TimeLine Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season at its new home in Uptown rolls merrily along in November with the company’s 100th production, the Chicago premiere of Home, I’m Darling by Laura Wade. TimeLine Company Member Mechelle Moe directs Wade’s award-winning, darkly funny exploration of marriage, nostalgia, and the allure—and delusion—of the “perfect” past.

A smash hit on the West End and winner of the 2019 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, Home, I’m Darling is a razor‑sharp satire that feels both timely and timeless. Previews start November 11. Performances run through December 13 at TimeLine Theatre, 5035 N. Broadway in Uptown. For tickets and information, call the TimeLine Box Office, (773) 281-8463 x1 or visit timelinetheatre.com.

LIVING THE DREAM: MORE ABOUT HOME, I’M DARLING

Judy and Johnny are living their dream: the idealized 1950s suburban life. As Judy doubles down on her fully immersive retro domestic fantasy, the seams of their hyper-curated life begin to fray. What begins as a lifestyle choice becomes a revealing—and unsettling—interrogation of gender roles, identity, and what it costs to perform happiness. 

“What I love about Home, I’m Darling,” said director Mechelle Moe, “is how incredibly seductive Judy’s fantasy can be. She has fully embraced the role of a domestic goddess, creating this picture-perfect version of a life that becomes increasingly difficult to sustain. And it’s really funny.”

“The play gives us permission to laugh at the absurdity of it all while also asking some pretty uncomfortable questions about nostalgia and our tendency to romanticize, or even fetishize, a past that was never quite as simple or perfect as we imagine it,” Moe added. “Underneath all of that humor is a very human desire to make a life feel safe, beautiful, and meaningful. I hope audiences will recognize both the seduction of that fantasy and the cost of trying to make it real—and leave with plenty to talk about when the cracks begin to show.”

TimeLine’s Chicago premiere of Home, I’m Darling features Company Member Janet Ulrich Brooks (she/her) as Sylvia. The rest of the cast – Brandon Dahlquist (he/him) as Marcus, Claire Kaplan (she/her) as Judy, Gloria Imseih Petrelli (she/they) as Alex, Maya Rowe (she/her) as Fran, and Elliot Sagay (he/him) as Johnny – are all making their TimeLine Theatre debuts.

The design and production team includes Mechelle Moe (Director, she/her), Courtney O’Neill (Scenic Designer, she/they), Christine Pascual (Costume Designer, she/her), Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (Co-Lighting Designer, she/her), Josiah Croegaert (Co-Lighting Designer, he/him), Andrew Hansen (Sound Designer, he/him), Amy Peter (Properties Designer, she/her), Greg Geffrard (Intimacy Director, he/him), Breon Arzell (Choreographer, he/him), Eva Breneman (Dialect Coach, she/her), Jared Bellot (Dramaturg, he/him), Dina Spoerl (Dramaturgical Display Designer, she/her), Logan Smart (Assistant Director, he/they), Trent Jones (Assistant Scenic Designer, he/him), Paloma Locsin (Assistant Properties Designer, she/her), Katie Klemme (Stage Manager, she/her), and Mia Maccarella (Assistant Stage Manager, she/her). Understudies are Jeannie Affelder (she/her, Sylvia), Dave Honigman (he/him, Marcus), Rachel Kang (she/her, Judy), Ben Murphy (he/him, Johnny) and Heidi Musec (she/her, Fran).

“TimeLine is thrilled to introduce this wickedly smart comedy to Chicago. We’ve been huge admirers of this play since it took London by storm, and we’ve been longing to produce its Chicago premiere ever since,” said TimeLine Theatre Artistic Director PJ Powers. “Coming on the heels of our world premiere of The Birth of the Pill, this production furthers a conversation about gender and progress, through the lens of one of the theatre’s most exciting and provocative playwrights, Laura Wade. As our inaugural season in our new home continues, we’re delighted to have director Mechelle Moe lead a stellar cast and design team, immersing our audience in a seemingly idyllic fantasy world of the 1950s, shining a light on how far we have and haven’t come.”

