WHITE ROOSTER
World Premiere
Written and Directed by Matthew C. Yee
WHITE ROOSTER is a darkly funny tale of love, loss and the strange things we inherit. After a family tragedy, Min is pulled into a world of restless spirits, old curses and mysterious traditions. Her fiancé won’t stay dead, her sister won’t stay buried and a rooster won’t be ignored. Blending spooky folklore with offbeat humor, White Rooster is a haunting tale of grief, family and the messiness of moving on.
March 11, 2026
We want everyone to enjoy live theatre, and our pay what you can performances are an opportunity to make it easier for all to see our shows. We ask you please pay a minimum of $5 – and if you are able to pay more, we appreciate your donation to help us continue these performances. Visit the link below to secure your pay what you can tickets. All tickets will have a seat assigned and will be available at will call on March 11. Contact the box office for any seating requests.
https://purchase.lookingglasstheatre.org/ChooseSeats/55001
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible, Assistive Listening Devices
Website: https://lookingglasstheatre.org/event/white-rooster/
WHITE ROOSTER
World Premiere
Written and Directed by Matthew C. Yee
WHITE ROOSTER is a darkly funny tale of love, loss and the strange things we inherit. After a family tragedy, Min is pulled into a world of restless spirits, old curses and mysterious traditions. Her fiancé won’t stay dead, her sister won’t stay buried and a rooster won’t be ignored. Blending spooky folklore with offbeat humor, White Rooster is a haunting tale of grief, family and the messiness of moving on.
Show runs March 5 – April 12, 2026
Open Captioning on April 3rd performance. Unlock $35 tickets for our Open Captioning line of sight seating by using the code CAPTION online, over the phone, or via email.
Visit Lookingglasstheatre.org/accessibility for more!
Accessibility: Open Captioning, Wheelchair Accessible, Assistive Listening Devices
Website: https://lookingglasstheatre.org/event/white-rooster/
August Strindberg’s Miss Julie is a confrontation of class, gender, and desire at the turn of the twentieth century that’s as relevant today as when it was first written.
Miss Julie wants to abandon her upper-class, aristocratic life and escape the expectations that trap her. Jean, her servant, wants to climb the social ladder and rise through the ranks of society. Over the course of a wine-soaked evening, the two jockey for position, using sex, status, and strategy to collide and combust.
Associate Artistic Director Gabrielle Randle-Bent (A Raisin in the Sun) directs one of Strindberg’s most celebrated works, interrogating the limitations of politics and position, and the tension between who we are and who we want to be.
Open Captioning: Sunday, March 1 at 2:00 pm
Accessibility: Open Captioning
Website: https://www.courttheatre.org/season-tickets/2025-2026-season/miss-julie/
August Strindberg’s Miss Julie is a confrontation of class, gender, and desire at the turn of the twentieth century that’s as relevant today as when it was first written.
Miss Julie wants to abandon her upper-class, aristocratic life and escape the expectations that trap her. Jean, her servant, wants to climb the social ladder and rise through the ranks of society. Over the course of a wine-soaked evening, the two jockey for position, using sex, status, and strategy to collide and combust.
Associate Artistic Director Gabrielle Randle-Bent (A Raisin in the Sun) directs one of Strindberg’s most celebrated works, interrogating the limitations of politics and position, and the tension between who we are and who we want to be.
Touch Tour: Saturday, February 28 at 12:30 pm
Audio Description and ASL Interpretation: Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 pm
Accessibility: Touch Tour, Audio Description, ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.courttheatre.org/season-tickets/2025-2026-season/miss-julie/
Calm Waters is an exclusive event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore Shedd Aquarium’s exhibits and experiences in a comfortable and accepting environment. Family members and companions are welcome.
Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration.
Modifications for Calm Waters Include:
Limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration
A low-sensory animal spotlight with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation
An animal encounter opportunity
Accessibility: Sensory Friendly, Low Lighting, ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/accessibility/calm-waters
Calm Waters is an exclusive event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore Shedd Aquarium’s exhibits and experiences in a comfortable and accepting environment. Family members and companions are welcome.
Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration.
Modifications for Calm Waters Include:
Limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration
A low-sensory animal spotlight with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation
An animal encounter opportunity
Accessibility: Sensory Friendly, Low Lighting, ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/accessibility/calm-waters
WHITE ROOSTER
World Premiere
Written and Directed by Matthew C. Yee
WHITE ROOSTER is a darkly funny tale of love, loss and the strange things we inherit. After a family tragedy, Min is pulled into a world of restless spirits, old curses and mysterious traditions. Her fiancé won’t stay dead, her sister won’t stay buried and a rooster won’t be ignored. Blending spooky folklore with offbeat humor, White Rooster is a haunting tale of grief, family and the messiness of moving on.
March 5 – April 12, 2026
Masks are required for all patrons, staff, volunteers, and crew for the March 3rd performance.
Visit Lookingglasstheatre.org/accessibility for more!
Audio Described performance of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
Just in time for the holiday season, Shakespeare’s wittiest rom-com is “as merry as the day is long!”
Beatrice is living it up as a fiercely independent woman who answers to no man. Benedick is an avowed bachelor with no plans to settle down. But when these stubborn singles finally meet their match under the sultry Sicilian sun, who can resist romance? Linguistic fireworks and a hilarious battle of wits dazzle in the original “enemies-to-lovers” rom-com. Staged by famed director Selina Cadell, you’ll be transported on holiday to the warm embrace of the Italian countryside with an exceptionally talented ensemble cast in CST’s Courtyard Theater, considered one of the finest spaces to experience Shakespeare’s stories live in performance. This is Shakespeare at his very best.
Access Pay What You Can tickets starting at $39. Use code: MUCHAUDIO
Email access@chicagoshakes.com for more information.
Accessibility: Audio Description
https://www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/2526-much-ado-about-nothing/
Open Caption performance of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
Just in time for the holiday season, Shakespeare’s wittiest rom-com is “as merry as the day is long!”
Beatrice is living it up as a fiercely independent woman who answers to no man. Benedick is an avowed bachelor with no plans to settle down. But when these stubborn singles finally meet their match under the sultry Sicilian sun, who can resist romance? Linguistic fireworks and a hilarious battle of wits dazzle in the original “enemies-to-lovers” rom-com. Staged by famed director Selina Cadell, you’ll be transported on holiday to the warm embrace of the Italian countryside with an exceptionally talented ensemble cast in CST’s Courtyard Theater, considered one of the finest spaces to experience Shakespeare’s stories live in performance. This is Shakespeare at his very best.
Access Pay What You Can tickets starting at $39. Use code: MUCHCAPTION
Email access@chicagoshakes.com for more information.
Accessibility: Open Captions
https://www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/2526-much-ado-about-nothing/
UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY
World Premiere
Written by Kevin Douglas
Directed by Devon DeMayo
Hilarity (and tragedy) ensue in the World Premiere of UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY when Val, a vampire, is in a new relationship with a mortal, Dom, each having different ideas about where their relationship should go. Rose, Val’s progeny, wants Val to consider leaving the country, and on top of that, Val’s estranged brother has returned, coincidentally, as a serial killer terrorizes the streets of Chicago. UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY explores love, codependency, unwavering convictions and vampires.
June 4 – July 12, 2026
Open Captions on July 1, 2026
Unlock $35 tickets using the code CAPTION online, over the phone, or in-person. Visit Lookingglasstheatre.org/accessibility or contact us for more!
Accessibility: Open Captions
https://lookingglasstheatre.org/event/untitled-vampire-play/
UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY
World Premiere
Written by Kevin Douglas
Directed by Devon DeMayo
Hilarity (and tragedy) ensue in the World Premiere of UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY when Val, a vampire, is in a new relationship with a mortal, Dom, each having different ideas about where their relationship should go. Rose, Val’s progeny, wants Val to consider leaving the country, and on top of that, Val’s estranged brother has returned, coincidentally, as a serial killer terrorizes the streets of Chicago. UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY explores love, codependency, unwavering convictions and vampires.
June 4 – July 12, 2026, accessible performance July 9, 2026.
Unlock $35 tickets using the code AUDIO online, over the phone, or in-person.
The Touch Tour will begin at 1PM and curtain is at 2PM. Visit Lookingglasstheatre.org/accessibility or contact us for more!
