Get ready to have the time of your life! Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce that single tickets for DIRTY DANCING: THE MUSICAL – a new stage production based on Lionsgate’s beloved film Dirty Dancing – are now on sale. DIRTY DANCING: THE MUSICAL will play Broadway In Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) for a limited two-week engagement, September 9 – 20.

Set against the unforgettable summer of 1963, DIRTY DANCING: THE MUSICAL follows Frances “Baby” Houseman as she discovers love, passion, and independence through her relationship with charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle. With live music from the original film, DIRTY DANCING: THE MUSICAL is the feel-good escape audiences have been craving, alive with the pulse of electrified dancing, the thrill of secret encounters, and the allure of forbidden romance.

DIRTY DANCING: THE MUSICAL will be directed by Tony Award^® nominee, Obie Award^® winner, and two-time Emmy Award^® winner Lonny Price (Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd), who played Neil Kellerman in the original Dirty Dancing film, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie (Fat Ham, Beyonce’s World Tour). Bringing to the stage the celebrated story from Eleanor Bergstein — the original screenwriter of the film — the musical captures the pulse, romance, and youthful urgency that have defined Dirty Dancing for nearly four decades. This follows Lionsgate’s announcement that the Dirty Dancing sequel starring Jennifer Grey – from The Hunger Games producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson– will begin production this year.

With a fresh creative approach to the timeless love story, this new production will tour North America with an aim to reconnect audiences with the heart, heat, and rebellious spirit that made Dirty Dancing a worldwide sensation.

Dirty Dancing is an enduring cultural phenomenon that began with the iconic film that grossed over $200 million at the worldwide box office and went on to launch two multiplatinum soundtrack albums, numerous #1 hit singles, won an Academy Award^® for Best Original Song and a Grammy^® Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The original film is one of Lionsgate’s all-time best-selling library titles. This new North American stage tour aims to honor that legacy while reinventing the live experience for a new era.

DIRTY DANCING: THE MUSICAL is produced by The Path Entertainment Group in conjunction with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions.

The creative team includes set design by Brett J. Banakis, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by two-time Tony Award® winner Kai Harada, and video design by David Bengali. Casting is by The TRC Company / Claire Burke, CSA & Peter Van Dam, CSA, with music supervision and arrangements by Joseph Joubert. Alchemy Production Group serves as General Manager.

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PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, September 9 – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 10 – 1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Friday, September 11 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 12 – 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 13 – 1:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 15 – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 16 – 1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 17 – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, September 18 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 19 – 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 20 – 1:00 p.m.

TICKET INFORMATION (As of July 13, based on availability and subject to change)
Individual tickets for DIRTY DANCING: THE MUSICAL are on sale now and range from $40.00 - $135.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Ticket price listed is when purchased in person at the box office. Additional fees apply for online purchases. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 26 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, The Auditorium, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.
 

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
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Under the leadership of Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director Avery Willis Hoffman and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, Court Theatre proudly presents the Spotlight Reading Series. The Spotlight Reading Series will run from Friday, August 7, through Saturday, August 22, at venues throughout Chicago. Curated by Director of Engagement Kamilah Rashied, this is the tenth anniversary of the acclaimed and transformative program created by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson in 2016.

"This year's Spotlight Reading Series is a legacy project," shares Rashied. "It honors Court's Resident Artist, Ron OJ Parson, who began this acclaimed program ten years ago. It celebrates a century of Black artistry and activism that has shaped our nation. And it is a love letter to the resilience, resistance, creativity, and innovation of the city of Chicago—Black Chicago, specifically."

Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director Avery Willis Hoffman adds: "The Spotlight Reading Series is an exceptional example of how we at Court put the classics in conversation with our current times. Activating a variety of artistic mediums, texts, and formats, Spotlight is an invitation to engage—with us, with each other, with history, with our city, and with art itself—and ideate our collective future. As America marks 250 years, this program represents civic discourse at its best."

Featuring the most ambitious programming to date, this year's landmark Spotlight Reading Series is organized around the theme "A Century of Black Progress." The tenth-anniversary celebration arrives on the heels of the centennial of Black History Month, which began in 1926 as Negro History Week, and looks ahead to the conclusion of August Wilson's American Century Cycle with Court Theatre's 2027 production of Joe Turner's Come and Gone.

By weaving together the past, present, and future of Black storytelling through a series of immersive events, the Spotlight Reading Series celebrates the soul of Chicago's cultural ecosystem and pays tribute to one hundred years of cultural excellence and resilience.

This year's Spotlight Reading Series is comprised of the following events:

• Friday, August 7: It's Nation Time: An Evening of Black Cinema
• Sunday, August 9: Kuumba Theatre Archive Unfurling
• Wednesday, August 12: Staged Reading of August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned, featuring Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson
• Thursday, August 13: A Womanist Trilogy: Hurston, Richards, and Kennedy
• Friday, August 14: are you ready to smash white things? by Ireon Roach, a collaboration with Definition Theatre
• Saturday, August 15: Praise and Protest Exhibition Tour
• Saturday, August 15: Harsh Readers Circle
• Wednesday, August 19: Blackstone Book Club
• Saturday, August 22: The Chicago Critics Circles

All events are free and open to the public, and reservations are required. Reservations can be made online atCourtTheatre.org or by calling the Box Office at (773) 753-4472.

Accompanying the live events of the Spotlight Reading Series, Court Theatre—in partnership with Aaron Mays, Tribble, and Respair Media—is proud to present Spotlight Turns Ten, the Spotlight Reading Series companion podcast. Reflecting on the history of the Spotlight Reading Series and a century of Black progress and creativity, Spotlight Turns Ten will feature artists, creatives, and Court collaborators who have contributed to the series over the past decade.

The Spotlight Reading Series is presented in partnership with Arts + Public Life at the University of Chicago, Chicago Public Library, Definition Theatre, and the University of Chicago's Film Studies Center.

It's Nation Time: An Evening of Black Cinema

Experience the power of Black liberation cinema through William Greaves's Nationtime and Skip Norman's Cultural Nationalism—a vital double feature that explores the depth, defiance, and diverse aesthetics of Black liberation cinema and captures the relentless pursuit of self-determination. Presented in partnership with the University of Chicago's Film Studies Center.

Date:                            Friday, August 7, 2026

Time:                            6:30pm Doors, 7:00pm Screening

Location:                       Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, Room 201 (915 E 60th St, Chicago,

IL 60637)

Participant:                   Dr. Aymar Jèan "AJ" Escoffery (lecturer)

Kuumba Theatre Archive Unfurling

Discover the radical legacy of Chicago's Black Arts Movement at this exclusive Harold Washington Library archival unfurling event. Drawing from Special Collections that showcase the Kuumba Workshop, a revolutionary theatre company founded in 1969 by Val Gray Ward to pioneer "ritual theatre" as a tool for community liberation. Attendees will get an up-close look at original photographs and ephemera that celebrate Kuumba's enduring blueprint for Black art as activism. Presented in partnership with Chicago Public Library.

