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Chicago Theater

Discover Chicago’s Premier Concert and Theatre Performances: Your Ultimate Guide in the City. Chicago is one of the country’s best scenes for theater shows and live music events. Immerse yourself in Chicago’s vibrant music and theatre scene, where diverse performances await. There’s something for everyone, from bustling stadium concerts and shows to cozy local theatre productions. Our comprehensive guide provides essential details on Chicago’s top entertainment venues. Find your favorite Broadway shows , plays, musicals, operas , ballets , Cirque Du Soleil , family shows , comedy shows , or concerts , and buy verified theater tickets at the lowest price. Stay informed about the latest events this season, explore detailed seating charts, and find venue locations quickly to plan your perfect cultural outing. Experience the best of Chicago’s entertainment landscape!

Events Calendar

Shows & musicals 2024/2025, all theater shows.

Chicago Theatre Guide

Chicago’s Premier Theater Offerings: A Curated Guide

Chicago’s theater scene is a dynamic tapestry woven with creativity, drama, and unbridled talent, offering an eclectic mix of performances that cater to every taste. From the mesmerizing beats of live music to the classic charm of Shakespearean drama, the Windy City’s stages are alive with action. Here, we present a handpicked selection of the finest theater shows gracing Chicago , each promising an unforgettable experience.

Must-See Musicals and Vibrant Performances:

• Blue Man Group : A sensory overload of music, comedy, and multimedia theatrics.
• In The Heights : A heartwarming tale set to the rhythm of hip-hop and salsa.
• Beehive : A musical journey through the 1960s, celebrating female empowerment.
• Drunk Shakespeare : A unique twist on classic plays, performed with a tipsy flair.
• Shrek The Musical : A fairy-tale adventure brought to life with humor and heart.

Chicago is home to over 200 small theater companies, such as A Red Orchid Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Redtwist Theater, Trap Door Theatre, The Conspirators, and TUTA Theatre. Some have performance venues, while others perform in untraditional spaces such as storefronts, bars, studios, or black box theatres around Chicago.

Many of Chicago’s larger theaters , both profit and non-profit, originate or try out shows for Broadway. Touring productions also visit the city regularly, mainly playing at the big theaters in the Chicago Theatre District in the Loop.

Following the tradition of The Second City and Steppenwolf, many of these companies, including American Blues Theater, Stage Left Theatre, The Factory Theater, Organic Theater Company, Strawdog Theatre Company, and Lifeline Theatre, are ensemble-based. An ensemble-based company comprises a group of artists (actors, directors, designers, playwrights, etc.) who work collaboratively to create each production.

Chicago theater has a long record of introducing new plays and playwrights. Many of the theaters in Chicago have new play workshop programs to cultivate work from current playwrights. Chicago Dramatists, begun by a group of ex-students of a playwriting workshop at Victory Gardens Theater, has an ongoing program of developing new writers, most notably Rebecca Gilman. Wikipedia .

List Of Theaters

The Chicago Theatre

Located on what Frank Sinatra famously called “State Street, that great street,” the Chicago Theatre is prominently situated in the heart of Chicago’s downtown, just blocks south of the Chicago River and west of Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park. For nearly a century now, the Chicago Theatre has welcomed visitors through its stylish doors to behold a remarkable performance space graced by many of the world’s most beloved artists. Famous for the glitz of its unmistakable “Chicago” marquee sign, the Chicago Theatre still stands today as one of the city’s great landmarks.

Save on your visit to the Chicago Theatre Tour! The Chicago Theatre Tour is included on the Go Chicago Pass and Explorer Pass. Save an additional 10% on the Go City Card with Coupon Code: CMGOCITY10 The discount stacks on top the current sale prices! Promo expires on February 29th.

Click on photos to enlarge.

The Chicago Theatre History and Background Information

The Chicago Theatre first opened its doors in 1921. It cost $4 million to build, and was constructed for the purpose of being one of the world’s finest movie theatres. As a result, no detail was overlooked. The outside of the Theater was designed in the French Baroque architectural style, and features a distinctive glazed terra-cotta arch that resembles the Arc de Triomphe. The famous Chicago Theatre marquee sign that reads CHICAGO in big bold letters is nearly 6 stories high. Inside, the Theatre’s lobby has five-story tall ceilings, and was laid out to invoke the Royal Chapel of Versailles, while the lovely staircases that wind up to the Theatre’s balcony seating recall similar features of the Paris Opera House.

Throughout its existence the Chicago Theatre has hosted shows and events by some of the past century’s most famous artists and personalities. It was placed on the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and declared an official Chicago Landmark in 1983. Today it seats 3,600 people, and continues to welcome guests from all over the world into its renowned performance space.

What’s at the The Chicago Theatre

While it’s true that the Chicago Theatre is quite possibly best known for its iconic marquee sign, the interior of the Chicago Theatre is quite the spectacle, too. No matter what brings you to the Chicago Theatre, its grand lobby is not to be missed. There you’ll behold the glamour of the red carpet as it gives way to a magnificent staircase leading to the Theatre’s opulent auditorium space. If you’re at the Chicago Theatre for a performance or show, you’ll be able to soak all this in as part of the excitement of a lively crowd; the Theatre also offers regular tours that provide guests with the opportunity to explore the delights of this famed structure in a more casual and informative setting.

