Thursday is definitely becoming the night to see theater in Chicago, as the League of Chicago Theatres' new Theater Thursday promotion continues to grow in popularity. Not only are the plays getting rave reviews. So are the free food and drink, the casual, cocktail party atmosphere, the chance to rub shoulders with Chicago theater artists, and the all-in-one-place convenience factor.
Following are details about Theater Thursday events through April. Check out chicagoplays.com for updates and possible additions to the Theater Thursday line-up.
Please note: Tickets to Theater Thursday events are sold through participating theater box offices. Advance tickets to all April events are also available at the League of Chicago Theatres' three Hot Tix locations: 78 W. Randolph St., in the Loop; 163 E. Pearson St., inside the Water Works Visitor Center on Michigan Avenue; and at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd.
* APRIL 14 "Birds," by Aristophanes, presented by T.U.T.A. at The Viaduct, 3111 N. Western Ave.
Check out the world premiere adaptation of Aristophanes' hilarious comedy "Birds," written by Jeff Award-winning playwright Hurt McDermott. Celebrate the ancient Greeks in style with T.U.T.A Theatre Company's Greek-themed night of festive entertainment featuring delicious Greek delicacies and red wine fit for Zeus himself. Stay for a post-show Q & A with cast and crew. Show up in a toga, and receive a free ticket to T.U.T.A's fall production, Philip Dawkins' "Day After Yesterday."
Pre-show reception: 7 p.m.; Show time: 8 p.m.; Tickets: $20 at Hot Tix, or call (847) 217-0691 and mention Theater Thursday.
* APRIL 21 "Dinner at Eight," presented by The Theatre School of DePaul at Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Dr.
This is classic play from the 1930s about a socially obsessed Park Avenue hostess who engineers a series of clever manipulations to bring an aristocratic English couple to her dinner party. Her choice of guests creates a highly entertaining web of intrigue, malice and romance.
Start your night with a specialty martini and swank appetizers at Bar Louie with artists from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Don't miss the post-show discussion with the cast, director and dramaturg immediately following the show.
Pre-show reception: 6 p.m. at Bar Louie, 47 W. Polk St., in South Loop's Dearborn Station
Show time: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 at Hot Tix, or call (312) 922-1999 and mention Theater Thursday.
* APRIL 28 "Berlin '45," at Victory Gardens Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
Playwright Jeffrey Sweet's intense new love story about a German woman, left to her own devices at the end of World War II, and how she fights to survive the Russian occupation and prepare for a new world.
Enjoy authentic German fare and beer while going behind-the-scenes with the design team Jack Magaw (set design), Judith Lundberg (costumes) and Julie Mack (lights) and learn how they brought the world of post war Berlin to life.
Pre-show reception: 6:30 p.m.
Show time: 8 p.m.
Tickets: $33 at Hot Tix, or call (773)-871-3000 and mention Theater Thursday.
In addition to at least one "main event" every Thursday, you can take advantage of special discounts and promotions offered at League-member theaters all over Chicago, only on Thursday nights. Find that list at chicagoplays.com.
As the sponsor for April Theater Thursday events, The Merchandise Mart will provide complimentary passes to everyone attending Theater Thursday events. The Eighth Annual Chicago Antiques Fair will run April 29 through May 2 on the eighth floor of The Merchandise Mart and will feature 100 top international dealers and a wide range of categories including English, Continental and American furniture, decorative arts, ceramics, glass, jewelry, paintings, posters, prints, rare books, maps, silver, sculpture, textiles, and more. For more information on the fair, including a list of dealers, visit merchandisemart.com/chicagoantiques.
Here's a sneak peek of Theater Thursday events in May and June. Stay tuned chicagoplays.com for details:
* MAY 5 "Living Out," presented by the American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St., (773) 929-1031.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican food and drink plus a performance of "Living Out," a modern comedy about Latina nannies and the women they work for, presented by American Theater Company and Teatro Vista.
* June 2 "Arms and the Man," presented by Writers' Theatre, 325 Tudor Ct., Glencoe.
Ride a Metra train to the North Shore and share drinks with Michael Halberstam, Artistic Director of Writer's Theatre, and other "Theater Thursday-goers." The cost includes one ticket to George Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man," a Metra ride to and from the theater, cocktails on board and a post-show discussion and reception with the cast and crew. Board the special Writers' Theatre car on the Metra/Union Pacific North line leaving Ogilvie Transportation Center at 6:35 p.m. Look for the Writers' Theatre sign at each station along the way; for stops and schedules go to metrarail.com.
Show time: 8 p.m.
Tickets: $35. Call (847) 242-6000 and mention Theater Thursday.
* JUNE 9 "Jewtopia," at Mercury Theatre, 3745 N. Southport Ave., (773) 325-1700.
Enjoy a Jewish themed pre-show menu, then laugh at the story of a gentile who wants to marry a Jewish girl....so he'll never have to make another decision.
* JUNE 16 "Hillbilly Antigone," at Lookingglass Theatre, Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., (312)337-0665.
Check out the snake handlers, soothsaying grandma and horn headed brother in Lookingglass Theatre's world premiere musical "Hillbilly Antigone," followed by a reception with cast and crew at NoMI in the Park Hyatt Hotel, complete with complimentary Lookingglass signature Martini. |
