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A CurtainUp Feature
Chicago Theaters
Though it's called the "Second City,""Chicago is a first-rate theater town. The list of theater companies below include successful regional theaters like Steppenwolf and smaller, storefront theater companies like the Neo-Futurists. If a company has its own performance space, the address of the theater is included.
500 Clown
www.500clown.com
312-697-0722
Action-based theater that combines circus arts with traditional plays.
About Face Theatre
www.aboutfacetheatre.com
773-784-8565
This company creates new works that deal with issues of gender and sexual identity.
American Theater Company
www.atcweb.org
773-929-1031
ATC produces both new and classic American plays, or works dealing with the American identity. During the holiday season, they perform It's a Wonderful Life as a live radio play.
Annoyance Theater
4802 N. Broadway St.
www.annoyanceproductions.com
773-561-4665
Irreverant, often ill-mannered comedies, musicals, and sketch shows.
BackStage Theatre Company
www.backstagetheatrecompany.org
312-683-5347
Original plays and updated classics.
Bailiwick Repertory
1229 W. Belmont Ave.
www.bailiwick.org
773-883-1090
A diverse billing of plays and musicals, including works on gay themes.
Barrel of Monkeys
www.barrelofmonkeys.org
773-281-0638
A company of teaching artists that performs works created by the children in their school programs.
Black Ensemble Theater
4520 N. Beacon St.
www.blackensembletheater.org
773-769-4451
The Black Ensemble Theater's mission is to produce African American theater that reaches a diverse audience.
Brown Couch Theatre Company
www.browncouchtheatre.org
A small company known for their shows and their snacks.
Chicago Dramatists
1105 W. Chicago Ave.
www.chicagodramatists.org
312-633-0630
A playwright-centered company that offers full productions as well as opportunities for development.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Navy Pier
www.chicagoshakes.com
312-595-5600
CST both produces their own shows (not just Shakespeare) and presents shows by other professional theater companies.
Collaboraction Theatre Co.
www.collaboraction.org
312-226-9633
Edgy theater that crosses genres and involves different forms of media.
Congo Square Theatre Company
1001 W. Roosevelt Rd.
www.congosquaretheatre.org
312-587-2292
An ensemble theater whose critically-acclaimed productions focus on the African Diaspora.
Court Theatre
5535 S. Ellis Ave.
www.courttheatre.org
773-753-4472
The Court Theatre is the professional theater in residence at the University of Chicago.
Dog and Pony Theatre Co.
www.dogandponychicago.com
773-235-0492
Daring literary works with a leaning towards current social themes.
Eclipse Theatre Company
www.eclipsetheatre.com
312-409-1687
Eclipse Theatre produces the work of one established playwright each season.
ETA Creative Arts Foundation
7558 S. South Chicago Ave.
www.etacreativearts.org
773-752-3955
ETA supports African American theater, as well as visual arts.
Gift Theatre
4802 N. Milwaukee Ave.
www.thegifttheatre.org
773-283-7071
Gift's ensemble tackles classic and contemporary plays. The company also supports a short film program.
Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn St.
www.goodmantheatre.org
312-443-3800
The Goodman is one of Chicago's oldest and most prestigious theater companies.
House Theatre of Chicago
www.thehousetheatre.com
773-251-2195
The House Theatre is a young, adventurous company producing their own new plays.
Lifeline Theatre
6912 N. Glenwood Ave.
www.lifelinetheatre.com
773-761-4477
Lifeline's programming includes shows for adults and children.
Lookingglass Theatre Company
821 N. Michigan Ave.
www.lookingglasstheatre.org
312-337-0665
Housed in Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, Lookingglass is known for its contemporary plays and reimagined classics.
Mary-Arrchie
35 W. Sheridan Rd.
www.maryarrchie.com
773-871-0442
Mary-Arrchie's interests lie in the edgy, the controversial, and the non-conservative.
MPAACT
www.mpaact.org
773-871-3000
MPAACT's work is inspired by Afrikan and Afrikan-American culture.
