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Following last year's critically acclaimed, sell-out engagement, Steppenwolf Theatre Company is pleased to announce the return of John C. Reilly is Mister Romantic, playing four performances only December 10 – 13, 2026 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theater, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Tickets cost $89* - $159*. A special Steppenwolf member pre-sale begins Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 12 pm. Tickets go on sale to the general public Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 12 pm at steppenwolf.org/romantic or by calling the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. *Pricing includes $10 handling fee

About the Show:

John C. Reilly's acclaimed vaudeville project Mister Romantic has emerged as one of his most personal and celebrated recent works. The intimate stage show has earned widespread praise for its sincerity, humor and emotional depth. The New York Times describes it as "wryly funny, sometimes tender and sad, but always sincere," while Vanity Fair calls it "fiercely funny" and declares Reilly "one hell of a singer." The Guardian has hailed it as "truly lovable." The live band-backed performance seamlessly blends classic songbook material, clowning, and audience interaction. Mister Romantic marks a new chapter in Reilly's career, showcasing his longtime musical instincts alongside his singular comedic and dramatic range. The project has been widely recognized as one of his most distinctive and heartfelt artistic statements to date.

About the Artist:

For over three decades, John C. Reilly has remained one of the most beloved and versatile actors of his generation, effortlessly navigating comedy, drama and musical theater with a rare blend of skill and charm. From his breakout roles in quirky comedies to more nuanced dramatic performances, he has proven himself a master of range, breathing life into a vast array of characters with both warmth and depth.

Reilly's career began with his film debut in Casualties of War, quickly establishing him as a sought-after actor among the most acclaimed American directors. He collaborated with Paul Thomas Anderson on Hard Eight, Boogie Nights and Magnolia, worked with Martin Scorsese on Gangs of New York and The Aviator, and joined Robert Altman for A Prairie Home Companion. Reilly earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for the movie musical Chicago, featuring his memorable performance of "Mister Cellophane," a major inspiration for Mister Romantic. He showcased his comedic mastery with two blockbuster films with Adam McKay, Step Brothers and Talladega Nights, while also blending his musical and comedic talents in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. His versatility led to international recognition in films such as We Need to Talk About Kevin (Lynne Ramsay), Carnage (Roman Polanski), The Lobster (Yórgos Lánthimos) and The Sisters Brothers (Jacques Audiard). More recently, he reunited with Adam McKay starring in HBO Max's Winning Time, the limited series about the Los Angeles Lakers.

In 2026, the acclaimed actor continues taking on a variety of compelling roles. In A Prayer for the Dying, Dara Van Dusen's adaptation of Stewart O'Nan's novel set in the 1870s, Reilly plays a town doctor in a community ravaged by a deadly plague. In Testa O Croce, a film directed by Italian filmmakers Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis, he portrays the legendary Buffalo Bill. And this fall, he stars alongside Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz and Pete Davidson in the action-comedy heist film How To Rob A Bank, directed by David Leitch. 

Performance schedule:

Thursday, December 10, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Friday, December 11, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 13, 2026 at 3 pm

Accessibility:

Steppenwolf is committed to making the theatergoing experience accessible to everyone. Assistive listening devices are available for every performance and all our spaces are equipped with an induction hearing loop. Our building features wheelchair accessible seating and restrooms, push-button entrances, a courtesy wheelchair and all-gender restrooms, with accessible counter and table spaces at our bars. For additional information regarding accessibility, visit steppenwolf.org/access. If you have questions or would like to make a specific request, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call our box office at (312) 335-1650.

Sponsor Information: 

United Airlines is the Official and Exclusive Airline of Steppenwolf. Steppenwolf is also grateful for the significant season support from lead sponsors Allstate Insurance Company, Paul Angell Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Crown Family Philanthropies, Caroline and Keating Crown, Julius Frankel Foundation, Lefkofsky Family Foundation, Northern Trust, Anne and Don Phillips, John Hart and Carol Prins, Shubert Foundation, Inc, and Zell Family Foundation. Steppenwolf also acknowledges generous support from premier sponsors Anonymous, Andrew and Amy Bluhm, Michael and Cathy Brennan, Ann and Richard Carr, Chicago Community Trust, Rich and Margery Feitler, FROST CHICAGO, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Jessica and Dominic Green Family Fund, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Orlebeke Foundation, Sacks Family Foundation, Gary Sinise Foundation, Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Thoma Bravo, and Bryan Traubert and Penny Pritzker. Steppenwolf also acknowledges support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.     

