List of theaters in Chicago
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
This is a list of notable theatre companies, performance venues, and rental performance spaces in the Chicago area.
Chicago area theatre venues and organizations
=Resident companies and venues=
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- About Face
- Aguijón Theater{{Cite web |title=Aguijón Theater Company {{!}} Chicago, IL. |url=https://aguijontheater.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |language=en-US}}
- American Blues Theater{{Cite web |title=American Blues Theater {{!}} Chicago, IL |url=https://americanbluestheater.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=American Blues Theater |language=en-US}}
- Annoyance Theatre{{Cite web |title=Annoyance Theatre & Bar {{!}} Chicago's Only Funny Comedy! {{!}} Chicago, IL |url=https://www.theannoyance.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Annoyance Theatre |language=en}}
- Black Ensemble Theater Company{{Cite web |title=Black Ensemble Theater and Cultural Center {{!}} Black Ensemble |url=https://blackensembletheater.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Black Ensemble Theater |language=en-US}}
- Center on Halsted{{Cite web |title=Center on Halsted - Chicago's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Community Center |url=http://www.centeronhalsted.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.centeronhalsted.org}}
- Chicago Dramatists{{Cite web |title=Chicago Dramatists {{!}} |url=https://chicagodramatists.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=chicagodramatists.org}}
- Chicago Shakespeare Theater{{Cite web |title=See what's playing on our stages |url=https://www.chicagoshakes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.chicagoshakes.com}}
- Chopin Theatre{{Cite web |title=Chopin Theatre :: Now Playing |url=https://www.chopintheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.chopintheatre.com}}
- Citadel Theatre (Lake Forest){{Cite web |title=Citadel Theatre |url=https://www.citadeltheatre.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Citadel Theatre |language=en-US}}
- City Lit Theater{{Cite web |title=City Lit |url=https://www.citylit.org/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=City Lit Theater |language=en-US}}
- Copernicus Center (formerly Gateway Theatre){{Cite web |title=HOME |url=https://copernicuscenter.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Copernicus Center |language=en-US}}
- Court Theatre{{Cite web |title=Court Theatre {{!}} Classic Plays In Chicago {{!}} Season & Tickets |url=https://www.courttheatre.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Court Theatre |language=en-US}}
- Factory Theater{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://thefactorytheater.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Factory Theater |language=en-US}}
- First Folio Theatre (Oak Brook){{Cite web |title=First Folio Theatre |url=https://firstfolio.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=First Folio Theatre |language=en-US}}
- Goodman Theatre{{Cite web |title=Goodman Theatre {{!}} Official Site of the Tony Award® winning Goodman Theatre {{!}} Tickets, Performance Calendar and Information |url=https://www.goodmantheatre.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Goodman Theatre |language=en-US}}
- iO Theater{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} iO Improv |url=https://ioimprov.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |language=en-US}}
- Irish Theatre of Chicago (formerly Seanachaí Theatre Company)Kenneth Jones, "Seanachai Becomes Irish Theatre of Chicago; Season Revealed," Playbill, August 12, 2014, https://playbill.com/article/seanachai-becomes-irish-theatre-of-chicago-season-revealed-com-328049.