Date:                            Sunday, August 9, 2026

Time:                            2:00pm

Location:                       Harold Washington Library Center Reading Room (400 S State St, Chicago, IL

60605)

Participants:                 Pemon Rami (guest speaker), Nix Mendy (archivist facilitator), Johanna Russ

(archivist facilitator)

How I Learned What I Learned by August Wilson, Featuring Ron OJ Parson

Experience a legendary theatrical collision as acclaimed director and Court Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson steps onstage to portray the master playwright in August Wilson's autobiographical solo masterpiece, How I Learned What I Learned. Presented as a one-night-only event for Court Theatre's 2026 Spotlight Reading Series 10th Anniversary Festival.

Date:                            Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Time:                            6:00pm Doors, 6:30pm Reading

Location:                       Rubenstein Forum, Friedman Hall (1201 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637)

Creative Team:             Aaron Mays (director), Charles Andrew Gardner (associate director)

Cast:                            Ron OJ Parson (actor)

A Womanist Trilogy: Hurston, Richards, and Kennedy

Experience an extraordinary triple feature with A Womanist Trilogy: Hurston, Richards, and Kennedy. This powerful evening unites Zora Neale Hurston's Color Struck, Beah Richards's A Black Woman Speaks, and Adrienne Kennedy's She Talks to Beethoven to explore the interior lives of Black women. Moving from rural folk drama and fiery poetry to avant-garde surrealism, this vital trilogy offers a breathtaking testament to the enduring power of Black feminist voices in American theater across the 20th century.

Date:                            Thursday, August 13, 2026

Time:                            6:00pm Doors, 6:30pm Reading

Location:                       Rubenstein Forum, Friedman Hall (1201 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637)

Creative Team:             Kemati Janice Porter (director)

are you ready to smash white things? by Ireon Roach

Join us for a thrilling staged reading of are you ready to smash white things? by multi-talented Chicago artist and playwright Ireon Roach, a celebrated former winner of Definition Theatre's Amplify series. This fierce, brilliant, and deeply contemporary work uses sharp wit and unflinching honesty to interrogate institutions, dismantle systemic structures, and explore the visceral realities of Black liberation and identity. Presented in partnership with Definition Theatre.

Date:                            Friday, August 14, 2026

Time:                            6:00pm Doors, 6:30pm Reading

Location:                       Rubenstein Forum, Friedman Hall (1201 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637)

Creative Team:             Ireon Roach (playwright), Charlique C. Rolle (director), Tyrone Phillips

(post-show moderator)

Praise and Protest Exhibition Tour

The exhibition Praise and Protest: Voices of the Chicago Black Renaissance invites visitors to explore a transformative cultural movement told through the rare archival records of the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection. This interactive gallery tour honors the extraordinary artists, scholars, and activists who reshaped American culture from the 1930s through the 1950s. This exhibition shines a light on understudied aspects of Black history and artistry whose seminal explorations of Black life remain as timely as they are extraordinary. Presented in partnership with Chicago Public Library.

Date:                            Saturday, August 15, 2026

Time:                            11:00am (Lunch provided from 1:00pm - 2:00pm)

Location:                       Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection at the Woodson Regional Library (9525 S

Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60628)

Participants:                  Courtney Becks (facilitator), Raquel Flores-Clemons (archivist facilitator)

Harsh Readers Circle

For 40 years, the Harsh Readers Circle has met monthly at the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, located inside the Woodson Regional Library. Inspired by the legacy of Vivian G. Harsh herself, this staple book club is dedicated to reading and discussing the finest works of Black fiction and non-fiction. Join the Circle for this special convening as they explore their August selection: A Street in Bronzeville, the groundbreaking debut book of poetry by Chicago's own Gwendolyn Brooks. Presented in partnership with Chicago Public Library.

Date:                            Saturday, August 15, 2026

Time:                            2:00pm (Lunch provided from 1:00pm - 2:00pm)

Location:                       Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection at the Woodson Regional Library (9525 S

Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60628)

Participants:                  Courtney Becks (facilitator)

Blackstone Book Club

Court Theatre's Community Reads Series bridges page and stage by inviting audiences to explore foundational literature that mirrors the theatrical season. Anchoring the Spotlight Reading Series 10th Anniversary Festival, this year's book club selection is Harvey Young and Queen Meccasia Zabriskie's groundbreaking text, Black Theater is Black Life: An Oral History of Chicago Theater and Dance, 1970-2010. Filling a critical gap in the history of African American culture in Chicago, the book weaves together interviews with prominent artists who have shaped the city's cultural landscape over decades. Presented in partnership with Chicago Public Library.

Date:                            Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Time:                            5:30pm

Location:                       Blackstone Branch of the Chicago Public Library (4904 S Lake Park Ave,

Chicago, IL 60615)

Participants:                 Adia Sykes (facilitator)

The Chicago Critics Circles

Part I: Black Authorship

Co-presented in partnership with Arts + Public Life, this roundtable talk frames Black publications as vital sites of cultural production, political imagination, and narrative control. By examining how independent media, literary institutions, and emerging platforms document and interpret Black life, the panel highlights a crucial legacy of self-determination. This timely convening directly advances the Spotlight Festival theme through the essential lens of narrative sovereignty. Presented in partnership with Arts + Public Life.

Date:                            Saturday, August 22, 2025

Time:                            2:00pm

Location:                       Green Line Performing Arts Center (329 E Garfield Blvd,

Chicago, IL 60637)

Participants:                 Adrienne Brown (moderator), Donna Rose Weems (speaker)

Part II: Claiming Space

Co-presented in partnership with Arts + Public Life, this roundtable explores how physical and social spaces act as incubators for Black cultural life and resistance. In a roundtable conversation, panelists will investigate how these environments are intentionally created, stewarded, and preserved. Presented in partnership with Arts + Public Life.

Date:                            Saturday, August 22, 2025

Time:                            4:00pm

Location:                       Green Line Performing Arts Center (329 E Garfield Blvd,

Chicago, IL 60637)

Participants:                 Tara Betts (speaker)

Winner of the 2022 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Court Theatre reimagines classic theatre to illuminate our current times. In residence at the University of Chicago and on Chicago's historic South Side, we engage our audiences with intimate and provocative experiences that inspire deeper exploration of the enduring questions that confront humanity and connect us as people.

Nonesuch Records releases Natalie Merchant’s Cabinet of Wonder—a digital collection of seventeen songs and accompanying videos from the acclaimed singer-songwriter’s collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Chicago Children’s Theatre (CCT)—on August 21, 2026. The seventeen songs on Cabinet of Wonder reimagine Mother Goose and her rhymes for a new generation of young children through modern interpretations of the classic children’s canon and three originals by Merchant—performed by Merchant, musicians from the CSO and special guests—in orchestral arrangements by Megan Gould.  Two songs from the album, “Little Miss Muffet” and “Peter Pumpkin Eater,” along with their videos, are available today.

