The League of Chicago Theatres is proud to announce a new program in partnership with the Chicago Tribune – Youth Night at the Theatre. As part of this new program, select shows and performances will offer a free ticket for a child (18 years and under) with the purchase of one adult ticket.
For additional information about the program and participating productions, visit https://chicagoplays.com/youth-night/. Patrons should use the promo code LOCTYOUTH when purchasing tickets for Youth Night performances.
League of Chicago Theatres Executive Director Marissa Lynn Jones comments, “The League of Chicago Theatres, with marketing support from the Chicago Tribune, is proud to lead this initiative to welcome young people to the theatre. With a wide array of shows available, adults have a perfect opportunity to bring young people with them to experience the joy and magic of live theatre, share experiences and build new traditions.”
Below is a list of shows participating in Youth Night at the Theatre during the month of June:
Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire
Beehive: The 60s Musical
Youth Night at the Theatre Dates: Saturday, June 21 at 8pm, Saturday, June 28 at 8pm, Sunday, June 29 at 8pm
The ultimate celebration of 1960’s female empowerment! Featuring such timeless classics as “My Boyfriend’s Back,” “Be My Baby,” “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” BEEHIVE: THE 60’S MUSICAL nostalgically recalls the days of miniskirts, transistor radios and flower power. Last summer audiences adored Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, now the women take the spotlight!
The Revival
Chicago Style
Youth Night Dates: Friday, June 21 at 7pm.
Get ready to experience “classic” improvisation that will leave you laughing long after the curtains close! Combining lightning-fast wit, razor-sharp skills, and boundless creativity, Chicago Style delivers a high-energy mix of uproarious scenes and quick-witted songs to leave you in stitches. Whether you’re a seasoned improv fan or a newcomer to the genre, Chicago Style is an unforgettable evening of spontaneous hilarity.
MadKap Productions
The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical
Youth Night at the Theatre Dates: Thursday, June 27 at 10:30am.
A musical adaptation of the popular young adult Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan. It is the story of Percy Jackson who finds out they are the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. While at a summer camp for demigods, Percy, Grover and Annabeth are sent on a quest to recover the source and symbol of Zeus’s power, his master lightning bolt. It was allegedly stolen by another god. If they don’t find the bolt on time, the gods of Mount Olympus will go to war, wreaking havoc on the mortal world as they do. This show is a fun, goofy, rock musical about friendship, self-discovery, and family. The thrilling book by Joe Tracz, and an upbeat musical score by Rob Rokicki was nominated for three Drama Desk Awards in 2017 including Outstanding Musical. Kids of all ages and backgrounds have identified with Percy and their diverse cast of friends making the series one of most popular young adult franchises in recent history.
The Neo-Futurist Theater
The Infinite Wrench
Youth Night at the Theatre Dates: Friday, June 28 at 10:30pm, Saturday, June 29 at 10:30pm and Sunday, June 30 at 7pm
Recommended for ages 13+. Masks are required.
At The Infinite Wrench, you’ll see thirty original plays in sixty minutes, written and performed by The Neo-Futurist Ensemble. Each play offers something different, be it funny, profound, elegant, disgusting, topical, irreverent, terrifying, or a song; all are truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With new plays every week, THE INFINITE WRENCH is The Neo-Futurists’ ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and speak to those unreached or unmoved by traditional theater.
Perceptions Theatre
Measure of a Man
Written by India Nicole Burton
Directed by Reshmi Hazra Rustebakke
Presented as part of Rhino Fest 2024 at Perceptions Theatre (1825 E. 79th St) in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. The venue is a first-floor space with no stairs to enter and exit.
