Chicago Shows

Learn More About Chicago Shows

Chicago has one of richest theater histories of anywhere in the US outside of Broadway itself, and the city has left its own unique mark on theater.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier might be the best way to see productions of plays from history’s best-known writers. The company puts on its shows in a number of different venues on Chicago’s lakefront. Their largest venue, the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater, is meant to evoke the Bard’s famous Globe Theater. The seating wraps around the stage on three different levels, and the audience is never more than 30 feet from the stage. Chicago Shakespeare also performs at a configurable theater called The Yard, which can be easily rearranged, and they put on Shakespeare in the Parks shows during the summer. Their producing season can include up to 19 different plays.

Chicago is home to a number of other well-known acting troupes. One, The Neo-Futurists, performed the longest running show in Chicago. Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind ran for 50 weekends a year from 1988 to 2016. The performers acted out 30 short shows in 60 minutes. After the end of Too Much Light, the Neo-Futurists debuted a new show, called The Infinite Wrench. The new show follows the same format--with the performers delivering a barrage of short plays. Audience members are assigned a team color, and the goal is to have all of your color’s plays performed. The winning color gets a team photo.

Of course, Chicago has many famous theaters, including The Goodman Theatre, which is part of Chicago’s oldest non-profit theater group. The Goodman opened in 1925 and is famous for its annual production of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which plays every December. Broadway in Chicago operates the CIBC Theater, which is the main home of Broadway plays in Chicago. The theater is hosting a resident production of Hamilton until mid-2018.