Live shows are BACK in the Belmont Theater District!
Chicago sure loves its live theater... and with the Belmont Theater District back in action, we can't be the only ones who are excited! The district is home to the largest theater network in the city and over twenty unique theater companies creating everything from world-class theater to Chicago-style comedy, and everything in between.
Show up and support local theater by spending a night out at one of these incredible theaters and dine out at neighboring restaurants. Remember, there’s always a seat waiting for you every week in the Belmont Theater District!
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / ANNOYANCE THEATRE
851 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
The Annoyance Theatre has created some of Chicago’s finest comedy and uses improvisation to create new and original plays, musicals, sketch-comedy and more in a vibrant, uncensored atmosphere. Every night you walk in, expect to see something different – whether it's a drag performance, improv student ensemble or even the occasional live music act!
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / ANTHENAEUM THEATRE
2936 N. Southport Ave. - Lakeview
The Athenaeum Theatre is Chicago’s oldest, continuously operating off-loop theater complex. The theatre serves as a cultural resource in Chicago by housing 50+ performing arts organizations, promoting the arts and arts education and offering performance, rehearsal and office spaces to organizations. The Athenaeum reopens with touring YouTuber duo Cat and Nat on their hugely popular, honest and incredibly funny take on 'mom life'.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / BLUE MAN GROUP
3133 N. Halsted St. - Lakeview
Get ready for a performance you'll never forget! Blue Man Group has redefined live entertainment with a dynamic combination of art, music, comedy, and technology. This widely popular show at Briar Street Theatre encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner (and outer) child in order to see the world through a new perspective.
Win tickets to see Blue Man Group at Briar Street Theatre!
PHOTO VIA WEB PAGE / BLUEBIRD ARTS
2936 N. Southport Ave. - Lakeview
Bluebird Arts is all about sharing intimate stories to enrich, educate and entertain the community. Bluebird has a really unique English-Russian cross-cultural exchange program in which a play is produced twice per year, first with an English-speaking cast, then with a Russian-speaking cast.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / CHICAGO PLAYBACK THEATRE ENSEMBLE
656 W. Barry Ave. - Lakeview
In Playback Theatre, personal stories told by the audience are brought to life onstage through improvisational theatre, movement and music. The Chicago Playback Theatre Ensemble believes in the community-building, dialogue-igniting, and empathy-strengthening power of stories and aims to create a space where stories can be voiced, heard, and reflected back.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / CHICAGO THEATER WORKS
1113 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
Chicago Theater Works is the perfect venue for a unique event. It's available to rent for parties, fundraisers, film screenings, wedding receptions, corporate off-site and more.
Photo via Facebook/Crescent Moon Nerdlesque
956 W. Newport Ave. - Lakeview
"Nerdlesque"—a blend of burlesque and nerd culture—isn't exactly a new combination but it certainly is a winning one! Find productions from this femme-forward troupe housed at Newport Theatre. Crescent Moon's shows are sure to excite your pop culture senses.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / ECLECTIC FULL CONTACT THEATRE
2936 N. Southport Ave. - Lakeview
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre presents live, online and audio entertainment showcasing everything—and everyone—that makes Chicago theatre great. They also have a podcast that offers a peek behind the curtains, improv and theatre classes for kids, and are producing the brand-new Patchwork Play Festival.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / LAUGH FACTORY
3175 N. Broadway St. - Lakeview
For the best in standup comedy, Laugh Factory Chicago is the place to be! As a pioneer in the comedy industry, Laugh Factory offers an iconic venue space perfect for all kinds of events ranging from fully produced comedy shows to rental space for fundraisers, comedic roasts, cocktail receptions and more. This newly renovated, century-old theatre building includes a kitchen, a full bar and audio/visual capabilities.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / MERCURY THEATER
3745 N. Southport Ave. - Lakeview
Located in the Southport Corridor, Mercury Theater offers a sophisticated space to experience live theatre productions, with an adjoining cabaret theater and farm-to-table restaurant. The building started as a silent film nickelodeon in 1912, before being transformed into its current glory. Mercury Theater returns this fall with Sister Act, the five Tony Awards nominated feel-good musical comedy smash based on the hit 1992 film that has
audiences jumping to their feet!