All of the music was recorded at Chicago’s Electrical Audio with Grammy-winning chief audio engineer Ryan Freeland. Over the seventeen-track collection, myriad musical styles and instruments are introduced to young ears, from the elegant chamber arrangement of “Little Nut Tree” to the brassy Dixieland jazz of “Little Miss Muffet,” the Calypso swing of “Humpty Dumpty” to the Celtic rollick of “Hickory Dickory Dock” and the danceable “The Queen of Hearts.” Music videos highlight performances by Merchant, musicians from the CSO, shadow puppetry by the Chicago-based theater group Manual Cinema, and a cast of twenty-four Chicago children recruited from Chicago Children’s Theatre’s education program.

Designed as a free enrichment program that introduces music, poetry, and the dramatic arts to young children, Cabinet of Wonder represents three years of behind-the-scenes work among the project’s collaborators and the culmination of Natalie’s four decades of involvement in children’s arts and education. Merchant has been drawn to working with children since she was in high school and has continued to work with them throughout her life. But the seed for Cabinet of Wonder began germinating eight years ago, during Merchant’s time as artist-in-residence at an upstate New York Head Start preschool program. During her three years there, she began writing songs based on the classic nursery rhymes she had learned from her mother and had passed on to her daughter. Realizing the centuries-old verses could become powerful teaching tools, she built lessons around their delightful language and absurd imagery. 

“I wanted to find a way to share all that joyful learning I was witnessing,” she says. “I found wonderful partners in the CSO and Chicago Children’s Theatre. They assembled a remarkable team of creative collaborators, and together, we devised a way to do just that.”

“I’ve reached the point in my life where I’m considering what I’ll leave behind. I believe Cabinet of Wonder will be my legacy; every skill that I've acquired over the last forty-five years has gone into this project,” says Merchant—who not only composed, sang, and acted (a dual role as Mother Goose and a librarian-teacher figure named Miss Natalie) but also designed and stitched the costumes, wrote teaching guides, edited the videos with post-production company Abstrakt, and oversaw creative direction for its content-rich website. The site makes available to all, at no charge, all the rhymes, music, photographs, videos, sheet music, teaching guides, and other resources.

After a year of successful pilot programs in Chicago Public Schools (which culminated in concerts with Merchant for 3,000 children at Symphony Center in Chicago), the model is now ready for other school systems and orchestras to replicate.

Releasing in late summer, the digital album brings this unprecedented public arts project to a wider audience. In support, Merchant will spend the 2026-27 school year in partnership with the National Head Start Association, leading teacher training sessions, conducting site visits, attending educational conferences, and collaborating with early childhood education divisions of public and private schools, as the program launches nationwide. 

Cabinet of Wonder

Cabinet of Wonder (theme song)

Who is Mother Goose?

Humpty Dumpty

Peter Pumpkin Eater

Little Miss Muffet

Old King Cole

Little Nut Tree

Hickory Dickory Dock

Hey Diddle Diddle

The Queen of Hearts

Jack Be Nimble

Jack Sprat

The Cuckoo

Mary Had a Pretty Bird

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

A Crooked Man

Rhyming Town

The Goodbye Song

Over her forty-year career, Natalie Merchant has attained a place among America’s most respected recording artists.  She has earned a reputation for being a songwriter of quality and a captivating stage performer and has distinguished herself as a social justice and environmental activist.  Merchant began her musical career as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the pop music band 10,000 Maniacs and released six albums—including one platinum, two double-platinum, and one triple-platinum records—with the group: The Wishing Chair (1985), In My Tribe (1987), Blind Man's Zoo (1989), Hope Chest (1990), Our Time in Eden (1992), and 10,000 Maniacs MTV Unplugged (1993). Merchant left the band in 1994 and has subsequently released nine albums as a solo artist with combined sales of seven million copies: Tigerlily (1995), Ophelia (1998), Natalie Merchant Live (1999), Motherland (2001), The House Carpenter’s Daughter (2003), Leave Your Sleep (2010), Natalie Merchant (2014), Paradise Is There (2015), Butterfly (2017), and Keep Your Courage (2023).

Merchant has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Billy Bragg, Gavin Bryars, David Byrne, The Chieftains, Cowboy Junkies, Philip Glass, Kronos Quartet, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mavis Staples, REM, and Wilco.  She served on the New York State Council on the Arts from 2007–2011 at the appointment of Governor Elliot Spitzer and was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center by New York State Senator Leader Chuck Schumer. Merchant’s awards include: The Library Lion Award from the New York Public Library (2011), The American Society of Authors Composers & Publishers (ASCAP) Champion Award (2019), and The John Lennon Real Love Award (2019). More information about Merchant’s career and philanthropic work may be found here.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a global artistic leader, hailed as one of the most esteemed ensembles in classical music. Founded in 1891, the Orchestra cultivates the future of music while building upon its legacy. The CSO's acclaimed musicians command a deep, evolving repertoire, sharing their famous sound with music lovers in hundreds of concerts annually in Chicago and on tour throughout the United States and around the globe, as well as in its weekly syndicated radio broadcasts and a catalog of celebrated recordings. Through its Negaunee Music Institute, the CSO produces programming that nurtures lifelong engagement with music, including an ever-expanding suite of education concerts for young people, in-depth school partnerships and innovative online learning resources.

Founded in 2005, the critically acclaimed Chicago Children’s Theatre focuses on the production of first-rate children’s theatre in Chicago, with top writing, performing, and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise. The company has built a national reputation for new work, producing 24 world premieres including Carmela Full of Wishes, Milo Imagines the World, Last Stop on Market Street, and Go Dog Go! • Ve Perro ¡Ve!. Chicago Children’s Theatre also produces The Red Kite Project, a multi-sensory interactive theatre program tailored specifically to the needs of children on the autism spectrum. In 2017, Chicago Children’s Theatre became the first theater for young audiences in the nation to win a National Theatre Award from the American Theatre Wing, creators of the Tony Awards. Chicago Children’s Theatre aspires to enrich its community through diverse and significant theatrical and educational programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us. 

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is committed to the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in school and in life. The opportunities offered by Head Start lead to healthier and empowered children and families and stronger, more vibrant communities. NHSA is the voice for more than 750,000 children, 250,000 staff and more than 1,600 Head Start grant recipients in the United States.

For more information, please visit publicity.noneusuch.com or contact:

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For international enquiries, please contact:

Matthew Rankin, matthew.rankin@nonesuch>

For information about the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, please contact:

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For information about Chicago Children's Theatre, please contact:

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Oil Lamp Theater, currently presenting The Last Five Years, now extended through July 19, is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its next production, I Love You Because, August 14 - September 13, book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, music by Joshua Salzman and orchestrations by Larry Hochman, directed by Scott Shallenbarger and music directed by Aaron Kahn, at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road. The schedule includes two preview performances Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Aug. 15 at 3 p.m., with an opening performance Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m. (Understudy Performance); Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesday Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $30 for previews and $55 for the run at OilLampTheater.org.  

