The Belmont Theater District (BTD), Chicago’s largest theater district located in the Lakeview West and Lakeview East neighborhoods, is offering a wide variety of entertainment options both in person and online to enjoy this holiday season. Belmont Theater District is funded by Special Service Areas 8, 17 and 27 and maintained by the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce and the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.
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.
OCTOBER
PERFORMANCES
Chicago Playback Theatre Ensemble
- Hope and Resilience: A Playback Performance
- Monday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m.
- Available on Zoom
- ChicagoPlaybackTheatre.com
- FREE
We are inside a collective moment of anxiety, isolation, struggle, and transformation. In the face of this, the Chicago Playback Theatre Ensemble (CPTE) is here to cultivate empathy, community, and hope through storytelling. To do this, we help audience members share their own memories and experiences which the actors then perform using improv and movement. We believe that hope is not only found in joyous stories, but also in stories of resilience and survival. No matter how available hope feels to you, we encourage you to come be in community, even for an hour on Zoom. Come bear witness and be witnessed in return. This performance is done in partnership with No Shame On U.
CSz Theater Chicago
- Virtual ComedySportz
- Every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
- Available on Zoom
- CSzchicago.com
- FREE
The ComedySportz you have come to know and love for over 30 years, has gone virtual. Join us in the Zoom Dome, as two teams enter and only one leaves a champion. You decide who wins by voting, and our Virtual Ref keeps the whole match moving and fun. It’s all ages and always different, but always hilarious.
DANCE
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater
- Deeply 25: Beyond Dance...The Celebration Begins
- Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.
- Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave.
- DeeplyRootedDanceTheater.org
- $25 and $150 virtual; $250, $500, $1,000 in-person (maximum 50 people)
Virtual and limited in-person fundraiser launching Deeply Rooted's 25th anniversary season. The evening cinematically reflects on the company’s founding and inspiration, evolution to the present, and plans for the future under new leadership. Accessible via livestream and for a limited live audience observing pandemic restrictions, the evening includes video highlights, interviews, and COVID-19-compliant performances at the Athenaeum Theatre.
MOVIES
Music Box Theatre
- Music Box of Horrors at the Drive-In Presented by Shudder
- Halloween Themed Offerings Nightly through Saturday, Oct. 31
- All screenings take place at Chi-Town Movies Drive-In located at 2343 S Throop St.
- MusicBoxTheatre.com
- Single Features $30 & Double Features $40
The 2020 Music Box of Horrors will shape-shift from a 24-hour movie marathon into 31 Nights of Terror at the Drive-in. From October 1 - 31, the Music Box of Horrors will take over the Chi-Town Movies Drive-In for late shows Sunday - Thursday, and double-features every Friday and Saturday night. In addition, every weekend is themed—Grindhouse Fridays, Rip-Off Saturdays and Sequel Sundays. With mind-melting visuals and high body counts, this year's lineup is perfectly in line with the Music Box's eclectic taste in horror offerings and events—a combination of audience favorites and rarely screened titles, specialized intros, pre-show content, filmmaker Q&As, nightly trivia with fantastic prizes, and of course, some surprises. Every element will be presented safely & responsibly in the Drive-In setting. Drive-In Admittance begins 30 minutes prior to the film's listed start time.
FUNDRAISER
Shattered Globe Theatre
- Ghost Light Soiree
- Halloween Themed Offering
- Friday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m.
- SGTheatre.org
- $30
Join host and Shattered Globe Theatre ensemble member David Dastmalchian (Ant-Man, Dune, The Suicide Squad, Animals) appearing as his horror host persona, ”Dr. Fearless,” from his hit Dark Horse comic book, ”Count Crowley” at this fundraiser for SGT. Music and special appearances by Ensemble artists and celebrities, such as famous Hollywood make-up artist and “Godfather of Gore,” Tom Savini. Your ticket supports SGT's 30th Season and enters you into a drawing to win tickets to all SGT productions for life!... and other great raffle prizes.
CLASSES
CSz Theater Chicago
- MASTERCLASS: IMPROV FOR BUSINESS
- Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m.
- Virtual
- CSzchicago.com
- $50
Whether you want to learn to present better, lead a meeting or even just basics of working on a team with many different kinds of people, then this two hour workshop will arm you with a few tools to make those conference calls a little more interesting. Learn to think on your feet and feel less anxiety in group settings and give yourself an overall confidence boost - we aren’t guaranteeing a raise, but we aren’t aren’t guaranteeing it either.