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Previews of Home, I’m Darling are Wednesday, November 11, Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 14 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, November 15 at 2 p.m.; and Tuesday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m. Press Preview is Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night is Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances continue through December 13: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Exception: No show 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 21.

BUYING TICKETS

Single tickets to Home, I’m Darling are on sale now, priced $40–$100. Preview tickets are $40 - $63. Tickets to regular performances are $65 - $100. Prices vary based on performance date and seat location. Listed prices include fees. For tickets and information, visit timelinetheatre.com or call the TimeLine Box Office at (773) 281-8463 x1. 

Pay What You Will pricing is available for these previews: Wednesday, November 11, Thursday, November 12, and Friday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m. Student discount to all performances is 35% off regular price with valid ID. TimeLine is also a member of TCG’s Blue Star Theatre Program and is offering $30 tickets to U.S. military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their spouses and family. 

Ticket buyers ages 18-35 may join TimeLine’s free MyLine program to obtain access to discounted tickets, special events and more. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are also available.Visit timelinetheatre.com/discounts for more about available discounts.

COME EARLY, STAY LATE AT TIMELINE THEATRE’S NEW BAR & CAFE

TimeLine’s new Bar & Café is a central gathering place that welcomes you to the building, offering a cozy space to enjoy refreshments and conversation. Enjoy coffee, drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), and light snacks. The Bar & Café is now open Wednesdays through Fridays, 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. and Saturdays 12 p.m. - 11 p.m, with additional hours during performance weeks. For more including the menu, visit timelinetheatre.com/bar-cafe.

DISCUSSIONS

Pre-Show Discussions: Starting one hour before the performance, a 30-minute introductory conversation will be hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and the dramaturg on Tuesday, November 24, 6:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Post-Show Discussions: A brief, informal post-show discussion hosted by a TimeLine Company Member and featuring the dramaturg and members of the production team on Sunday, November 22; Thursday, December 3; and Thursday, December 10.

Company Member Discussion: A post-show discussion with the team of artists who choose TimeLine’s programming and guide the company’s mission on Wednesday, December 2.

Sunday Scholars Panel Discussion: A one-hour panel discussion featuring experts on the themes and issues of the play in a moderated discussion, following the performance on Sunday, December 6.

All discussions are free and open to the public.

ACCESSIBILITY

Captioned Performances: Open-captioned performances with a text display of words and sounds heard during performances are Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m.

Audio Described Performance: The performance on Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. will feature narration about visual elements of the production around the dialogue, available for individual patrons via headphones. 

ASL Interpreted Performance: The performance on Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m. will be interpreted live in American Sign Language.

TIMELINE’S INAUGURAL 2026-27 SEASON AT ITS NEW HOME IN UPTOWN

Following Home, I’m Darling, TimeLine Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season continues with:

• The Chicago premiere of The Far Country by Lloyd Suh, directed by TimeLine Company Member Helen Young—a sweeping immigration epic and 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist exploring identity, sacrifice, and generational resilience in the shadow of exclusionary U.S. policy (February - March 2027).

• Merrily We Roll Along, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth, based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, directed by TimeLine Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling with music direction by Otto Vogel—a Tony Award–winning musical unfolding in reverse, tracing the shifting relationships and ambitions of three friends over two decades (April - May 2027).

See all three plays for yourself … from the best seats in the house! Save up to 25% off regular ticket prices and enjoy ultimate flexibility, priority access, and preferred reserved seating with a TimeLine FlexPass. Three- and four-admission options are now on sale, priced from $144 to $389. MyLine FlexPasses (exclusively for patrons age 18-35) are also available for $85 (after enrolling in TimeLine’s free MyLine program). For more information and to purchase, call (773) 281-8463 x1 or visit timelinetheatre.com.