Modern dating is a mess. Sometimes to find Mr. Right you need to find Mr. Wrong – even if that means seeing someone stuck on their ex, awkward encounters of the intimate kind and lots of bad coffee dates. Opposites attract in this feel-good musical that will transport you into the heart of your favorite guilty pleasure rom-com. Created by acclaimed musical team Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman and inspired by Jane Austen’s gold-standard romance novel “Pride and Prejudice,” this delightful modern musical will make you fall head over heels.

The cast of I Love You Because includes Aiden McCoy (any with respect, Austin Bennet); Maxwell J DeTogne (any with respect, Jeff Bennet); Hannah Kipp  (she/her, Marcy Fitzwilliams); Kristin Brintnall (she/her, Diana Bingley); Daria Koon (she/they, NYC Woman); Tommy Rothwells (he/him, NYC Man); Freddy Mauricio (he/him, Austin Bennet U/S); Nic Eastlund (he/him, Jeff Bennet U/S); Kaitie Bonds (she/her, Marcy Fitzwilliams U/S); Dominique Ruffalo (she/her, Diana Bingley U/S); Nikki Holladay (she/her, NYC Woman U/S) and Joe Dennis (he/him, NYC Man U/S).

The production team includes Scott Shallenbarger (he/him, director); Aaron Kahn (he/him, music director/accompanist); Bob Knuth (he/him, scenic designer); Devin Meseke (he/him, properties designer); Maya Reter (she/her, sound designer); Sara Segneri (she/her, stage manager); Danielle Reinhardt (she/her, costume designer); Conner Nicoson (they/them, technical director); Connor Windle (she/her, production manager) and Rose Leisner (she/her, company manager).

ABOUT SCOTT SHALLENBARGER, DIRECTOR

Scott Shallenbarger makes his Oil Lamp debut with I Love You Because. Representative credits include Miracle on South Division Street, I And You, Baby the Musical (Citadel Theatre); Les Miserables (Uptown Music Theatre Company); The Glass Menagerie, Six Degrees of Separation, The Road to Mecca, Hot L Baltimore, The Children’s Crusade (Raven Theatre); Jeffrey and Love, Valor, Compassion (Hubris Productions) and Skyscraper (Piven Theatre). Shallenbarger is a published playwright and teaching artist who would like to thank you, dear audience, for attending live theatre. 

ABOUT AARON KAHN, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Aaron Kahn is thrilled to be returning to Oil Lamp after previously working on the productions of It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play and The Marvelous Wonderettes. Kahn is also a private voice teacher at the Christopher Laughlin School of Music in Northbrook and is a staff accompanist at Carthage College. Other favorite music and assistant music direction credits include: Fugitive Songs (Stagedoor Manor); Mel Brooks’ The Producers (Music Theater Works); A Little Night Music (Theo Ubique) and Spring Awakening (4 Chairs Theatre). 

MORE FROM FROM OIL LAMP THEATER

Dial M for Murder

October 2 – November 1, 2026

Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original play by Frederick Knott

Directed by Daniel King

Preview Performances: Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3 p.m. 

Opening Night: Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. 

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. (Understudy Performance); Wednesday Oct. 21 at 11:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Alfred Hitchcock’s adored, chilling thriller gets a modern twist that no one will see coming. A murderous misstep begins a high-stakes hunt for the real criminal as time is quickly running out. This captivating, heart-racing play leaves audiences on the edge of their seats while the mystery of the year unravels before their eyes. Will the clues unlock the right person, or will an innocent victim pay the price? The suspense is to die for…

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

November 20 - December 27, 2026

Adapted by Joe Landry

Directed by Becca Holloway

Preview Performances: Friday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. 

Opening Night: Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. 

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. (Understudy Performance); Wednesday Dec. 16 at 11:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

The holiday tradition returns for its 13th year. Audiences may experience unmatched holiday cheer with Frank Capra's beloved classic, “It's a Wonderful Life,” reimagined as a captivating live radio play, complete with foley sound effects and set in our own WBFR radio studio.

Journey to Bedford Falls, where George Bailey's troubles lead him to wish he was never born. Clarence, an angel sent to intervene, steps in to make his wishes come true and George quickly learns just how many lives he has touched and just how blessed he really is.

*All productions, dates, creatives, etc. are subject to change.

ABOUT OIL LAMP THEATER

Oil Lamp Theater is a professional nonprofit performing arts organization in Glenview, Illinois, welcoming over 10,000 patrons annually from more than 225 communities—41% from Glenview and others from across the North Shore and Chicago. Since establishing its intimate 60-seat home in downtown Glenview in 2012, Oil Lamp has grown into a cultural beacon, earning recognition as “Best Live Theatre in the North Shore” for four consecutive years.

With more than 70 productions to date, Oil Lamp is known for its dynamic Mainstage season, special events and its resilience during the pandemic, when it innovated with drive-in performances and outdoor productions. Today, the theatre continues to foster connection, broaden horizons and illuminate the human condition through professional theater and year-round programming.

In addition to its productions, Oil Lamp Theater operates Oil Lamp Academy, its education branch dedicated to “Training for Life Through the Performing Arts.” In 2025 alone, the program served more than 230 students ages three to 97 years old, offering classes that use theater as a pathway to build confidence, creativity and lifelong skills.

This past September, Oil Lamp launched  Light The Way, a transformative fundraising campaign designed to expand arts education, strengthen essential staff and establish a larger performance venue with the goal of staying in downtown Glenview. Building on its roots as a scrappy storefront, Oil Lamp is evolving into a more robust organization—without losing the intimacy and warmth that define its theater experience. Oil Lamp Theater hopes this announcement inspires excitement throughout the community. Stay tuned as additional news is shared in the near future. For information or to support the campaign go to OilLampTheater.org/Light-the-Way or reach out to Oil Lamp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Oil Lamp Theater, currently presenting The Last Five Years, now extended through July 19, is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its next production, I Love You Because, August 14 - September 13, book and lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, music by Joshua Salzman and orchestrations by Larry Hochman, directed by Scott Shallenbarger and music directed by Aaron Kahn, at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road. The schedule includes two preview performances Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Aug. 15 at 3 p.m., with an opening performance Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m. (which is an understudy performance); Wednesday, Sept.. 2 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and Wednesday Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $30 for previews and $55 for the run at OilLampTheater.org.  

Great Lakes Operetta is delighted to present its first full-length, fully-staged operetta, Jacques Offenbach’s seminal work, Orpheus in the Underworld!