About Steppenwolf Theatre Company:

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation's premier Ensemble Theater with 51 members who are among the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions have made this theatre legendary. From the early phenomenon of Balm in Gilead, to The Grapes of Wrath, August: Osage County, Downstate, The Brother/Sister Plays, and more recently, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Purpose, Steppenwolf Theatre has had a long-running and undeniable impact on American Theatre and Chicago's cultural landscape. Founded in 1974 by Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry and Gary Sinise, Steppenwolf started as a group of friends in their teens and early 20s performing in the basement of a school in Highland Park, Illinois. Today, the company's artistic force remains rooted in the original vision of its founders: an artist-driven theatre, whose vitality is defined by its appetite for bold and innovative work. Every aspect of Steppenwolf is rooted in its Ensemble ethos, from the intergenerational artistic programming to the multi-genre performance series LookOut, to the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf Education and Engagement which serves nearly 15,000 teens annually. While grounded in the Chicago community, more than 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf also holds accolades that include the National Medal of Arts, 14 Tony Awards, two Pulitzer Prize-winning commissions and more. Led by Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, Executive Director E. Brooke Flanagan and Board of Trustees Chair Keating Crown — Steppenwolf continually redefines the boundaries of live theater and pushes the limits of acting and performance.

Steppenwolf's Mission: Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world. steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.

The Saint Sebastian Players open their 45th season of travels to different places with A Murder is Announced, a classic Miss Marple mystery by Agatha Christie. Previews run October 23–25, with regular performances October 29–November 15 (no performance October 31), at SSP's home on the lower level of St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, Chicago. 
 
The residents of Chipping Cleghorn in England are baffled when a local newspaper publishes an advertisement inviting people to a "murder" at 6:30 p.m. at Miss Blacklock's Victorian home, Little Paddocks. When an unknown visitor dies under the prescribed circumstances, Miss Marple turns up to solve the case.
 
Aliza Feder makers her SSP directing debut. Some of her directing credits include La Trout Lily at New Moon Opera; Miss Julie (also adapter) at Fermat's Last Theater in Madison, Wisc.; and Held Together at 2nd Story. She served as assistant director for The Recommendation at Windy City Playhouse, The Night Season at Strawdog and Right to be Forgotten at Victory Gardens. She recently finished directing and editing her first short film, You Would. 

The cast of A Murder is Announced includes (top to bottom, left to right; photos courtesy of the actors) Abby McEntee as Miss Marple, Emilia Barrosse, Dawn Cole, Shelley DeHosse, Adam Hoak*, Sophie Marantette, Molly McGillivray-Smith, Eric S. Prahl*, Joleigh Reiss, Jill Chukerman Test* and Sam Waddell (*SSP company member). The production team includes SSP company members Emil Zbella as set designer; Sean Smyth as sound designer, stage manager and co-producer; and Jim Masini as co-producer. Grace M. Weir is costume designer, Lex Newman is lighting designer, and violence design is provided by R&D Choreography.
 
SSP's 45th season continues its travels to New York City in February 2027 with the Tony-nominated dramedy Next Fall by Geoffrey Nauffts and to rural Georgia in April and May 2027 with the riotously funny The Foreigner by Larry Shue. Three-play subscription packages are $85, $70 for seniors and children younger than 12, available at saintsebastianplayers.org.  
 
SSP began producing theatre in 1982 at its original home, the St. Sebastian parish, located at the corner of Halsted Street and Wellington Avenue on Chicago's North Side. When the parish closed in 1990, SSP relocated to its current home, St. Bonaventure, at 1625 W. Diversey. During its history, the company has produced original and previously produced dramas, comedies and musicals; original audience-participation mysteries for special events; and the Monologue Matchup Competition, as well as provided support for Sebastian Studio Projects produced by company members. For a complete production history, visit saintsebastianplayers.org/Production-History.
 

A Murder is Announced runs October 29–November 15, 
with previews October 23–25,
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Opening night is Thursday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m.; 
there is no performance October 31.
Performances take places at St. Bonaventure, 
1625 W. Diversey, at Marshfield west of Ashland, Chicago. 
Free parking is available in two lots. 
 
Tickets are $35 for the run, $30 for previews
and $30 for the run, $25 for previews for seniors
and children younger than 12 at ssp.booktix.com.
Students with valid IDs may purchase $30 tickets ($25 previews) at the door.
Group rates also are available.
 

All programming is subject to change. 
For information, visit saintsebastianplayers.org.

Today, Goodman Theatre raises the curtain on its future as leadership and artists share a vision for its next century of impact. Together with hundreds of partners, donors, artists and patrons, Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins announce The Goodman, For Good—a $30 million campaign to secure Chicago's flagship not-for-profit theater for future generations. To date, $27 million has been raised—including 11 gifts in excess of $1 million—under the leadership of Goodman Trustee Elaine Leavenworth, Campaign Chair. Now, the theater invites the Chicago community to join the effort and ensure that The Goodman's core values and artistic priorities continue while providing flexibility to innovate towards new challenges. To commemorate the day, guests in attendance signed a piece of Goodman history, which will displayed in the main lobby.

