Now in its 13th year, Chicago Theatre Week has become a calendar highlight for arts lovers because of its discounted access to shows.
Tickets went on sale Tuesday for about 85 productions from nearly 60 theaters, from downtown destinations to storefronts. (To redeem tickets, enter CTW25 online where the site asks for a promo code or call the box office.) This year’s week of discounts runs Feb. 6–16, with most events priced between $15 and $30. The week goes beyond traditional plays, with tickets available this year for Hubbard Street Dance, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera and The Second City.
Here are a few highlights to consider:
Lifeline Theatre’s “Kid Prince and Pablo”
Through Feb 16, 6912 North Glenwood Ave.
A divided city. An attempted revolution that prompts a ban on art. A young prince set to inherit the throne. Sound familiar? That’s because it’s The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. But in this updated version, the banned arts are rap music and dance, and the pauper is replaced by a drummer who performs underground rap battles.
Goodman Theatre’s “Fat Ham”
Jan. 11–Feb. 23, 170 N. Dearborn St.
The Pulitzer Prize–winning play makes its Chicago debut at the Goodman. The story is a contemporary take on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” told through the lens of Juicy, a young, queer Black man. If you’re not familiar with “Hamlet,” you may not even know you are watching the reimagining of a story that’s centuries old — that’s because writer James Ijames’s script is so fresh. This production offers a master class on updating and retelling a classic tale for modern audiences.
Shattered Globe Theatre’s “Lobby Hero”
Jan. 24–March 1, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont
Every time I leave a Shattered Globe production, I’m left in deep thought about the themes on stage. In this show by playwright Kenneth Lonergan, a security guard, his demanding boss, a rookie cop and her partner all see their lives collide on one night in a Manhattan apartment building. Fueled by moral dilemmas and intersecting demographics, this dark comedy — which premiered Off Broadway in 2001 — asks big questions and tackles tough themes.
Chicago Children’s Theatre and Manual Cinema’s “The Magic City”
Jan. 25–Feb. 16 at Chicago’s Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine Ave.
Manual Cinema is most known for their annual creepy staging of “Frankenstein” during Halloween. This show, presented with Chicago Children’s Theatre, is less chilling, but it’s still staged with the company’s trademark style, mixing puppets, shadows, live music and actors. The story encourages children to build bridges rather than walls, and after the show, kids can play with all the equipment and puppets used on stage.
A Red Orchid Theatre’s “The Cave”
Jan. 30–March 16, 1531 N. Wells St.
On the heels of the apocalyptic Michael Shannon-led drama “Turret”, A Red Orchid Theatre returns with another thriller. “The Cave” follows a Palestinian-American family in the days leading up to the Gulf War. As turmoil builds in the outside world, this family must also battle internal struggles of generational and cultural differences.
Lookingglass Theatre’s “Circus Quixote”
Jan. 30–March 30, 821 N. Michigan Ave. (inside the Water Tower Water Works building)
Lookingglass is back from its hiatus, and its first show looks like a blast. This flip on the Don Quixote tale blends the original with Lookingglass’ beloved storytelling style, which incorporates acrobatics and circus arts. If you haven’t had the chance to see a Lookingglass production, like the staple “Lookingglass Alice,” this is a great opportunity to be dazzled by the company’s unique brand of physical theater.
Steppenwolf Theatre’s “Fool for Love”
Jan. 30–March 16, 1650 N. Halsted Ave.
Yet another Sam Shepard play staged in Chicago this season, “Fool for Love” belongs on any shortlist of plays to see — especially if you can snag discount tickets. This steamy drama is set in the Mojave Desert, where two lovers embroiled in conflict meet in a motel room. Past trauma, family drama and a plot twist all come to a head in a production featuring Steppenwolf ensemble members Caroline Neff (“You Got Older,” “Linda Vista” in Chicago and on Broadway) and Cliff Chamberlain (“Superior Doughnuts” in Chicago and on Broadway).
Court Theatre’s “A Raisin in the Sun”
Jan. 31–March 2, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.
This is a Chicago classic for a few reasons. The story itself takes place on the South Side, and its locally born-and-raised writer Lorraine Hansberry made history by becoming the first Black woman to have one of her plays premiere on Broadway. During Chicago Theatre Week, you can see the South Side story on the South Side at Court Theatre for a discount rate. That’s a win-win-win.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Feb. 8–March 8, 800 East Grand Avenue, on Navy Pier
Not only is this ticket a big bang for your buck at a marquee Chicago theater, but it’s also a great introduction to Shakespeare for those non–English majors who didn’t spend semesters studying the Bard. “Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a comedy (I’d liken it to a teen lust rom-com), and this staging is bite-sized — just over an hour long with no intermission. A perfect intro for new fans and a quick viewing of a classic for the initiated.
Lyric Opera’s Sondra Radvanovsky in Concert: The Puccini Heroines
Feb 8–16, 20 N. Wacker Dr.
If you want to dip your toe into opera, this may be the perfect opportunity. Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky will perform a variety of works from the inimitable Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, who penned works like “Madama Butterfly” and “La Bohéme.”
Raven Theatre’s “A Lie of the Mind”
Feb. 13–March 22, 6157 N. Clark St.
This show by the Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Sam Shepard gets reimagined by director Azar Kazemi. Two families connected by marriage are faced with the tragic aftermath of an act of violence. In this updated version, Kazemi introduces an immigrant family, further stretching Shepard’s critique of the American Dream and exposing the fragility of American idealism.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Winter Series
Feb. 13–16, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.
After a sold-out fall series in Steppenwolf’s intimate theater, the famed contemporary dance company returns to the Harris Theater downtown with a four-night run, featuring a world premiere by American choreographer James Gregg. The company will also perform work by former Hubbard Street dancers-turned-globetrotting-choreographers Alice Klock and Florian Lochner (known as FLOCK) and a remount of “Black Milk” by Ohad Naharin.
Contributing: Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis and Cassie Walker Burke. For a complete schedule of shows and to purchase tickets, visit choosechicago.com.