There are multiple concession stands found throughout the Chicago Theatre, including one located on each level of the facility. They typically offer a mixture of snacks and a whole host of beverages like bottled water, soft drinks, juice, wine, beer, and various liquors. Whether or not any of these items will be allowed within the building’s main auditorium will depend on the guidelines of that day’s particular performance.

A number of amenities are offered at the Chicago Theatre. For those guests requiring assistance during their visit, the Chicago Theatre provides accommodations for mobility, hearing, and/or visual impairments. Several water fountains and ATMs are situated throughout the building, and merchandise booths may be accessed on the Theatre’s main floor.

Tips for Visiting the The Chicago Theatre

• Take a Chicago Theater Tour if you have a Go Chicago Card .
• There are many parking garages and lots to be found in the general vicinity of the Chicago Theatre. However, given the Chicago Theatre’s prominent location in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, it can be quite expensive. If you’re open to alternative transportation methods, the Chicago Theatre is readily accessible by bus, CTA train, and Metra train.
• While the Chicago Theatre does have a dedicated Coat Check facility on site, where you can check coats and bags for $2/item, do keep in mind that all “large bags” and backpacks are strictly forbidden.
• If you’re coming to the Chicago Theatre with small children, one nice perk here is that they offer complimentary booster seats for use during performances. These free items are available for checkout from the Coat Check on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Guide to Chicago theatres

From Tina Fey to John Malkovich, Chicago’s theatre scene has long been a hotbed for the entertainment industry’s most talented people. But if the city’s flourishing Theater District is any indication, Chicago is far from a stepping stone. With more than 250 theatres, five Tony Award-winning theatre companies , diverse neighborhood theatres , and the country’s greatest comedy scene , Chicago is a must-visit destination for theatre lovers.

Here’s our guide to Chicago’s vibrant theatre scene .

The Chicago Theatre District

Downtown Chicago offers more than incredible architecture and shopping. The Loop is where you’ll find Chicago’s vibrant theatre district, a bustling area in the heart of the city with a glittering marquee just about everywhere you turn.

The Chicago Theatre District is a hub for world-class productions and premieres, particularly at the district’s three Broadway In Chicago  theatres:

• CIBC Theatre , which first opened as a vaudeville theatre in 1906
• James M. Nederlander Theatre , a lavish movie palace from the early 1900s
• Cadillac Palace Theatre , an ornate venue designed inspired by the Palace of Versailles

The Theatre District is also home to the Goodman Theatre , Chicago’s oldest and largest not-for-profit theatre. The Tony Award-winning theatre produces both classic and contemporary works, giving voice to a wide range of artists and visions.

Just a few blocks south from the heart of the Theatre District, Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University is another Chicago gem. A National Historic Landmark known for its staggering size and unparalleled acoustics, the theatre is the resident home of The Joffrey Ballet.

Insider tip: Do dinner and a show! Here’s our guide on where to eat near Chicago theatres .

Independent theatres

Chicago’s neighborhoods are home to a powerful ensemble of independent theatres. Lincoln Park’s Steppenwolf Theatre , which is widely considered one of the best venues for new works in the country, launched the careers of successful actors like Gary Sinise, Joan Allen, and Nick Offerman. Amongst the company’s many accolades is a Tony Award for Regional Theatre Excellence and critical acclaim for the world premiere of Grapes of Wrath , which went on to win a Tony for Best Play in 1990.

Enjoy the works of William Shakespeare and other powerful performances from the past and present that resonate with Shakespeare’s timeless insights into the human condition at the Tony award-winning  Chicago Shakespeare Theater  at Navy Pier.

Discover a modern take on the classics at the Court Theatre . The professional theatre of the University of Chicago, the Court Theatre’s productions expand on traditional American theatre through adaptations, translations, lost masterpieces, and fresh takes on familiar texts.

And mind-blowing theatrics ignite at Chicago’s Tony award-winning Lookingglass Theatre . Co-founded by David Schwimmer, this intimate theatre found a home in the landmark Water Tower Water Works building on Michigan Avenue.

Storefront theatre

First, what is a storefront theatre? Typically, it’s a theatre that’s located in an actual storefront — a renovated shop or showroom, an old church, a former movie house. These quirky spots are house smaller theatre groups with a specific vision, which means they stage more unconventional shows than you might find at larger, more established venues.

Chicago is known for its cutting-edge storefront theatre scene, with hundreds of edgy and avant-garde groups scattered all across the city. To get you started on the hunt for the next big thing, check out offbeat premieres at the Red Orchid Theatre , an immersive experience at the RedTwist Theatre in Edgewater, or take a trip to Lakeview for a truly provocative show at the  Strawdog Theatre Company .

Explore more of Chicago’s dynamic neighborhood theatres .

