Emmy-Award winning Collaboraction Theatre Company broke ground Thursday on the “House of Belonging,” its new home that will serve as an arts anchor and community hub in Humboldt Park.
The project is being supported by a $3 million capital campaign that’s currently underway, though the project is less than $3 million, according to the theater group. The campaign is also an endowment for Collaboraction and will support the hiring of 10-15 new employees at the location.
The groundbreaking at 1757 N. Kimball Ave., inside the Kimball Arts Center, was a moment of celebration for the theater company. The gut rehab of the space — which used to be an independent pet store — could be complete in as soon as three months, said Anthony Moseley, Collaboraction’s chief programming officer and artistic director. That would make the space on track to open in June, offering programs and a third space for youth over the summer. It’d also mean the theater company can host shows and other events in time for its 30th anniversary in 2026.
Darlene Jackson, the company’s CEO and executive director, said the House of Belonging is designed to uplift, connect and make an impact beyond just Humboldt Park. The 4,000-square-foot House of Belonging will feature a 99-seat flexible studio theater and a 50-seat cabaret with a bar. The backstage will serve as the artists’ area, with a green room, dressing room and additional facilities.
Collaboraction plans to host live theater, spoken word, music, dance, films, workshops and other events that foster community dialogue and combat inequity. The space will have state-of-the-art equipment to record and stream events produced by Collaboraction, guest artists and companies worldwide, according to the theater group.
“Our goal is to build a thriving arts hub in Humboldt Park, one that amplifies diverse voices and broadcasts stories of social change to the world,” Jackson, also known as House music DJ “DJ Lady D,” said. “To lead by example: That’s the call and model to the world that we can be because theater is more than a stage and seats — it’s a cornerstone of culture, connection, creativity, community.”
For many neighbors and members of the theater company, Collaboraction’s mission of social change through theater feels increasingly important. President Donald Trump has made sweeping cuts to federal DEI programs since taking office Jan. 20.
Collaboraction COO and Managing Director Beverly Dines said she wants the House of Belonging to feel like a warm home that welcomes everyone during a time of division.
“Our strength lies in our diversity and our lived experiences, with understanding, empathy and joy as we are once again facing a time where our very human dignity is being undermined by people who lack the power we hold within,” Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia said. “The only way to face these challenging times is to do it together.”
Fostering dialogue is a key component of what Collaboraction hopes to accomplish in the House of Belonging. The cabaret, located at the front of its space, will serve as a community space before and after performances.
“It’ll be a great place for dialogue and connecting and unpacking the work,” Moseley said.
Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th) said the space will be “transformative,” especially for Chicago youth. The alderperson said she credits poetry, theater and hip-hop for saving her life and helping her find community when she was young.
“It was art that made me a politician,” Fuentes said. “This groundbreaking means more to young people and families and Humboldt Park … than many of you all know and believe.”