"As we begin our 101st season and look beyond, we must dream big with a wide-open heart. In order to create the kind of programming that has open doors and open windows for all Chicago to find themselves on our stages, we need a platform from which we can fly: we need an endowment," said Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth. "In a risk-averse climate, this campaign allows us to take the enormous risks on which this theater was built. It allows us to be, for you, The Goodman for good. Not just when it's convenient and when the economics allow. For good. We are deeply grateful for those who have demonstrated early leadership and generosity—and now, we welcome our community to join this effort for our future."

"We find ourselves at a defining moment for The Goodman. It was during our recently completed Centennial Season—our largest, most audacious, most successful season ever—that we reached a level of service and impact previously unimaginable. Our challenge and invitation today is to safeguard what we've built for future generations, ensuring that it remains rooted in the values which have guided and distinguished us for so many years," said Executive Director John Collins. "For the good of unparallelled artistry; for the good of our communal well-being; for the good of future generations who deserve the same world-class theater that has served this city since 1925, join us and invest in The Goodman, For Good."

The Goodman's three core values include Quality, ensuring artistic excellence in every area of operations; Community, committing, in equal measure, to excellence on stage and service to Chicagoland; and Equity and Access, remaining accessible to people of all ages, abilities, identities and location.

"There is a vision for a future that's even brighter than the present, and the resource of an endowment fund is a lifeline for that longevity—allowing our artists and leaders to commit to ambitious goals and have the confidence to see them through," said Elaine Leavenworth, Trustee and Chair of The Goodman. For Good. Campaign. "We want this space to be as great a gift to audiences tomorrow as it is today. Donors will be able to see their impact—in the young people served, in The Goodman's footprint in the community, in the experiences had by audiences—and know it will continue for generations."

The Goodman's 2025/2026 Centennial was its all-time most successful season with milestone programming and record attendance figures, drawing 300,000+ audiences—with 57% attending The Goodman for the first time—to 4,000 performances and events. Curated by Booth, the 15-production season earned widespread critical and audience acclaim: 11 extended productions, 290 sold-out performances, while the world-premiere musical Iceboy! Or, The Completely Untrue Story of How Eugene O'Neill Came to Write The Iceman Cometh became the theater's all-time best-attended, best-selling production. Attendees hailed from 61 countries beyond the U.S. with audiences from 5,837 unique zip codes. In addition, the Goodman broke new ground transforming a 15,000 square-foot, in-the-raw space for Theater of the Mind, Academy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning artist David Byrne's immersive work, drawing 63% first-time Goodman attendees. Chicago resident magician Dennis Watkins continued into his third year at The Magic Parlour, in partnership with The Goodman and Petterino's, hosting 163 sold-out performances and expanding his roster by welcoming nine guest artists. Beyond the stage, The Goodman offered 100 Free Acts of Theater—a year-long collaboration with 48 community partners at creative organizations in all 50 Chicago wards—drawing more than 20,000 people, presented in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Expanded Theater for the Very Young programming drew nearly 5,000 children and caregivers, with nearly 13,000 people of all ages engaging in free and low-cost Education and Engagement programming.

THE GOODMAN, FOR GOOD SUPPORTERS (GIFTS AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2026)

GRAND BENEFACTOR ($1,000,000+)

Susan and James Annable 
Joan and Robert Clifford 
Patricia Cox 
Julie M. Danis and Paul F. Donahue 
Shawn M. Donnelley and Christopher M. Kelly 
The Davee Foundation 
Elissa Efroymson & Adnaan Hamid and The Efroymson Family Fund 
Elaine R. Leavenworth 
Goodman Theatre Women's Board 
Alice and John Sabl 
Kimbra and Mark Walter

PLATINUM GRAND BENEFACTOR ($500,000 – $999,999)

Sharon Angell 
Paul Dykstra and Spark Cremin 
David and Alexandra Fox 
Sasha Gerritson and Eugene Jarvis 
James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki 
Catherine Mouly and LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr. 
Diane M. Landgren Charitable Fund 
Nancy A. Lauter & Alfred L. McDougal Charitable Foundation 
Prince Charitable Trusts 
Carol Prins and John Hart 
Lorrayne and Steve Weiss

GOLD BENEFACTOR ($250,000 – $499,999)

Lester, Chanel and Javon Coney 
Marsha Cruzan and Tom McGinnis 
Patricia Gallagher Estate 
Jeffrey W. Hesse 
Melinda McMullen and Duncan Kime 
Swati and Siddharth Mehta 
Scott Phillips and Maggie Freehling Phillips 
Shaw Family Supporting Organization 
Maria E. Wynne

SILVER BENEFACTOR ($100,000 – $249,999)