Comedy & sketch theatre

For more than 50 years  The Second City has been a launching pad for some comedy’s biggest stars. Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert, and Tina Fey all polished their punch lines at this legendary Chicago institution. With five stages, nightly shows and the in-house UP Comedy Club, a visit to the Old Town neighborhood’s Second City Theater is a must for comedy lovers. Down the street from The Second City is  Zanies , one of the country’s most fabled stand-up clubs.

Explore more improv and comedy clubs in Chicago .

Belmont Theatre District

Located in the northside Lakeview neighborhood, the Belmont Theatre District is a collection of more than 20 theatres scattered throughout this scenic lakefront neighborhood. A few stand-out spots include:

• Athenaeum Theatre , the city’s oldest continuously operating off-Loop theatre
• Laugh Factory , a popular comedy club for emerging stand-up talent
• The Newport Theatre , known for burlesque, drag, and fringe theatre
• Timeline Theatre Company , a recipient of a MacArthur Award

And you can’t miss the multi-sensory theatrical spectacle that is the Blue Man Group . The one-of-a-kind show fuses original music with comedy, art, vaudeville, and science. The three blue performers bang drums, slosh paint, and interact with the audience throughout their wild and offbeat evolving productions. Filling the Briar Street Theater since the show started over 15 years ago, the phenomenon keeps crowds of all ages and backgrounds coming back for more with their larger-than-life props, mesmerizing rhythms, and splash-filled antics.

Edgewater Theatre District

This lakefront neighborhood is home to a thriving theatre district , which includes more than 20 local theatres. The area is known for its intimate, storefront theatres putting on original, cutting-edge productions. And most are within easy walking distance of the neighborhood’s diverse array of restaurants and bars. Here’s a few not to miss:

• Jackalope Theatre Company , explores American identity and history through riveting new works
• Babes With Blades Theatre Company uses stage combat to put women at the center of their productions
• The Neo-Futurist Theatre fuses theatre, poetry, and current events into interactive, one-of-a-kind performances
• Interrobang Theatre Project , an award-winning theatre producing visceral and timely productions of rare and new works

League of Chicago Theatres

The  League of Chicago Theatres is your source for the largest variety of Chicago theatre company listings and performances. They serve a membership of more than 200 theatres, ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to major cultural centers. Visit chicagoplays.com  for a full calendar of what’s on stage now, and what is coming up next.

League of Chicago Theatres also offers  half-price tickets with Hot Tix . Visit the two downtown Chicago locations to get recommendations from their experts and find the perfect show, or  purchase online any day of the week. 72 E. Randolph St. (near Millennium Park) and 108 N. State St. (inside Block 37, Guest Services 1st Floor)

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Lyric Opera House tours

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Lyric Opera House tours will be returning soon Lyric Opera House tours

Lyric Opera of Chicago invites you to experience the Lyric Opera House beyond the footlights with our opera house tours!

From the moment you enter the beautiful and impressive foyer, you’ll be in for a special, one-hour experience with an engaging Lyric docent who will give you behind-the-scenes insights into the vibrant world of grand opera.

See the inside of the historic Ardis Krainik Theatre, enjoy an up-close-and-personal view of the orchestra pit where the acclaimed Lyric Orchestra plays, and learn about the vast array of skilled professionals who bring operatic stagecraft to life. Additional questions? Contact the team at [email protected] or call 312-827-5720

• Running Time: Approximately 1 hour
• Location: Lyric Opera House (Entrance at the corner of Madison St. and Wacker Dr.)
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Student tours

Bring your student group to Lyric to learn more about the arts in a setting where questions and dialogue are encouraged.

As students journey through the various production areas, they learn about the myriad elements that combine to create a grand opera performance and the vast array of professional skills involved. They see places and things that most Lyric patrons only dream of seeing, and they leave the tour with lasting insider knowledge about the world of opera.

Group tours

Groups of ten or more are welcome to purchase tickets through our group sales dapartment.  Please contact Group Sales at [email protected] . 

Tour accessibility

Lyric Opera backstage tours are accessible to visitors using a wheelchair or walker and to other guests who need to avoid stairs. Additional accommodations are available upon request for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing. Guide and service animals are allowed along the tour.

For additional questions regarding tour accessibility, please contact [email protected] .

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• Pre-opera talks

Photos: Kyle Flubacker

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Chicago Theatre Marquee Tour

The Chicago Theatre is an original movie palace from the 1920s that now serves as a Landmark for Chicago’s hottest ticketed live events.

Patrons come from all over the world to see performances, but did you know that you can explore the theatre, and even go backstage without being a groupie?

Book a guided tour to see and learn about the beautiful, historic Chicago Theatre with the Marquee Tour !

Buy tickets online

Ticket Prices*:

• Adults: $18
• Students and Military: $13
• Children (12 & under): $13
• Groups (10+): $12. For more information on group tickets, call 312.462.6302

Guests 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.  Groups of 10 or more save on ticket prices.

Pro Tip: The Marquee Tour is free with a purchase of the  GoCity Chicago Card , which means cardholder's admission costs are covered! Interested? Find out more about Go Chicago Cards and City Pass . Goldstar is also offering 50% off tour tickets .

