Identity Performing Arts celebrates five years as a dance company embracing artistic innovation, collaboration and community at their Fifth Anniversary Gala at MCA Chicago's Edlis Neeson Theater, 220 E. Chicago Ave., 3-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. The event will begin with a performance at 3 p.m. followed by an onsite reception from 5-7:30 p.m. featuring delicious savories, sweets, and libations and the opportunity to meet the choreographer and dancers for a champagne toast. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the company and their programs.

"This gala is both a reflection on how far Identity Performing Arts has come and a celebration of what lies ahead for us," says Ginny Ching-Yin Lo, Identity's founder and director. "I'm especially honored to share the world premiere of our newest full company work, featuring our remarkable dancers, with the many creative partners, friends and supporters who have helped the company to achieve this milestone year. They have been and will continue to be an important source of inspiration and support as we move forward into an exciting new chapter."

A highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of "Untitled Identity" choreographed by company founder and artistic director Ginny Ching-Yin Lo to music by German musician Pyrolator. "Untitled Identity" looks at how identity shifts over time—how it expands, contracts, and reveals unexpected layers. Through movement, the piece explores the tension between outside perceptions and inner understanding, offering a fresh perspective on what identity can mean.

The program also features two works from the company's repertoire, choreographed by Lo:
• "Enliven" (2023). This vibrant blend of East and West influences celebrates the individuality, shared energy and dynamic spirit of Identity Performing Arts' ensemble. Buzz News calls it, "a unique and uplifting multi-media experience."  
• "Muted" (2024). This full company work features a thoughtful look at silence, boundaries, and connection reflects on communication—what we say, what we don't and what we express without speaking. See Chicago Dance describes it as "an intriguing shadowy world of silence."

Performing will be ensemble members Vanessa Bonilla, Josephine Castillo, Lorelai Delano, Mark Gonzalez, Amelia Harris, Audrey Hartnett, Wilson Hicken, Mollyanne Nunn, Emma Raney, Hanley Simpson and Tiana Thompson. They will be joined by Kaleigh Dent, a Chicago-based dance artist, choreographer and dance educator; and Kaelen Gouveia of Hedwig Dances.

Gala tickets are $100. For tickets or additional information visit IdentiyPerformingArts.org.

Lead Sponsors for Identity Performing Arts' Fifth Anniversary Gala are Dr. Philip Wong and Martina Keller & Don McLellan.

About Ginny Ching-Yin Lo:

Lo choreographs dance that represents her lived experiences as a Chinese-American artist and woman of faith; her works are a testament to the beauty that comes from staying true to all of the pieces of her personal history and identity. Lo has performed her original works in the U.S., China, France, and Germany and has been creating dance works for Identity Performing Arts since starting the company. Her co-choreographed work "Identically Dissimilar" was nominated for the Chicago Dance Achievement Awards in 2004. In 2024 Lo led the Identity Performing Arts to the opening night of the Seattle International Dance Festival and, in 2022 and 2026, to Hanover, Germany. Lo holds a BA in Dance from Columbia College and an MA in communication & culture from Trinity International University. She has also served as a panelist speaker for "Culture and The City" for the Northwestern University undergraduate department.

About Identity Performing Arts:

Established in 2016 by founder and artistic director, Ginny Ching-Yin Lo, Identity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dance organization dedicated to dance education. The commitment is to sharing identity through dance so that members of the Chicago community who share those experiences feel acknowledged, valued, and represented. 

In 2021, the organization transited into a full-season contemporary dance company, presenting its inaugural live concert that fall. Identity is one of the resident companies of Visceral Dance Center. The company began with three dancers and has since grown to 10. In 2022 Identity hosted its first Elpis Dance Festival in Chicago and has continued to do so for the past three years. All works created for and performed by Identity dancers express the beauty of our individual identities, interconnected in unity. For more information about Identity Performing Arts visit IdentiyPerformingArts.org .

Identity Performing Arts acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.