Accessibility: Touch tour, Audio Description, Assistive Listening Devices, Wheelchair accessible, and All Gender restrooms.
https://lookingglasstheatre.org/event/untitled-vampire-play/
by William Shakespeare
Adapted and Directed by Marti Lyons
Nov 14, 2025 — Dec 14, 2025
Welcome to a tale of deception, disguise, and desire.
The richest man in town has two daughters and one big problem: he refuses to marry the youngest, Bianca, until the eldest, Katherina, is married first. Much to her family’s dismay, Katherina repeatedly – and violently – rejects the men interested in her and her wealth, and refuses to sacrifice her independence. When a mysterious gentleman enters the mix, suddenly Kate sees that surrender is no sacrifice. Perhaps there is strength in submission.
Artistic Director of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Marti Lyons (Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner) turns William Shakespeare’s classic inside out, with a fresh interpretation focused on feminine desire. This is not your standard Shrew.
Please Note: This adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew engages with mature themes—including desire, sexuality, and power dynamics.
Accessible Performances:
ASL Interpretation: Saturday, December 6 at 2:00pm
Touch Tour: Sunday, December 7 at 12:30pm
Audio Description and Open Captioning: Sunday, December 7 at 2:00pm
Gazelle Screening
DIRECTED BY Nadir Sarıbacak, Samy Pioneer
COUNTRIES U.S., Turkey RUN TIME 103 minutes
SYNOPSIS
In this tense, timely, and poignant drama, Yakup, a beloved music teacher and Turkish dissident, has fled his country for fear of political persecution and is seeking asylum in the U.S. While working in the kitchen of a New York City restaurant, he struggles desperately to find a way to bring his wife and daughter into the country to live with him. Finding legal immigration channels a dead end, he reluctantly engages with a dodgy smuggler, a decision that only intensifies his concern for his family’s safety, sending the kindly Yakup into a downward spiral.
First-time feature filmmakers Nadir Sarıbacak (known for his role in Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Winter Sleep) and Samy Pioneer deftly capture the details of Turkish American and migrant life in the big city, while also expressively conveying their protagonist’s troubled state of mind. Gazelle isn’t just an urgent tale about our immigration crisis—it’s a touching story about displacement and its deep psychological and physical toll.
GENRES Drama, Family Affairs, Social Commentary
LANGUAGE English, Turkish with subtitles
RENTAL FAMILY SCREENING AND AWARDS EVENT
DIRECTED BY HIKARI
COUNTRIES U.S., Japan RUN TIME 103 minutes
SYNOPSIS
Set in modern-day Tokyo, Rental Family follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
GENRES Comedy, Drama, Family Affairs
LANGUAGE English, Japanese
*Open Captions For Spoken Elements of the Program (Intro/Q&A/Award/Etc.)
AWARDS EVENT
At this screening, director HIKARI will receive the Festival’s Spotlight Award.
HIKARI is an award-winning writer, director, and producer whose debut feature, 37 Seconds, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won accolades globally. She’s directed episodes of the Emmy-winning series Beef, as well as Tokyo Vice and acclaimed shorts like Tsuyako.
FRANKENSTEIN SCREENING
DIRECTED BY Guillermo del Toro
COUNTRIES U.S. RUN TIME 149 minutes
SYNOPSIS
Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. A retelling of the classic novel about what it means to be human, to crave love, and seek understanding.
GENRES Drama, Fantasy, Literary Adaptation
LANGUAGE English
ASL-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE!
$30.00 TICKETS AVAILABLE USE PROMO CODE: WTASL2526
If you experience any issues with this promo code, please reach out to the box office at 847-242-6000 or email them at BOM@WritersTheatre.org.
Facing exile at home, Orlando, Duke Senior, his daughter Rosalind and niece Celia seek safety and refuge in the Forest of Arden. Lost amidst the trees, these wounded souls end up finding a community of acceptance and transformational love, where all are welcomed and embraced. Featuring an original folk-pop score by Shaina Taub (the Tony Award-winning composer of Suffs), this musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic is an immersive dream-like tale of faithful friends, feuding families and chance encounters.
Accessibility: ASL interpreted, wheelchair accessible, and assisted listening devices.
Join us for an evening of conversation and tomfoolery with the one and only Nick Offerman. Offerman makes his return to Chicago to discuss his newest work, Little Woodchucks, an illustrated woodworking guide with projects for the whole family. Combining Nick’s signature wry humor with joyfully illustrated project instructions, Little Woodchucks introduces young woodworkers-to-be to the satisfaction and good, clean fun of hands-on crafting. Illinois born and bred, Nick will also share stories of coming up in the ‘90s as an actor and carpenter for theaters like Steppenwolf and the Goodman, as well as his journey to iconic roles like Ron Swanson and Bill from The Last of Us. Joining Nick on stage will be his collaborator on the book, Lee Buchanan. She spent a decade running Nick’s LA woodshop, designing and building furniture, and carving a whole lot of mustache combs.
Plus, experience a live woodworking demonstration by Nick and Lee!
Join Steven Pinker, world-renowned cognitive scientist, Harvard professor, and one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World Today,” for a fascinating exploration of human psychology. In a lecture followed by a conversation with UChicago linguist and cognitive scientist Chris Kennedy, Pinker unravels how we think about what others are thinking about what we’re thinking — a cyclical process that creates “common knowledge” and profoundly shapes our social, political, and economic lives. Discover how this hidden force explains life’s most puzzling phenomena: why financial bubbles burst overnight, how revolutions emerge from nowhere, what drives diplomatic theater, and why complete honesty would make life unbearable.
Harvard professor and poetry expert Stephanie Burt joins us to explain the artistry — and the celebrity — of Taylor Swift. Through heartfelt critical appreciation, Burt analyzes Swift, her body of work, and the community that her art has fostered. Drawing from her 2024 Harvard course, Taylor Swift and Her World, as well as from her years as a Swiftie, Burt examines Swift’s particular form of genius — not the destructive genius of tortured poets, but the collaborative and joyful genius of an artist who has mastered her craft. Tracing a path through the Eras, Burt’s newest work, Taylor’s Version, shows what Swift has created, how it works, and why her songs will endure.
Helping to establish the field of pop economics, the bestselling book Freakonomics sparked both public interest and academic debate. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original publication, author Stephen J. Dubner joins us to discuss how it all started (as a book applying economic principles to unconventional topics) and how it’s grown (into a blog, documentary, more books, a podcast, and the entire Freakonomics Radio Network).
Dubner is joined by Deborah Nelson, Dean of the Arts & Humanities Division at the University of Chicago, for a wide-ranging conversation and to demonstrate the signature Freakonomics method for a robust and insightful analysis of the economic value embedded in higher education and the humanities writ large.
Internationally acclaimed author Amitav Ghosh joins us in conversation with UChicago professor Benjamin Morgan to illuminate the topics that have been central to Ghosh’s work over the last 25 years: imperialism and decolonization, climate change, and the stories of ordinary people making lives amid these historical forces. The first English-language writer to receive the Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honor, Ghosh helps readers understand the world in new and urgent ways. In his newest work, Wild Fictions, he provides a powerful refutation of imperial violence, a fascinating exploration of the fictions we weave to absorb history, and a reminder of the importance of sensitivity and empathy.
The last 10 years have been eventful, to say the least. And who better to reflect on our times than cultural critic and bestselling author Roxane Gay? Gay joins us to discuss how politics, culture, and of course, feminism, have transformed since the release of the iconic text that is Bad Feminist. Bringing her quick wit and razor-sharp criticism, Gay breaks down how the culture we consume becomes who we are, and provides us with some hope for the next 10 years.
Get ready for high-energy fun as Disney’s five-time Academy Award®-winning film comes to life on the big screen! Meet Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews), a magical English nanny who flies out of the breezy London skies and into the home of two mischievous children and the hearts of their family. With the help of a carefree chimney sweep Bert (Dick Van Dyke), the spirited nanny turns chores into games and every day into a “Jolly Holiday.” Featuring favorites like “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” and the unforgettable “Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious” – you’ll hear the Sherman Brothers’ complete score performed live in all of its splendor.