Tour Details

12 pm Tours Daily (year-round)

Duration : 1 hour

• Explore the lobby, orchestra, first and second-tier balconies, stage, backstage and dressing room including an autographed wall of stars.
• Learn about the history of the building, from its origins as a movie theatre in 1921, all the way to its current renovation as a premier events venue.
• Architectural highlights include neo-baroque interiors, a grand staircase reflective of the Paris Opera House, the 3,600 seating house, crystal chandeliers, Tiffany and Steuben glass fixtures, and an original Grand Wurlitzer pipe organ.
• Stand on stage! See what the performers see, and feel what it might be like to perform for such a grand audience.
• Learn more .

Click here to interactive view of theater lobby.

Pro-tip: When viewing the autographed wall backstage, can you find Dolly Parton’s signature? How about Frank Sinatra?

How to Get There

Located in The Loop, the Chicago Theatre is within walking distance of many popular downtown hotels.

175 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60601 ( map )

• Red Line- Lake Station
• Brown|Green|Orange - State/Lake Stop
• Bus - #29 State Street, #36 Broadway, #62 Archer, #145 Wilson/Michigan, #146 Marine/Michigan
• Interpark parking garage located on Wabash Avenue and Randolph Street.
• Theatre District parking garage located on Dearborn Avenue and Lake Street.

We hope you enjoy your tour! You may also enjoy our self-guided walking tour of Chicago’s Theatre District .

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MILTON KEYNES

MILTON KEYNES THEATRE

12 October – 19 October 2024

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ALHAMBRA THEATRE

21 October – 26 October 2024

THEATRE ROYAL

28 October – 2 November 2024

PALACE THEATRE

4 November – 9 November 2024

ORCHARD THEATRE

11 November – 16 November 2024

SOUTHAMPTON

MAYFLOWER THEATRE

19 November – 23 November 2024

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25 November – 30 November 2024

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14 January – 18 January 2025

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20 January – 25 January 2025

Lyceum Theatre

28 January – 1 February 2025

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4 February – 8 February 2025

Liverpool Empire

10 February – 15 February 2025

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24 February – 1 March 2025

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3 March – 8 March 2025

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11 March – 15 March 2025

On Sale 3 May

Grand Opera House

17 March – 22 March 2025

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Pavilion Theatre

31 March – 5 April 2025

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7 April – 12 April 2025

On Sale 19 April

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14 April – 19 April 2025

Hall For Cornwall

21 April – 26 April 2025

On Sale 20 May

Wales Millennium Centre

5 May – 10 May 2025

Bristol Hippodrome

19 May – 24 May 2025

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9 June – 14 June 2025

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16 June – 21 June 2025

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Grand Theatre

23 June – 28 June 2025

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30 June – 5 July 2025

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7 July – 12 July 2025

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21 July – 26 July 2025

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28 July – 2 August 2025

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4 August – 9 August 2025

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11 August – 16 August 2025

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Entertainment | What to do around Chicago: Trace Adkins, C2E2…

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Entertainment, entertainment | what to do around chicago: trace adkins, c2e2 and a bookstore crawl.

“Midsummer Night’s Dream”: The Joffrey Ballet stages Alexander Ekman’s mind-bender, set during a modern-day Scandinavian solstice celebration.  April 25 to May 5 at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; tickets $36-$205 at joffrey.org

Mike Birbiglia: The storyteller and comedian rolls into town with ruminations on childhood and parenting in “Please Stop the Ride.” The tour follows his critically acclaimed 2022 show, “The Old Man and the Pool,” a poignant take on death and middle age. April 26-27 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets $49-$69 at birbigs.com

Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl: Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day by exploring the area’s vibrant bookstore scene. From the stalwart Lake Forest Bookstore to Tinley Park’s romance-centered Love’s Sweet Arrows, 46 bookstores in Chicago and beyond are participating in this year’s crawl. Look for signed prints by Chicago poet Eve L. Ewing and artist Tony Fitzpatrick as well as discounts and other goodies. April 27 at various locations; more information at chilovebooks.com

25th Annual Poetry Fest: Chicago Public Library offers a full slate of poetry programming, featuring a keynote presentation by former U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón as well as a panel discussion on censorship, readings and more. Teens should consider the session hosted by avery r. young. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27 at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.; free, more information at chipublib.bibliocommons.com

Dia del Niño: The Museum of Contemporary Art moves beyond its campus to offer art-based activities and bounce-house fun in Little Village. Make kaleidoscopes, ‘zines, flags and more. White Sox mascot Southpaw will appear, and Los Comales will serve free food. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27 at Saucedo Scholastic Academy, 2850 W. 24th Blvd.; free, register at visit.mcachicago.org

The Trashy Earth Market 2024: No Oscar the Grouch here: Instead, find eco-conscious artisans who transform trash to treasure. Browse their wares and participate in LOOM360, an art installation that encourages people to donate and weave scraps of unwearable clothing into a communal tapestry. Reduce Waste Chicago and Cradles to Crayons will be on hand to collect items for recycling and reuse. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27 (rain date April 28) at Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St.; free, more information at www.eventbrite.com

