There are more than 250 theatre companies in Chicago, the city hailed by London’s The Guardian as “the theatre capital of America.” That includes some of the famous stages downtown, plus dozens more scattered throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods. And while they may be small in size, there’s nothing little about the drama they unleash.
Here’s a list of some of the best neighborhood theatres in Chicago.
Court Theatre
Court Theatre in the stunning Hyde Park neighborhood is known for taking classic American works, then adapting and expanding them. You’ll find reinventions of lost masterpieces and fresh versions of old classics, with a particular emphasis on African American works. Founded in 1955, Court Theatre is the professional theatre of the revered University of Chicago.
Porchlight Music Theatre
This award-winning center for music theatre brings the magic of musicals to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in the city’s Gold Coast neighborhood. The casts at Porchlight Music Theatre are usually anchored by a song ‘n dance vet, surrounded by an ensemble of younger, emerging talent. The result is shows that invariably knock the audience’s collective socks right off.
Black Ensemble Theater
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Black Ensemble Theater show where the audience isn’t on its feet dancing by the curtain call. Artistic Director Jackie Taylor pens most of the theatre’s juke-box biographies of legendary (or undersung) African American composers and performers. Wear shoes you can move in. You will be dancing by the final number.
TimeLine Theatre
TimeLine Theatre Company‘s formidable power rests in its ensemble, a group that can shape the most obscure slices of history into storytelling that is vivid, urgent, and resonant. TimeLine has garnered awards for bringing to life everything from 16th century England to 21st century Iraq.
A Red Orchid Theatre
Guy Van Swearingen founded A Red Orchid Theatre in between fighting fires (his day job is Lieutenant with the CFD) and with longtime collaborators Michael Shannon and Kirstin Fitzgerald. Over the past two decades, the company has made an indelible mark staging works that aren’t necessarily well known, but that suck you in with the force of a riptide.
Theater Wit
There’s a trio of 98-seat theatres inside Theater Wit, making the place an ever-buzzing hive of artistry. Located in the bustling Belmont Theater District, Theater Wit shows skew toward innovative, provocative, and whipsmart contemporary works and Midwest premieres.
The Gift Theatre
The Gift in Jefferson Park has been telling great stories with honesty and simplicity for over 20 years. Founded by Michael Patrick Thornton, the space is home to new works and classics delivered with ferocity, verve, and authenticity.
Theo Ubique
A triumph of storytelling over spectacle is the hallmark of Theo Ubique. Artistic Director Fred Anzevino takes big, Broadway musicals and strips them down to their emotional essence. Expect to be part of the set, literally. The actors sing and dance around cabaret tables where the audience is seated. 721 Howard St., Evanston, IL
Tip: Come early for dinner, served by the cast
Visit ChicagoPlays.com to see what exciting productions are on stage while you’re here. Plus, be sure to check Hot Tix for half-price theatre tickets to many shows in Chicago.