CSz Theater Chicago
- IMPROV FOR DUNGEONMASTERS
- Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 3 p.m.
- Virtual
- CSzchicago.com
- $50
Behold. You have friends, they are bored during this pandemic. You know you loved playing D&D and other RPGs as a kid, but did you have the courage to grab the Dungeonmaster's Guide and plan your own campaign? Or do you feel like yours could use some spicing up? We'll show you how using basic improv skills can help you up your game and roll a 20 in creativity.
CSz Theater Chicago
- FIND YOUR PERSONAL BRAND
- Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m
- Virtual
- CSzchicago.com
- $50
So much of improv is figuring out where we fit into scenes, songs, games, auditions…everything. Not knowing what you bring to the table can really stifle your creativity and your career progress. Learning to not do what everyone expects and be true to yourself will unlock the pure joy inside you, and you’ll work on figuring out what makes you tick and what makes you laugh…so that you can do that for others even more successfully.
Storytown Improv
- Halloween Themed Creative Dramatics Theatre for Young Ones
- Thursday, Oct. 29 at 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 and 10 a.m., and again at 6, 6:30, and 7:05 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31 at 2 p.m.
- Available virtually on the Outschool platform
- Outschool.com/teachers/Jill-Stuck
- $6
In this one-time class, your young learner will stretch their creativity through songs and theatre games all Halloween themed. 25-minute class duration. Ages 3 – 5
Storytown Improv
- Improv Theatre Dress up Halloween Style Ages 6-8
- Thursday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, October 31 at 3 p.m.
- Available virtually on the Outschool platform
- Outschool.com/teachers/Jill-Stuck
- $10
In this one-time class, get all dressed up in your Halloween costume and explore improv through your Halloween character. 45-minute class duration.
Storytown Improv
- Improv Theatre Dress up Halloween Style Ages 9-12
- Friday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.
- Available virtually on the Outschool platform
- Outschool.com/teachers/Jill-Stuck
- $10
In this one-time class, get all dressed up in your Halloween costume and explore improv through your Halloween character. 45-minute class duration.
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
- Monologue Workout
- Saturdays & Sundays, October 17, 18, 24 and 25 from 10 am – 1 p.m.
- RemyBumppo.org
- $120
Need to develop new monologues or refresh old ones? Or rework them for Zoom? Then this class is designed for you! Remy Bumppo’s Casting Director and long-time Core Ensemble Member Linda Gillum, a popular personal coach and teacher, will guide students through the steps of monologue preparation, including how to pick a great monologue just for you, analyze the text for unique clues, and commit to a great performance in the audition room. In the last session, Linda will take students through a mock general audition for Remy Bumppo. Each student will receive coaching and feedback on their work with specific emphasis on bringing the language to life. Class size is small for overall individual attention.
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
- The Story of Theatrical Spaces
- Mondays & Wednesdays, Oct. 19, 21, 26 and 28 from 6 – 7:30 p.m.
- RemyBumppo.org
- $60
In this new class, Peter Davis will lead the class on a visual journey through the history of theatre’s greatest performance venues in order to challenge our notions of why theatre spaces are the way they are. Why do theatres look the way they do? This course examines how theatre spaces evolved from the earliest facilities in ancient Athens to the modern playhouse, and the surprising ways in which theatre architecture both reflects its society and sometimes directly challenges it.
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
- Speaking Shakespeare II: Applying the Folio Technique and Other Acting Secrets
- Wednesdays & Fridays, Oct. 21, 23, 28 and 30 from 1 – 2:30 p.m.
- RemyBumppo.org
- $60
What secrets does the original printing of Shakespeare’s play reveal for the modern actor, director, or reader? In this class designed for actors and non-actors, Nick Sandys, Remy Bumppo’s Artistic Director and a long-time actor/director of Shakespeare, dives into one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, OTHELLO. Examining the textual clues inlaid in the First Folio and other editions, Nick will lead the class on a fascinating literary, rhetorical, and historical journey of discovery into the working actor/director’s process when dealing with this script and possible interpretations.