Originally premiering as Orphée aux enfers, this musical spoof of the Orpheus myth was the Hadestown of 1858’s Paris and had a cultural impact comparable to Hamilton or Phantom of the Opera. It is often considered the first operetta and inspired many other composers, most notably Johann Strauss Jr. The original book was written in part by Ludovic Halévy, of Carmen fame, and the score introduced the now world-famous “can-can” (known in the show as the “Infernal Gallop”). The show is raucous, wacky, and surprisingly modern, and the score is one of Offenbach’s best, ensuring its continued popularity.

Orpheus was initially controversial: in this version, Orpheus and Eurydice can’t stand each other and there is no moral redemption for anyone (although there is a singing bug, pictured below). Offenbach actively lampoons the tropes of classicism – both the original Greek myths and the revered operatic versions of those myths, such as Gluck’s Orfeo (which is even quoted musically in a very meta moment). Critics of the day felt Offenbach was disrespecting the Arts and Culture of the past – among other things – but Parisian audiences couldn’t get enough and allegedly the show only closed after running for 2 years straight (unheard of at the time) because the cast was exhausted.

20 years later, Offenbach released what might now be called a “Special Edition” version, turning the original 2 act show into a 4 act extravaganza with multiple new ballet numbers, more characters, and special effects. Most modern productions, including Great Lakes Operetta’s version, are 2 act versions with some elements of the 1874 production retained.

Great Lakes Operetta’s production will be in a new (premiere) English translation by Francis Lynch, who has translated three other French operetta works for Evanston Chamber Opera. The production will be directed by GLO Artistic Director SarahAnn Sutter, music directed by Lindsey Baer, assistant music directed by Anna Therese George, and produced by Kristin Weed. The production will be fully staged and presented with a small chamber ensemble.  Tickets are on sale now and are available here; tickets will also be available at the door (while supply lasts).

Cast & Creative Team

Great Lakes Operetta’s Orpheus in the Underworld is presented by two outstanding casts, as follows. Whichever cast you choose to watch, you are in for a treat! (And you might enjoy it all so much that you come back to watch the other cast!)

Orpheus: Mason Montuoro  (All dates)

Eurydice: Gabrielle Goudard (July 11, 17, 19); Gabrielle Haigh (July 10, 12, 18)

Public Opinion: Jennifer Barrett (July 11, 17, 19); Isabella Daltoso (July 10, 12, 18)

John Styx: Solamada Pando Girard (All dates)

Pluto: Jonathon Joseph Larson (July 11, 17, 19); Sasha Tomasevich (July 10, 12, 18)

Jupiter: Alexander Quackenbush (All dates)

Diana: Halle Rosemond (July 11, 17, 19); Catherine Larson (July 10, 12, 18)

Cupid: Hillary Esqueda (July 11, 17, 19); Abigail Greer Arcomona (July 10, 12, 18)

Venus: Alexandra Kassouf (July 11, 17, 19); Val Beck (July 10, 12, 18)

Mercury: Kristin Weed (July 11, 17, 19); Kelly Killorin (July 10, 12, 18)

Minerva: Allison Mann (July 10, 11, 12); Eugenia Bouboudakis (July 17, 18, 19); 

Juno: Katarina Bakas (All dates)

Mars: Jonathan Rodney (All dates)

Bacchus: Lucas Gassmann (All dates)

Vesta: Solamada Pando Girard (All dates)

Location

Great Lakes Operetta is proud to present its first full-length, fully-staged production on the stage of the Beatrice Theatre at the beautiful Bramble Arts Loft in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. Located on the second floor the historic Capital Garage building (with an ADA-accessible elevator!), this lovely, intimate space is one of Chicago’s newest performing arts venues.

For tickets, click here.

Sandbox Theatre Collective has announced their production of William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1. Directed by Alex Albrecht and running August 14th-30th at Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro in North Center, the new Sandbox Theatre Collective Member Project explores the web of loyalty and expectations in the classic play. Tickets are available online.

Set on the brink of war, Henry IV, Part 1 combines action with high family drama in an intimate exploration of political pressure, personal reality, and the cost of investment in a system that betrays you. Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro will serve as the Boar’s Head Tavern, Royal Court, and battlefields of Shrewsbury as the new production investigates the relationships that have been captivating audiences for more than 400 years.

“Henry IV, Part 1 reflects what it means to live through a time of political frustration and fractured identity,” says director Alex Albrecht. “As we search for the ability to cope in a turbulent world, its characters wrestle with the same pressures we do and fight to overcome them on their own terms.”

The production features an ensemble cast of locally acclaimed and award-winning actors, including LJ Bullen as Hotspur, Katherine Damisch as Worcester, Robert Howard as Falstaff, Caleb Ryan Jones as Northumberland/Bardolph/Glendower, Nathan Keiller as Poins/John of Lancaster, Khnemu Menu-Ra as Sir Walter Blunt, Helena Scholz-Carlson as Prince Hal, Julia Stemper as Henry IV, and Michaela Voit as Mistress Quickly/Lady Hotspur.

The production team includes Samantha Flipp (Stage Manager), Becca Schwartz (Fight and Intimacy Director), and Laura Bouxsein (Costume Designer). Tickets are “pay what you want” and shows run on August 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, and 29th at 7:30pm and August 16th, 23rd, and 30th at 3:00pm.

Buy Tickets Now

About Sandbox Theatre Collective:

Founded in 2022, Sandbox Theatre Collective began as a small group of Chicago artists looking to create a space where theatre-makers of all backgrounds could show up and create their own work. Since that first day, they have embraced a non-hierarchical leadership structure, put their focus into new and reimagined works, and created opportunities for as many local artists as possible. In the past three years, they’ve mounted full productions, performed in living rooms and local businesses, produced multiple new play development workshops (and a new musical workshop!), and they’re just getting started.

Break out your Burn Book and mark these dates: Aurora’s Paramount Theatre is launching its 15th Broadway Series with the Chicago-area premiere of Mean Girls,
August 26-October 11, 2026. Opening Night is Friday, September 4 at 7 p.m.

Nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, Mean Girls is the Broadway sensation that’s so fetch, it rules the school. 

Based on Tina Fey’s iconic Paramount Pictures film, Mean Girls is the story of Cady Heron, a sweet and smart new girl who’s just moved from Africa to Chicago’s North Shore. When she enters the wild world of North Shore High, she quickly finds herself tangled up with The Plastics, the school’s most popular - and ruthless - clique led by queen bee Regina George. As Cady tries to fit in, she learns that popularity comes with a price. And revenge can get ugly fast.  

With a book by Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by Neil Benjamin, Mean Girls gets an A+ for big laughs, bold, campy style, unforgettable pop-rock songs, and a message that is surprisingly honest. It’s a fresh, colorful must-see for anyone who’s ever tried to find their place in the crowd. So grab your friends, wear pink (on Wednesdays, of course), and experience the non-stop, fun-loving musical that proves even the fiercest frenemies can find redemption.

