The BTD offers a variety of activities, classes, performances and more from many of its members. Belmont Theater District is funded and maintained by the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce and the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the organization or on individual events listed below go to BTDChicago.com.
Productions include (in alphabetical order by company name):
NOTE: Event details may change without notice, please go to BTDChicago.com for the most up to date listings and information.
ONGOING
STAND UP COMEDY
Laugh Factory
Variety of Live and Recorded Comedians and more
The world-famous Laugh Factory has taken every safety precaution to ensure everyone may enjoy live comedy, safely. Experience Chicago best standup comedy in the heart of Lakeview at Belmont and Broadway. The Laugh Factory has compiled an unforgettable lineup with today's biggest names and local comedians delivering something for every taste and style of comedy.
AUDIO DRAMAS, PODCASTS and RADIO PLAYS
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre
Bloody Bay
- New Episodes Every Tuesday
- Available on RedCircle
- Eclectic-Theatre.com
- FREE
With murders becoming less and less frequent, the tourism industry in Bloody Bay, along with its population, is diminishing. But the small New England town may have just had its 100th murder! Bestselling mystery author Florence Gardener, desperate to keep hopes of a new novel alive, takes it upon herself to help the case move forward by attempting to seduce the recently widowed Dennis Spencer. When the case is quickly closed, Florence is unable to let her dream die and so she plans a murder of her own.
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre
Deep Shadows
- New Episodes Every Monday
- Available on RedCircle
- Eclectic-Theatre.com
- FREE
Joelle Franklin, a senior social worker in Chicago, is fearless, intelligent and totally committed to her job but a mess when it comes to romance. She gets drawn into the investigation surrounding the death in suspicious circumstances of a former client, running headlong into systemic racism, classism and corruption in Cook County. At the same time she’s trying to balance life with Irish émigré girlfriend Siobhan and conflict with both her superiors and her younger brother Michael, a Cook County Sheriff.
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre
Monocyte
- New Episodes Every Wednesday
- Available on RedCircle
- Eclectic-Theatre.com
- FREE
The intrepid crew of the GMC (Galactic Medical Cruiser) Monocyte, led by Commander Peter Arthur Chalke, sails the galaxy in the name of peace and deep space exploration, while touching on the ideas of colonialism, mental health issues (particularly depression and suicidal ideation) and fan-service.
APRIL
AUDIO DRAMAS, PODCASTS and RADIO PLAYS
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre
- Clusterf**k
- Premiering Thursday, April 1 with new episodes every Thursday
- Available on RedCircle
- Eclectic-Theatre.com
- FREE
Violet is a psychologist-in-training struggling to navigate young adulthood and a challenging master’s program at a prestigious university. People are the most interesting thing in the world to her, and she wants nothing more than to understand them. If she helps someone along the way, cool. The catch? Violet might a be sociopath. When Violet’s professor diagnoses her with Cluster B Antisocial Personality Disorder and the news spreads throughout campus, the world that she used to sail through with ease and grace turns hostile. Her emotionally stunted, sleep deprived lab partner Penelope and high-strung roommate Keira are the only people who don’t believe that Violet is a monster.
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre
The Half Hour Audio Hour
- Second Sunday of every month through April 10
- Available on RedCircle
- FREE
- Eclectic-Theatre.com
A comedic look at what role, if any, forgiveness plays in moving on from a breakup...and what happens when you don't pick up your order at a coffee shop.
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre
Throwing Shade: Season Three Premiere
- Premiering April 9 with new episodes every Friday
- Available on RedCircle
- Eclectic-Theatre.com
- FREE
Chicago, 1934. In a city rife with crime and corruption, a hero emerges. The Shade, who rushes in where fools fear to tread...with predictable results. Luckily for Chicago, there’s the Vamp, female crimefighter replete with all the skill and talent the Shade lacks. Can the Shade save Chicago from crime? Can the Vamp save The Shade from himself? Eclectic Full Contact Theatre presents Throwing Shade, the 1930’s radio satire you’ve been dying for. The Shade—the hero this city....never really asked for...
