Theater openings in August
Indiana
August 5th, 7:30 pm ET, Staged Reading, Blood Relations, Stageworks, The Acting Ensemble, Ensemble on the Avenue, 602 E. Mishawaka Avenue, Mishawaka. FYI http://www.actingensemble.com
August 6th, 2:00 pm, Laundry and Bourbon, Canterbury Summer Theatre, 807 Franklin Street, Michigan City. Reserve tickets by calling (219) 874-4269 or by e-mail at info@canterburytheatre.org.
August 8th, 7:30 pm ET, Buried Child, The Acting Ensemble, Ensemble on the Avenue, 602 E. Mishawaka Avenue, Mishawaka. FYI www.actingensemble.com.
August 15th, 7:00 pm, The Fifth Annual Dunes Broadway Cabaret: Opposites Attract, Dunes Arts Summer Theatre, 288 Shady Oak Dr., Michigan City. $30-$35. FYI (219) 879-7509 or www.dunesARTS.org
August 21st, 7:30 pm ET, King Lear, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival's Professional Company under the direction of Pirronne Yousefzadeh, Patricia George Decio Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Notre Dame, IN Tickets $10-$75 at shakespeare.nd.edu.
August 22nd, 7:30 pm ET, The Velocity of Autumn, Warner Studio, South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main, South Bend. $25-$37. FYI (574) 234-1112 or www.sbct.org.
Illinois
August 1st & 2nd, The Goodman Theatre, in partnership with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, presents The Sweetest Season: A Gathering of Indigenous Creativity, Owen Theatre & Alice Center, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, Chicago. Free. FYI (312) 443-3800 or www.goodmantheatre.org.
August 1st, 7:30 pm, CPA Theatricals and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre present SENTINELS. Howard Street Theatre, 721 Howard Street, Evanston. $30. FYI www.theo-u.com
August 2nd, 7:00 pm, Kokandy Productions presents Amélie, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division St., Chicago. FYI www.kokandyproductions.com.
August 4th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, The League of Chicago Theatres 2025 Spotlight Gala, A Night Under the Big Top – A Whimsical Affair for the Theatre Kid in You. Teatro ZinZanni, 32 W Randolph Street, Chicago. $350. FYI (312) 554-9800 or www.chicagoplays.com/gala
August 6th, 7:00 pm, Parade, Broadway in Chicago's CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe, Chicago. FYI (312) 977-1710 or BroadwayInChicago.com.
August 7th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Steppenwolf Associates Host FÊTE FOR 50, Povos Gallery, 1541 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago. $65. FYI steppenwolf.org/tickets--events/events/fete-for-50/.
August 7th, 7:30 pm, Arts Judaica presents FEMALE, ASHKENAZI WITH A SEWING MACHINE, Berger Park Coach House, 6205 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago. $25.00 general, seniors/students $20.00 @ https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/female-ashkenazi-with-a-sewing-machine. FYI www.artsjudaica.com
August 8th, 7:00 pm, Fiddler on the Roof, Music Theater Works, North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Subscription sales begin Oct. 1, single tickets on sale Jan. 28, 2025. FYI (847) 673-6300 or www.musictheaterworks.com
August 8th, 7:00 pm, 7:00 pm, NEW STAGES Residency Readings, Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, Chicago. Free (Reservations open in July) FYI (312) 443-3800 or www.goodmantheatre.org.
August 8th, 7:30 pm, Matilda: the Musical, The Drama Group, 330 202nd Street, Chicago Heights. FYI at 708-755-3444 or www.dg.booktix.com.
August 12th, 7:00 pm, MJ THE MUSICAL, James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. FYI (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
August 13th, 6:30 pm, Court Theatre's Summer 2025 Spotlight Reading Series, Just Before Day I Staged Reading and Panel Discussion, Penthouse, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th Street, Chicago. Free and open to the public. Reservations required. FYI (773) 753-4472 or CourtTheatre.org
August 14th, 5:30 pm, Court Theatre's Summer 2025 Spotlight Reading Series, Film Screening of Native Son (1951), Screening Room, the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th Street, Chicago. Free and open to the public. Reservations required. FYI (773) 753-4472 or CourtTheatre.org
August 14th, 7:00 pm, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern, Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. FYI www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
August 14th, 7:30 pm, Court Theatre's Summer 2025 Spotlight Reading Series, Community Reads: Native Son I Dinner and Facilitated Conversation, Penthouse, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th Street, Chicago. Free and open to the public. Reservations required. FYI (773) 753-4472 or CourtTheatre.org
August 15th, 7:00 pm, Court Theatre's Summer 2025 Spotlight Reading Series,Our Lan’ I Staged Reading, Penthouse, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th Street, Chicago. Free and open to the public. Reservations required. FYI (773) 753-4472 or CourtTheatre.org
August 15th, 7:30 pm, Chicago/Midwest Premiere, Hersey Felder's Rachmaninoff and the Tsar, Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. FYI (847) 242-6000 or www.writerstheatre.org.
August 15th, 7:30 pm, Side by Side with Sondheim, Oil Lamp Theater, Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview. $55. FYI OilLampTheater.org.
August 21st, Jackalope Theatre Company presents 16th Annual Living Newspaper Festival. The Broadway Armory, 5917 N Broadway, Chicago. $15-$35. FYI JackalopeTheatre.org/2024-2025-season
August 25th, 7:30 pm, PrideArts presents A New Brain, Hoover-Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, Chicago. $35. FYI 773-661-0770 or www.pridearts.org.
August 28th, 7:30 pm, 44 -THE OBAMA MUSICAL, The Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago. Tickets start at $44. FYI https://44theobamamusical.com/tickets.