Be part of a night filled with suspense, stories, and special moments this Halloween season when David Arquette goes Behind the SCREAM, a thrilling live conversation including a special 30th anniversary screening of the iconic horror film SCREAM.

Legendary actor David Arquette, who played the beloved character Dewey Riley in the franchise,  will share his insights, anecdotes and the impact SCREAM has had on his career and the horror industry. Following the screening of the iconic 1996 slasher flick, Arquette will take the stage for a live, in-depth moderated interview and Q&A. Fans will have the chance to have their burning questions answered and hear firsthand accounts from one of the film's stars.

Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, with easy, affordable parking and plenty of new restaurants nearby.

Don’t miss this haunting night to remember. Tickets are $41-$71*. Limited VIP Packages are on sale for $171*,  offering the best seats and an exclusive post-show photo-op with Arquette.

For tickets, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or until show time on show days. For group discounts, contact Melissa Striedl, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (630) 723-2461. *Prices are for in-person purchases. Additional fees apply for phone and online orders.

Want to go behind-the-scenes of Chicago’s one and only puppet haunted house?

Rough House Puppet Arts’ House of the Exquisite Corpse returns October 8-November 1 at The Merle at Steppenwolf Theatre. New this year, the company is introducing an All-Inclusive Experience that includes ALL the perks: the show, a drink ticket, a giveaway at entry and a coveted backstage tour. 

First, you’ll join a small group of puppet horror voyeurs on visits to six rooms where you’ll peer through keyholes, cracks, and hidden doors to witness the carnage and gallows humor inside. Then, after the final entry, All-Inclusive VIPs will be welcomed back into the House and invited to step inside each room for a behind-the-scenes encounter with this year’s frightful puppets.

Rough House is offering All-Inclusive Experiences Thursdays and Sundays, October 8 - October 25, last entry time only. So treat yourself to something up close and spooky and help the arts thrive. The All-Inclusive Experience, $75 plus a $3 booking fee, is ideal for hardcore puppet horror fans and anyone looking for an all-new, immersive Halloween adventure. Limited spots available, so don’t sleep on this offer. Sign up now at  roughhousetheater.com/tickets.

Back for its sixth Halloween season, House of the Exquisite Corpse is a singularly immersive puppet horror experience with a new theme for 2026 - LULLABIES - that’s sure to keep you up at night. 

Fans of immersive experiences, haunted houses, literature, puppetry and live theater are the ideal audience for Chicago’s most unique Halloween destination. As the Chicago Reader put it, “if you want to move beyond schlock and shock into an elevated horror experience this October, look no further than House of the Exquisite Corpse.”

House of the Exquisite Corpse VI: LULLABIES runs October 8 - November 1: Thursdays through Saturdays, with timed entries starting at 6:50 p.m., continuing every 15 minutes until the last entry at 9:30 p.m. New this year! Sunday matinees, starting at 1:50 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now at roughhousetheater.com/tickets. Sliding scale, Pay What You Can suggested prices are $22 to $47. Note: This production is recommended for ages 13 and over. 

Steppenwolf Theatre’s The Merle is located at 1624 N. Halsted in Chicago’s Lincoln Park Neighborhood, just steps away from the CTA Red Line stop at North and Clybourn.

For more information, visit RoughHousePuppets.org and follow the company on Instagram and Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC), America's original jazz dance company, returns to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd. at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday Nov. 7. The engagement, part of GDC's 64th season, features the world premiere of "Caravan" by GDC Resident Choreographer Al Blackstone, a rework of his swing style full company work "Dumb Luck!" plus a mix of popular repertoire radiating GDC's signature energy and boundless spirit that has been showcased at North Shore Center since the Center's opening in 1996.

GDC is excited to present a world premiere, "Caravan" a solo work featuring GDC dancer Sasha Lazarus. This is Blackstone's fourth new work created for the company. "I'm so grateful for the push that Nan and Cesar give me to keep on asking how to continue elevating our beautiful art form that is jazz dance," says Blackstone.