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Artist Descending A Staircase
- April 5 - April 18
- Streaming access will be sent via email
- RemyBumppo.org
- FREE with registration required
Artist Descending A Staircase is one of Stoppard’s brilliant early radio plays, written in 1972 and a precursor to Travesties, The Real Thing and The Invention of Love. The story, full of sparkling wit, heart-wrenching romance and modern art, begins with the mysterious death of one of three very old men, all artists and friends since their schooldays. The two elderly survivors hilariously set about examining their emotional and artistic histories, descending backward in time from 1972 to 1914 and forwards again, tracing their intertwined youthful relationships and unconsciously uncovering the tragedy in their past.
Once registered, on-demand access to the show will be given from 12 p.m. CDT on the day registered until 9 a.m. CDT the following day.
CLASSES
The Playground Theater
Improv at Home
- Thursday, April 8 at 7 p.m. CDT
- Available on Zoom
- ThePlaygroundTheater.com
- $25
Are you a parent looking to facilitate curiosity, expression and play at home with your kids? Join RECESS Improv on Thursday, April 8th! Our webinars for parents offer concrete strategies for engagement and creativity, whether your children are playing with you, independently or with friends and siblings.
The Playground Theater
Improv in the Classroom
- Thursday, April 8 at 6 p.m. CDT
- Available on Zoom
- ThePlaygroundTheater.com
- $15 suggested donation
If you are an educator looking to increase engagement and play in your classrooms, join RECESS Improv on Thursday, April 8th! Our webinars for teachers offer concrete strategies for the blended, virtual or in-person classroom. Includes demonstrations, a complete list of activities and the webinar recording.
SCRIPT READING
The Playground Theater
Bun in the Oven
- Thursday, April 15 at 6 p.m. CDT
- Available Virtually
- ThePlaygroundTheater.com
- Pay What You Want
Theatre of the Beyond is proud to bring back “Bun in the Oven,” a monthly incubator series for new plays. Each month, we’ll feature a local playwright and focus on helping them flesh out their new work. A birth, if you will. A chosen script gets a staged reading that will be broadcasted on the 15th of each month at 6 p.m.
MAY
DANCE
A & A Ballet
Athenaeum Theatre
- Saturday, May 22 at 2 and 7 p.m. CDT
- Ticketed In-Person Event
- AthenaeumTheatre.org
- $60
A&A Ballet presents its 5th Anniversary Celebration performances with a triple bill of selected pieces from its critically acclaimed audience favorite “The Art Deco Nutcracker” and two world premieres, “Swan Lake” and “Rhapsody in Blue.”
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
TimeLine Theatre Company
Setting the Stage: The Chinese Lady
- Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m. CDT
- Available Virtually
- TimeLineTheatre.com
- FREE
Although TimeLine's production of Lloyd Suh's The Chinese Lady has been postponed, the conversation has begun. The Chinese Lady is a piercing and darkly poetic portrait of America as seen through the eyes of the first Chinese woman to arrive in the United States. This live virtual event will feature scenes performed from the play and a behind-the-scenes look at its story and themes, followed by a panel discussion featuring artists connected with the production plus other special guests, with more details to come.
SCRIPT READING
The Playground Theater
Bun in the Oven
- Saturday, May 15 at 6 p.m. CDT
- Available Virtually
- ThePlaygroundTheater.com
- Pay What You Want
Theatre of the Beyond is proud to bring back Bun in the Oven, a monthly incubator series for new plays. Each month, we’ll feature a local playwright and focus on helping them flesh out their new work. A birth, if you will. A chosen script gets a staged reading that will be broadcasted on the 15th of each month at 6 p.m.