The late creative visionary Virgil Abloh upended a century’s worth of ideas about luxury and taste, fundamentally reshaping how we see creativity and the world around us. Join us at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Abloh’s alma mater, as Pulitzer Prize-winning culture critic and fashion editor Robin Givhan illuminates Abloh’s impact on fashion, race, and exclusivity. Givhan is joined in conversation by curator Michael Darling, whose close collaborative relationship with Abloh at the Museum of Contemporary Art helps to further unfold the story of a young man from Rockford with no formal training in patternmaking or tailoring who came to symbolize the industry’s way forward.
Motherhood, marijuana, and the multiverse collide in this Chicago-set story of family, immigration, and American identity.
Like millions of Americans, Clara is doing her best to hold everything together—working hard, raising her tween daughter Stella, caring for an aging father, and supporting her under-employed ex-husband. But when she applies for U.S. citizenship ahead of a mother-daughter trip to Paris, her application is unexpectedly flagged, exposing minor infractions in her past and threatening the only home she’s ever known. Blending grounded family drama with otherworldly wonder, this Chicago-set world premiere is a moving and provocative exploration of our country’s most fundamental values.
Originally commissioned by the Chicago Park District’s Theatre on the Lake In the Works project, in partnership with The Chicago Dramatists, previous development of Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars included stagings as part of Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Festival in 2018 and Northeastern Illinois University’s thINKtank Series, co-produced in partnership with Teatro Vista, in 2024.
These performances of Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars will be open captioned with a text display of words and sounds heard during the performance. The display is positioned in such a way that it is open for anyone to see in a particular seating area. It is a service you may choose to use or ignore during the performance. Captioning is provided by c2 Inc., www.c2net.org.
Award-winning Russian-American novelist Gary Shteyngart offers an entirely original literary perspective, merging memoir and satire to create contemporary characters informed by his upbringing in Soviet Leningrad, his Jewish heritage, and his marriage and child with a woman of Korean descent. Join us for a conversation featuring Shteyngart’s signature blend of psyche and style as he discusses his new book Vera, or Faith: a poignant, sharp-eyed, and bitterly funny tale of a family struggling to stay together in a country rapidly coming apart.
Princeton University President and legal scholar Christopher L. Eisgruber joins us in conversation to challenge the common assumptions about free speech on college campuses. He argues that most American colleges are largely getting free speech right, with students engaging in active and open debate on difficult and controversial topics. But the real crisis lies in how the condition of university life reflects the polarization of American society and the loss of constructive dialogue across different swathes of the population. In his new book Terms of Respect, Eisgruber draws on his experience as both a constitutional law expert and university leader to offer insight into headline-making campus controversies, and reveals the inside story behind events that have captured national attention. He argues that colleges can help restore civil discourse by understanding that free speech is inherently tied to respect, diversity, and democratic engagement. You won’t want to miss this timely conversation on the national conversation about the future of civil debate.
Motherhood, marijuana, and the multiverse collide in this Chicago-set story of family, immigration, and American identity.
Like millions of Americans, Clara is doing her best to hold everything together—working hard, raising her tween daughter Stella, caring for an aging father, and supporting her under-employed ex-husband. But when she applies for U.S. citizenship ahead of a mother-daughter trip to Paris, her application is unexpectedly flagged, exposing minor infractions in her past and threatening the only home she’s ever known. Blending grounded family drama with otherworldly wonder, this Chicago-set world premiere is a moving and provocative exploration of our country’s most fundamental values.
Originally commissioned by the Chicago Park District’s Theatre on the Lake In the Works project, in partnership with The Chicago Dramatists, previous development of Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars included stagings as part of Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Festival in 2018 and Northeastern Illinois University’s thINKtank Series, co-produced in partnership with Teatro Vista, in 2024.
These performances of Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars will be open captioned with a text display of words and sounds heard during the performance. The display is positioned in such a way that it is open for anyone to see in a particular seating area. It is a service you may choose to use or ignore during the performance. Captioning is provided by c2 Inc., www.c2net.org.
Join us for a powerful musical performance inspired by Angela Davis’s pioneering activism interspersed with readings by — and a post-performance conversation with — Davis herself. Award-winning composer, Guggenheim fellow, and creative flutist Nicole Mitchell, who emerged from Chicago’s music scene in the late 90s, will be joined by her Black Earth Ensemble to present Radical Transformation, a musical celebration of Davis’s courage and resilience.
The Wrigley Building is one of Chicago’s most emblematic buildings — a gleaming white palazzo at the head of our city’s grandest boulevard, Michigan Avenue. Join us for a panel discussion with the Chicago-based creatives behind the new book The Wrigley Building: The Making of an Icon as they unveil fresh perspectives on this architectural marvel. They provide a fascinating social history illuminating the building’s significance as more than just a structural landmark but as a nexus of Chicago’s cultural, social, and business evolution.
Panelists:
Photographer William Zbaren
Writer Robert Sharoff
Cultural historian Tim Samuelson
Architect and historian John Vinci
Moderated by writer and editor Alison Cuddy
World-renowned photographer, director, and urban lifestyle entrepreneur Estevan Oriol has built a career capturing both the gritty and the glamorous sides of Los Angeles. From intimate portraits of the rich and famous to powerful images of Latino, urban, gang, and tattoo cultures, Oriol’s lens offers an unflinching and deeply human look at life in L.A.
He began his creative journey as a tour manager for the legendary rap groups Cypress Hill and House of Pain, where he started documenting life on the road, unknowingly launching what would become a groundbreaking career in photography. Since then, his portfolio has grown to include iconic portraits of Al Pacino, Snoop Dogg, Kim Kardashian, Adrien Brody, Floyd Mayweather, and many more.
Join us for a captivating conversation with Estevan Oriol as he reflects on his prolific body of work, shares behind-the-scenes stories, and discusses his lasting impact on visual culture and the Chicano community at large.
David “Teen Angel” Holland (now deceased) was the creator and publisher of the groundbreaking Teen Angel’s Magazine, which began in 1980. While the iconic Lowrider Magazine, founded in 1977, predates Teen Angel’s Magazine by about three years, Teen Angel’s carved its own influential niche by focusing more deeply on Chicano art, tattoo culture, and grassroots voices, including those from incarcerated communities. Join curator David De Baca — Holland’s closest friend and estate director — as he shares insights into preserving Holland’s legacy and the cultural impact of Teen Angel’s Magazine on generations of artists and communities.
Moon landings and space walks once captivated the public’s attention. But, in recent decades, the U.S. space enterprise has waned. Now, that’s finally about to change. The award-winning Washington Post writer Christian Davenport chronicles the mad scramble to shape humanity’s off-planet future. He takes us behind the scenes at NASA and the Pentagon as China’s aggressive moon mining plans raise alarms, onto the sprawling Cape Canaveral factory where Blue Origin is working toward Amazon-style lunar deliveries, and onto SpaceX launch pads as Musk’s engineers log 100-hour weeks. Davenport offers a riveting, fly-on-the-wall account of the grit-fueled global battle to push humankind further into the cosmos — revealing that the science fiction dreams of the last century may soon become our reality.
Nate Silver, founder of the popular data-driven news and analysis website FiveThirtyEight, and Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard H. Thaler come together for a wide-ranging conversation. In his most recent publication, On the Edge, Silver explores how we live in a new age of decision making — from poker players and hedge fund managers to crypto speculators and AI investors, professional risk takers determine the future of global finance, technology, and power. Originally published in 1992, Thaler’s The Winner’s Curse introduced readers to behavioral economics by presenting a series of Anomalies, empirical findings that challenged the traditional economics assumption that people are selfish rational optimizers. Now, three decades later, Thaler teams with UChicago colleague Alex Imas for a republication of the seminal book to see whether the original challenges have held up, and to explore how the field has evolved. Together, Thaler and Silver explore the nature of decision making in today’s economy and in our new era of risk.
The internationally renowned, award-winning author Salman Rushdie discusses his newest novel, The Eleventh Hour, a spellbinding exploration of life, death, and what comes into focus during our “final act.” The quintet of stories span the three countries in which he has made his work — India, England, and America — features an unforgettable cast of characters, and asks some of life’s most daunting questions. Do we accommodate ourselves to death, or rail against it? Do we spend our “eleventh hour” in serenity or in rage? And how do we achieve fulfillment with our lives if we don’t know the end of our own stories? The Eleventh Hour ponders life and death, legacy, and identity with the penetrating insight and boundless imagination that have made Rushdie one of the most celebrated writers of our time.