Trace Adkins: Head to Gary for country music star Trace Adkins’s Somewhere in America tour. 7 p.m. April 27 at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, 5400 W. 29th Ave., Gary, Indiana; tickets $69.50-$109.50 at casino.hardrock.com

The Swans of Harlem — Reclaiming the History of Black Ballet: Lydia Abarca, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton and Marcia Sells will talk with author Karen Valby and “Chicago Tonight” co-anchor Brandis Friedman about their groundbreaking careers as Black artists during the civil rights movement. Following the talk, Chicago-based dance company Move Me Soul will perform a dance tribute. 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 27 at Francis W. Parker School, 330 W. Webster Ave.; tickets $15-$25 at chicagohumanities.org

Frankie Beverly & Maze: Chaka Khan and El DeBarge will join Frankie Beverly & Maze on a farewell tour. 8 p.m. April 27 at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison; tickets $59.50-$409.50 at unitedcenter.com

C2E2:  Cosplayers, you’ve been waiting for this. Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo takes over McCormick Place this weekend . Go for the sights: Artist Alley and the homemade costumes are worth the cost of admission alone. And if celebrities and long lines are your thing, snag an autograph: Josh Brolin, Maya Hawke and Christopher Lloyd are on the roster.  April 26-28 at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive; c2e2.com

Have something to do around Chicago?  Send events to [email protected]

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Here we go again! Streamwood High alumna headlines ‘Mamma Mia!’ for 25th anniversary national tour

Christine Sherrill is having many full-circle moments with the 25th anniversary tour of “Mamma Mia!” Sherrill stars as leading lady Donna Sheridan in the global smash jukebox musical featuring the hit pop songs of ABBA. “Mamma Mia!” returns to Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre for a three-week engagement beginning Tuesday, April 30.

“It's invigorating for me,” said Sherrill, a longtime Chicago-area actress who is an alumna of both Streamwood High School and Northern Illinois University.

“I think any actor coming off of COVID and finding a show that's so joyful and has this much energy right now feels really good,” Sherrill said. “It's not easy to tour, of course, but I'm so grateful.”

April 2024 commemorates significant golden and silver anniversaries for ABBA. The Swedish quartet launched to international stardom when ABBA’s hit “Waterloo” won the Eurovision Song Competition on April 6, 1974. Then, on the same date in 1999, “Mamma Mia!” opened in London's West End, where it is still running.

Sherrill is honored to be belting out ABBA pop hits onstage, even though this isn't her first go-round with “Mamma Mia!” Sherrill previously played the supporting friend Tanya on tour with the musical, and then as Donna in a 2014 return engagement of “Mamma Mia!” at the soon-to-be demolished Tropicana Las Vegas.

For this new “Mamma Mia!” tour, Sherrill once again plays Donna, a Greek taverna owner and mother of bride-to-be Sophie. Shenanigans ensue when three of Donna's ex-lovers (one of whom could be Sophie’s father) are each invited to the wedding.

Despite her past “Mamma Mia!” history, Sherrill said she faced a huge audition pool to win the role of Donna for the tour (which launched in upstate New York in October 2023). And since Academy Award-winner Meryl Streep played the same role in the hit 2008 film adaptation, Sherrill knows that she needs to hit it out of the park for each performance.

“I've had a lot of messages from audiences comparing me to Meryl, which is funny to me,” Sherrill said. “Because it is live theater and live music, the two don't really compare, so I get an edge in that.”

Sherrill honed her musical theater skills for many years on suburban Chicago stages such as Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Paramount Theatre in Aurora, Northlight Theatre in Skokie and more. Sherrill cites her 2013 Jeff Award-winning turn as Norma Desmond in “Sunset Blvd.” at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace as “one of my most proud accomplishments.”

“When I was cast, it was considered a risk,” said Sherrill, noting that she and director William Osetek took a lot of heat because many people felt she appeared too young for the role. “It meant a lot to me that William trusted me and then it paid off.”

The fact that “Mamma Mia!” is playing Chicago's Nederlander Theatre (formerly known as the Oriental) is also significant to Sherrill. It's the same Loop theater where she starred in a 2015 Broadway-aimed musical adaptation of the 1996 film “The First Wives Club” (Sherrill played the Goldie Hawn role).

Sherrill and her family then relocated to New York for more job opportunities, and with the hopes that “First Wives Club” would continue on Broadway. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Then the extended pandemic shutdown prodded Sherrill and her family to return to the Midwest.

Sherrill finds it odd timing that the Chicago run of “Mamma Mia!” overlaps with “Death Becomes Her.” It’s another Broadway-aimed musical adapted from another Goldie Hawn film that will be playing just down the street at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

“We’ve all bought our tickets,” Sherrill said. “There is literally only one show when we can see ‘Death Becomes Her’ where it doesn’t overlap with our schedule.”

Sherrill is glad to share the joy of “Mamma Mia!” with family and friends when she’s close to home.