Roger and Julie Baskes 
David Q. and Mary H. Bell 
Doug and Teri Brown 
Joyce Chelberg 
Kathleen and James Cowie 
Fran and Bob DelBoca 
Ruth Ann M. Gillis and Michael J. McGuinnis 
Goodman Theatre Scenemakers Board 
Mary Kay and Edward Haben 
David Hiller and Darcy Evon 
Linda Hutson 
Robert and Cheryl Kopecky 
Anthony and Julianne Maggiore 
Elizabeth Raymond and Paul Hybel 
Cynthia and Michael Scholl 
Michael Steinberg and Salme Harju Steinberg 
Maureen Tansey-Tokar Estate 
Audrey L. Weaver 
Susan and Bob Wislow

BENEFACTOR ($50,000 – $99,999)

Elizabeth Balthrop and Michael Kammarman 
Linda Coberly & Kelly Emery 
Denise Michelle Gamble 
The Estate of Ellen and Paul Gignilliat 
Hugo Lorenz Estate 
Julie and Joseph Learner 
Thomas* and Linda Maurer 
Julie Moller 
Dawn Palmer Estate 
John C. Pintozzi 
Elaine Soter Estate 
Anne Van Wart and Michael Keable

SUPPORTER ($25,000 – $49,999)

Abbe and Adam Aron 
James L. Alexander and Curtis D. Drayer 
Kristin Anderson-Schewe and 
Robert Schewe 
Gustavo Bamberger and Martha Van Haitsma 
Michael Belsley and Nina Owen 
Susan V. Booth and Max Leventhal 
Linda and Peter Bynoe 
Melissa and John Collins 
Sally B. Dancer 
Bruce and Linda DeViller 
Dhuanne Dodrill 
Scott and Lenore Enloe 
Denise Stefan Ginascol and John Ginascol 
Russell Johnson and Mark Hudson 
Michael and Christine Hunstad 
Fruman and Marian Jacobson 
Bradley Keck 
Maggie Kelly and Chris Marzec 
The Estate of Karen and Larry McCracken 
Clare and Scott Metcalf 
Lee Mickus 
The Muriel Pollia Foundation 
Lucy and Richard Park 
Laura Sachs Family Foundation 
Renee and Michael Sichlau 
Jill and Steve Smart 
Gill and Becky Soffer 
Holly and Jeff Tyson 
Andrea and Ron Wainer 
Randy and Lisa White 
Graham Williams and Ryan Rivera 
Sheldon Zenner and Ellen Morgan 
Neal Zucker and Marko Iglendza

Gifts Up to $24,999

Jonathan Abarbanel 
Brigitte R. Anderson 
Kristin Johnson Boswell and Michael Boswell 
Christopher Boyd and Lauren Fondriest 
Philip B. Clement and Mary Ann Everlove Clement 
Philip Crean and Daniel Comeaux 
Kendra Chapman Davis and Laron Davis 
Deanna and Matt Deutschman 
Joan and John Dysart 
Don and Rebecca Ford Terry Family Fund 
Kelli Garcia 
Steve and Rebecca Gerstung 
Henry Godinez and Nancy Voigts 
Margaret and Clive Halliwell 
Marcy and Harry Harczak 
Tracy Healy and Gregory Beard 
Vicki V. Hood 
Margaret and Wayne Janus 
Carl Jenkins and Carole Wood 
Wendy Krimins 
Carolyn Kurtz and Gary Steinberg 
Brian Loevner 
Jill Loftus 
Terri Mascherin and Thomas Abendroth 
Laura Matalon and Spencer Waller 
Stuart and Carol Oken 
Cara Burns Pan and Warren Pan 
Vahe and Heather Poladian 
Andra and Irwin Press 
The Daniel and Genevieve Ratner Foundation 
Robert Rivkin and Cindy Moelis 
Jacquelyn Robinson 
Tod and Trish Saltzman 
Gabrielle and Ryan Sagers 
Sam Scarcello and Katherine Allison 
Steve Scott and Ted Hoerl 
Dinesh Sinniah and Anne Norman 
Irene and Mark Sudac 
Paula Tomei and David Emmes 
Laura and Jeff Torosian 
Renee L. Tyree 
U.S. Bank 
Sarah and Michael Wagner 
Tina Wardrop 
Chris Way and Jason Ott 
Mary Patricia Wilison and Joseph Krasovec III 
Jennifer and Bruce Yalowitz 
Cheryl Yuen and Thomas Chin 
Brad and Alicia Zuiker 

GOODMAN THEATRE'S 2026/2027 SEASON

ALBERT THEATRE (856-SEAT PROSCENIUM STAGE) PRODUCTIONS

The Goodman premieres The 7 Fingers' 
The Attic  
Things I've Seen While Lying on My Back 
Written, Directed and Choreographed by Shana Carroll 
September 5 – October 11 | A World Premiere 

49^th Annual A Christmas Carol  
Adapted by Tom Creamer  
Directed by Malkia Stampley 
November 13 – December 31 | Starring Tim Hopper as Ebenezer Scrooge

John Proctor is the Villain    
By Kimberly Belflower    
Directed by Marti Lyons    
January 23 – February 21, 2027 | A Chicago Premiere