Raised by ruggedly independent, scientifically minded parents – entomologist father, dietician mother – Atwood spent most of each year in the wild forest of northern Quebec. This childhood was unfettered and nomadic, sometimes isolated (on her eighth birthday: ‘It sounds forlorn. It was forlorn. It gets more forlorn.’), but also thrilling and beautiful. From this unconventional start, Atwood unfolds the story of her life, linking seminal moments to the books that have shaped our literary landscape, from the cruel year that spawned Cat’s Eye to the Orwellian 1980s Berlin where she wrote The Handmaid’s Tale. In pages bursting with bohemian gatherings, her magical life with the wildly charismatic writer Graeme Gibson and major political turning points, we meet poets, bears, Hollywood actors and larger-than-life characters straight from the pages of an Atwood novel. As we travel with her along the course of her life, more and more is revealed about her writing, the connections between real life and art – and the workings of one of our greatest imaginations.
At a time when many Americans believe the U.S. Constitution to be under threat — but disagree about the nature of that threat — bestselling author and Harvard professor Jill Lepore joins NPR host and civics enthusiast Peter Sagal to ask: Can this Constitution be saved? In We the People, her new history of the Constitution, Lepore argues that the Framers never intended for the Constitution to remain untouched, but rather expected that future generations would be forever tinkering with it and improving the machinery of government. Together, Lepore and Sagal examine the history of our Constitution, as written, as amended and unchanged, and as interpreted and misinterpreted. Are Americans trapped, enthralled, by a Constitution that no longer works? “We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country,” Lincoln said, in the midst of the Civil War. What would it mean for Americans to disenthrall themselves today?
Part of The Sagal Sessions on the U.S. Constitution
A series of talks, lectures, and debates dedicated to the U.S. Constitution, guest-curated by NPR’s Peter Sagal, recognizing the 250th anniversary of the United States as an independent nation. These “Sagal Sessions on the U.S. Constitution” will investigate the world-historical document’s past, present, and future, with the help of a wide array of historians, analysts, scholars, and more. Among other topics, they will explore the Constitution’s origins, innovations and original sins, the evolutions in its meaning and purpose through crises, amendments and competing ideologies, its present day resilience and flaws, and, finally, its uncertain future. These conversations and debates will help to illuminate how the U.S. Constitution was designed, how it has succeeded, where it has failed, and how it may be preserved — as the Framers themselves put it — for ourselves and our posterity.
Indigenous scientist and New York Times bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer, asks: How can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? How can we move away from the scarcity, competition, and hoarding of resources that our economy is rooted in? Join us on Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the verdant Morton Arboretum for a conversation with Kimmerer and Jill Koski, president and CEO of the Morton Arboretum, about how we can orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world. The program will begin with drum and dance by Trickster Cultural Center, followed by a conversation inspired by Kimmerer’s new book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World.
Step into the world of Cheech Marin — legendary actor, comedian, and cultural icon — as he shares his deep passion for Chicano art and his mission to elevate a historically under-recognized movement. From his groundbreaking work with the cult comedy duo Cheech & Chong to becoming one of the most prominent collectors of Chicano art, Cheech reflects on his unexpected journey through entertainment, activism, and cultural preservation. Hear firsthand about the creation of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture — and why he believes art has the power to transform communities. Don’t miss this candid conversation with a trailblazer whose humor and heart continue to leave a lasting impact.
Born and raised in Chicago, chef Jesse Valenciana is a leading food journalist focused on Mexican cuisine, owner of the popular Nashville restaurant and food brand, The Secret Bodega, and author of the new cookbook Birrias: 65 Recipes from Traditional to Modern. Join us in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the National Museum of Mexican Art as Valenciana and chef Rick Bayless bring the language of food and memory to life.
Theodore Ward’s Big White Fog is the big shoulders on which A Raisin in the Sun stands. First completed in 1938, funded by the Federal Theatre Project, and influenced by the South Side Writers Group that cultivated such iconic talents as Richard Wright and Margaret Walker, Big White Fog drove American realism forward by contending with discontent.
The United States is on the cusp of the Great Depression and, like many, the Mason family is struggling. Between the precarious economy and racial violence on Chicago’s segregated South Side, something’s got to give. As different generations strive to secure the Mason family’s future, catastrophic decisions are made, leading to a heartbreaking twist and a blistering condemnation of America’s Big White Fog.
Resident Artist and the nation’s preeminent director of August Wilson Ron OJ Parson (East Texas Hot Links) opens the 2025/26 season with this rich portrayal of Black life on Chicago’s South Side.
Performance:
Touch Tour: Saturday, October 4 at 12:30pm
Audio Description and ASL Interpretation: Saturday, October 4 at 2:00pm
Accessibility: Touch tour, ASL interpreted, and audio description.
https://www.courttheatre.org/season-tickets/2025-2026-season/big-white-fog/
Theodore Ward’s Big White Fog is the big shoulders on which A Raisin in the Sun stands. First completed in 1938, funded by the Federal Theatre Project, and influenced by the South Side Writers Group that cultivated such iconic talents as Richard Wright and Margaret Walker, Big White Fog drove American realism forward by contending with discontent.
The United States is on the cusp of the Great Depression and, like many, the Mason family is struggling. Between the precarious economy and racial violence on Chicago’s segregated South Side, something’s got to give. As different generations strive to secure the Mason family’s future, catastrophic decisions are made, leading to a heartbreaking twist and a blistering condemnation of America’s Big White Fog.
Resident Artist and the nation’s preeminent director of August Wilson Ron OJ Parson (East Texas Hot Links) opens the 2025/26 season with this rich portrayal of Black life on Chicago’s South Side.
Performance Sunday, October 5 at at 2:00pm
Accessibility: Open captioning.
https://www.courttheatre.org/season-tickets/2025-2026-season/big-white-fog/
ASL INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE! $30.00 TICKETS AVAILABLE USE PROMO CODE: WTASL2526
Performance on Saturday, August 30 at 2pm.
If you experience any issues with this promo code, please reach out to the box office at 847-242-6000 or email them at BOM@WritersTheatre.org.
Having safely escaped Russia during the 1917 revolution, beloved composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff performed all over the world before eventually making his home in sunny Beverly Hills. Privately longing for the Russia that he knew and loved as a young man, a figure from his past continues to haunt him—Tsar Nicholas II. Hershey Felder’s newest musical play will feature the virtuoso actor/pianist in the role of Rachmaninoff alongside British-Italian actor Jonathan Silvestri in the role of Nicholas II. Featuring the composer’s most beloved works, Rachmaninoff and the Tsar promises to be another mystical musical journey in the inimitable Hershey Felder style that audiences have come to know and love.
Accessibility: ASL interpreted.
https://www.writerstheatre.org/events/hershey-felders-rachmaninoff-and-the-tsar-
OPEN CAPTION PERFORMANCE! $30.00 TICKETS AVAILABLE USE PROMO CODE: WTOC2526
Performance on Thursday, Saturday 04 at 7:30pm.
If you experience any issues with this promo code, please reach out to the box office at 847-242-6000 or email them at BOM@WritersTheatre.org.
Having safely escaped Russia during the 1917 revolution, beloved composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff performed all over the world before eventually making his home in sunny Beverly Hills. Privately longing for the Russia that he knew and loved as a young man, a figure from his past continues to haunt him—Tsar Nicholas II. Hershey Felder’s newest musical play will feature the virtuoso actor/pianist in the role of Rachmaninoff alongside British-Italian actor Jonathan Silvestri in the role of Nicholas II. Featuring the composer’s most beloved works, Rachmaninoff and the Tsar promises to be another mystical musical journey in the inimitable Hershey Felder style that audiences have come to know and love.
Accessibility: Open captioning.
https://www.writerstheatre.org/events/hershey-felders-rachmaninoff-and-the-tsar-
“You gotta start living your life right now. Because someday you’ll wake up and it’s over.”
Pete’s TV and Video has served Chicagoland for 40+ years, its plucky owner famous for his legendary commercials and customer care. But it’s a new era, and Pete’s last store location is struggling while Sam—his daughter and family business heir apparent—has different dreams. Starring Chicago’s Francis Guinan (The Cherry Orchard) and Emmy Award-nominee Jenna Fischer (The Office), this stunning new play asks what happens when we stop looking after our aging parents and start looking after ourselves?
“You gotta start living your life right now. Because someday you’ll wake up and it’s over.”
