Oil Lamp Theater’s Oil Lamp Academy, 1009 Waukegan Rd., announces 2027 winter and spring classes are on sale now. Offerings are available for students ages pre-K through adult and a variety of experience levels. Returning classes offered are Theater Makers, Story Explorers and Theater Skills classes with new and exciting themes. More storytelling and adult offerings are also returning with fan-favorite teachers. Continuing this winter and spring, classes previously available at The Laughing Academy, are available with Oil Lamp Academy, with the same courses and faculty. Registration may be found at OilLampAcademy.org with full and partial scholarships available for application at OilLampAcademy/Forms.
“Oil Lamp Academy continues to grow with every session. Our fall semester saw a record-breaking number of classes offered and new and former students returning to partner with professional instructors on learning new skills, building upon their talents and, of course, having fun,” said Oil Lamp Academy Education Director Whitney Minarik. "We are looking forward to the new year with theater, storytelling, playwriting and comedy offerings and welcoming all to the Academy.”
Oil Lamp Academy’s Winter & Spring Course Offerings Include:
Youth Theater Classes
January 16 - May 10, 2027
No youth classes March 22 - 28, 2027
Youth Theater classes are offered for students from PreK - 9th grade.
Theater Makers: Around the World in 8 Plays, Jan. 25 - May 10
Weekly on Mondays, 4:15 - 5:45 p.m.
Grades 4 - 8
Theater Skills: Triple Threat, Jan. 26 - May 4
Weekly on Tuesdays, 5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Grades 3 - 5
Theater Makers: Daring Detectives, Jan. 28 - May 6
Weekly on Thursdays, 4:15 - 5:45 p.m.
Grades 3 - 5
Story Explorers: Winter Wonderland, Jan. 16 - March 6
Weekly on Saturdays, 9 - 9:45 a.m.
Grades PreK 4 - 1
Story Explorers: Puppy Patrol, March 13 - May 8
Weekly on Saturdays, 9 - 9:45 a.m.
Grades PreK 4 - 1
Theater Makers: Around the World in 8 Plays, Jan. 24 - May 2
Weekly on Sundays, 4 - 6 p.m.
Grades 5 - 9
Youth Improv Classes
January 25 - May 8, 2027
No youth classes March 22 - 28, 2027
Youth Improv classes are offered for students from Kindergarten - 12th grade.
Improv Grades K - 2: Putting the YOU in Team!, Jan. 26 - May 4
Weekly on Tuesdays, 4:30 - 5:15 p.m.
Grades K - 2
Improv Grades 3 - 5: Essentially Ensemble, Jan. 27 - May 5
Weekly on Wednesdays, 4:15 - 5:45 p.m.
Grades 3 - 5
Middle School Improv: Exploring Long- Form Improv, Jan. 27 - May 5
Weekly on Wednesdays, 5:15 - 6:45 p.m. or Weekly on Thursdays, 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Grades 6 - 8
Improv for Teens, Jan. 26 - May 4
Weekly on Tuesdays, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Grades 8+
Adult Classes
Oil Lamp Academy offers a wide range of arts-based classes for adults to build skills to shine on or off the stage. Classes are open to all who are looking to expand appreciation of the performing arts, build public speaking skills, increase self confidence, grow as an actor, writer or storyteller or just try new things and make new friends.
Adult Improv, Jan. 13 - Feb. 17
Weekly on Wednesdays, 7 - 9 p.m.
Intro to Standup with Tyler Fowler, Jan. 25 - March 8 (no class Feb. 15)
Weekly on Mondays, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Live Performance on Friday, March 12
Exploring Acting, Jan. 13 - March 3 (no class Jan. 20)
Weekly on Wednesdays, 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Play Development, Jan. 24 - March 14
Weekly on Sundays, 1 - 3:30 p.m.
Adult Improv with Jimmy Carrane, Jan. 14 - Feb. 18
Weekly on Thursdays, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
COMING UP FROM OIL LAMP THEATER
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
November 20 - December 27
Adapted by Joe Landry
Directed by Becca Holloway
Preview Performances: Friday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m.
Opening Night: Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Performance Schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances on Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. There will also be an understudy performance on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
This heartwarming production is the perfect way to embrace the spirit of the Christmas season. Experience unmatched holiday cheer with Frank Capra's beloved classic, It's a Wonderful Life, reimagined as a captivating Live Radio Play, complete with foley sound effects and set in Oil Lamp Theater’s WBFR radio studio.
Audiences are invited to journey to Bedford Falls, where George Bailey's troubles lead him to wish he was never born. Clarence, an angel sent to intervene, steps in to make his wishes come true and George quickly learns just how blessed he is and how many lives he has touched.
ABOUT OIL LAMP ACADEMY
The Oil Lamp Academy is the bold new chapter for arts education at Oil Lamp Theater—a welcoming, professional-led space where high quality performing arts instruction shapes confident, well-rounded and connected individuals of all ages.
Taught by professional artists and educators in our welcoming and inclusive space at the Oil Lamp Academy, classes are for anyone interested in an accessible, uplifting experience that sparks creativity, expands self-expression, and builds connection.
ABOUT OIL LAMP THEATER
Oil Lamp Theater is a professional nonprofit performing arts organization in Glenview, Illinois, welcoming over 10,000 patrons annually from more than 225 communities—41% from Glenview and others from across the North Shore and Chicago. Since establishing its intimate 60-seat home in downtown Glenview in 2012, Oil Lamp has grown into a cultural beacon, earning recognition as “Best Live Theatre in the North Shore” for four consecutive years.
With more than 70 productions to date, Oil Lamp is known for its dynamic Mainstage season, special events and its resilience during the pandemic, when it innovated with drive-in performances and outdoor productions. Today, the theatre continues to foster connection, broaden horizons and illuminate the human condition through professional theater and year-round programming.
In addition to its productions, Oil Lamp Theater operates Oil Lamp Academy, its education branch dedicated to “Training for Life Through the Performing Arts.” In 2025 alone, the program served more than 230 students ages three to 97 years old, offering classes that use theater as a pathway to build confidence, creativity and lifelong skills.
Oil Lamp launched Light The Way in 2025, a transformative fundraising campaign designed to expand arts education, strengthen essential staff and establish a larger performance venue with the goal of staying in downtown Glenview. And in July 2026, Oil Lamp announced its new future home will be at the former Ten Ninety Brewing Co. in Downtown Glenview, 1025 Waukegan Road, next to Oil Lamp Academy. Building on its roots as a scrappy storefront, Oil Lamp is evolving into a more robust organization—without losing the intimacy and warmth that define its theater experience. Oil Lamp Theater hopes this announcement inspires excitement throughout the community. Stay tuned as additional news is shared in the near future. For information or to support the campaign go to OilLampTheater.org/Light-the-Way or reach out to Oil Lamp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