Devon Hayakawa, after serving on the directing teams of South Pacific, Come From Away, Cats, and Disney’s Frozen, makes their Paramount solo directing debut with Mean Girls. Their top-tier creative team includes choreographer Kasey Alfonso (Come From Away, Jeff Award-winner, Cats), veteran Paramount Broadway Series music director and conductor Kory Danielson, set designer Milo Bue (Come From Away) and costume designer Kotryna Hilko (Peter and the Starcatcher). 

On stage, Cady Heron will be played by Elizabeth Stenholt, familiar to Paramount audiences as Olive in The 25th Anniversary Putnam County Spelling Bee (Jeff-nominated, Performer in a Supporting Role), Medium Alison in Fun Home (winner, Jeff Award, Performer in a Supporting Role), and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. 

Dariana Mullen, coming off The Great Gatsby at New York’s Broadway Theatre, makes her Chicago debut as Cady’s arch nemesis, Regina George. The cast also features Angel Alzeidan as Gretchen Wieners, Julia Hope Budd as Karen Smith, Diego Vazquez Gomez as Aaron Samuels, Lucy Godinez as Janis Sarkisian, Steven Klenk as Damian Hubbard, Ben Mathew as Kevin G, Veronica Garza as Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/Mrs. George, and Austin Nelson Jr. as Principal Duvall. 

The ensemble includes Tola Abitogun, Jeremiah Alsop, Matty Bettencourt, Anna Louise Bramlett, Nicole DiSandro, Ben Dow, Tiyanna Gentry, Joshua Messmore, Hannah Remian, Nataki Rennie, Morgan Schoenecker, Jacob Simon, Abby C. Smith, Amanda Walker and Elaine Watson. 

Ticket information
 

Mean Girls begins previews Wednesday, August 26. Opening Night is Friday, September 4 at 7 p.m. Performances run through October 11: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Exception: No matinee Wednesday, August 26.) Single tickets to Mean Girls are $34-$109 when purchased in-person. Additional fees apply for phone and online orders.

Any Mathlete knows it’s smarter to save money with a Paramount Theatre 2026-27 Broadway Series subscription. Four-show packages start at just $73, including Mean Girls, a world premiere adaptation of The Christmas Carol (November 11, 2026–January 3, 2027), Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Sunday in the Park with George (February 10–March 28, 2027) and an 80s-inspired Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat  (April 28-June 13, 2027).

That’s the same “Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free” offer Paramount has offered since it launched its first Broadway Series in 2011, and has since grown to be the largest subscription theater in the U.S. Think of it as four Broadway-quality musicals for less than the price of one show downtown. Plus, Aurora boasts easy, affordable parking and a host of new restaurants all around. 

Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. For tickets or subscriptions, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days. For group discounts, contact Melissa Striedl, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (630) 723-2461. 

Paramount: Making live theater accessible to all

Paramount will offer two Pay What You Can previews Thursday, August 27 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, August 29 at 2 p.m. See ParamountAurora.com/Pay-What-You-Can for details. 

Paramount will offer open captioning Wednesday, September 30 at 7 p.m. and American Sign Language interpretation Friday, October 9 at 7 p.m. 

Paramount offers free assistive listening devices  at all performances, including new Auracast technology that connects to blue tooth earphones. Check in at the coat room before the show to borrow a device. If you require wheelchair or special seating or other assistance, please contact the box office in advance at (630) 896-6666 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

What’s on the minds of Chicago’s youth?

Find out when Collaboraction Theatre’s 2026 The Light Youth Ensemble brings their talent, fused with a strong passion for positive social change, for free performances at several key Chicago events this summer. 

Now in its fifth year, Collaboraction’s The Light empowers Chicago high schoolers to become professional artists and thoughtful leaders in their communities. The youth are paid to create and perform pieces for peace around the city, making the program part performing arts, and part, creative workforce development. Collaboraction’s 2026 ensemble – 19 Chicago high schoolers from all over the city, intent on becoming both skilled performers and positive social change makers – is the company’s largest ever, and they’re ready to share their youthful exuberance, artistry and calls for positive change. 

Meet Collaboractions’ 2026 Light cohort, and see the social change themes reflecting Chicago youth concerns today:

Aisling, 17, Lincoln Park, healthcare access 

Anna, 17, Mount Greenwood, education
Ari, 17, Humboldt Park, homelessness/mental health

Bella, 16, Humboldt Park, women’s rights/mental health

Cami, 15, Galewood, mental health

Christian, 16, Portage Park, queer acceptance in religion

Isabel, 17, Bucktown, gun violence and LGBTQ rights 

Jonathan, 18, Dolton, depression/poverty

Khloe, 16, Austin, drug abuse/mental health

Kristian, 16, Lincoln Park, mental health

Lucy, 17, Lincoln Square, eating disorder awareness

Marquise, 16, Englewood, gun violence
Maya, 18, Belmont Cragin, women's rights/representation

Quentin, 17, Calumet City, individuality/pride

Riley, 17, Auburn Gresham, anti-deportation

Rhylan, 15, Bucktown, women’s/queer rights
Sammy, 17, Hermosa, gun violence/classism

Sophia, 16, Brighton Park, queerness and ethnicity

Story, 16, Austin, internalized racism 

Fresh off appearing at Logan Square Arts Festival this past weekend, look for The Light performing live at festivals and events around Chicago in the coming months including:

Fresh Fest

At Navy Pier
Friday, July 10, 12 p.m.

Kidzapalooza at Lollapalooza

Grant Park
July 30 - August 2, multiple times

The Light Up

Collaboraction 

Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave. in Humboldt Park 

Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9, 3 p.m. 

Followed by The Luminaries’ new show at 7:30 p.m.

The Utopian Ball
Collaboraction’s annual gala fundraiser
Venue West, 221 N. Paulina St. in West Town
Saturday, October 3, 6 p.m.

For the latest information and more performances TBA this summer, visit collaboraction.org/the-light.

Step Into The Light

In addition to performing across the city, The Light is currently meeting three days a week at Collaboraction’s new House of Belonging in Humboldt Park, where they’re learning about the intersection of live performance and social change while devising original, solo and ensemble works rooted in their own, personal social justice causes. 

In keeping with Collaboraction’s Pay Equity policy, each member earns equitable pay while participating in The Light, including meetings, rehearsals and performances. After completing the program, students receive professional headshots, video documentation, and continued access to creative resources and mentorship.


Lucy DiMaio, Chicago’s New Youth Poet Laureate and a returning member of Collaboraction’s The Light,
performs “Evil Eye” at the Logan Square Arts Festival on June 27, 2026. Photo courtesy Collaboraction.

Lucy DiMaio, 17, a resident of Lincoln Square and an incoming senior at Walter Payton College Prep, is a returning member of The Light, where last summer, she devised a visceral, original spoken word piece “Evil Eye” about women’s safety on public transportation. Since then, Lucy was named the 2026 Chicago Youth Poet Laureate, a program of Young Chicago Authors, who will spend the next year presenting Lucy as Chicago's youth voice through performances and civic engagements across the city. 

