Highly respected for both the diversity and quality of its theater offerings, Chicago is known for producing highly creative works performed by top-caliber talent.
The city's theatrical diversity is evident in the sheer quantity of live productions that abound, from record-breaking Broadway shows and award-winning regional plays to experimental storefront and edgy fringe theater performances.
Brightly lit marquees along Dearborn and Randolph Streets mark an area in the Loop famously known as the Theater District. Within the span of four city blocks are such magnificently restored venues as the Cadillac Palace Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre, The Chicago Theatre, Bank of America Theatre and Goodman Theatre. Not far from the Loop Theater District is the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, which is housed in a landmark building designed by famed architects Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan.
This summer, theatergoers have a wealth of large-scale productions to choose from, including Broadway In Chicago’s Stuffed and Unstrung at the Bank of America Theatre; RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theater; and Rock of Ages at the Broadway Playhouse. Then, Chicago audiences will have a chance to catch the pre-Broadway premiere Kinky Boots starting Cyndi Lauper, at the Bank of America Theatre.
You can even experience Chicago's vibrant off-loop theater scene in-the-loop with the conveniently-located DCA Storefront Theater, presenting fully-staged productions by some of Chicago's most creative theater ensembles at affordable ticket prices.
In addition, Millennium Park offers year-round programming including the popular theater lab series, In The Works, where audiences have a chance to sit on the enclosed stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in a climate-controlled environment to experience works in development by local theater artists.
Theatrically speaking, Chicago has definitely earned its top billing. For more information on Chicago theaters, visit The League of Chicago Theatres.
Chicago Theater Resources
Like the idea of getting a great deal on Chicago theater tickets? Chicago offers a host of theatergoing resources to help theater lovers find affordable tickets easily.
The League of Chicago Theatres is the source for information on discounted ticket prices for shows in the city. Sign up for emails alerting you to upcoming special price offers.
A money-saver for theater patrons, Hot Tix offers half-price theater tickets online, as well as at two convenient downtown ticket booth locations: 72 E. Randolph St. (across from the Chicago Cultural Center) and 163 E. Pearson St. at Michigan Ave. in the Water Works Visitor Center. Hot Tix is open Tuesday – Saturday, from 10 am – 6 pm, and Sunday from 11 am – 4 pm.
Regional Companies
Audiences in Chicago can also delight in the originality of the city’s more than 200 acclaimed regional companies, a group that includes the 5 Tony Award-winning theaters: Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre and Victory Gardens Theatre. Currently, Chicago has more Tony Award-winning regional theaters than any other U.S. city.
Improvisational Theater
Chicago is also home to a bustling, world-famous
improv theater scene. From such renowned institutions as
The Second City and
iO Theater to neighborhood companies, like
ComedySportz and
The Neo-futurists, which present improv with a twist, theatergoers have a wide range of witty and compelling productions to choose from.
Neighborhood Theaters
Located throughout the city’s eclectic neighborhoods, storefront theaters with such unique names as: the
Organic Theater,
Remy Bumppo,
Redmoon and
Shattered Globe, provide affordable opportunities to view aspiring performers in artistically-driven productions.
