Court Theatre

Court Theatre Court Theatre is a Tony Award-winning center for classic theater located in the heart of Hyde Park.
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Established in 1955, Court Theatre is the professional theatre on campus at the University of Chicago. We are guided by our mission to create innovative productions of classic plays that are thought provoking, character-driven, and thematically enduring. Through main stage productions, audience enrichment programs, and collaborations with the University of Chicago, we re-examine, re-envision, and

renew classic texts that pose enduring and provocative questions that define the human experience. Underlying this mission is our vision of becoming the Center for Classic Theatre, where the arts community looks for leadership in the creation, production and study of classic theatrical works. Court works to fulfill this mission first through the rigorous exploration of dramatic texts, including the African-American canon and musical theatre works; second by expanding the canon of classic theatre through initiatives such as the Barbara E. Franke Commissioning Program for New Classics; and third, by ongoing institutional strategic planning, which currently includes the possibility of an expanded, state-of-the-art facility. In all of its work, Court strives to sustain an artistic environment conducive to deeply creative work. Named “the most consistently excellent theater company in America” by The Wall Street Journal, Court has a national reputation for excellence and innovation. Through five adventurous and compelling main stage productions per season, as well as a wealth of free symposia, post-performance discussions and education programs, it endeavors to make a lasting contribution to American theatre by thoroughly examining and imaginatively re-envisioning classic works to illuminate timeless themes and uncover immediately relevant messages.

The Poets are back! A few weeks ago, Cage Sebastian Pierre and Danielle Davis - who played the Poets in our 2024 product...
06/05/2025

The Poets are back! A few weeks ago, Cage Sebastian Pierre and Danielle Davis - who played the Poets in our 2024 production of ANTIGONE - debuted their newest project at Poetry Foundation & Poetry Magazine. Their mixtape, Songs from the Poets, is a bold, exhilarating, and modern reimagining of Sophocles’s timeless poetry. Headphones on, volume up - trust us, you’re going to want to hear this. Listen at the link in our bio.

Thank you to Cage, Danielle, the Poetry Foundation, our Engagement team, and ANTIGONE Director Gabrielle Randle-Bent for such an incredible event.
….
📸 Danielle Davis and Cage Sebastian Pierre by Eric Strom/GlitterGuts
📸 Gabrielle Randle-Bent by Eric Strom/GlitterGuts
📸 Eric Strom/GlitterGuts

We're thrilled to announce the cast of the AN ILIAD, the final production in the 2024/25 season: Timothy Edward Kane! Ti...
06/02/2025

We're thrilled to announce the cast of the AN ILIAD, the final production in the 2024/25 season: Timothy Edward Kane! Tim reprises his role as The Poet – the sole character in this one-person saga – who recounts a tale of war, hubris, and destruction that spirals across millennia and crashes into our present day → https://bit.ly/CourtTheatreAnIliad

Experience the raw power of Kane’s performance in Court Theatre’s intimate Abelson Auditorium, and join us for this limited engagement. Performances begin next Wednesday, June 11! ...
📸 Timothy Edward Kane

As the weather warms up and our calendars fill up, we want to amplify a special event from our friends at the Design Mus...
05/30/2025

As the weather warms up and our calendars fill up, we want to amplify a special event from our friends at the Design Museum of Chicago:

Want a fun and festive night out? Join the Design Museum of Chicago in celebrating Chicago designers at the Designing a Better Chicago NeoCon After Party → https://bit.ly/DesigningABetterChi

Mix and mingle, and toast another triumphant year of design! Tuesday, June 10 from 6:00pm - 9:00pm at SECRIST | BEACH. Secure your tickets today, and support Chicago's vibrant arts and design communities....
📸 Design Museum of Chicago

As we celebrate the Closing of BERLIN, it’s only fitting that we also celebrate the conclusion of BERLIN’s public progra...
05/22/2025

As we celebrate the Closing of BERLIN, it’s only fitting that we also celebrate the conclusion of BERLIN’s public programs!

This suite of programs was expansive, multidisciplinary, and full of defiant joy. In just a few weeks, we collaborated on a curated tour of Potential Energy: Chicago Puppets Up Close, an Agora about Resistance & Resilience, a book signing and conversation with graphic novelist Jason Lutes (author of BERLIN), a communal arts activation, a post-show discussion, a film screening, and a drag king and burlesque show.