Pete’s TV and Video has served Chicagoland for 40+ years, its plucky owner famous for his legendary commercials and customer care. But it’s a new era, and Pete’s last store location is struggling while Sam—his daughter and family business heir apparent—has different dreams. Starring Chicago’s Francis Guinan (The Cherry Orchard) and Emmy Award-nominee Jenna Fischer (The Office), this stunning new play asks what happens when we stop looking after our aging parents and start looking after ourselves?
ASL INTERPRETATION NIGHT: JUNE 20, 2025
American Blues Theater presents
GOLDEN LEAF RAGTIME BLUES
CHICAGO PREMIERE
by Artistic Affiliate Charles Smith
directed by Ensemble member Chuck Smith
The team of the critically-acclaimed The Reclamation of Madison Hemings now brings an “Abbott & Costello” meets “Modern Family” Chicago premiere.
Pompey is an aging white vaudevillian; Jet is a Black teenager. Thrown together by circumstances beyond their control, they show us how basic needs and emotions transcend barriers of race, religion, and age. Don’t miss Ensemble member and veteran TV star Dennis Cockrum’s (“Shameless”) return to American Blues Theater.
7:30pm
June 20, 2025
Address:
5627 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago IL 60659
Use code ACCESS for $29.50 tickets (all fees included).
OPEN CAPTION PERFORMANCE on THURSDAY, JULY 10 at 7:30PM! $30.00 tickets with code WTOC2425. *If you are experiencing any issues with applying the promo code, please reach out to the box office at 847-242-6000*
Dhaba Canteen has been a stalwart institution on Chicago’s Devon Avenue since the ‘80s, serving up delicious Sindhi food with the power to transport diners back to the halcyon days of undivided India. Times are changing, however. With the bank threatening foreclosure and Chef Neeraj’s health in decline, the restaurant may soon be cooking up its last meal—unless sous chef Rita can convince her father to let her take over the kitchen. Rich with culinary tradition and dramatic twists, Dhaba on Devon Avenue serves up a searing Chicago-set story of family, legacy, and survival at all costs.
Alison Bechdel is known for her pioneering comic strips Dykes to Watch Out For and the modern classics Fun Home (as well as the Tony-Award winning musical adaptation), Are You My Mother?, and The Secret to Superhuman Strength. But her acclaim doesn’t stop there — her last name is synonymous with the “Bechdel Test,” a way to assess how women are portrayed in media. Join us as she explores her newest work of autofiction, Spent: A Comic Novel, which makes the case for seizing what’s true about life at this moment, before it’s too late.
ACCESSIBILITY: Assistive Listening Devices, Open Captions
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/alison-bechdel/
Acclaimed author Ron Chernow, of Hamilton fame, is one of the most renowned voices in history and politics. Recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal, Chernow has dedicated his life to telling the stories of some of the most notable figures in history. Join us as Chernow discusses his newest work, Mark Twain, a nuanced portrait of “the father of American literature.” Chernow draws on thousands of letters and hundreds of unpublished manuscripts to capture the exuberant genius whose career reflected the country’s westward expansion, industrialization and foreign wars, and became the white author of his generation who grappled most fully with the legacy of slavery. Hear from Chernow as he sheds light on the often maddening life of Mark Twain — from his start as a brash journalist to his days as the most notable political pundit in the U.S.
ACCESSIBILITY: Assistive Listening Devices, Open Captions
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/ron-chernow/
Jeffrey Seller is one of the most successful Broadway producers of our time — and the only one to have mounted two Pulitzer Prize-winning musicals: Hamilton and Rent. From his early days as an office assistant, to meeting Jonathan Larson and experiencing the triumph and tragedy of Rent, to working with Lin-Manuel Miranda on In the Heights and Hamilton, Seller joins us to completely pull back the curtain on the joyous and gut-wrenching process of making new musicals, finding new audiences, and winning a Tony Award — all the while finding himself.
ACCESSIBILITY: Assistive Listening Devices, Open Captions
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/jeffrey-seller/
A New Adaptation by Mickle Maher
Based on the graphic novel by Jason Lutes
Directed by Charles Newell
Development and Dramaturgy by David J. Levin
Berlin is an unforgettable mosaic of intersecting narratives set amidst the decline of Weimar Germany. This original commission brings Jason Lutes’s exhilarating and acclaimed graphic novel to life.
Fascism is taking hold; revolutionaries are organizing; creatives are trying to capture the ineffable nature of their changing city; and – as everything falls apart – everyone is faced with a choice: abandon Berlin or fight to survive.
May 10, 2025 at 2:00pm (ASL-Interpreted and Audio Description Performance). Touch Tour at 12:00 PM
Food planning shouldn’t be hard. New York Times Cooking editor in chief Emily Weinstein and food writer Melissa Clark join us to help you take the stress out of cooking and chat about all things food. They’ll share quick and easy recipes, tips, and tricks for busy people who still want something good to eat. Their newest book Easy Weeknight Dinners, features 100 favorite dishes that you can make in as little as 10 minutes. Whether you’re seeking a standout meal for one, crowd-pleasers for picky kids, or something special for company, Weinstein and Clark have got you covered.
ACCESSIBILITY: ASL Interpreted, Assisted Listening Devices, Open Captions
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/melissa-clark-emily-weinstein/
Award-winning author and longtime climate and human rights activist Rebecca Solnit joins Chicago Humanities to explore how our actions can shape the future and the liberating possibilities of embracing uncertainty. In her latest collection of essays, No Straight Road Takes You There, Solnit dissects topics like climate change, feminism, democracy, hope, and power, and urges us to heed the stories we tell or have been told, and the ways those stories can be, or should be changed. She asks us to embrace unpredictability, slowness, and imperfection in the politics of how to change the world.
ACCESSIBILITY: Assistive Listening Devices, Open Captions, Quiet Spaces, Wheelchair Accessible
Twenty years since its Broadway musical debut, The Color Purple is reborn in Lili-Anne Brown’s revelatory production—“perfection on every level!” (Chicago Sun-Times).
It’s a celebration of life, hope and the healing power of love! The musical stage adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novel is a heart-rending, yet ultimately joyous, story of a young woman’s perilous journey of personal awakening in the American South. Come ready to shout in church, stomp at the juke joint, laugh and cry with unforgettable “come-to-glory gospel hymns, down-and-dirty bump-and-grinds, jazz that stutters, dips and dives, and gorgeous alto arias” (Chicago Sun-Times).
Twenty years since its Broadway musical debut, The Color Purple is reborn in Lili-Anne Brown’s revelatory production—“perfection on every level!” (Chicago Sun-Times).
It’s a celebration of life, hope and the healing power of love! The musical stage adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novel is a heart-rending, yet ultimately joyous, story of a young woman’s perilous journey of personal awakening in the American South. Come ready to shout in church, stomp at the juke joint, laugh and cry with unforgettable “come-to-glory gospel hymns, down-and-dirty bump-and-grinds, jazz that stutters, dips and dives, and gorgeous alto arias” (Chicago Sun-Times).
The #1 New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman dives into his newest work — an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later. Backman helps us see that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship, and art.
Philosopher and University of Chicago professor Agnes Callard brings us back to the days of Socrates, reviving his ideas for our time. While we call him the “father of Western philosophy,” what exactly are his philosophical views, and how can we use them to better our lives in the 21st century? In Open Socrates, Callard argues that the true goal of the famous “Socratic method” is to reveal what one human being can be to another. Callard is joined by scholar William Baud to discuss why Socrates’s ideas are still the way to a good life, giving us nothing less than a new ethics to live by.
What happened since Chicago closed 50 public schools in 2013? Join us for a screening and panel discussion on the documentary Beyond Closure, created by Borderless Studio and On the Real Film, which retraces the history of the largest mass school closures in U.S. history, highlighting the intertwined issues of inequity, racism, and injustice. Through the voices of community members leading the repurposing of three closed schools, this film reflects on community impact, their setbacks, and wins towards redevelopment. Join us as we dig into the work of Creative Grounds, the initiative focused on the community and urban role of Chicago’s school grounds, and ask the question: How might art, design, and architecture create a more inclusive process for repurposing these schools?