August 29th, 7:00 pm, Chicago-area Premiere, Come from Away, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd, Aurora. FYI (630) 896-6666 or www.paramountaurora.com.
August 29th, 7:00 pm, Things With Friends, American Blues Theatre, 5627 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago. $39.50-$49.50. FYI (773) 654-3103 or www.americanbluestheater.com
August 30th, Curious Theatre Branch & Prop Thtr present the 36th Annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival Kickoff, Full Moon Vaudeville Concert. More information available soon.
Wisconsin
August 15th, 6:30 pm, Pre-show Seminar Series, Little Women The Broadway Musical, Peninsula Players, 4351 Peninsula Players Drive, Fish Creek, WI. Included with ticket price. $51-$59. FYI (920) 868-3287 or www.peninsulaplayers.com.
August 20th, Ken Ludwig's Dear Jack, Dear Louise, Peninsula Players, 4351 Peninsula Players Drive, Fish Creek, WI. $51-$59. FYI (920) 868-3287 or www.peninsulaplayers.com.
Elsewhere
August 10th, 7:00 pm PDT, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Conductor: Cristian Mǎcelaru, GOOD MORNING, BEAUTY, Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA. Tickets from $24. FYI https://cabrillomusic.org/2025-season/rising
August 20th, Ken Ludwig's The Three Musketeers, TheatreSquared, 477 W. Spring Street in downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas. FYI (479) 777-7477 or theatre2.org/subscribe.
Theater openings in September (tentative)
Indiana
September 2nd, 7:30 pm ET, Staged Reading, Wit, Stageworks, The Acting Ensemble, Ensemble on the Avenue, 602 E. Mishawaka Avenue, Mishawaka. FYI http://www.actingensemble.com
September 5th, (Sold Out), August Wilson's Seven Guitars, Warner Studio Theatre, South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main, South Bend. $25-$37. FYI (574) 234-1112 or www.sbct.org.
September 12th, 8:00 pm, Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson, Towle Theater, 5205 Hohman Avenue, Hammond. $24. FYI (219) 937-8780 or www.towletheater.org
September 17th, 7:00 pm, Voices From the Heartland: The Third Annual New Plays Festival, Dunes Arts Summer Theatre, 288 Shady Oak Dr., Michigan City. $30-$35. FYI (219) 879-7509 or www.dunesARTS.org
September 18th, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, One America Financial Stage, Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington, Indianapolis. FYI www.irlive.com
September 19th, Seedlings Theatre Company & Improductions, LLC present The Cliffnotes of Insanity or The Princess Bride in 30 Minutes or Less, The Hub NWI, 676 W. Division Rd., Hebron, IN. FYI https://www.facebook.com/seedlingstheatre/
Illinois
September 5th, Curious Theatre Branch & Prop Thtr present 36th Annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival, Facility Theatre, 1138 N. California; Labyrinth Arts Club, 3658 N. Pulaski Ave.; Jarvis Square Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. Pay-what-you-can pricing, with a $20 suggested price. FYI RhinoFest.com.
September 6th, Babes With Blades Theatre Company (BWBTC), New Works Festival "Fighting Words", Bramble Arts Loft, 5545 N. Clark St., Chicago. Pay-what-you-can. Tickets go on sale August 6th. FYI www.babeswithblades.org
September 7th, One Night Only, Hersey Felder's Great American Songbook Sing-a-long, Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. FYI (847) 242-6000 or www.writerstheatre.org.
September 11th, 7:00 pm, Dial M for Murder, Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. FYI (630) 530-0111 or www.drurylaneoakbrook.com. TicketMaster (312) 559-1212 or www.ticketmaster.com.
September 13th, 8:00 pm, Idle Muse Theatre Company presents The Blood Countess, The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave., Chicago. $20-$30. FYI (773) 340-9438 or IdleMuse.org
September 14th, 2:30 pm, World Premiere, Rabbits in Their Pockets, Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, Chicago. $25-$45. FYI www.lifelinetheatre.com.
September 18th, 7:30 pm, Refracted Theatre presents Dream HouSe. The Den Theatre, 1331 N Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $40 plus fees. FYI RefractedCo.com.
September 20th, 7:30 pm, Big White Fog, Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago. FYI (773) 753-4472 or www.CourtTheatre.org.
September 21st, 6:00 pm, Chicago Premiere, Mr. Wolf, Downstairs Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, Chicago. FYI (312) 335-1650 or www.steppenwolf.org
September 27th, 7:00 pm, AVA: The Secret Conversations written by & starring Elizabeth McGovern, Studebaker Theatre in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan, Chicago. FYI www.AvaGardnerPlay.com.
September 29th, Joseph Jefferson Awards (Equity Theater), Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph, Chicago. FYI www.jeffawards.org
Wisconsin
September 3rd, Steel Magnolias, Peninsula Players, 4351 Peninsula Players Drive, Fish Creek, WI. $51-$59. FYI (920) 868-3287 or www.peninsulaplayers.com.
September 17th, 5:30 pm, Pre-show Seminar Series, Steel Magnolias, Peninsula Players, 4351 Peninsula Players Drive, Fish Creek, WI. Included with ticket price. $51-$59. FYI (920) 868-3287 or www.peninsulaplayers.com.
Michigan
September 12th, 7:30 pm ET, South Bend Civic Theatre presents August Wilson's Seven Guitars, The Ghostlight Theatre, 101 Hinkley St, Benton Harbor, MI FYI https://ci.ovationtix.com/35243/production/1228993
Elsewhere
September 18th, Western Australia Premiere, Dead Man Walking, Freeze Frame Opera, Freemantle Prison, East Workshop, 1 The Terrace, Freemantle, Western Australia. Tickets from $49. FYI https://www.freezeframeopera.com
**** Family Friendly