“I'm really excited to bring it to Chicago because of how well it's been received in other cities,” said Sherrill, noting how often “Mamma Mia!” is greeted by sold-out houses and standing ovations. “Being a part of something that is so successful, I don't really have the words for how lucky I feel.”

“Mamma Mia!”

Location: James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago, broadwayinchicago.com/

Showtimes: 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday (also Wednesdays, May 8 and 15); and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5; runs Tuesday, April 30, through May 19

Tickets: $79-$244

Parking: Nearby pay parking garages and metered street parking

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Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' is coming to Chicago this summer

Here's what we know so far about tickets.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert , usually taped in NYC, is officially going on the road.

Colbert announced that he will move his setup to Chicago's Auditorium Theatre from August 19 to 22, during this summer's Democratic National Convention, which is also taking place in the city. 

Although we assume that tickets to the taping will be available to the public, no information regarding potential passes has yet been made.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Late Show (@colbertlateshow)

Colbert revealed the news during last night's show.

“I lived in Chicago for 11 years, and it holds a special place in my heart—and not because of all the Polish sausage lodged in my aorta,” said the host. “Chicago is where I cut my teeth performing at the Second City, and it’s also where this South Carolina boy got an education in winter. Did you know that tears can freeze? I didn’t know that before I lived there! You gotta keep blinking. So, get ready Chicago, because this summer it’s the return of daaaaaaaa Colbert. ”

The funnyman went on drawing laughs from the audience while joking about the location of the upcoming tapings.

“For one week, The Late Show will be broadcasting from the 130 year old Auditorium Theater,” he said. “It is absolutely gorgeous and so creatively named. The Auditorium Theater is right next to the Cafeteria Restaurant, and, of course, the historic Rooms Hotel.”

Lest you think Colbert will be following the nation's political campaigns with his crew all summer long, think again: the host will continue to tape his late-night show from New York's Ed Sullivan Theater during the 2024 Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to take over Milwaukee between July 15 and 18.

As for the program's guests during both conventions, no announcement has yet been made. 

• Anna Rahmanan

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We found chicago bears tickets to see no. 1 draft pick caleb williams.

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Caleb Williams is officially a member of “Da Bears.”

On Thursday, April 25, the Chicago franchise selected the Heisman Trophy-winning USC quarterback with the first pick in the NFL Draft.

Williams joins a Bears team that went 7-10 in 2023; in order to bolster their roster heading into 2024, coach Matt Eberflus’ squad added Pro Bowlers D’Andre Swift and Keenan Allen over the offseason.

With all the new talent in the clubhouse — along with 2023 standouts wide receiver D.J. Moore, and tight end Cole Kmet — Chicago looks to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

And if you want to be there to root the new-look squad on at Soldier Field , you can pick up tickets for all hypothetical home games as soon as today.

Although the schedule isn’t technically set yet, the team has announced they will play rivals like the Detroit Lions , Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings on their home gridiron.

Based on our findings, prices for home games start anywhere from $131 to $227 before fees on Vivid Seats at the time of publication.

Curious how much tickets cost for the game you’re most interested in?

You’re in the right place, Chicagoans and Bears fans.

We’ve got everything you need to know and more about the Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears’ 2024 season below.

All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.

Chicago Bears season tickets

Diehard fans that want to don navy blue and burnt orange every time the Bears are at home, you’re in luck.

Season tickets can be picked up as early as today right here, right now .

We’ll see you at Soldier Field this year…a lot.

Chicago Bears single game tickets

For those that prefer to pick and choose which home games make the most sense for you to attend, we’re here for you too.

Below, you’ll find a list of all upcoming Chicago Bears home games at Soldier Field including opponents.

As of now, dates and start times are TBD.

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

Full Bears 2024 schedule

If you think you might find yourself traveling with the Bears this year, here’s where you can find them on the road once the 2024 season begins.

Soldier Field seating chart

Never been out to Solder Field in person?

To make life easy, check out a map of Soldier Field here for a better picture of all the views from the stands.

How to watch/stream Bears games

There is no shortage of ways to watch Bears games live from the comfort of your own home this season.

You can find Eberflus’ squad on ABC, CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC and the NFL Network on select dates.

Through the regular season, most NFC games will be broadcast on Fox.

For prime-time games, “Sunday Night Football” can be found on NBC along with Peacock, “Monday Night Football” is reserved for ESPN and “Thursday Night Football” streams on Amazon Prime Video.

Chicago Bears news

At the draft, Caleb Williams had girlfriend Alina Thyregod on his arm.

If you’re wondering what went down behind the scenes, we recommend sneaking a peek at the NY Post’s story recapping the festivities from Thregod’s perspective.

Need more Bears news?  Click here  for all of the NY Post’s Chicago Bears scoops.

Huge concert tours in 2024

Before the Bears officially kick off the season, many of the biggest stars in music will be playing at arenas and stadiums all over North America.

Here are just five of the concerts we’re most excited about coming to Chicago in these next few months.

