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

Court Theatre

Name: Court Theatre
Address: 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, US
Telephone: +17737534472
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

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Court Theatre

Court Theatre is a Tony Award-winning center for classic theater located in the heart of Hyde Park.

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.

12/22/2025

Earlier this month, we hosted our 2025 gala, celebrating the legacy of Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson and his staging of August Wilson's American Century Cycle. Featuring remarks from Ron OJ Parson and Court leadership, performances from select Century Cycle productions, and a live auction, this year's gala was a night to remember.

Scroll through, check out the photos from the event, and celebrate Ron's incredible body of work. Cheers to you, Ron!...
📸 Ron OJ Parson by John Zich and Anne Ryan
📸 Avery Willis Hoffman and Angel Ysaguirre by John Zich and Anne Ryan
📸 Ron OJ Parson and Angel Ysaguirre by John Zich and Anne Ryan
📸 2025 Gala Co-Chairs Taryn Williams Clark, Felicia Davis Blakley, and Amina Dickerson by John Zich and Anne Ryan
📸 Ron OJ Parson and guests by John Zich and Anne Ryan
📸 Felicia P. Fields by John Zich and Anne Ryan
📸 (7, 8) John Zich and Anne Ryan
📸 Ron OJ Parson and Doris Davenport
📸 (10, 11) John Zich and Anne Ryan

12/19/2025

We’re flying into the holiday season! If you're passing through O'Hare, don't miss our tree in Terminal 2, a festive celebration of the costumes that bring classic stories to life on our stage. Scroll through to see who helped decorate!

Traveling soon? Take a picture, tag us, and share the joy....
🎄Chicago O'Hare International Airport

12/18/2025

A communal gathering. An artistic adventure. A joyful exploration of “Is that it?” THICK: Studies in Refusal was all that, and more. Thank you to Jenn Freeman and Blanc Gallery for bringing this vision to life and thank you to all who joined us. Now, we let her rest.

If you enjoyed the performance (or if you’re just curious!), we invite you to dive deeper into Jenn’s process and explore this custom bibliography of their research. Happy reading → https://bit.ly/THICKBibliography
….
📸 Jenn Freeman by Ollie Photography
📸 Jenn Freeman and Kamilah Rashied by Ollie Photography
📸 Jenn Freeman by Ollie Photography
📸 (4, 5) Ollie Photography
📸 Jenn Freeman by Ollie Photography

12/16/2025

A legacy worth celebrating! Former Artistic Director Charles Newell has been honored with the Phi Beta Kappa Distinguished Service Award, recognizing a lifetime of artistic vision, bold storytelling, and extraordinary impact at Court Theatre.

Presented on behalf of America’s most prestigious academic honor society, this award is presented to someone who embodies “achievement through striving” and “love of wisdom, the guide of life.” Charlie brought those values to life at Court Theatre for over thirty years, and has irrevocably shaped our organization — and theatre in Chicago, more broadly.

Join us in wishing Charlie congratulations!

12/14/2025

“My mind hath been as big as one of yours, my heart as great”

Happy Closing to the cast, crew, and creative team of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW! Your bold choices and playfulness unearthed hidden layers in Shakespeare’s classic, revealed new meaning, and inspired fascinating conversations – as all great theatre should.