We would like to thank our amazing partners – including the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Public Media Institute and Co-Prosperity, The Seminary Co-op Bookstores, the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, the Film Studies Center, and Po’Chop and Switch the Boi Wonder – and all who participated. You are the reason why we do this; thank you for joining us on this journey....
📸 (1 -2): Tour of Chicago Puppets Up Close, by Antwonette Burton of Ollie Photography
📸 (3): Grace Needlman and Leah Lara, by Antwonette Burton of Ollie Photography
📸 (4): Ed Marszewski, Stephanie Manríquez, Jenn Freeman, and Kristen Kaza at the Agora, by Ollie Photography
📸 (5): Agora: Resistance & Resilience Strategies, by Ollie Photography
📸 (6): Dr. Evan H. Carver and Jason Lutes, by Antwonette Burton of Ollie Photography
📸 (7): Jason Lutes, David J. Levin, and Charles Newell, by Ollie Photography
📸 (8): Silvia Inés Gonzalez at Books & Banners of the People, by Ollie Photography
📸 (9 - 10): Books & Banners of the People, by Ollie Photography
📸 (11): Po'Chop, Wes Andy Sins, Mush, Rippin Schwarzoff, D'Iconic, Sunny Haelstorm, and Switch the Boi Wonder at Notes on Masculinity: A Drag-King Centered Cabaret, by Joe Mazza
📸 (12): Po'Chop at Notes on Masculinity: A Drag-King Centered Cabaret, by Joe Mazza
📸 (13): Switch the Boi Wonder at Notes on Masculinity: A Drag-King Centered Cabaret, by Joe Mazza
📸 (14): Sunny Haelstorm at Notes on Masculinity: A Drag-King Centered Cabaret, by Joe Mazza

"Chicago is the greatest theater city in the world." We couldn't agree more, Ron!Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson was recen...
05/20/2025

"Chicago is the greatest theater city in the world." We couldn't agree more, Ron!

Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson was recently featured on ABC7 to discuss his latest production, HYMN at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Read the profile, learn about the production, and check out his latest work before it closes on Sunday, May 25 → https://abc7.ws/45kpZud...
📸 Ron OJ Parson by Joe Mazza

“What might we say today that would cause the distant future, the future of our children’s children, to arrange itself d...
05/18/2025

“What might we say today that would cause the distant future, the future of our children’s children, to arrange itself differently?”

Happy Closing to the cast, creative team, and crew who brought this epic graphic novel to life. Over 500 pages and over 20 years' worth of work distilled into two and a half hours onstage – to say that this production is a triumphant achievement would be an understatement. Thank you to those who contributed to this world premiere, and thank you to those who attended and supported new work.

An intricate tapestry of timelines, BERLIN is a stunning reminder that everyday choices are the building blocks of our collective future. May we continue to build a brighter future together....
📸 Raven Whitley, Tim Decker, and Elizabeth Laidlaw by Michael Brosilow
📸 Ellie Duffey and Jack Doherty by Michael Brosilow
📸 Elizabeth Laidlaw by Michael Brosilow
📸 Mo Shipley by Michael Brosilow
📸 Guy Van Swearingen, Ellie Duffey, Mo Shipley, Terry Bell, Brandon Ruiter, Molly Hernández, Jack Doherty, and Raven Whitley by Michael Brosilow
📸 Jack Doherty, Guy Van Swearingen, and Tim Decker by Michael Brosilow
📸 Raven Whitley and Kate Collins by Michael Brosilow
📸 Raven Whitley, Brandon Ruiter, Molly Hernández, Guy Van Swearingen, and Terry Bell by Michael Brosilow.
📸 Jack Doherty and Ellie Duffey by Michael Brosilow
📸 Terry Bell, Molly Hernández, Raven Whitley, HB Ward, Ellie Duffey, and Brandon Ruiter by Michael Brosilow
🎭 Directed by Charles Newell
📚 Adapted by Mickle Maher
✍️ Based on the graphic novel by Jason Lutes
🛠️ Scenic Design by John Culbert
👔 Costume Design by Jacqueline Firkins
💡 Lighting Design by Keith Parham, with Josiah Croegaert
🎶 Sound Design by Mark Messing, with Josh McCammon
📚 Production Dramaturgy by David J. Levin
🩰 Movement Direction by Julia Rhoads
🎼 Music Consultant, Kory Danielson
🗣 Vocal and Dialect Consultant, Sammi Grant
✅ Culture and Consent Consultant, Sheryl Williams
📒 Production Stage Manager, Kate Ocker
📒 Stage Manager, Katie Moshier
📒 Assistant Stage Manager, Olivia Leslie
📒 Floor Manager, Alex Umekubo

Classic theatre is a reflection of not just the past, but the future – and no one embodies that future quite like young ...
05/15/2025

Classic theatre is a reflection of not just the past, but the future – and no one embodies that future quite like young people.