•  Kenny Chesney

•  Billy Joel with Stevie Nicks

•  Rolling Stones

•  Metallica

•  Pink

Need a little more music in your life? Check out our list of the  50 biggest concert tours in 2024 to find the show for you.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy , New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed Bruce Springsteen and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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Howard Jones, ABC and Haircut 100 Team Up for New Wave Extravaganza North American Tour

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

• St. Vincent Follows the Success of ‘Cruel Summer’ With the Dark, Weird and Oddly Accessible ‘All Born Screaming’: Album Review 1 day ago
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• ‘Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza’ Docuseries Premieres on Paramount+ Next Month 3 days ago

A new wave one-stop shop will tour North America this summer when Howard Jones and ABC will be hitting stages across North America with special guest Haircut 100. The full itinerary appears below.

“I’m very excited to be hitting the road with my friends ABC and Haircut 100,” Jones enthused. “Our audiences can look forward to some seriously top tunes night after night!  Bring your celebratory selves to the party.” 

Popular on Variety

Of course, the evening will play out like an evening filled with hits from the early days of MTV, when the so-called “Second British Invasion” dominated the channel. Jones’ hits “New Song” and “What Is Love,” and “Things Can Only Get Better” probably segued into or out of ABC’s “Look of Love,” “Poison Arrow” and “Be Near Me” and Haircut 100’s “Love Plus One” and “Fantastic Day.”

All three acts have gone on to other successes, but this tour brings together the songs and sounds that first brought them to fame.

14  Redmond, WA         Marymoor Live

17  Sandy City, UT  Sandy Amphitheater

18  Las Vegas, NV  The Theater At Virgin Hotels

20  Inglewood, CA        YouTube Theater

21  Del Mar, CA      The Sound

24  Oklahoma City, OK The Zoo Amphitheatre

28  Columbus, OH  TempleLive At Columbus Athenaeum

29  Windsor, ON           Caesars Windsor – The Colosseum

30  Niagara Falls, ON    Fallsview Casino Resort

 4   Montclair, NJ           The Wellmont

 5   Port Chester, NY     The Capitol Theatre

 6   Huntington, NY The Paramount

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Chicago Reader

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Barrie Cole: Chicago’s short-order chef of language and empathy

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I saw my first Barrie Cole play the night before the world turned upside down. 

On September 10, 2001, I trotted over to Curious Theatre Branch ʼs home in the now defunct Lunar Cabaret space on North Lincoln to see To Relax and Laugh in that year’s edition of the Rhino Fest. In Cole’s one-act play, a loopy therapist—who lacks actual counseling credentials and spends most of their sessions munching on potato chips—somehow connects with a tightly wound young woman. It was delightfully off-kilter but deeply empathetic, and I thought of the piece often in the days after the 9/11 attacks as a model for how to listen to other people in times of distress and anxiety. Tying together the improbable with the mundane through the lens of empathy (but never mere sentimentality) has been foundational to all of Cole’s work I’ve seen since. Now Sweetback Productions presents a festival of four Cole pieces (plus one digital offering) under the omnibus title Hamburgers & Disappointment: Plays About Enoughness . Presented by Sweetback at Logan Square’s Labyrinth Club, the pieces run in repertory May 2–19. All four pieces are two-character plays (though To Relax and Laugh isn’t among them). 

Hamburgers & Disappointment: Plays About Enoughness May 2-19: program one ( Fruit Tree Backpack and I Love You Permanently ) Thu and Sat 7:30 PM, program two ( Capacity and Meaning Is Tricky ) Fri and Sun 7:30 PM; Labyrinth Club, 3658 N. Pulaski, sweetbackproductions.com , $20. A digital audio production, Elevator Tours , is available for download for $10.

The festival features a who’s who of Chicago fringe stalwarts (several of whom have worked with Cole in the past) from companies like Curious and Theater Oobleck. 

Diana Slickman and David Isaacson star in Meaning Is Tricky , about a woman’s new relationship with a TV-obsessed man who is in an open marriage. Jeffrey Bivens and Vicki Walden appear in I Love You Permanently , in which a man tries to leave his abusive relationship to spend one night with the woman he really loves. Kristy Lockhart and Julia Williams “traverse the various rooms inside the exhausting, sweet, metaphorical mansion of love” in Fruit Tree Backpack (directed by Jayita Bhattacharya).

Carolyn Hoerdemann, a vet of Trap Door Theatre and the defunct European Repertory Company, among others, performs with Curious and Oobleck stalwart Colm O’Reilly in the festival’s digital offering, the audio play with animation, Elevator Tours , in which a woman who has just moved into a new apartment opens her home to a recently divorced friend. In a review of an earlier version of that play , also starring Hoerdemann and O’Reilly, Reader critic Tony Adler noted, “Her script becomes a kind of microtragedy, about two people using every ounce of their intelligence, creativity, goofy comic sensibilities, and vast immaturity to defeat whatever seems to make most sense.”

And then there are the two Kellys who helped kick-start the whole idea behind the festival.

