I moved to Chicago from Seattle in late February.
Previous to accepting a job with Chicago Public Media, I had by no means been to the Midwest. I knew nothing of the area, metropolis, or the huge arts scene that make Chicago distinctive. The truth is, the one connection I needed to the town was by way of my love of sports activities. Everybody within the nation is aware of how unhealthy the Bears and Cubs are.
However Chicago additionally has a nationwide popularity for its sturdy theatre scene. Conversationally, folks say Chicago has the very best community of regional theatres outdoors of New York. Whilst a theatre reporter in Seattle, as I might converse with actors, writers, administrators, even of us on the admin facet of theatre—Chicago was thought to be a mecca for theatre and a spot everybody within the {industry} ought to at the very least go to.
In case you are new to Chicago, returning after being away for some time, or simply planning to go to, right here are some things you want to know in regards to the theatre scene.
Folks on this city love theatre, and it’s not simply the artists. Earlier than I formally agreed to take my present place as theatre reporter for WBEZ, I visited Chicago for a weekend primarily to have a look at residences, however I additionally needed to see a present. The primary play I noticed in Chicago was Shattered Globe’s manufacturing of Mashuq Mushtaq Deen’s Flood at Theater Wit within the Lakeview neighborhood. I had two main takeaways: I didn’t love the present, however even on a January evening in Chicago, post-opening, the theatre was almost full.
There are theatres everywhere in the metropolis, in varied neighborhoods and communities, and other people actually present up. Again residence in Seattle, I may title each theatre on the town off the highest of my head. As a theatre reporter, I might see each present in a given season. And belief me, listeners to my radio segments would usually check me after they noticed me out at reveals. They’d ask what I had seen. I used to be truly in a position to make it to each venue and see each present Seattle had onstage. Most seasons, after I made my manner by way of theatre, I might begin seeing comedy, burlesque, opera, ballet. My rule was at the very least two reveals per week, and I usually depleted the record of theatre choices after which ventured to completely different genres of efficiency.
In Chicago, it’s not potential to see each present in a given season. When folks say you’ll be able to see a present an evening right here, they imply it. There are actually a whole lot of theatres on this metropolis and much more for those who embrace the numerous venues within the surrounding metropolitan space. That is the Baskin-Robbins of theatre cities: There are reveals in each taste. And that’s the reason a present like Flood, which acquired its world premiere at Kansas Metropolis Rep in early 2023, not solely acquired certainly one of its first stagings right here, however seats have been stuffed. Artists take dangers right here and audiences are open to going alongside for the experience.
What blows my thoughts as a brand new Chicagoan is that, general, the {industry} nonetheless hasn’t recovered from the pandemic. I just lately discovered throughout reporting for a narrative on the economic system of performing arts that theatre audiences are nonetheless down 30 % from 2019. As an newcomer to this scene, I’ve been impressed with the audiences I’ve seen even within the tiniest storefront theatres, and with over 200 theatre corporations at present open within the metropolis, it’s arduous for me to grasp that pre-pandemic, there have been much more.
Don’t get distracted by the Broadway homes. There are 4 of them within the metropolis. For distinction, Seattle solely had one. The touring Broadway reveals are often good, however we already know that. These are usually big-budget musicals which have already had success in New York, that can tour the nation and could also be the very best factor on provide in lots of areas. However not in Chicago. To be truthful, Chicago does get reveals like Demise Turns into Her, Tootsie, and Paradise Sq. that play right here earlier than going to Broadway. And people generally is a particular deal with, as a result of we get to see them first. However for reveals like The Guide of Mormon or Aladdin, particularly if in case you have already seen them, I’d counsel passing. That’s, except certainly one of your favourite’s involves city. (I’ll be within the viewers for Again to the Future the Musical.)
My level is there are such a lot of nice reveals on the town. You don’t have to depend on touring Broadway to see a top quality present. In order for you extra bang in your buck and to see a present with one thing to say, head to the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakes, or take the journey down south to Courtroom. At my final go to to every of those venues, I noticed well-known actors onstage and was dazzled on the high quality of the productions. These are industry-leading, award-winning theatres, proper right here in our metropolis.
You don’t need to go to the larger theatres to see large names. Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon simply did a present with A Pink Orchid Theatre Firm, a storefront firm he’s known as residence for years. The venue, the Chopin, was so intimate that viewers members within the entrance row may nearly attain out and contact him. The storefront scene in Chicago took me abruptly and has develop into certainly one of my favourite components of residing right here. The Brightest Factor within the World, produced by About Face Theater Firm, is my favourite of all of the reveals I’ve seen within the metropolis to this point. The house, one of many few on the Den in Wicker Park, solely had about 80 seats. The evening I went was bought out, and by the top, there was not a dry eye within the crowd. It was such a stupendous and poignant manufacturing, and tickets have been on a pay-what-you-will scale beginning at $5.
The very last thing I’ll depart you with is that this: In case you are into theatre, you’ll discover one thing for you in Chicago. There are such a lot of venues with so many reveals, and what I discussed above solely scratches the floor. If you happen to like experimental reveals, The Infinite Wrench on the Neo-Futurists does a menu of reveals on weekends that haven’t any scripts and are based mostly on viewers ideas. Port of Entry by Albany Park Theater Undertaking is a totally immersive theatrical expertise with no stage and no conventional viewers—25 folks per evening are introduced right into a set in a former warehouse that has a 3-story mock condominium constructing and everybody turns into a part of the story. There are such a lot of methods to interact with theatre right here. No matter your style, funds, and even neighborhood, you’re positive to search out reveals that can entertain and, in true Chicago theatre vogue, problem your considering.
Mike Davis, a Chicago-based theatre reporter, covers the enterprise and tradition of Chicago’s theatre group.
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