Experts have warned that the U.S. is lagging behind other countries when it comes to our infrastructure – whether it be roads, railways, bridges, or public transit (and don’t get Chicagoans started on potholes). However, Deborah N. Archer, President of the ACLU and professor and associate dean at New York University School of Law, warns that we can’t repair our infrastructure without first coming to terms with the troubling history behind it. She shares that while government-sanctioned racism was finally deemed illegal after the successes of the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, officials across the country turned to infrastructure to protect segregation. Archer joins us to uncover the hostility built into our everyday environments and explain why existing Civil Rights law is insufficient to address the challenges we face today.
Journalist Jonathan Capehart is one of the most recognizable faces in cable news. Join us as the award-winning writer, editor, and TV host takes us on his journey from learning to embrace his identity as a gay, Black man; to his decision to come out to his family; and finally his move to New York City, where time and again he stumbles and picks himself up as he blazes a path to become the familiar face in news we know today.
Leslie Odom Jr. burst onto the scene in 2015, originating the role of Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical phenomenon Hamilton. Since then, he has performed for sold-out audiences, sang for the Obamas at the White House, and won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. But before Hamilton, Odom put in years of hard work as a singer and actor, from debuting on Broadway in Rent at 17-years-old to attending Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious School of Drama to landing the role of a lifetime. Odom joins us to share what he has learned in life so far, tapping into universal themes of starting something new, following your passions, discovering your own potential, and surrounding yourself with the right people.
The #1 New York Times bestselling, National Book Award-winning author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi joins us to discuss his groundbreaking narrative biography of Malcom X for young readers. In Malcolm Lives!, Kendi expertly crafts a telling of Malcolm X’s life, providing context for both Malcolm’s choices — and those around him — not just painting an intimate picture of a famous figure, but of the social and political landscape of America during the civil rights movement. In collaboration with the Malcolm X Estate, Kendi provides a thoughtful and accessible look into Malcolm’s journey toward anti-racism, just one day before what would have been Malcolm X’s 100th birthday.
One of the most influential activists (and now astronauts) of her time, Amanda Nguyen is a force for resilience. The Nobel Peace Prize nominee and TIME’s 2022 Woman of the Year joins us to detail her healing journey and groundbreaking activism in the aftermath of her rape at Harvard. She discusses her memoir Saving Five, weaving together the story of her activism — which resulted in Congress’s unanimous passage of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act — with an adventure of her younger selves at ages five, fifteen, twenty–two, and thirty as they navigate through the emotional stages of her path toward healing. Nguyen sheds light on her moving journey toward acceptance and hope.
What if we could redefine leadership? What if kindness came first?
The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern was elected the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand at the age of thirty-seven, becoming the country’s youngest Prime Minister in more than 150 years. Ardern exemplifies a new kind of leadership — proving that leaders can be caring, empathetic, and effective. After becoming a global icon, she’s ready to share the remarkable story of how a Mormon girl plagued by self-doubt made political history and changed our assumptions of what a global leader can be.
Joined by special guests, Ardern will reflect on the struggles, triumphs, and deeply personal experiences that shaped her leadership style and what she’s learned along the way.
As Michigan’s Secretary of State and chief election official, Secretary Jocelyn Benson has overseen several of the highest turnout, most secure elections in the state’s history. But her life changed in December 2020 when armed protesters descended onto her doorstep, threatening her family. Her only crime: certifying a fair and accurate Presidential election in which the protesters’ preferred candidate — Donald Trump — did not win. Benson stood her ground, spoke out louder, and helped expose and defeat a coordinated national effort to overturn the 2020 election. Join us as Benson challenges us all to think about what we are willing to be warriors for in our own lives, and shows us how to turn fear and frustration into a fight for our own purpose, vision, and future.
Catherine Coleman Flowers, one of the leading environmental justice activists of our times, has dedicated her life to fighting for the most vulnerable communities who have been deprived of the basic civil right to a clean, safe, and sustainable environment. Drawing inspiration from her newest book, Holy Ground, Flowers illuminates the most pressing issues of the moment: climate justice, human rights, rural poverty, reproductive justice, and racialized disinvestment in the South. Flowers equips us with clarity, lights a way forward, and rouses us to action – for ourselves, our communities, and our planet.
Pulitzer Prize-winning and #1 New York Times best-selling author Rick Atkinson joins us for a conversation about Fate of the Day, the second volume of his acclaimed Revolution trilogy. According to famed documentarian Ken Burns, with this volume, “the battles and struggles that created our country now have clarity and meaning.” Timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the Revolution, Atkinson dives into the lethal conflict between the Americans and the British, offering not only a deeply researched and spectacularly dramatic history, but also a new perspective on the demands that a democracy makes on its citizens.
Accessibility: open captions, assistive listening devices
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/rick-atkinson/
Actor, comedian, writer, and producer Ed Helms is perhaps best known for his roles as Andy Bernard on The Office and Stu Price in The Hangover film trilogy. His newest project is the book SNAFU, based on his hit podcast, which brings you an absurdly entertaining look at history’s greatest screwups. Spanning from the 1950’s to the 2000’s, Ed Helms steps in as unofficial history teacher with a loving tribute to humanity’s finest faceplants, diving into each decade’s craziest SNAFUs. From planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the weather, Helms joins us to unpack the incredibly ironic decision-making and hilariously terrifying aftermath of America’s biggest mishaps. They’re the kind of stories that not only entertain but offer fresh insights that just might prevent history from repeating itself again and again.
Accessibility: open captions, assistive listening devices
A Tale of Two Cities
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Brendan Pelsue
Directed by Mikael Burke
It’s still the best of times and the worst of times. In a society where the gap between the rich and poor widens, and the cries for revolution grow louder, one can relate. This bold reimagining of Charles Dickens’s classic tale of revolution shows us that while a story may be 165 years old, some things never change. Or, can they?
Audio-Described and Touch Tour:
Friday, May 23rd at 7:30 pm
(6:15 pm touch tour, 7:30 pm curtain)
Accessibility: audio-described and touch tour
https://www.theaterwit.org/tickets/productions/530/performances
A Tale of Two Cities
By Charles Dickens
Adapted by Brendan Pelsue
Directed by Mikael Burke
It’s still the best of times and the worst of times. In a society where the gap between the rich and poor widens, and the cries for revolution grow louder, one can relate. This bold reimagining of Charles Dickens’s classic tale of revolution shows us that while a story may be 165 years old, some things never change. Or, can they?
Open-Captioned Public Performance:
Sunday, May 25th at 3 pm
https://www.theaterwit.org/tickets/productions/530/performances
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border seeking safety and prosperity. Weaving together the stories of Central Americans whose lives have been devastated by chronic political conflict with those of American activists, government officials, and politicians, best-selling author and New Yorker writer Jonathan Blitzer illuminates the country’s immigration crisis. Join us as Blitzer dives into this vital and remarkable story, as told in his newest book Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, that has shaped the nation’s politics and culture—and will almost certainly determine its future.
Accessibility: open captions and assistive listening decvices
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/jonathan-blitzer/
Many see a crisis in American democracy. Dr. Timothy Snyder, acclaimed historian and best-selling author of such works as On Tyranny and On Freedom, argues that Americans are less free now than they were two decades ago. But he also offers a much needed light in this dark moment, showing us the lessons to heed, the warning signs to look out for, and ways to be vigilant in order to preserve our democratic ideals. His newest book, On Freedom, is a culmination of his decades of scholarship and brings together the themes and big picture analysis for which he is known—crafting a work of political philosophy filled with hope. Join us as Snyder provides a combination of anecdotes, deep reflections, and a nuanced examination of our current political and cultural moment, inviting us to create a democracy that can be freer and more fulfilling than what we have known.
Accessibility: open captions and assistive listening devices
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/timothy-snyder/
David M. Rubenstein, New York Times bestselling author of The American Story and How to Lead and host of PBS’s History with David Rubenstein, joins Chicago Humanities to give us an inside look into the American presidency. From his interviews with living U.S. presidents, including Joe Biden, Donald Trump, George W. Bush, to conversations with top historians and journalists like Maggie Haberman and Ron Chernow, Rubenstein has unique insight into one of the most important positions in the world. His newest work, the New York Times bestseller The Highest Calling, blends history and anecdote to chronicle the journeys of the presidents who have defined America as it exists now. Renowned journalist and author Walter Isaacson leads a conversation with Rubenstein about our country’s most prominent leaders, what they envision for its future, and their legacy on the world stage.