Win tickets to Sister Act at Mercury Theater!
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / MUSIC BOX
3733 N Southport Ave. - Wrigleyville
For the last two decades, the Music Box Theatre has been the premier Chicago venue for independent and foreign films and is currently the largest full-time operating film theater in Chicago. From special events like film festivals and seasonal drive-ins, and a fully equipped bar and beautiful patio garden, the Music Box is your one-stop-shop as a cinephile.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / THE NEWPORT THEATER
956 W. Newport Ave. - Wrigleyville
The Newport Theater is a hidden gem in the heart of Wrigleyville, featuring an innovative mix of artist-produced burlesque, drag, comedy and variety shows. From its origins as the original Links Hall performance space to its evolution as an improv and comedy theater, this intimate theater has featured many diverse voices and perspectives over the years.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / OTHERWORLD THEATRE
3914 N Clark St. - Lakeview
Otherworld Theatre is the world’s first venue dedicated to the performance of science fiction and fantasy genres. It is a two-stage facility with a mainstage, "The Bradbury" named after beloved science fiction Ray Bradbury, and a smaller 40-seat black box. Otherworld maintains a mission to keep theatre accessible for all, and all tickets (except burlesque) are Pay-What-You-Can.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / REMY BUMPPO
1229 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company is an ensemble-based theatre company that believes in the power and beauty of language and conversation as an agent of change. They have a number of classes for theatre lovers and actors alike and have been producing in Chicago since 1996.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / SHATTERED GLOBE THEATRE
1229 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
Shattered Globe Theatre brings its audiences dynamic re-imaginings of classic works, as well as premiere innovative productions that have garnered an impressive number of Jeff Awards. With a versatile and diverse ensemble, and initiatives like the Protégé Program, Shattered Globe creates a space for emerging artists to grow. The Theatre welcomes back audiences with the Chicago premiere of Chloë Moss’s drama This Wide Night, a gutsy story of female friendship inspired by real accounts of women in a UK prison.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / STAGE773
1225 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
Stage773 is entering a new era in 2021! The formerly four-theater space will be renovated and reconceived as a single-space entity. Stay tuned for big updates from this Lakeview standby.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / THEATER WIT
1229 W Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
Theater Wit prides itself in being Chicago's premier smart art theater, producing humorous, challenging and intelligent plays that speak with a vibrant and contemporary theatrical voice. In line with those thoughts, Theater Wit reopens with Mr. Burns - A Post-Electric Play, a post-apocalyptic tale of survival, passion... and the enduring power of Bart Simpson!
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / THEATRE OF THE BEYOND
3209 N. Halsted St. - Lakeview
A DIY-style collective focused on devising new narratives and offering fresh perspectives on what makes humans, people. The artistic directors consist of three UIC Theatre school grads – Danielle Malenock, Kiera Bouton, and Emmalee Dixon working with other ensemble members to make the magic happen.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / TIMELINE THEATRE COMPANY
615 W. Wellington Ave. - Lakeview
Theatre and politics go hand-in-hand with TimeLine Theatre Company. The company has won a number of awards and accolades for productions inspired by history and connected to today’s social and political issues including the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, Chicago Magazine's Best Theatre in Chicago, Wall Street Journal's Nation’s Theater Company of the Year and even multiple Jeff Awards for Outstanding Production.
PHOTO VIA WEB PAGE / TRICKERY CHICAGO
Didn't expect to see magic on this list? Well, everything is not what it seems... Famed magician Aaron Rabkin uses wit, charm and comedy to win his audience over. Enjoy his miracles in an intimate BYOB 26-person house and with the help of trusty sidekick Hoppy the Psychic Wonder Bunny.