At the end of April, our Education department, in partnership with Kenwood High School Theatre Director John Keith, welcomed partner schools, teachers, students, and parents to Poets of the Black Experience, a student showcase honoring the work of August Wilson and Dr. Eve L. Ewing. Students performed monologues, presented embodied reimaginings of Eve Ewing’s poetry, and received feedback from honored guests Tyra Bullock, Marilyn Halperin, Julian Parker, Ericka Ratcliff, and Ireon Roach.

This event was the culmination of a year of learning and engagement, in which we welcomed an unprecedented number of students to our Student Matinees and continued our in-classroom teaching through our Artists-in-Schools residency program.

We are so proud of these young people and what they’ve achieved. The future’s looking pretty bright!...
📸 Jarrett King

As BERLIN enters its final weeks, we wanted to give a shout-out to Jason Lutes for creating such a beautiful story. A fe...
05/10/2025

As BERLIN enters its final weeks, we wanted to give a shout-out to Jason Lutes for creating such a beautiful story. A few weeks ago, he was kind enough to attend Opening Night (and participate in a book signing as part of our public programs!), and we’re still pinching ourselves!

Jason is a person of boundless generosity and creativity—BERLIN, the play, simply wouldn’t exist without BERLIN, the graphic novel. Thank you for everything....
📸 Mickle Maher (adaptor), Jason Lutes (graphic novelist), and Charles Newell (director)
✍️ Panel from BERLIN, the graphic novel by Jason Lutes
📸 Tim Decker, Elizabeth Laidlaw, and Kate Collins in a scene from BERLIN, photo by Michael Brosilow

Congratulations to this most recent cohort of the Civic Actor Studio! We are always proud to partner with UChicago Civic...
05/09/2025

Congratulations to this most recent cohort of the Civic Actor Studio! We are always proud to partner with UChicago Civic Engagement, and we are continually impressed by the participants and their innovative ideas.

05/09/2025

Pola Mosse (played by Molly Hernández) can sing, she can dance, she speaks Berliner, and she’ll make you fall in love with her. This Saturday, May 10, follow along (and fall in love) as Molly does the final Instagram takeover for BERLIN.

Last chance to see what it’s like performing in a world premiere! Tune in and join us tomorrow.

This weekend, we're proud to present the following accessible performances for BERLIN:🖋 Touch Tour at 12:30pm on Saturda...
05/08/2025

This weekend, we're proud to present the following accessible performances for BERLIN:

🖋 Touch Tour at 12:30pm on Saturday, May 10
🖋 Audio Description at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 10
🖋 ASL Interpretation at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 10
🖋 Open Captioning at 2:00pm on Sunday, May 11

This weekend is almost completely sold out, so we recommend calling the Box Office at (773) 753-4472 if you would like to make use of our accessibility offerings. Our Box Office staff will be happy to discuss your options.

Don't miss this "thrillingly staged piece of theater" (Chicago Sun-Times). Don't miss BERLIN....
📸 Molly Hernández, Terry Bell, and Guy Van Swearingen by Michael Brosilow
🎭 Directed by Charles Newell
📚 Adapted by Mickle Maher
✍️ Based on the graphic novel by Jason Lutes
🛠️ Scenic Design by John Culbert
👔 Costume Design by Jacqueline Firkins
💡 Lighting Design by Keith Parham, with Josiah Croegaert
🎶 Sound Design by Mark Messing, with Josh McCammon
📚 Production Dramaturgy by David J. Levin
🩰 Movement Direction by Julia Rhoads
🎼 Music Consultant, Kory Danielson
🗣 Vocal and Dialect Consultant, Sammi Grant
✅ Culture and Consent Consultant, Sheryl Williams
📒 Production Stage Manager, Kate Ocker
📒 Stage Manager, Katie Moshier
📒 Assistant Stage Manager, Olivia Leslie
📒 Floor Manager, Alex Umekubo

Address

5535 S. Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 5pm
Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Wednesday 12pm - 7:30pm
Thursday 12pm - 7:30pm
Friday 12pm - 8pm
Saturday 12pm - 8pm
Sunday 12pm - 7:30pm

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