JUNE
FUNDRAISER
The Playground Theater
24-hr Reopening Fundraiser Extravaganza
- Saturday, June 26 from 12:00 a.m. - Sunday, June 27, 12:00 a.m. CDT
- Available on In-Person and Virtually
- ThePlaygroundTheater.com
Come on down or stay at home! The Playground Theater is launching its return to the stage with 24 hours of live and recorded content! You’ll be able to reserve tickets to both and donate throughout the entire 24 hour event.
Reserve tickets and donate throughout the show
PANEL DISCUSSION
TimeLine Theatre Company
Setting the Stage(s): Playwrights Collective
- Thursday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. CDT
- Available Virtually
- TimeLineTheatre.com
- FREE
Over its first 24 seasons, TimeLine has produced 10 world premieres and 38
Chicago premieres, making an ongoing commitment to developing, supporting and featuring new work. The Playwrights Collective continues that effort, offering a supportive environment for playwrights who share an affinity for TimeLine’s mission of presenting riveting stories that link past, present, and future. This live virtual event will feature a peek at four brand-new plays under development by the current Collective—Dolores Díaz, Kristin Idaszak, Osiris Khepera, and David Rhee. Join to hear excerpts from their newest works and a discussion with the playwrights exploring their process. More details will be shared closer to the event.
SCRIPT READING
The Playground Theater
Bun in the Oven
- Tuesday, June 15 at 6 p.m. CDT
- Available Virtually
- ThePlaygroundTheater.com
- Pay What You Want
Theatre of the Beyond is proud to bring back “Bun in the Oven,” a monthly incubator series for new plays. Each month, we’ll feature a local playwright and focus on helping them flesh out their new work. A birth, if you will. A chosen script gets a staged reading that will be broadcasted on the 15th of each month at 6 p.m.
Pay What You Want
ABOUT THE BELMONT THEATER DISTRICT
The Belmont Theater District acts as an advocate to create, promote, and strengthen the diverse artistic offerings in the Lakeview Roscoe Village and Lakeview East neighborhoods to its residents and visitors.
The ongoing programming available at the diverse mix of theaters is perfect for Chicago’s 1.5 million theatergoers. With boundaries from Lake Michigan to Ravenswood Avenue and Diversey Avenue to Irving Park Road, the BTD has more than 50 unique theaters and theater companies located within a one-mile radius and over 150 shows playing every week. The Belmont Theater District is a collaboration between the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce and the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce acting in partnership with local theaters and businesses, with additional support from SSAs #8, #17 and #27.
For more information on the Belmont Theater District, please visit www.BTDChicago.com or follow along on social media via Twitter @BelmontThtrDist, or @BelmontTheaterDistrict on Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT THE LAKEVIEW ROSCOE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce is a community of entrepreneurs working together and supporting each other to create a stronger neighborhood and business environment, through advocacy, promotion, networking and education.
Originally founded in 1951 as the Lincoln Belmont Ashland Business Association, our organization is a leader in supporting businesses with valuable resources, programming and services that advance the success of our business community. We leverage private funding, government resources and programs, and support from more than 400 members to help our local business community thrive.
The Chamber serves as the sole service provider of Special Service Area (SSA) 27, a local taxing district in Lakeview that supports additional programs and services to supplement city services, including neighborhood promotion and public space enhancements. The Chamber also partners with the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Friends of Lakeview on community events and capital improvement projects that advance common goals.
ABOUT THE LAKEVIEW EAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce is a broad community based organization designed to represent and help merchants and other business people in the community. It is a policy of the organization to promote goodwill and a pleasant business environment for merchants, consumers, and area residents. The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce is the Sole Service Provider for Special Service Areas #8 and #17. This area is famous for attractions like Wrigley Field, The Briar Street Theater, a thriving dining district, exciting nightlife and a number of boutique hotels and Bed and Breakfasts.
As a not-for-profit organization of merchants and various business people, the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce works to foster economic growth and development within its boundaries through the collaborative efforts of its staff, volunteer Board of Directors, and the City of Chicago Department of Community Development. The organization utilizes available government resources and programs to assist merchants in furthering their businesses through a variety of programs and promotional ventures.