Accessibility: open captions and assistive listening devices
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/david-rubenstein/
Chicago-based klezmer band Upshtat Zingerai has emerged over the last several years as a central force in the continuity and evolution of klezmer music and Yiddish dance — the traditional music and folk dance of Eastern European Jews — in Chicago. Join us as Upshtat Zingerai performs soulful klezmer melodies that have traveled where Eastern European Jews have lived over time, infusing additional cultural music traditions and stories that ensemble members have collected along the way. Experience the joy, connection, and resilience created through this rich cultural tradition, giving us a window into Jewish cultural history and diasporic living traditions.
Dancing will be led by a dance leader; no prior dance experience is necessary to join in this celebratory fun.
Ethan Aronson – octave mandolin
Emma Blau – trombone
Hannah Mira Friedland – fiddle
Jonah Lazarus – percussion
Max Lazarus – alto saxophone, woodwinds
Qi Yang – accordion
Accessibility: assistive listening devices, open captions.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/upshtat-zingerai/
In Hands Up! Forgiveness, seasoned performers bring profound and deeply moving stories to life. Storytellers with and without disabilities share real-life experiences that reveal the transformative power of compassion, wisdom, and kindness in the face of pain and betrayal. These stories illuminate the difficult choices people make to let go of hurt, reminding us that forgiveness is a choice, not an obligation. It is sometimes less about absolving others and more about healing for oneself. The show will incorporate the uplifting and transformative djembe drumming performed by Victoria Boateng. In addition, the theme will be explored through the movement, music, and expressions evoked by the dances of ReinventAbility. This show invites us to see forgiveness not as an act of weakness, but as a courageous, self-nurturing choice that teaches us about the depths of empathy and strength we carry within.
Kenneth Roth led Human Rights Watch for over three decades. During his leadership, he conducted investigations in 100 countries to uncover abuses and pressured offending governments to stop them. Roth joins Chicago Humanities to share his ongoing fight to take on the biggest villains and toughest autocrats around the world and how he persuaded leaders from around the globe to stand up to their repressive counterparts. He has traveled the world to meet cruelty and injustice on its home turf: from the Rwandan Genocide and Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait to Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians, the Chinese government’s persecution of Uyghur Muslims, Russian war crimes in Ukraine, and more. Grappling with the worst of humanity, Roth tells us the story of wins, losses, and ongoing battles in the fight against injustice.
Support the work of Human Rights Watch by attending or donating to their annual benefit on April 10, 2025.
This event will include open captions and assistive listening devices.
DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) is dedicated to being an accessible, inclusive environment for children to thrive through extraordinary learning experiences. Adaptive Play Time provides a modified environment for families with disabilities and/or those who may need a calmer experience to enjoy the Museum.
At DCM, kids are inspired to be curious, creative, and full of wonder. Designed for children ages 0-10 years, the Museum invites families to explore hands-on exhibits where learning happens through play.
Imagine building towering structures with giant blocks, experimenting with gravity, discovering the properties of air and water, and so much more. From babies crawling through soft play spaces to young inventors problem-solving in engineering exhibits, there’s something to captivate and engage every age.
Plan your visit: dupagechildrens.org/adaptive-play-time/
DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) is dedicated to being an accessible, inclusive environment for children to thrive through extraordinary learning experiences. Adaptive Play Time provides a modified environment for families with disabilities and/or those who may need a calmer experience to enjoy the Museum.
At DCM, kids are inspired to be curious, creative, and full of wonder. Designed for children ages 0-10 years, the Museum invites families to explore hands-on exhibits where learning happens through play.
Imagine building towering structures with giant blocks, experimenting with gravity, discovering the properties of air and water, and so much more. From babies crawling through soft play spaces to young inventors problem-solving in engineering exhibits, there’s something to captivate and engage every age.
Plan your visit: dupagechildrens.org/adaptive-play-time/
Play for All invites children and families with disabilities to come and experience Chicago Children’s Museum’s inclusive, multisensory exhibits and programs free of charge with pre-registration. The museum will open at 10 am for pre-registered guests with disabilities and CCM members, before opening to the public at 11 am. Guests are welcome to come and go all day.
CCM‘s Play for All initiative creates a community where play and learning connect for visitors of all abilities. For accessible accommodations call (312) 321-6551 or email us at customersupport@chicagochildrensmuseum.org.
After years of refusing to build sufficient housing, the entire country has a national housing crisis. After years of slashing immigration, we don’t have enough workers. The list goes on. The twenty-first century so far has been full of growing unaffordability and shortage. And in the last few decades, our capacity to see problems has sharpened while our ability to solve them has diminished. Bestselling authors and popular podcasters Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson join Chicago Humanities to trace the political, economic, and cultural barriers to progress and how we can adopt a mindset directed toward abundance, and not scarcity, to overcome them. Drawing from their latest book, Abundance, they ask us to rethink big problems that seem mired in systemic scarcity: from climate change and housing to education and healthcare.
Accessibility: Open captions and Assistive Listening Devices.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/ezra-klein-and-derek-thompson/
When Dylan Mulvaney came out as a woman online, she was a viral sensation almost overnight, emerging as a trailblazing voice on social media. Join Chicago Humanities as Mulvaney pulls back the curtain on her personal coming-out story and how it blossomed into a platform for advocacy and empowerment for trans people all over the world. In this conversation, Mulvaney discusses her debut book Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer, giving us an inside look into her “Days of Girlhood” series, how she handled scandals and cancellations, and her first big break in theater — all while never shying away from discussing the transphobia she faced online. No large bags will be permitted at the event or post-event photo op.
Dylan Mulvaney Post-Event Photo Op – Get your photo with Dylan. A member of house staff will take the photos.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/dylan-mulvaney/
It’s no secret that society is consumed with the concept of “gossip”—is it good, bad, or somewhere in between? Kelsey McKinney, host of the massively popular Normal Gossip podcast, joins Chicago Humanities to explore our obsession with gossip, weaving together journalism, cultural criticism, and personal stories. McKinney’s newest book You Didn’t Hear This From Me considers the murkiness of everyday storytelling. Why is gossip considered a sin and how can we better recognize when gossip is being weaponized against the oppressed? Why do we think we’re entitled to every detail of a celebrity’s personal life because they are a public figure? And how do we even define “gossip,” anyway? She dishes on the art of eavesdropping and dives deep into how pop culture has changed the way that we look at hearsay. With wit and honesty, McKinney unmasks what we’re actually searching for when we demand to know the truth—and how much the truth really matters in the first place.
Join us early for a free pop-up experience complete with interactive components, knick-knacks, and, of course, plenty of gossip. (A bar will also be available on-site!) This will take place from 6:00pm–7:00pm in the Paradiso room, located just off the main atrium upon entry.
Accessibility: Open captions and Assistive Listening Devices.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/kelsey-mckinney/
We all feel it — the distraction, the loss of focus, the addictive focus on the wrong things for too long thanks to our phones, computers, tablets, and more. Chris Hayes, host of MSNBC’s show “All In” and “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast,” argues attention has become a commodified resource extracted from us, and from which we are increasingly alienated. This assault from attention capitalism has reordered our politics and the fabric of our society. In his newest book The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource, Hayes offers clarity and guidance so that we can wrest back control of our lives, our politics, and our future.
A book signing will follow this program.
Accessibility: Open captions and Assistive Listening Devices.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/chris-hayes/
Following critically acclaimed runs in New York City and London, TimeLine will create a site-specific, immersive Chicago premiere of the american vicarious’ imagining of the historic debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr., on the occasion of the event’s 60th anniversary.
“Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro?” This was the topic on February 18, 1965 when an overflow crowd packed the Cambridge Union in Cambridge, England, to bear witness to a historic televised debate between James Baldwin, the leading literary voice of the civil rights movement, and William F. Buckley Jr., a fierce critic of the movement and America’s most influential conservative intellectual. The stage was set for an epic confrontation that pitted Baldwin’s call for a moral revolution in race relations against Buckley’s unabashed elitism and implicit commitment to white supremacy. This historic clash reveals the deep roots and lasting legacy of racial conflict that continues to haunt America.
Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley will feature Teagle F. Bougere as Baldwin and Eric T. Miller as Buckley in the cast. Additional casting and production team members are to be announced.
This performance features narration about visual elements of the production around the dialogue, available for individual patrons via headphones.