Youth Night at the Theatre Dates: Monday, June 17 at 7pm, Saturday, June 22 at 7pm, Monday, June 24 at 7pm, and Wednesday, June 26 at 7pm
Recommended for ages 14-18
How does one measure the life of a man like Chairman Fred Hampton, who was assassinated by the FBI and Cook County Police in Chicago, Illinois in 1969? Measure of a Man is an examination of a pivotal moment in American history, offering both a tribute to Chairman Fred Hampton’s legacy as one of the youngest and most prominent leaders of The Black Panther Party. Set in the apartment where he and another panther man, Mark Clarke met their untimely demise. The play serves as an experimental exploration of Hampton’s youth, his magnetic charisma, and his tireless efforts to unite the working class across racial lines. The stage is a haunting tableau, with blood splatters on the walls, doors, and windows with bullet holes in them; yellow caution tape strewn about the room. Through a series of flashbacks, monologues, and immersive dialogue, the audience is taken on a journey through Hampton’s life, from his early activism to his rise as a powerful leader in the Black Power movement.
Perceptions Theatre
4th Annual BIPOC Play Fest
Youth Night at the Theatre Dates: Friday, June 21 at 7:30pm, Sunday, June 23 at 2pm, Friday, June 28 at 7:30pm, Saturday, June 29 at 2pm, and Sunday, June 30 at 2pm
Recommended for ages 14-18
Perceptions Theatre’s BIPOC Play Festival was created in 2021 to offer local playwrights of color a platform to share their stories. Last year we were able to showcase six playwrights of color and their work virtually. Now, our 4th year of the festival will be in person then streamed virtually and offers five diverse, intriguing tales that explore: the women of the Black Panther Party; experiencing tourism; family dynamics when pregnancy comes into play; a new take on what happens with Eve & Eden from the new new testament and police brutality.
This year’s BIPOC Play Fest includes The Nag by Louis Johnson, First Comes Love by Marie Yuen, The New New Testament (an excerpt) by alfonzo khalil, Panther Women: An Army for the Libration (an excerpt) by India Nicole Burton, and Issa Was Here by Makeda M. Declet.
About the plays:
Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation by India Nicole Burton follows one woman’s journey to self-discovery through the stories of three prominent women who were members of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Movement. This high-energy movement piece with poetry, monologues, dance, and song explores the dilemmas, obstacles, and joy of African American Women, chronicling the lifelong pursuit of justice by some of the founding women of the Civil Rights Movement. A choreopoem built upon extensive research and collaboration with a cohort of Black artists, Panther Women: An Army for the Liberation, touches on the core of the human condition and celebrates Black women.
The New New Testament by alfonzo kahlil — Somewhere between the old world and the new. there’s always some old. the new is just a shiny old built on another less chrome old. therefore, we declare a new testament, a newer testament, a new new testament, in order to make sure our new, not your new, stay new; and the old stay old. this is not a remix, this is not a retelling…” This is modern day where EVE & EDEN set out to live their new lives together outside of the Garden. However, they abruptly discover every garden has their snakes, every relationship their challenges, and every Testament their devils.
First Comes Love by Marie Yuen — A one-act play about two sisters exploring some of the issues that arise in a family caring for a child with special needs. Thanks to Angela Pullen for her valuable insights as a physical therapist who at the time of my writing worked for years at March of Dimes.
Issa Was Here by Makeda M. Declet — Two ambitious Black writers who come to realize that there is room for both of them in a world where Black writers are easily tokenized or dismissed.
The Nag by Louis Johnson — A wealthy American couple travels to Jamaica on holiday. But is it a vacation or a trip to Hell? Just ask Mr. VanderBurke!
The League of Chicago Theatres recently published its Summer Theatre Guide, which includes 100+ shows running in the Chicago area through September. For additional details about this summer’s performances and the Summer Theatre Guide visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, ChicagoPlays.com. Additionally, many summer shows will be available at Hot Tix, Chicago’s local, discounted ticketing service. Hot Tix operates online at HotTix.org and in-person at Guest Services inside Block 37 Shops on State, 108 N State Street. The Block 37 location is open Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.
About Chicago theatre
Chicago theatre is the leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 6 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. Each year Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. For more information, visit www.chicagoplays.com.
The League of Chicago Theatres’ Mission Statement
Theatre is essential to the life of a great city and to its citizens. The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres, which leverages its collective strength to support, promote and advocate for Chicago’s theatre industry. Through our work, we ensure that theatre continues to thrive in our city.