“The Light members are always so supportive of each other, and that support was so necessary in creating ‘Evil Eye,’” said Lucy. “Since we all create art about difficult topics that often affect ourselves personally, there was a very important understanding that my piece was difficult for me to write and sometimes perform. All Light members were so incredibly considerate of that sensitivity and still managed to give helpful and insightful feedback. Additionally, getting help from established artists was absolutely invaluable, as they helped me consider how the piece would function as a true performance.”

Many past members of The Light have gone on to remarkable success, including two earning full college scholarships, two competing on America’s Got Talent, one starring in an Apple TV show, one self-producing and releasing an album on Apple Music, and another attending the CLI Conservatory for elite dance training. Several have also joined The Luminaries, Collaboraction’s youth continuing education program for graduates of The Light. This program, for ages 18 to 23, equips professional college-aged performers with the skills to create meaningful, socially driven work.

Antonio Mendoza, Collaboraction’s Lead Teaching Artist, directs The Light. Chicago music artist Linda Sol leads The Luminaries. Collaboraction company members, staff, and artists also bring real-world experience to youth training. Outside mentors past and present include actress and playwright Sandra Delgado, rock musician Nicholas Tremulis, actor and director Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Collaboraction leaders Darlene Jackson and Anthony Moseley, and more. 

Members of The Light pose with Chicago rock music legend and guest mentor Nicholas Tremulis (center) after he helped them write an original song in Collaboraction's new office space at the Kimball Arts Center in Humboldt Park. Credit: Collaboraction

Pre-, mid- and post-training self-assessments by last summer’s Light cohort underscore the program’s positive influence across all metrics, starting with career readiness, leadership and creativity/artistry. Surveys also point to the participants growing more comfortable applying the arts to social change and increased practicing of self-care strategies over the course of the program. Click here for the full report. 

The Light is made possible with the support of the Marc and Jeanne Malnati Family Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council.

About Collaboraction

Now fully activated, Collaboraction Theatre Company’s new House of Belonging in the Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave in Humboldt Park, is a sleek, 4,000-square foot space featuring a new 99-seat flexible studio theater and a 50-seat cabaret with cafe and bar.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, Collaboraction is an award-winning Chicago theater company that uses the power of art and storytelling to cultivate healing, empathy, and equity across communities. Across all platforms, Collaboraction uses its KEDA methodology - Knowledge, Empathy, Dialogue, and Action - to spark changes in behavior and attitudes that manifest social change.

Collaboraction’s past work includes NBC Chicago’s three-time Emmy Award-winning The Lost Story of Emmett Till: Trial in the Delta, the resulting live stage play film, Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till, live productions of Crime Scene, Moonset Sunrise, A Blue Island In the Red Sea, its annual Peacebook and Sketchbook festivals, and its youth ensemble, The Light.

Collaboraction is led by Darlene Jackson, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director; Anthony Moseley, Chief Programming Officer and Artistic Director; and a dedicated board, company members and staff. For more information, visit collaboraction.org or follow Collaboraction on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Bluesky.

Collaboraction Theatre Company’s new House of Belonging is now fully activated in the Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave in Humboldt Park. Open since February, audiences, artists, activists, the Humboldt Park community, and the general public are discovering the company’s new home, a sleek, 4,000-square foot space with a 99-seat flexible studio theater and a 50-seat cabaret with cafe and bar.

Come to Collaboraction’s House of Belonging in July and enjoy theater, music, art, spoken word, youth performances, and more. Go to collaboraction.org to get your tickets to:

¡Ah Huevo!
Bilingual Improv School Student Showcase

Wednesday, July 1, 7 p.m.

Tickets: $12.50

¡Ah Huevo! is a fully improvised comedy show that showcases the talented students of Bilingual Improv School – the only place where students can take an improv class in Spanglish! Everyone is welcome regardless of their fluency level or cultural background. ¡Ah Huevo! and Bilingual Improv School are hosted by Rudy Mendoza and are part of Collaboraction’s You Belong Here series. Learn more at linktr.ee/bilingualimprovschool.

Disasterpiece

Presented by Mosaic Theatre Collective
Saturday, July 11, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $15-$35

Disasterpiece is an immersive variety show where everything goes wrong production-wise (on purpose, of course). The host is desperately trying to keep the evening together while lights flicker, cues fail, technical difficulties pile up, and chaos unfolds in real time. Despite the disaster, a lineup of bold and talented performers continues to take the stage, turning the night into a celebration of creativity, individuality and live performance.

Disasterpiece blends comedy, improvisation, audience interaction and a rotating lineup of short acts ranging from music, dance, stand-up, drag, clowning, spoken word, puppetry and other unexpected talents. At its core, the show celebrates artists who refuse to shrink themselves and creates space for performers, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists, to be loud, weird, joyful, vulnerable and fully seen. Presented as part of Collaboraction’s You Belong Here Series.

Chicago-based Mosaic Theatre Collective is a place where artists come together, not fit in—embracing differences while collaborating, creating, connecting, and providing opportunities for emerging artists. Through multidisciplinary performance, community engagement, and artist centered programming, Mosaic creates spaces where creatives can experiment, connect, and share work that might not otherwise find a home on traditional stages.

The Frequency

Curated by DJ Lady D

With special guest Roy Kinsey

Presented by Collaboraction and Group Sounds
Tuesday, July 14, 7:30 p.m.

Doors open and music at 5:30 p.m.

Program at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $5-$20

What if one evening could nourish your mind, awaken your spirit, and reconnect you with your body and community?

Welcome to The Frequency, a new gathering series curated by internationally renowned DJ, TEDx speaker, Recording Academy Chicago Governor and Collaboraction Executive Director DJ Lady D, where culture, wellness, creativity, and collective healing come together. Experience a talk, workshop, lecture, and the like from a celebrated thought leader. Stay for a community conversation and the embodied movement experience where it all coalesces. Expect soulful sounds, intentional movement, and an opportunity to connect with fellow seekers, artists, healers, and changemakers.

In July, Lady D’s special guest is one of Chicago's most visionary artists, Roy Kinsey, aka The Rapbrary, “Chicago librarian by day, legendary rapper by night.” Learn more at therapbrary.com.

Don’t miss this evening exploring hip hop, literacy, storytelling and cultural memory. If you're interested in Astrology and Afrofuturism, yoga and embodied wellness, personal growth and healing, mind-body-spirit practices, community, belonging, art, culture and social change, then The Frequency is for you.