Please note: Touch Tours can be arranged for patrons attending the audio described performance of Debate. Please reach out to Kellyn Henthorn at kellyn@timelinetheatre.com to request a Touch Tour.
Following critically acclaimed runs in New York City and London, TimeLine will create a site-specific, immersive Chicago premiere of the american vicarious’ imagining of the historic debate between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr., on the occasion of the event’s 60th anniversary.
“Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro?” This was the topic on February 18, 1965 when an overflow crowd packed the Cambridge Union in Cambridge, England, to bear witness to a historic televised debate between James Baldwin, the leading literary voice of the civil rights movement, and William F. Buckley Jr., a fierce critic of the movement and America’s most influential conservative intellectual. The stage was set for an epic confrontation that pitted Baldwin’s call for a moral revolution in race relations against Buckley’s unabashed elitism and implicit commitment to white supremacy. This historic clash reveals the deep roots and lasting legacy of racial conflict that continues to haunt America.
Debate: Baldwin vs. Buckley will feature Teagle F. Bougere as Baldwin and Eric T. Miller as Buckley in the cast. Additional casting and production team members are to be announced.
Open Caption Performance!!
Use code: WTOC2425 for $30.00 tickets!
If you experience any difficulties with redeeming this promo code, please contact the box office directly at 847-242-6000 or at boxoffice@writerstheatre.org.
Iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo was a woman who lived boldly, loved wildly, and painted prolifically in order to see herself and the world around her more clearly. Witness this extraordinary figure come to life onstage through playwright and performer Vanessa Severo, who brings breathtaking physicality and raw honesty to this stunningly creative production. With music and movement, Vanessa cracks open a powerful portal between herself and Frida, uncovering insights into the painter’s physical limitations, complex love life, addictions, and, of course, the beauty in her art.
ASL Performance!!
Use promo code: WTASL2425 for $30.00 tickets! If you run into any problems with this promo code, please call the box office at 847-242-6000 or send an email at boxoffice@writerstheatre.org.
THIS PERFORMANCE IS GENERAL ADMISSION!
“1. Ice Cream. 2. Water fights. 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV.” This is how a six-year-old child begins a list of all the things that make life wonderful. They’re making the list for their mother, who suffers from depression. As life goes on, and the challenges faced morph from childhood to adulthood, the list continues to grow and take on a life of its own. By shining a hilarious and compassionate light on life’s small abundant joys, this big-hearted play—told in gentle collaboration with the audience—is a loving tribute to resilience and the lengths we will go to for those we love.
Legendary celebrity and rock-n-roll photographer, Lynn Goldsmith has captured the biggest stars with her skilled lens. She’s chronicled the careers of Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and her longtime friend and collaborator, Patti Smith. A Chicago Humanities favorite, Patti Smith is one of America’s most acclaimed singer-songwriters and a beloved photographer and poet. Reserve your copy of Goldsmith’s deeply personal visual book about Smith, Before Easter After, and become a lucky fly on the wall with your ticket to witness this chat between two icons of music and photography, as well as an exclusive performance.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/patti-smith-lynn-goldsmith/
Hoop Dreams was famously called “the great American documentary” by Roger Ebert. It’s also, of course, a quintessentially Chicago film. Hoop Dreams turns 30 this year, its story of two young Chicagoans (Arthur Agee and William Gates) trying to become professional basketball players as resonant as ever. Arthur and William, along with director/producer Steve James and director of photography/producer Peter Gilbert, join Chicago Humanities and Kartemquin Films to look back at the film that changed their lives while reflecting on what has — and hasn’t changed — for young men and women chasing their dreams on the basketball courts of Chicago.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/hoop-dreams-30th-anniversary/
As part of our fall festival examination of movement, we explore the primal human expression of physical movement and the artistic and cultural foundations of dance with leading choreographer Kyle Abraham. With his company, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, he creates a body of dance-based work that is galvanized by Black culture and history and features the rich tapestry of Black and Queer stories. Hear the inspiring insights of Abraham, who has been commissioned to create works for premiere dance companies like Alvin Ailey, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/kyle-abraham/
Former fifth-ranking leader in the US House of Representatives, chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and senior associate counsel to President George W. Bush, Christopher Cox leads a discussion on President Woodrow Wilson’s profound and disturbing influence in the fights for women’s voting rights and racial justice, accentuating the importance of historical awareness for contemporary social discourse. Wilson’s decades of opposition to the 19th Amendment, his segregation of the federal workforce, and his sympathy for Jim Crow laws have deeply influenced the course of American history. Obtain a fresh perspective on the enigmatic 28th president and explore how Wilson’s complex legacy in racial equality and women’s suffrage continue to impact America today.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/christopher-cox/
Language is constantly changing. Linguist and veteran English professor Anne Curzan is here to help us decipher its “rules.” Written with lively humor and humanity, Curzan’s newest book Says Who? is a pragmatic and accessible key that reveals how our choices about language can be a powerful force for equity and personal expression. Join Chicago Humanities as Curzan shows us how we can care about language precision, clarity, and inclusion all at the same time. Curzan makes nerding out about language fun — for both proud grammar sticklers and self-conscious writers alike. A book signing will follow this program.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/anne-curzan/
Tegan and Sara are indie-pop royalty, twin sisters, and bestselling authors of a young adult graphic novel duology. Crush, the second book in this autobiographically-inspired series, explores the teenage world of crushes, crushing it, and being crushed by life — all wrapped in a queer lens. Join Chicago Humanities in conversation with Tegan and Sara as they talk about their popular book series and iconic musical careers.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/tegan-and-sara/
Join us as we experience poet and Yale professor Claudia Rankine and choreographer Shamel Pitts in conversation and performance. Rankine is not only the New York Times bestseller of Citizen: An American Lyric, but a MacArthur Fellow, playwright, and author of the newly released Dont Let Me Be Lonely. She brings her unique perspective on race and racism in America to Chicago Humanities and joins Pitts for a dynamic discussion.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/claudia-rankine/
What’s it like to write for the most popular late-night comedy shows in America when the news already feels like a satire of itself? Second City’s Kelly Leonard sits down with Chicago-bred talent who have written for the hottest shows in late night: Ali Barthwell (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver), Peter Grosz (The Colbert Report, Late Night with Seth Meyers), and John Lutz (Late Night with Seth Meyers, Saturday Night Live). They will discuss the power of creating comedy in a time of social and cultural crisis.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/political-comedy-writing-panel/
The Edith Farnsworth House, one of the most famous residences in modern architectural history, was legendary long before it could be widely accessed. Michelangelo Sabatino brings to life the house’s original design by Mies van der Rohe and discusses periods of neglect, flooding, and new ownership by Lord Peter Palumbo in his latest book, The Edith Farnsworth House: Architecture, Preservation, Culture. Now publicly accessible and celebrating 20 years of being owned and administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Sabatino joins Thomas Leslie to discuss this icon of modern architecture, featuring a reading of Edith Farnsworth’s memoir.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/michelangelo-sabatino/
John Green (The Fault in Our Stars, The Anthropocene Reviewed) and Rebecca Makkai (The Great Believers, I Have Some Questions for You) are two of our most beloved contemporary writers. They’re also long-time admirers of each other’s work. For the first time, the two best-selling authors will come together to discuss their books and their lives. They’ll also share why they chose to write fiction in the first place and the role that novels can—and can’t—play in today’s short-attention-span world.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/john-green-rebecca-makkai/
The legendary director of Men in Black, Get Shorty, and The Addams Family dishes out a delectable mix of insights and true tales that escalate from outrageous to unbelievable in his new memoir, Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time. From battling with studio executives and producers to bad-script-solving on set to coaxing actors into finding the right light and talking faster, Sonnenfeld will provide an entertaining masterclass in how to make commercial art in the face of constant human foible. You’ll never see Hollywood the same way again. A book signing will follow this program.
Open captions, ASL interpretation and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/barry-sonnenfeld/
Immerse yourself in the lyrical world of legendary artist and activist, Joan Baez. Sharing decades of personal poetry for the first time publicly, join us to discover how Baez has weaved her verse with experiences, activism, and her musical legacy. Bask in the inspiring stories of her childhood and poetic reflections on fellow friends and icons like Judy Collins, Jimi Hendrix, and her complex relationship with Bob Dylan. You will cherish this discussion and celebration of one of America’s most beloved voices exploring the power of her words beyond music. A book signing will follow this program.
Open captions and ALDs will be provided.