LOOKING FORWARD: Chicago Shows We're Excited About
Continuing our support of productions that embrace inclusion for artists and audiences, below are shows open or opening soon in Chicago that we feel are moving our community forward. As a staff, we have not necessarily seen all of these shows but are really glad they are happening.
We are excited to list shows that offer some or all of the following: - Non-traditional casting
- Accessible storytelling
- Variety of perspectives on the design and production teams
- Playwrights/Directors from underrepresented communities
- Diversity in season programming
Buy tickets to shows that celebrate inclusion. Then write to producers and tell them you want more of it. Decision makers are led by numbers and this is one way you can make a difference.
The Neo-Futurists presents
Remember the Alamo
Created by Nick Hart
Directed by Kurt Chiang
through April 27
at The Neo-futurarium
In this world premiere production, an ensemble will take over The Neo-Futurist Theater, refuse to leave, and obstruct all production in the theater until the audience, actors and management work to recreate the Battle of the Alamo in its entirety, leading to its sad bloody conclusion. Created by Neo-Futurist Ensemble Member Nick Hart, Remember the Alamo is Neo-Lab’s 2017-18 commission.
The cast, artistic and production team include: Brenda Arellano, Hal Baum, Nancy Casas, Nick Hart, and Steve Mosqueda, Mitchell Chapman (Stage Manager), Kate Hardiman (Production Manager), Lily Mooney (Script Supervisor), Uriel Gomez (Costume Designer), Antonio Gracias (Sound Designer), Parker Langvardt (Projection Designer), Jorge Silva (Lighting Designer), John Wilson (Scenic Designer).
Tickets are $10-25 and can be purchased here.
UrbanTheater presents
Not For Sale
Written by Guadalís Del Carmen
Directed by Sara Carranza
Through April 7
at UrbanTheater Company 2026 W Division St
With the Puerto Rican Festival months away, Humboldt Park prepares for the big event. With new neighbors looking to make changes, those that have lived in the community have to work together to either brace for change or let go of the legacies laid out by those that are long gone. A story about community, family, and politics, the question persists, who gets to lay claims to a neighborhood?
The cast, artistic and production team include Ivan Vega, Miranda Gonzalez, Antonio Bruno, Daryl Ritchie, Melony Aponte, Harrison Ornelas, Andre Payne-Guillory, Andrew Lehmkuhl, Nick Rojas, Compton Quashie, Hillarie M. Shockley, Liza Ann Acosta, Frankie Davila, Daniela Thome, Seamus McMahon, Rebekah Roberts, Andrew Neftalí Perez, Isaias Perez , Andre Truss and Omar Vega
Silk Road Rising with Stage Left Theatre presents
Detour Guide
Written by Karim Nagi
Directed by Anna C Bahow
Through April 7
Silk Road Rising at The Chicago Temple Building 77 W Washington St, Pierce Hall
This one-man musical, co-produced with Stage Left Theatre, takes us on an alternative tour of the Arab World & Arab America. Using lyrics, percussion & an urban soundscape, master storyteller and musician Karim Nagi guides us through a social and political labyrinth, extolling the virtues of revolution, immigration, and hummus along the way.
The show is performed by writer and composer Karim Nagi
Tickets are $28 can be purchased here.
Jackalope Theatre presents
Dutch Masters
Written by Greg Keller
Directed by Wardell Julius Clark
through April 6
at Broadway Armory Park 5917 N Broadway
New York City, 1992. Summer. In NYC's hazy pre-Giuliani, pre-cellphone, pre-Metrocard days, two young men meet in a chance encounter on an uptown D train, chatting hoops, hip-hop, and history. Over the course of one afternoon, fear, guilt, and longing allow one young man to take the other to a place neither even imagined possible.
The cast features Patrick Agada and Sam Boeck, and production team includes Ryan Emens (scenic designer), Christine Pascual (costume designer), Simean Carpenter (lighting designer), Nova Casillo (props designer), Steve Labedz (sound designer), Catherine Miller (casting director), Monet Felton (asst. director), JC Widman (stage manager), and Danielle Stack (production manager).
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here.
Pride Films and Plays presents
Southern Comfort
Written by Julianne Wick Davis and Dan Collins
Directed by JD Caudill
Music Directed by Robert Ollis
through March 31
at Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway
In Southern Comfort Robert, a transgender man living in rural Georgia among his chosen family of transgender friends, has one final wish after receiving life-altering news. He wishes to make it to the annual Southern Comfort Transgender Conference he has attended with his friends for years, so he can dance at the ball with his newly-discovered love, Lola. While Robert attempts to live his life as fully as possible surrounded by those he loves, his friends struggle to process what will inevitably come. This heartwarming musical with a lush folk/bluegrass score is based on the award-winning 2001 Sundance Film Festival documentary of the same title.
The cast features North Rory Homeward (Robert), Kyra Leigh (Lola), Ricki Pettinato (Carly), Benji Flores (Sam), and Lizzy Sulkowski (Jackson). Sinclair Willman will play the cisgender family member Melanie.Playing supporting roles as the “Storytellers” and providing onstage accompaniment with guitars, violin, cello, banjo, mandolin and percussion are actor/musicians Mario Aivazian, Kimberly Lawson, Justin Harner, Candice Kight and Taylor Dalton. Kaleb Tank will be the assistant director and Paul Cook production manager.
Tickets are $25-40 and can be purchased here.