'night, Mother  
By Marsha Norman  
Directed by Michael Pressman  
March 27 – April 25, 2027

Green Day's 
American Idiot 
Music by Green Day 
Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong 
Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer 
Directed by Susan V. Booth 
June 18 – July 25, 2027

OWEN THEATRE (400-SEAT FLEXIBLE STAGE) PRODUCTIONS

Dead Girl's Quinceañera   
By Phanésia Pharel  
Directed by Melia Bensussen  
September 26 – November 1 | A World Premiere

FEAST!    
By Calamity West     
Directed by Susan V. Booth   
February 27 – March 28, 2027 | A World Premiere

The XIXth (The Nineteenth)  
By Kemp Powers  
Directed by Carl Cofield  
April 17 – May 16, 2027 | A Chicago Premiere

22^nd Annual New Stages Festival  
December 5 – 13, 2026

THEATER FOR THE VERY YOUNG PRODUCTIONS 

In the Loop 
Created and Directed by Jamal Howard and Ellie Levine 
Co-Produced by The Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, Northwestern University 
January 30 – February 28, 2027 | Performed in the Alice Center and at locations citywide

A World Premiere TBA 
By Marisa Carr 
Summer 2027 dates TBA

Theater for the Very Young (TVY) programming offers immersive theatrical experiences—produced and performed by professional artists—designed for children ages 0–5 years old to experience alongside the grown-ups in their lives. Created in 2023 by Goodman Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth in response to research demonstrating the profound impact the arts can have on early childhood development and long-term learning outcomes, TVY introduces Chicagoland's youngest audiences to live theater through storytelling, music, movement and sensory-rich play produced and performed by professional artsts. Curated by Clifford Director of Education and Engagement Jared Bellot, TVY productions support early literacy, creativity and social-emotional learning while aiming to initiate a lifelong love of the arts. Over the past three years, TVY has served thousands of children and families in Chicago parks, theaters, schools and community spaces with productions of the plays Splish Splash: A Day on the Lake (2026); Book Up! (2025); The Lizard y El Sol (2024); and Pearl Cleage's In My Granny's Garden (2023). Schools, daycares and community organizations interested in bringing "Theater for the Very Young" programming to their spaces are invited to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for pricing, scheduling and more information.

OFF-SITE PRODUCTIONS

Theater of the Mind  
Created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar, Directed by Andrew Scoville  
Appearing at 333 N. LaSalle in an open run (performances began March 11, 2026)

Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour 
Produced in partnership with Goodman Theatre and Petterino's 
Appearing at 50 W. Randolph in its fourth season, in an open run (tickets on sale through May 2, 2027)

ABOUT THE GOODMAN

Since 1925, The Goodman has been a theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for Chicagoland, where bold stories spark connection, conversation and change. Now, as it enters its second century, The Goodman builds on that legacy with an eye toward the future. Under the leadership of Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater continues to champion new work—following hundreds of plays developed and a national reputation for commissioning and premiering original stories by living writers—while reimagining classics and produce large-scale musicals.

But The Goodman's reach today extends beyond its home in the heart of the Loop. From the intimate magic of The Magic Parlour, now in its third year, to the boundary-pushing world of Theater of the Mind—an immersive experience that blurs the lines between science, storytelling and sensation—and from citywide initiatives like 100 Free Acts of Theater to partnerships with artists and companies across Chicago and around the world, The Goodman is expanding what theater can be, and where it can live.

At its core, The Goodman is driven by a belief that a more empathetic, more connected city is built one story at a time. Generation-spanning productions and programs offer theater for a lifetime—from babies and young children to teens, adults and seniors—including Theater for the Very Young (ages 0–5) and the beloved annual A Christmas Carol, which has welcomed audiences for five decades. Education and Engagement programs, led by Clifford Director Jared Bellot and based in the Alice Rapoport Center, use the tools of theater to spark imagination, reflection and belonging—reaching thousands each year, the majority from underserved communities.

With nearly 200 world or American premieres, two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman remains a defining force in American theater—and the first to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson's American Century Cycle. The theater also frequently serves as a production partner—from national and international companies to Chicago's Off-Loop theaters—to help amplify a wide range of theatrical voices.

Founded by William O. Goodman and his family in memory of playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, the theater carries forward a legacy of artistic ambition and civic generosity. With the help of Mr. Goodman's descendants—Albert Ivar Goodman and his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton—that spirit continues to shape its future as The Goodman expands its impact across Chicago and beyond. Marsha Cruzan is Chair of the Goodman Theatre Board of Trustees; Diane Landgren is Women's Board President; and Christopher Way is president of the Scenemakers Board for Young Professionals.

The Goodman stands on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations—and acknowledges the many other Nations for whom this land now called Chicago has long been home, including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo, and Mascouten. The Goodman is proud to partner with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum (Gichigamiin-Museum.org) and the Center for Native Futures (CenterForNativeFutures.org)—organizations devoted to honoring Indigenous stories, preserving cultural memory, and deepening public understanding.