Neo-Futurists
5153 N. Ashland Ave.
www.neofuturists.org
773-275-5255
The Neo-Futurists have a cult following with their show Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.
Next Theatre
927 Noyes St. (Evanston)
www.nexttheatre.org
847-475-1875
Next Theatre, located north of Chicago in Evanston, is a critically-lauded company with an interest in socially-provocative theater.
Pegasus Players
1145 W. Wilson Ave.
www.pegasusplayers.org
773-878-9761
This company's mission is to bring high-quality theater to both traditional audiences and underserved populations.
Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
www.porchlighttheatre.com
773-325-9884
Porchlight has been presenting musicals in Chicago for more than ten years.
Profiles Theatre
4741 N. Broadway St.
www.profilestheatre.org
773-549-1815
Profiles Theatre strives to present character-driven plays with a strong focus on narrative and creative use of language.
Prop Thtr
3502 N. Elston Ave.
www.propthtr.org
773-539-7838
New works and new adaptations of literature.
Raven Theatre
6157 N. Clark St.
www.raventheatre.com
773-338-2177
American classics and new plays on the "American Experience." Raven Theatre also runs a program for children.
Red Moon
1438 W. Kinzie St.
www.redmoon.org
312-850-8440
Red Moon produces "spectacle" -- visually innovative performances often involving masks and puppetry -- on their mainstage and in public spaces.
A Red Orchid Theatre
1531 N. Wells St.
www.aredorchidtheatre.org
312-943-8722
New plays and contemporary interpretations of theater classics.
Remy Bumppo
3717 N. Ravenswood Ave.
www.remybumppo.org
773-244-8119
Professional productions of the great playwrights.
Sandbox Theatre Project
www.sandboxtheatreproject.org
773-456-2329
Sandbox performs site-specific theater around Chicago.
Serendipity Theatre Company
www.serendipitytheatre.org
773-296-0165
Producing original and established works.
Shattered Globe Theatre
www.shatteredglobe.org
773-770-0333
Shattered Globe is an ensemble theater company interested in contemporary and classic works and their relation to the American experience.
Silk Road Theatre Project
77 W. Washington St., Pierce Hall
www.srtp.org
312-857-1234
Silk Road features plays by writers with Asian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean backgrounds.
Stage Left Theatre
3408 N. Sheffield Ave.
www.stagelefttheatre.com
773-883-8830
StageLeft focuses on plays with political and social relevance.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
1650 N. Halsted St.
www.steppenwolf.org
312-335-1650
Steppenwolf has been one of Chicago's premiere theater companies for more than thirty years.
Strawdog Theatre
3829 N. Broadway St.
www.strawdog.org
773-528-9696
Strawdog is interested in telling great stories. Their productions include radio dramas.
Teatro Luna
www.teatroluna.org
773-878-LUNA
Teatro Luna is a company devoted to supporting Latina and Hispanic women in theater.
The Hypocrites
www.the-hypocrites.com
312-409-5578
The Hypocrites tackle highly theatrical plays and established plays in experimental forms.
The Second City
1616 N. Wells St.
www.secondcity.com
312-337-3992
Chicago's historic center for comedy and improv.
Theater Wit
www.theaterwit.com
773-506-8150
Theater Wit looks for smart and funny plays.
TimeLine Theatre Company
615 W. Wellington Ave.
www.timelinetheatre.com
773-281-TIME (8463)
TimeLine Theatre presents historic stories that reflect today's issues.
Trap Door Theatre
1655 W. Cortland St.
www.trapdoortheatre.com
773-384-0494
Bringing new life to obscure works, especially European plays not usually seen on the American stage.
Victory Gardens
2257-63 N. Lincoln Ave.
www.victorygardens.org
773-871-3000
The prestigious Victory Gardens Theatre has been presenting theater and aiding in the development of new works for more than thirty years.
WNEP Theater
www.wneptheater.org
As the name stands for "What No One Else Produces," WNEP sticks to theater on the fringe.
Guide to links to help Chicago visitors and locals alike find what to do, where to stay and eat.
Chicago Subway Finder & Other Information
Chicago Subway Finder & Other Information