Idle Muse Theatre Company, now in its 19th year, is proud to announce its 2025 - 2026 season including world premiere of The Blood Countess, September 11 - October 11, and The Three Musketeers, March 26 - April 25, 2026, at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave. Tickets for The Blood Countess are on sale now at IdleMuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company box office, 773.340.9438. Tickets for The Three Musketeers go on sale Wednesday, July 9 at 12 p.m.
”This season will mark 20 years of Idle Muse Theatre Company bringing transporting, timely and true stories to Chicago stages,” said Artistic Director Evan Jackson. “This is an important milestone and we’re celebrating the best way we know how–with the works of two incredible Chicago playwrights!”
WORLD PREMIERE
The Blood Countess
Written by Idle Muse Resident Playwright and Literary Director Michael Dalberg
Directed by Idle Muse Founding Member Tristan Brandon
September 11 - October 11
The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave.
Previews: Thursday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.
Press Opening: Saturday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m.
Performance Schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with an additional performance Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m.
Tickets on sale now: General Admission: $30; Students and Seniors: $20
IdleMuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company box office, 773.340.9438
Join Idle Muse in the Carpathian Mountains to witness the birth of legend as a countess becomes a carnivore and a mother becomes a monster. The shadow of Erzsebet Bathory has endured for over 600 years–but who is the Blood Countess and how did her story of infamy begin, grow and take on a life of its own? In a time when the constructed reputations of those who are given power are all some care about, Idle Muse explores the truth behind the blood-soaked rumors.
The Three Musketeers
Written by Robert Kauzlaric
Adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas
Directed by Artistic Director Evan Jackson
March 26 - April 25, 2026
The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave.
Previews: Thursday, March 26 at 8 p.m. and Friday, March 27 at 8 p.m.
Press Opening: Saturday, March 22 at 8 p.m.
Performance Schedule: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with an additional performance Wednesday, April 22 at 8 p.m.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 9: General Admission: $30; Students and Seniors: $20
IdleMuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company box office, 773.340.9438.
Idle Muse celebrates 20 years of productions with The Three Musketeers. Based on Alexander Dumas’ celebrated 1844 novel, the Jeff Award-winning Robert Kauzlaric adapts the French tale of swashbuckling intrigue, adventure and fellowship as newly-minted musketeer D’Artagnan and the famous “three inseparables,” Athos, Porthos and Aramis take on the machinations of a scheming cardinal and his minions.
ABOUT IDLE MUSE THEATRE COMPANY
Idle Muse Theatre Company’s mission is to produce theatre that is transporting, timely and true. The company was established in 2006 by theatre artists interested in exploring the relationship between individuals and the worlds they inhabit. Seeking to create production opportunities for themselves and other artists, they established a modern ‘guild’ of players and environment where theatre artists of different experiences and backgrounds could develop their craft. Today, IMTC remains focused on the following core values:
Transporting: We believe that great theatre can move both audience members and artists from their respective reality and transport them to another world.
Timely: We believe that human connection can be accomplished through meaningful, relevant, and accessible storytelling here and now.
True: We believe in unflinching honesty in playing and storytelling.
In 2022, Idle Muse Theatre Company began a profit share model with artists and team members for each production. In addition to any stipend or payment for services, a full 50% of all box office revenue is reserved and divided evenly among the cast and production team, with what remains reinvested solely in future productions.
Idle Muse Theatre Company is partially supported and funded by generous grants from the Carol Oppenheim + Jerome Lamet Charitable Fund, the Illinois Arts Council and the Saints.
The Edge Theater Off-Broadway is surrounded by both paid and un-zoned street parking and is wheelchair-accessible, with complimentary assisted listening devices available. It is located near the Bryn Mawr Red Line stop and is on the 36 Broadway bus route.
Top row: (L to R) Idle Muse Literary Director and The Blood Countess Playwright Michael Dalberg and Idle Muse Founding Member and The Blood Countess Director Tristan Brandon
Second row: (L to R) The Three Musketeers Playwright Robert Kauzlaric and Idle Muse Artistic Director and The Three Musketeers Director Evan Jackson