Two Edge Theater, a reincarnation of the Edge Theater Company that enjoyed eight successful seasons in the Denver, Colorado area, will mount A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE as its first production in the Chicago area, in collaboration with Chicago's Gwydion Theatre. Rick Yaconis, the founder of both Two Edge Theater and its Colorado predecessor, will play the longshoreman Eddie Carbone. Yaconis's many roles in the Chicago area include another iconic Miller character, Willy Loman, in Gwydion's 2025 production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN. A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE will be directed by Robert Tobin, founding artistic director of Chicago's Aston Rep Theatre, seen on stage earlier this year in Aston Rep's UNCLE VANYA. A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE will be performed in the Studio Theater of the Chopin Theater, 1543 West Division Street, Chicago, from December 4, 2026, through January 10, 2027. 

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, which premiered on Broadway in 1956, is a tragedy set in a 1950s Brooklyn Italian-immigrant community. A Sicilian-American longshoreman, Eddie Carbone, develops an obsessive, incestuous desire for his orphaned niece that leads him to betray his family and community when she falls in love with an undocumented immigrant. In addition to Yaconis as Eddie, the cast will be led by Katherine Schwartz as Eddie's wife Beatrice, Natalie Tangeman as the niece Catherine; Jesse Kortus as Rodolpho, the immigrant with whom Catherine falls in love; John Wehrman as Marco, Beatrice's cousin who is living with their family and is an undocumented immigrant; and Jim Morely as Alfieri, the attorney who narrates the story. The supporting cast, who will all play multiple roles, includes Cesar Gonzales (Tony/ensemble), Marshall Kious (Mike/ensemble), Melissa Paris (Mrs. Lipari/ensemble), Darren Price (Louis/ensemble), and Rocco Renda (Mr.  Lipari/ensemble).

The design team includes two-time Jeff Award winner Kevin Rolfs (Set Designer), Samantha Barr (Lighting Designer), Nick Cochran (Costume Designer), Rick Reid (Sound Associate), Kate Lass (Fight and Intimacy Director), and Patty Yaconis (Props Designer). Katie Espinoza is Assistant Production Manager and Stage Manager.
 
Tickets for A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE are $35.00 ($30.00 if purchased by October 31) and are on sale now at https://twoedgetheater.com. The preview on Thursday, December 4, which is also the production's final dress rehearsal, will be free and open to the public.

Two Edge Theater Company in collaboration with Gwydion Theatre Company

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
By Arthur Miller
Directed by Robert Tobin
December 4, 2026 – January 10, 2027

Chopin Theater 
1543 W. Division Street, Chicago 60642
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 4 pm
No performances December 24, 25 or January 1
Tickets $35.00 ($30.00 if purchased by October 31), on sale now at https://twoedgetheater.com
Free final dress rehearsal/preview on Thursday, December 3

Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman living in Red Hook, Brooklyn, harbors an obsessive love for his niece Catherine. When two illegal immigrants arrive from Sicily — relatives seeking a new life in America — the fragile balance of his world begins to crack. Miller's masterwork is a story of family loyalty, the immigrant dream, and the dangerous line between love and possession. It's  raw, relentless, and devastating.

Chicago's historic Fine Arts Building and Studebaker Theater are thrilled to announce their Halloween co-production of Manual Cinema's acclaimed Frankenstein has added two additional performances due to popular demand on Wednesday Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. The production runs for five performances only, October 28–November 1, 2026, at the Studebaker Theater (410 S. Michigan Avenue). For tickets and more information, visit fineartsbuilding.com/frankenstein.

In Manual Cinema's thrilling version of the classic Gothic tale Frankenstein, the Chicago-based Emmy Award-winning performance collective imaginatively combines shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and live sound effects and music in a haunting show unlike any other. The production stitches together the fictional story of Frankenstein with the biography of the original novel's author, Mary Shelley, to create an unexpected tale about the beauty and horror of creation.

Frankenstein is adapted from the novel by Mary Shelley, with a concept by Drew Dir. The production is devised by Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace and Julia Miller. Original music and sound design are by Ben Kauffman and Kyle Vegter.

Tickets for Frankenstein at the Studebaker Theater (410 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago) are now on sale for $35-$85, with student tickets available for $25 with ID. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit fineartsbuilding.com/frankenstein.

Frankenstein performance times are:

Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m.

About the Fine Arts Building and Studebaker Theater

The Fine Arts Building, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2023, is a home for art in all forms: from pioneers like Poetry magazine's founding publisher Harriet Monroe, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, illustrator W. W. Denslow, sculptor Lorado Taft and the Chicago Little Theatre, to the ongoing legacies of painters, musicians, booksellers, puppeteers, dancers, photographers and craftspeople who inhabit the building today, the Fine Arts Building is buzzing with more than a century of Chicago creativity and innovation.