“Kelly Anchors [cofounder of Sweetback Productions] and KellyAnn Corcoran [also a vet of Theater Oobleck and Curious] approached me and asked if I would write a play for them,” says Cole. “And I said, ‘OK, yeah, I’ll do that.’ So I started writing the play Capacity , which is the newest world premiere play. And as I was writing it, Kelly [Anchors] kept emailing me and saying, ‘You know, you should write a part for this person and you should write a part for this person, and this person should be in it, and this person should be in it.’”

“So I said, ‘Kelly, um, I’m like halfway through with the play. But I have had this idea for a long time. I have 15 plays now. But five of them, including these [in the festival] are about relationships. They’re two-person plays either about friendships or romantic relationships, sometimes both.’ And so that was the idea. I said, ‘All these people can be in it, but we should do all of these plays.’ And I was surprised that she wanted to do it.”

Capacity (directed by Cheryl Snodgrass) provides a snapshot of the complications of relationships at the heart of the festival’s themes. Cole says, “It’s really about how much capacity do we actually have for each other and for ourselves, for what we want. Is capacity something that we can grow? Should we grow our capacity? It’s also about aging, I think, and regret, but also about hope.” The two women played by Anchors and Corcoran in the play have each had a relationship in the past with the same man. Further complicating matters is that Anchors’s character is a playwright and Corcoran’s is an actor. Adds Cole, “What do playwrights expect of their actors, and is it fair? And what do actors expect from playwrights? So that’s really explored as well.”

Cole, whose father is from Brooklyn and whose mother is from Chicago, was raised in Florida until she was nine, when her family moved to Evanston. Aside from attending Emerson College in Boston for undergrad, she’s been in the Chicago area ever since and earned two master’s degrees at Columbia College Chicago (including one in the college’s now gone interdisciplinary arts program). 

Her plays often demonstrate a love of wordplay that goes beyond mere cleverness. “I really care about language more than any other thing in all my writing. And I think with plays, what’s so fun to me is like, ‘Oh wow, this is not reality.’ Or it doesn’t have to be. So people can talk in totally different ways. They can put the stress on words that are rarely stressed. They can talk about language itself, talk about idioms and rhymes,” says Cole. In a 2001 Reader feature , Cara Jepsen noted, “Cole has investigated topics as varied as gossip, mating rituals, and Appalachian folklore, while also examining the nature of language.” Like many prolific Chicago playwrights on the fringe scene (including Curious Theatre Branch cofounders Beau O’Reilly and Jenny Magnus), Cole remains mostly known in her own town, not breaking out to productions in larger theaters or other cities. And she seems OK with that.

But, she notes, “It does make me wonder like, ‘Oh, if I had been able to do that better, if I had been able to schmooze better—I feel like I’m a terrible schmoozer—you know, would I have had more opportunities to have a wider reach?’ But it’s also really, really beautiful to work with these actors again. And I definitely feel really, really rich and really lucky with the people I’m working with.”

After our conversation, Cole emailed me to make sure to credit other collaborators, including Jen Moniz, who is directing I Love You Permanently and has directed four previous Cole plays, including the original productions of Meaning Is Tricky and Elevator Tours , and Pam Parker, “who has designed a really interesting set made mostly from cardboard.” She also added, “how amazing it is to work with people who have been in at least three plays of mine preceding this such as Diana Slickman and Vicki Walden, who are undeniably, in my opinion, two of the best actors in the city. It’s also really wonderful to work with actors and directors I haven’t worked with before now. And also Diane Hamm who runs Labyrinth Arts. Her vision is inclusive and earnest and inspiring. Sweetback . . . so many people.”

“It’s like being bombarded by my own voice, but delivered back to me with so much care and work and surprise. . . .  I am beginning to believe that what I’m experiencing is something akin to success.”

Lawyers for the Creative Arts takes over Arts and Business Council programs

On Wednesday, Lawyers for the Creative Arts (LCA) announced that they had reached an agreement with the Arts and Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) to take over the latter’s programming as it winds down operations. In the press announcement, LCA executive director Jan Feldman and board president David Callahan noted, “In many other cities the Arts & Business Council and the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts groups have operated as a single entity. Not so in Chicago, where LCA and A&BC have always existed as separate entities. With the transfer of A&BC’s programs and services to LCA, the programs of both organizations will now operate under the LCA corporate roof, combining the program portfolios—and volunteer bases—of both organizations with nearly 90 years of combined experience.”

In a pre-pandemic 2020 Reader column, Deanna Isaacs quoted A&BC executive director Kristin Larsen: “The economy is strong, endowments and profits are growing, and more money is going into philanthropic funding, but it’s not going to the arts. The large foundations are addressing bigger issues that have long gone unmet, issues like public safety, mental well-being, veterans’ affairs, and the income gap.” At that time A&BC (which is itself a subsidiary organization of Americans for the Arts ) was focusing attention on historically underserved and underfunded neighborhoods on the south and west sides. Their key programs, including Business Volunteers for the Arts (the name by which they were originally known) will continue under LCA. In their press announcement, LCA noted that they have been growing their own programming in recent years with “seminars, clinics, and workshops on a huge range of issues facing the arts.”

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