” at 8 p.m. Oct.1-2 and 3 p.m. Oct.3 at Black Ensemble Theater,4450 N. Clark. Tickets: $45. Visit blackensembletheater.org. The House Theatre of Chicago’s 10-part “Dracula: A Serial Audio Play” begins Oct.1 with new episodes each week. Streams free at thehousetheatre.com. Broken Nose Theatre presents an audio adaptation of its hit 2019 family drama “Kingdom.” Streams (pay-what-you-can) from Oct.4-24 at brokennosetheatre.com. Winifred Haun & Dancers premiere a new work, “When day comes,” and other dances including “Your nearest exit may be behind you,” “Bento” and “Finding the Light” at 7:30 p.m. Oct.1-2 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts,1016 N. Dearborn. Tickets: $24, $35. Visit winifredhaun.org. The experimental company Zephyr Dance performs “Recurrences,” a re-staged, shortened reconstruction of elements from its piece “Allowances and Occurrences.” At 7:30 p.m. Oct.2 and 9 at The Martin,2500 W. Chicago. Tickets: $10. Visit zephyrdance.com. The Chicago Tap Summit, M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ annual celebration of tap, includes classes, panels, performances and more. From Oct.1-3 at Harold Washington Cultural Center,4701 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. Ticket prices vary. Visit maddrhythms.com. WHAT: Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival returns Sept.23-Oct.17 with its always diverse roster featuring works from Chicago and around the world. The performances, in addition to the Goodman Theatre’s staging of “American Mariachi,” performed at a various venues are Lagartijas Tirades al Sol’s “Tijuana” (Sept.23-26), which asks the question: What does democracy mean in Mexico today?; Teatro Tariakuri’s “La manera como luces esta noche” (Sept.25-Oct.,17), a comedic fairy tale about a princess and the commoner who loves her; Combat Hippies’ “AMAL” (Sept.30-Oct.3), an examination of the impact of war; Casa de Teatro’s “Mal de Amores” (Oct.