Outspoken LGBTQ Stories at Sidetrack

A Fundraiser for Queer Fight Club
Wednesday, July 15, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15

Outspoken LGBTQ Stories at Sidetrack, hosted and curated by Archy Jamjun and Chijioke Williams, comes to Collaboraction for an evening of personal stories focused on the trans community. Guest storytellers include drag queen-fronted garage punk band leader Bev Rage, genderfluid drag artist Travis Fiero, Anna DeShawn, (host of Queer News Podcast), preacher and storyteller Hart Lang, and Caroline Andres, a member of the Sweats Girls.

Jamjun is curator of Outspoken LGBTQ Stories at Sidetrack, which was inducted in Chicago's LGBTQ Hall of Fame and honored by the State of Illinois for Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Humanities. He is also a two-time winner of The Moth Grand Slam and has been part of The Moth's Mainstage National Tour and Radio Hour. His writing has appeared in Chicago Magazine, Barrel House and The Rhumpus.    

Williams is a performance artist, audio-creative, and storyteller based in Chicago. She is the voice, writer, and sound designer of Between Heartbeats (in production), and can also be heard on StarTripper, Someone Dies In This Elevator, SuperSuits, and several other audio dramas. Most recently, Chijioke was a producer on Division Street: Revisited (PRX) and Unboxing Queer History.

Presented as part of Collaboraction’s You Belong Here series.

RADIATE
Tuesday, July 21
6 p.m. creative workshop and sign up; 7 p.m. open mic
Tickets: Free

RADIATE is Collaboraction’s monthly open mic series produced by The Luminaries, alums of Collaboraction’s The Light youth ensemble. Each event begins with a guided workshop that invites participants to explore a theme or social change concept through art and reflection. The Luminaries then open the floor for performances from local artists, students, and community members, closing the night with a showcased featured artist. 

Collaboraoke: Real Band Karaoke Championship
Thursday, July 23, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $25, includes one free drink ticket

After three preliminary rounds, Collaboraoke: Real Band Karaoke has entered the knock-out phase. Winners from the past three competitions are tuning up to compete for the final crown. Arrive early and you, too, can help warm up the audience with your karaoke skills. Then sit back to witness who will be Chicago’s Next Top Collaboraoke Star. Chicago’s own Ocean and the Waves, led by Sam Ocean, is your professional back up band. The night is hosted by Collaboraction’s Artistic Director and crooner extraordinaire, Anthony Moseley. Proceeds support The Light, Collaboraction's youth program. See the song list at collaboraction.org.

The Sandra Delgado Experience
Friday through Sunday, July 24-26

Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 7 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$55

The Sandra Delgado Experience returns to Chicago bolder and more bliss-filled than ever, following her triumphant show at Joe's Pub at New York’s Public Theatre this past spring. Part spiritual cabaret, part dance party, this electrifying night is a celebration of loving ourselves and each other. Expect a rush of joy as high-energy cumbias, sultry boleros, and reimagined English-language indie classics collide with luminous, mystical moments that pull you fully into the present. With only 80 seats, this will be the most intimate Sandra Delgado Experience yet. 

Chicago cultural icon and Collaboraction Founding Member Sandra Delgado—hailed as “her own brand of triple threat” (Newcity Chicago)—guides audiences through a vibrant blend of song, story, and soul-stirring connection inspired by her bilingual and bicultural existence. The result is an unforgettable, hypnotic experience audiences describe as “unique, refreshing, and inviting of everything possible and positive.”

Joining Delgado again is guitarist Richard Pena, from Puerto Rico with over 260,000 followers across all platforms and a new album out; Manases Rivera on piano, a Humboldt Park native, and founder of the Cepillao Band; Coco Elysses, Chicago music royalty on percussion; Roberto Carpacho Marin, Delgado’s band leader for La Havana Madrid, leader of Carpacho y Su Super Combo, celebrating 40 years in the Chicago music business in 2026. Janet Cramer on drums and Carol Macpherson, trombonist and long-time collaborator, round out the band.

Frankie Diaz presents VOY PA ’20
Saturday, July 25, 5 p.m.
Tickets: $18

VOY PA' 20 is a night of music celebrating Frankie Diaz' 20 years in the music world. Part romance, part autobiography, some social justice, with a little nonsense tossed in, just for fun, is what you'll find in Frankie Diaz's songbook. Join us for his second solo all-Spanish concert ever.

With his concert at Collaboraction, Frankie Diaz is celebrating 20 years as a bandleader and rhythm guitarist. This year, he's also reached the 100-song mark in his catalog of original salsa, bolero, cha-cha, and Puerto Rican folk tunes. Frankie also performs with Conjunto Superior, his fifth band since he began performing in Chicago, his birthplace.  Presented as part of Collaboraction’s You Belong Here series.

Cómo Se Dice?

Friday, July 31

Doors at 6:30 p.m., Show at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $20

"Cómo se dice?" is a monthly bilingual short-form improv show featuring a rotating cast of  professional bilingual actors and comedians. The show is a throwback to the classic TV show,  "Whose line is it anyway?" but in Spanglish. Cómo Se Dice? is hosted by Rudy Mendoza and is a premium production of the Bilingual Improv School as part of Collaboraction’s You Belong Here series. 

The show is hosted by Rudy Mendoza and is a premium production of Bilingual Improv School, the only school where students can take an improv class in Spanish and English. Learn more at linktr.ee/bilingualimprovschool.

In addition to its own programs, Collaboraction’s You Belong Here series provides a home for independent artists and groups at any stage in their career, with an emphasis on those who live in proximity to the Kimball Arts Center in Humboldt Park. Curated by company member Sandra Delgado, You Belong Here takes the barriers out of self-producing by providing free space and equipment, stage management, marketing and PR support and a generous door split model. To learn more or submit a performance proposal, visit collaboraction.org/you-belong-here.

Note: Free and nearby street parking is available at Collaboraction’s new House of Belonging in the Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave. in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community. For CTA riders, the 82 Kimball-Homan bus stops right in front of Kimball Arts Center. Collaboraction is also a short walk from the Kimball stop on the 72 North and 73 Armitage bus lines. For bikers and pedestrians, The 606’s Kimball trailhead leads directly to the Kimball Arts Center. 

About Collaboraction

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, Collaboraction is an award-winning Chicago theater company that uses immersive, socially conscious performance to spark change and build equity. Across all platforms, Collaboraction uses its KEDA methodology - Knowledge, Empathy, Dialogue, and Action - to spark changes in behavior and attitudes that manifest social change.

Collaboraction’s past work includes NBC Chicago’s three-time Emmy Award-winning The Lost Story of Emmett Till: Trial in the Delta, the resulting live stage play film, Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till, live productions of Crime Scene, Moonset Sunrise, A Blue Island In the Red Sea, its annual Peacebook and Sketchbook festivals, and its youth ensembles, The Light and The Luminaries.

Collaboraction is led by Darlene Jackson, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director; Anthony Moseley, Chief Programming Officer and Artistic Director; and a dedicated board, company members and staff.  For more information, visit collaboraction.org or follow Collaboraction on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Bluesky.