- Kane Repertory Theatre (St. Charles){{Cite web |title=Kane Repertory Theatre {{!}} St Charles, Illinois {{!}} United States |url=https://www.kanerepertorytheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=KaneRepertoryTheatre |language=en}}
- Lifeline Theatre{{Cite web |title=Lifeline Theatre - Big Stories, Up Close |url=https://lifelinetheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Lifeline Theatre |language=en-US}}
- Lookingglass Theatre Company{{Cite web |title=Lookingglass Theatre Company |url=https://lookingglasstheatre.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Lookingglass Theatre Company |language=en-US}}
- Lyric Opera of Chicago{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.lyricopera.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.lyricopera.org |language=en}}
- Marriott Theatre (Lincolnshire){{Cite web |title=Marriott Theatre - Musicals and Children's Theatre in Lincolnshire, IL |url=https://www.marriotttheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.marriotttheatre.com |language=en}}
- MCA Stage{{Cite web |title=MCA - MCA Stage {{!}} Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago |url=https://mcachicago.org/Programs/MCA-Stage |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=mcachicago.org}}
- Merle Reskin Theatre (DePaul) (formerly Blackstone Theater){{Cite web |title= Merle Reskin Theatre | Facilities | About | the Theatre School | DePaul University, Chicago|url=https://theatre.depaul.edu/about/facilities/Pages/merle-reskin-theatre.aspx}}
- Music Theater Works (formerly Light Opera Works) (Evanston){{Cite web |title=HOME |url=https://www.musictheaterworks.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Music Theater Works |language=en-US}}
- Neo-Futurists{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://neofuturists.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Neo-Futurist Theater |language=en-US}}
- Oak Park Festival Theatre (Oak Park){{Cite web |title=Oak Park Festival Theatre {{!}} Exploring our shared humanity by telling stories that stand the test of time. By looking to our past and re-imagining the familiar, we hold a mirror up to the times in which we live, bringing us all a little closer. |url=https://oakparkfestival.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |language=en-US}}
- Opera in Focus (Rolling Meadows){{Cite web |title=Opera in Focus |url=https://www.operainfocus.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.operainfocus.com}}
- Paramount Theatre (Aurora){{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://paramountaurora.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Paramount Theatre |language=en-US}}
- The Playground{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The Playground Theater • Chicago's 1st Non-profit Comedy Theater |url=https://theplaygroundtheater.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Playground Theater |language=en-US}}
- Porchlight Music Theatre{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://porchlightmusictheatre.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Porchlight Music Theatre |language=en-US}}
- Raven Theater{{Cite web |title=Raven Theater Website |url=https://www.raventheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Raven Theater |language=en-US}}
- A Red Orchid Theatre{{Cite web |title=A Red Orchid Theatre – Cutting Edge Ensemble Based Theatre in Chicago |url=https://aredorchidtheatre.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |language=en-US}}
- Red Tape Theatre{{Cite web |date=2023-10-14 |title=Red Tape Theatre |url=https://redtapetheatre.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Red Tape Theatre |language=en-US}}
- Red Theater Chicago{{Cite web |title=Red Theater |url=https://redtheater.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Red Theater |language=en-US}}
- Remy Bumppo Theatre Company{{Cite web |title=Remy Bumppo Theatre Company: Think Theatre in Chicago |url=https://www.remybumppo.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Remy Bumppo |language=en-US}}
- The Second City{{Cite web |title=Second City |url=https://www.secondcity.com/}}
- Shattered Globe Theatre Company
- Silk Road Rising{{Cite web |date=2023-03-29 |title=Home {{!}} Silk Road Cultural Center |url=https://silkroadculturalcenter.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=silkroadculturalcenter.org |language=en-US}}
- Steep Theatre Company{{Cite web |title=Steep Theatre |url=https://www.steeptheatre.com/}}
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.steppenwolf.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.steppenwolf.org |language=en}}
- Strawdog Theatre Company{{Cite web |title=Strawdog Theatre Company |url=https://www.strawdog.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Strawdog Theatre Company |language=en-US}}
- Theatre-Hikes
- Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://theo-u.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=theo |language=en-US}}
- TimeLine Theatre Company{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Helen |title=Home |url=https://timelinetheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=TimeLine Theatre |language=en-US}}