TimeLine Theatre
- BEYOND THE ‘LINE: CULTIVATE YOUR “NAVIGATING THE NEWS” SUPERPOWER: A Dramaturgical Approach to Fake News
- Tuesday, Oct. 13 & Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- All class sessions will take place on Zoom
- TimeLineTheatre.com
- $35 (plus applicable fees)
In these days of “fake news,” click-bait, and news bubbles, the ability to be a critical consumer of media is more essential than ever. This two-part workshop trains students in a variety of techniques for analyzing pieces of media in this election year, covering topics such as media ownership, journalistic good practice, distinguishing opinion programs, satire, bias, and fact-checking tools. We’ll cover the history of news manipulation and offer tools and practice that will give participants greater confidence as they navigate today’s media landscape.
TimeLine Theatre
- THE JOURNEY FROM THE JUNGLE TO “THE SWAMP”: A Conversation Inspired by Campaigns, Inc.
- Monday, Oct. 19 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
- One-night-only LIVE on YouTube
- TimeLineTheatre.com
- Youtube.com/timelinetheatre
- FREE
Set in 1934, Campaigns, Inc. follows The Jungle novelist Upton Sinclair as he is challenged in his bid to be the first Democratic governor of California, exposing a timely true story about the power that persuasion, deceit, and perception hold in the U.S. electoral system. This live virtual event will feature playwright Will Allan and other special guests, interspersed with scenes from the play performed by members of the cast, in a conversation exploring a notable early example of “fake news” and how we got from there to today’s political climate.
NOVEMBER
PERFORMANCES
CSz Theater Chicago
- Virtual ComedySportz
- Every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
- Available on Zoom
- CSzchicago.com
- FREE
The ComedySportz you have come to know and love for over 30 years, has gone virtual. Join us in the Zoom Dome, as two teams enter and only one leaves a champion. You decide who wins by voting, and our Virtual Ref keeps the whole match moving and fun. It’s all ages and always different, but always hilarious.
CLASSES
CSz Theater Chicago
- IMPROV FOR EDUCATORS
- Sunday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m.
- Virtual
- CSzchicago.com
- $50
You think making people laugh every weekend is tough? Wrangling kids and keeping them entertained for an entire day makes improv look like a tiny kitten in a bowler hat. We’ll go over tools that you can use in your classroom every day. Activities you can get your kids to do, and generally give you some new tools for your amazing teacher tool belt.
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
- Going Beyond “I Liked It”: How to Talk and Ask Questions About Art and Theatre
- Wednesdays & Fridays, Nov. 11, 13, 18 and 20 from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
- RemyBumppo.org
- $60
RBTC Core Ensemble Member Greg Matthew Anderson will lead a cross-disciplinary discussion on the philosophy of art and aesthetics with selected readings, anecdotes and insights from Chicago theatre productions–and the occasional special guest. Tools in hand, we’ll dive into the group’s collective experiences with the visual arts, museum exhibits, music, food, architecture, dance–and, of course, theatre!–to learn from one another how to both sharpen our critical eye and become even better fans of this great art form and all art wherever we find it.
DECEMBER
PERFORMANCES
CSz Theater Chicago
- Virtual ComedySportz
- Every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
- Available on Zoom
- CSzchicago.com
- FREE
The ComedySportz you have come to know and love for over 30 years, has gone virtual. Join us in the Zoom Dome, as two teams enter and only one leaves a champion. You decide who wins by voting, and our Virtual Ref keeps the whole match moving and fun. It’s all ages and always different, but always hilarious.
ABOUT THE BELMONT THEATER DISTRICT
The Belmont Theater District acts as an advocate to create, promote, and strengthen the diverse artistic offerings of the Lakeview West 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 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 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The mission of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce (LCC) is to support the prosperity of the local Chicago business community from Diversey on the south and Irving Park Road on the north to Ravenswood on the west and Racine on the east. It especially strives to promote the retail, professional, educational, and economic interests of the area, and works to make Lakeview a neighborhood where people wish to live and linger. The Lakeview Chamber is the Sole Service Provider for Special Service Area 27 (SSA 27,) and coordinates the development and administration of SSA-funded programs. Follow along on social media with the handle @thisislakeview.
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. 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 of Diversey Parkway on the south, and Irving Park Road on the north, to the Lake on the east and Racine on the west, through the collaborative efforts of its staff, volunteers, Board of Directors, and the City of Chicago Department of Community Development. Learn more at LakeviewEast.com.