A Chicago Landmark since 1978, the building features original Art Nouveau murals from the late 19th century and the Studebaker Theater, one of the city's oldest and most significant live theatrical venues. Following a major multi-million-dollar renovation of the Studebaker led by Berger Realty Group and completed in 2022, the theater has been home to NPR's popular news quiz show "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" and has hosted performances from new musicals including 44: The Obama Musical, Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile, and Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, along with productions Ava: The Secret Conversations starring Elizabeth McGovern and Manual Cinema's Christmas Carol. For more information, visit fineartsbuilding.com.

About Manual Cinema

Manual Cinema is an Emmy Award-winning performance collective, design studio, and film/video production company founded in 2010 by Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, Ben Kauffman, Julia Miller and Kyle Vegter. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive stories for stage and screen. Using vintage overhead projectors, multiple screens, puppets, actors, live feed cameras, multi-channel sound design, and live music, Manual Cinema transforms the experience of attending the cinema and imbues it with liveness, ingenuity, and theatricality.

The company was awarded an Emmy in 2017 for "The Forger," a video created for The New York Times, and named Chicago Artists of the Year in 2018 by the Chicago Tribune. Their shadow puppet animations were featured in the 2021 film remake of Candyman, directed by Nia DaCosta and produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions. In collaboration with the Obama Foundation and Batwin + Robin Productions, Manual Cinema created two animated films for the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago, Ten Letters a Day and Power of Place.

Recent productions include Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster, based on books by Mo Willems, an adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and a revamped production of The Magic City, based on Edith Nesbit's 1910 novel. In 2023, Manual Cinema completed production on their first self-produced short film, Future Feeling, and toured with folk rock band Iron & Wine the following year. In Summer 2025, Manual Cinema premiered their latest feature production, The 4th Witch—a bold and imaginative inversion of Macbeth that is now touring.

Trap Door Theatre is thrilled to continue its 33rd season with Any Rebellion of Will, written by S.L. Daniels and directed by Spencer Huffman. Any Rebellion of Will will play October 8th – November 1st, 2026 at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W Cortland St. in Chicago. Tickets are now on sale at trapdoortheatre.com or by calling (773)-384-0494.

The cast will include Shawna Franks, Camilla Frontain, Lenin Izquierdo, and Lawrence Grimm.

A dark absurdist comedy with a twist of vaudeville, Any Rebellion of Will finds a depressed, anguished Will being kicked out of his authoritative parents' home on his 25th birthday. Will returns home with an odd, mystical street performer Giselle who ignites a rebellious passion in Will, and a demented, destructive mania in his parents. 

This production is housed under our Trap Open Series and is being independently produced by a grant from the Independent Projects Initiative and Grey Area Productions.

Any Rebellion of Will

Author: S.L. Daniels

Director: Spencer Huffman

Cast (in alphabetical order): Shawna Franks (Mona), Camilla Frontain (Giselle), Lawrence Grimm (Ferdinand), and Lenin Izquierdo (Will).

Location: Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St. Chicago, IL 60622

Regular Run: Thursday, October 8th –Saturday, November 1st, 2026

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 pm. Sundays at 2:00 pm.

Press performance: Press are encouraged to attend on or after Friday, October 9th.

Tickets: $5-$30. Tickets are currently available at https://our.show/any-rebellion-of-will or by calling (773) 384-0494.

Jonathan James Productions presents the world premiere of The Years Between Us, a new play by Liana Sonenclar, directed by Liam Pietrzyk. Developed with New York Stage and Film, the play previously received a New York reading starring AnnaSophia Robb (Bridge to Terabithia), Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things), and Tony nominee Julia Lester (Into the Woods). This production features Kate Cvengros, Julian Rus, and Michaela Horn, with performances October 15, 16, and 18 at The Lodge Performing Arts Center in Elgin.

The Years Between Us is a comedy with heart about three young people caught between childhood and adulthood. When Lacey (25) unexpectedly returns home, the kids she once babysat, Josh (17) and Tessa (15), are reunited with their childhood hero, just as each of them is struggling to grow up. Josh needs a date, Tessa needs a punching bag, and Lacey needs a lot. In a world without role models, can these three make it through together?

Liana Sonenclar is a New York-based writer represented by WME. Her work has been presented with New York Stage and Film, The New Group, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Dorset Theater Festival, and The Hearth, among others. Her short film To Be Honest screened at thirteen festivals and won four Best of Fest awards. She studied English at the University of Chicago and holds a BFA in Acting from NYU Tisch.

"I wrote this play at a time in my life I felt torn over the line between adolescence and adulthood. It means the world to me to premiere in Chicago, where I started my theater journey at 18. It almost feels like returning home," said Sonenclar.