Thank you for your brilliant minds and your generous hearts. We never want The Shrew Experience to end. ...
📸 Melisa Soledad Pereyra and Jay Whittaker by Michael Brosilow
📸 Nate Santana, Ryder Dean McDaniel, and Netta Walker by Michael Brosilow
📸 Alex Weisman by Michael Brosilow
📸 Jay Whittaker, Ryder Dean McDaniel, Dexter Zollicoffer, Nate Santana, and Mark L. Montgomery by Michael Brosilow
📸 Samuel Taylor and Netta Walker by Michael Brosilow
📸 Melisa Soledad Pereyra, Nate Santana, Ryder Dean McDaniel, Monica West, and Mark L. Montgomery by Michael Brosilow
📸 Melisa Soledad Pereyra by Michael Brosilow
📸 Alex Weisman, Jay Whittaker, and Dexter Zollicoffer by Michael Brosilow
📸 Monica West, Netta Walker, Nate Santana, Melisa Soledad Pereyra, Samuel Taylor, and Jay Whittaker by Michael Brosilow
✍️ William Shakespeare, Playwright
🎭 Marti Lyons, Director and Adaptor (with Associate Daira Rodriguez)
🛠️ Jackie Fox, Scenic Designer
👔 Kotryna Hilko, Costume Designer
💡 Maximo Grano de Oro, Lighting Designer (with Associate Sierra Walker)
🎧 Matthew Chapman, Sound Designer
🎶 Ethan Korvne, Composer
📚 Tanya Palmer, Production Dramaturg
🎬 Becca McCracken, Casting Director (with Associate Celeste M. Cooper)
📒 Danny Fender, Production Stage Manager
📒 Anna Vu, Assistant Stage Manager
📒 Dixon Kaufman, Floor Manager
🎭 Understudies: Mehmet Can Aksoy, Chad Bay, Cereyna Bougouneau, Ian Maryfield, Claudia Quesada, Nick Vidal

12/12/2025

How it started ➡ How it's going

Last chance to join us in Padua. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW closes December 14!...
🛠️ Rendering by Jackie Fox
🖌Sarah Lewis and Rachel Meierotto, Scenic Artists
📸 Nate Santana, Dexter Zollicoffer, Mark L. Montgomery, Melisa Soledad Pereyra, Netta Walker, and Ryder Dean McDaniel by Michael Brosilow

12/11/2025

We're ending 2025 on a high! Three productions - A RAISIN IN THE SUN, BIG WHITE FOG, and BERLIN - just made the Chicago Tribune’s Top 10 Theater of the Year.

Huge year. Huge talent. Huge thanks to the Court community for making this possible.

See which shows made the list → https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/10/best-theater-2025/?share=wmccuite2t2ctuc5t5iw...
📸 Kierra Bunch, Brian Keys, and Shanésia Davis by Michael Brosilow
📸 Greta Oglesby and Sharriese Hamilton by Michael Brosilow
📸 Raven Whitley and Tim Decker by Michael Brosilow

12/10/2025

It's our final Instagram takeover! Or should we say, "tame-over" 😉Claudia Quesada (understudy for both Katherina and the Widow in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW) is taking over our Instagram on Friday, December 12!

Follow our Stories for a fast, fun look at understudying multiple Shakespeare tracks and and a final behind-the-scenes glimpse of SHREW before it closes Sunday, December 14....
📸 Claudia Quesada by Joe Mazza

12/05/2025

And....go for Instagram takeover! Tomorrow, Stage Manager Danny Fender and Assistant Stage Manager Anna Vu are taking over our Instagram to give you a sneak peek into what it's like to call a two-show day of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Tune in and follow along.

We'll see you in the booth!...
📸 Anna Vu and Danny Fender by Joe Mazza

12/04/2025

This Saturday, we're thrilled to honor Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson and his work on August Wilson’s American Century Cycle at our 2025 Gala → https://www.courttheatre.org/support/gala/

Ron has directed nine of the ten plays in August Wilson's Century Cycle at Court Theatre and, in the 2026/27 season, he will direct JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE, making him one of the few directors to stage all ten plays at the same theatre—a truly remarkable artistic achievement.

We'd like to thank the following sponsors who helped make this celebration possible, and we invite you to join us in wishing Ron congratulations!...
📸 Ron OJ Parson by Joe Mazza
📸 Alfred H. Wilson, Kierra Bunch, and Joseph Primes in TWO TRAINS RUNNING (Brosilow)
📸 James T. Alfred and Cedric Young in MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM (Brosilow)
📸 Ebony Wimbs, Felicia P. Fields, and Ronald L. Conner in SEVEN GUITARS (Brosilow)
📸 Alfred H. Wilson and Allen Gilmore in JITNEY (Brosilow)
📸 A.C. Smith and TayLar in KING HEDLEY II (Brosilow)

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

Telephone

+17737534472

Website

http://www.courttheatre.org/

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