- Trap Door Theatre{{Cite web |title=Trap Door Theatre |url=https://trapdoortheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |language=en-US}}
- Victory Gardens Theater{{Cite web |date=2019-03-25 |title=Now Playing |url=https://victorygardens.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Victory Gardens |language=en-US}}
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=Itinerant companies=
- Babes With Blades{{Cite web |title=Babes With Blades Theatre Company – Theatre That Leaves A Mark |url=https://babeswithblades.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Babes With Blades Theatre Company |language=en-US}}
- Child's Play Touring Theatre{{Cite web |title=Home{{!}} Child's Play Touring Theatre |url=http://www.cptt.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.cptt.org}}
- Collaboraction{{Cite web |title=Collaboraction {{!}} Theatre for Social Change |url=https://www.collaboraction.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Collaboraction |language=en}}
- ETA Creative Arts Foundation{{Cite web |title=Theater {{!}} Eta Creative Arts Foundation {{!}} Chicago |url=https://www.etacreativearts.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=EtaCreativeArts |language=en}}
- Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre Co{{Cite web |title=Ghostlight Ensemble |url=http://www.ghostlightensemble.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Ghostlight Ensemble |language=en-US}}
- LiveWire Chicago Theatre{{Cite web |title=Livewire Chicago |url=http://livewirechicago.com/}}
- Off-Off Campus (UChicago){{Cite web |title=Off-Off Campus |url=https://www.offoffcampus.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Off-Off Campus |language=en-US}}
- Red Theater Chicago{{Cite web |title=Red Theater |url=https://redtheater.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Red Theater |language=en-US}}
- Theater Oobleck (formerly Streetlight Theater){{Cite web |title=Theater Oobleck |url=https://theateroobleck.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=theateroobleck.com}}
- TUTA Theatre{{Cite web |title=TUTA Theatre |url=https://www.tutatheatre.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=TUTA Theatre |language=en-US}}
=Touring and rental venues=
- Apollo Theater Chicago{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.apollochicago.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Apollo Theater Chicago |language=en-US}}
- Arie Crown Theatre{{Cite web |last=Theater |first=Arie Crown |title=Arie Crown Theater |url=https://www.ariecrown.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.ariecrown.com |language=en}}
- Auditorium Theatre{{Cite web |title=Auditorium Theatre |url=https://auditoriumtheatre.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Auditorium Theatre |language=en-US}}
- Briar Street Theater{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-04-24 |title=Briar Street Theatre {{!}} Latest Events and Tickets {{!}} Chicago, Illinois |url=https://www.briarstreetbroadway.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.briarstreetbroadway.com |language=en-US}}
- Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (formerly Drury Lane Water Tower Place){{Cite web |title=Broadway Playhouse Chicago {{!}} Chicago Theater Guide |url=https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/chicago-theater-guide/broadway-playhouse-chicago/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Broadway In Chicago |language=en-US}}
- Bughouse Theater
- Cadillac Palace Theatre{{Cite web |title=Cadillac Palace Theatre Chicago {{!}} Chicago Theater Guide |url=https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/chicago-theater-guide/cadillac-palace-theatre-chicago/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Broadway In Chicago |language=en-US}}
- Chicago Theatre{{Cite web |title=The Chicago Theatre {{!}} Wondrous Starts Here |url=https://www.msg.com/madison-square-garden |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=MSG |language=en}}
- CIBC Theatre (formerly The Shubert Theatre){{Cite web |title=CIBC Theatre Chicago - Home of Broadway's Best Shows |url=https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/chicago-theater-guide/cibc-theatre-chicago/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Broadway In Chicago |language=en-US}}
- Congress Theater{{Cite web |title=Congress Chicago on Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/login/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}
- Greenhouse Theater Center{{Cite web |title=Greenhouse Theater Center {{!}} Chicago Tickets |url=https://www.greenhousetheater.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Greenhouse Theater |language=en}}
- Harris Theater (Chicago){{Cite web |title=Harris Theater {{!}} Official Ticket Source {{!}} Chicago's Home for Music and Dance |url=https://www.harristheaterchicago.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.harristheaterchicago.org}}