"Liana's writing undoubtedly sets a bar for character depth in writing. From hilarious, dark-comedy to deep intricate meaning, Liana knows what it means to express the human condition. From the moment I saw the depth my actors brought to the first rehearsal, I knew I wanted to be completely hands on with this project," said director Liam Pietrzyk.

"I first became enamored with Liana's writing when I saw a recording of a staged reading in New York City of another one of her pieces, Before This New Year, starring Natalia Dyer from Stranger Things. Liana has a unique style unlike any other playwright I've read - profound yet youthful, humorous yet grounded in realism. I just knew I had to collaborate with her and bring one of her works to Chicago. It took me a few years and a few attempts, but we finally made it happen. When she sent me The Years Between Us, I knew from just the first few pages that I wanted to be the one to produce the world premier" said Executive Producer Jonathan James.

Jonathan James (Executive Producer) is a Chicagoland director, producer, music director, and vocal and acting coach who began his career as an actor at age six. He served as youth vocal and acting coach for Broadway in Chicago and Chicagoland Theatre Fund's Children of Eden at the Cadillac Palace. His recent directing credits include the Lou Award-nominated Prodigal Son for Elgin Theater Company, Independent Players' The Outsiders, both which he transferred to the Athenaeum Center, and a staged reading of The Importance of Being Earnest for The Lodge Foundation. He has music-directed Heathers and tick, tick...BOOM! for Point2Productions and co-founded the Chicagoland Theatre Fund and JK Entertainment where he serves as Executive Director.

Performance Information
The Years Between Us by Liana Sonenclar
October 15 and 16 at 8 PM; October 18 at 2 PM
The Lodge Performing Arts Center, 18 Villa Ct, Elgin, IL 60120
Tickets: $20; students and seniors $15
https://ticketstripe.com/yearsbetweenus

Run time: 1 hour

Through music, documentary video, sound, photos and live actors, “SANCTUARY STORIES: A JOURNALISM THEATER PROJECT” captures in words and images the lives and communities deeply connected with — and affected by — immigration in Chicago. 

This “living documentary” is a unique and unprecedented adventure in multimedia storytelling that brings journalism to life. 

The stories presented by the actors are based on extensive reporting, told verbatim from interview transcripts. And they are complemented with vivid documentary video and sound, illustrating the thoughts and storytelling, showing the Chicagoans behind the stories.

The project returns after an incredibly successful run in January that sold out in its first weekend.

Among those portrayed are clergy who have stepped forward to help immigrants; a veteran Immigration Court judge who resigned over a changed system; a politician driven to join demonstrators; a young immigrant who frets that the successful life she has found can be instantly swept away; and a refugee who cannot sleep or smile because of the torture he suffered for years as he made his way to the U.S.

The evening also features insights from visual journalists who’ve been covering the crackdown, as well as original music by Chicago singer-songwriter Flo Estes.

After the premiere showing on Northwestern’s campus, one former Chicago Tribune journalist wrote: “Just when you think there are no new ideas... this ‘journalism theater project’ called SANCTUARY STORIES comes along from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.”

The production is the work of Emmy award-winning documentarian Craig Duff, a former video journalist at CNN, the New York Times and Time Magazine. Duff is now a journalism professor at Northwestern University’s Medill School. He is also an actor and theater artist. Stephen Franklin, a former Chicago Tribune journalist, Borderless Magazine contributor and trainer for Chicago’s immigrant and minority news media, conducted the reporting and interviews.

Performing the stories is a cast of talented Chicago actors: Gabriela Barrios, George Dougherty, Amber Dow, Flo Estes, Jean Marie Koon, Lori Navarrete, Matt Specht and Caonguyen Vu. 

Duff serves as narrator and created the documentary video elements, and Jeff Award-winning Petter Wahlbäck crafted the sound design and music. Riley Bulson serves as stage manager and Brenden Marble will design the lighting for the Athenaeum shows.

The performances also feature two original songs, including “I Come From the World,” by Flo Estes, who will perform it live to video accompaniment with Emily Haden Lee on supporting vocals.

The project attempts to create a Chicago story in the way that the great storyteller Studs Terkel immortalized our everyday lives. It honors Chicago’s history as a national leader as a Sanctuary City, begun with the drive in the 1980s to give sanctuary to Central Americans fleeing wars and violence. It is a tribute to the vibrant and imaginative theatre community that draws inspiration from Chicago's vibrant life.

LISTING INFORMATION

SANCTUARY STORIES: A JOURNALISM THEATER PROJECT

Devised and directed by Craig Duff, Based on interviews conducted by Stephen Franklin

Original Music by Petter Wahlbäck

October 9-18, 2026

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm, with an additional matinee on Saturday, October 17 at 2pm. 

Studio B, The Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture

2936 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at https://athenaeumcenter.org/events/2026/sanctuary-stories-a-journalism-theater-project/

Additional information can be found at https://sanctuarystories.org and on Instagram @sanctuarystorieschicago

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