- James M. Nederlander Theatre (formerly Oriental Theatre){{Cite web |title=James Nederlander Theatre Chicago {{!}} Chicago Theater Guide |url=https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/chicago-theater-guide/james-nederlander-theatre-chicago/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Broadway In Chicago |language=en-US}}
- Lyric Opera of Chicago{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.lyricopera.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=www.lyricopera.org |language=en}}
- Rosemont Theater{{Cite web |title=Rosemont Theatre |url=https://rosemont.com/theatre/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |language=en-US}}
- Theater Wit{{Cite web |title=Theater Wit: Theater Wit: smart.art |url=https://www.theaterwit.org/ |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=www.theaterwit.org}}
=Inactive, historic companies and venues=
Companies
- Accidental Shakespeare{{Cite web |title=The Accidental Shakespeare Theatre Company |url=https://accidentalshakespeare.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Accidental Shakespeare Threatre Company |language=en-us}}
- American Theater Company{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Chris |date=2018-03-16 |title=American Theater Company is shutting down, the company behind 'Disgraced' and 'Original Grease' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2018/03/16/american-theater-company-is-shutting-down-the-company-behind-disgraced-and-original-grease/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}
- Body Politic Theater{{Cite web |last=Lazare |first=Lewis |date=1995-07-27 |title=Body Politic Bows Out/Auditorium Suit Dismissed |url=http://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/body-politic-bows-out-auditorium-suit-dismissed/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}
- Baliwick Theatre Company
- BoHo Theatre{{Cite web |date=2024-04-29 |title=Bohotheatre |url=https://www.bohotheatre.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Bohotheatre |language=en-US}}
- Boxer Rebellion Theatre Company
- Caffeine Theatre{{Cite web |date=2012-08-10 |title=Caffeine Theatre To Close - Chicago Theatre News |url=https://www.theatreinchicago.com/newswire.php?newsID=756 |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Theatre in Chicago}}
- Chicago Center for the Performing Arts[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/08/25/theatrical-days-appear-numbered-for-chicago-center-for-performing-arts/ Theatrical days appear numbered for Chicago Center for Performing Arts]
- Compass Players
- Defiant Theatre
- The Ethiopian Art Theatre/Players
- Famous Door Theatre{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Chris |date=2005-06-03 |title=Famous Door closing after venerable run |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-06-03-0506030235-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206142432/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-06-03-0506030235-story.html |archive-date=2022-12-06 |website=Chicago Tribune}}
- First Folio Theatre (Oak Brook)
- Goat Island
- Happy Happy Good Show
- The Hypocrites{{Cite web |date=2021-05-30 |title=Home |url=https://the-hypocrites.com/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Hypocrites |language=en-US}}
- Illinois Theatre Center
- Improv Institute
- Infamous Commonwealth Theatre{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2011-07-25 |title=Infamous Commonwealth Theatre closes |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/07/25/infamous-commonwealth-theatre-closes-2/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}
- Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company
- New Age Vaudeville
- New Variety
- Oracle Theatre Company
- Organic Theater Company{{Cite web |title= |url=http://ww1.organictheater.org/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=}}
- Playwrights Theatre Club
- Pyewacket Theatre Company
- The House Theatre of Chicago{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-06-02 |title=Chicago's House Theatre to Close After a 21-Year Run |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2022/06/02/chicagos-house-theatre-to-close-after-a-21-year-run/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=AMERICAN THEATRE |language=en-US}}
- The Practical Theatre Company
- Remains Theatre{{Cite web |last=Lazare |first=Lewis |date=1994-01-06 |title=Money Trouble at Wisdom Bridge/What Remains of Remains?/Rotational Success/Hot Mikado |url=http://chicagoreader.com/arts-culture/money-trouble-at-wisdom-bridge-what-remains-of-remains-rotational-success-hot-mikado/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}
- Redmoon Theater
- Wayward Productions (formerly Chicago Fusion Theatre)
- Windy City Performs{{Cite web |last=Nadig |first=Brian |date=2019-06-20 |title=Windy City Performs, a performing arts school, closes in Jefferson Park |url=https://nadignewspapers.com/windy-city-performs-a-performing-arts-school-closes-in-jefferson-park/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Nadig Newspapers - Northwest Side Local Newspapers |language=en-US}}
Venues
- Academy of Music
- Drury Lane Theatres
- Garrick Theater
- Iroquois Theatre
- Theatre Building Chicago (Purchased by Stage 773)
- Uptown Theatre