The additional works program for the Nov. 6 & 7 engagement are scheduled to be as follows:

• "EXit 4" choreographed by Ronen Koresh (2013). Israeli Koresh's critically acclaimed, edgy, intense and dramatic full company work described by Stage and Cinema as "a fierce-to-ferocious, pile-driving set of four dances."

• "Gravity" choreographed by former GDC company member Lindsey Leduc (2009).This pas de deux provides a fresh look at young love and is described by Dance Magazine as "the portrait of a relationship based on release and submission."

• "Sabroso" (excerpts) choreographed by Del Dominguez & Laura Flores (2011). This sizzling full company ballroom work embraces elements of Cha-cha, Latin Swing and Mambo, and has been hailed as "A fiesta of swirling samba and equally hot social struts, flawlessly performed by the impeccable ensemble" (Stage and Cinema).

• "namuH" choreographed by Jon Rua (2026). This full-company piece fuses jazz and street styles for an urban funk sensibility. The Chicago Tribune says, "there's a rawness and refreshing degree of abstraction I wasn't expecting and, frankly, can't get enough of."

• "commonthread" choreographed by former GDC resident choreographer Autumn Eckman (2009). This work will be performed to an eclectic original music composition and live accompaniment by musician Dan Myers. Dance Magazine calls it "an undulating, lateral world of space and sound."

• "Dumb Luck!" a rework by Al Blackstone. Blackstone's jubilant full company work "Dumb Luck!" which originally debuted in GDC's April 2026 Harris Theater engagement, is in swing style and is infused with a contemporary flair.

Tickets

Tickets for the North Shore Center engagement are $35-$70. Fees apply over the phone and online. No additional fees in person at the box office. For tickets and more information visit northshorecenter.org or call 847.673.6300.

About Giordano Dance Chicago

America's original jazz dance company electrifies into their 64th season with radiance and infinite horizons. Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) is an iconic cultural institution with deep roots in Chicago and around the globe (28 countries, 47 states, and more than 1,300 cities). From founder Gus Giordano's vision, the company continues to honor the past while pushing the art form forward. Nan Giordano celebrates 42 years as an artistic leader responsible for commissioning innovative choreographic works and mentoring thousands of dancers. Alongside Nan, Associate Artistic Director, Cesar G. Salinas and the magnificent dancers are an integral part of the GDC legacy. Al Blackstone serves as Resident Choreographer, truly a testament that the art form of jazz dance is thriving. The company is one of the few in the world that has a foundational technique, Nan Giordano Certification Program®, with certified teachers in 9 countries and 36 states. GDC is committed to Youth Arts Education at home and on tour through mentorships, scholarships, and our free Chicago Public Schools and park programs. GDC is proud to be one of the longest running dance companies in the world, continuing to enrich lives through dance. For more information visit giordanodance.org.

Music Theater Works is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the third production of its 2026 season, Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, in the North Theatre, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, October 8 - November 1. Escape to Margaritaville has a book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley, with music and lyrics by Jimmy Buffett. Music Theater Works’ production is directed and choreographed by Brenda Didier with co-director Sarafina Vecchio and co-choreographer Clayton Cross and music directed by Linda Madonia. Escape to Margaritaville includes a preview performance Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. (Post-show discussion), Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. (Post-show discussion), Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (ASL interpreted performance), Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct 31 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale from $19.50 to $106 with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Memberships for the 2026 season are also available at MusicTheaterWorks.com and group discounts for 10 or more people are available by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Music Theater Works presents the first professional production of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville in Chicago since its pre-Broadway run. Set sail for a tropical getaway with this feel-good musical packed with island vibes and beloved Buffett classics. This lighthearted romantic comedy follows Tully, a laid-back island singer, and Rachel, a career-focused tourist, as their worlds collide at a beachfront resort. With a story about adventure, self-discovery and living life to the fullest, Escape to Margaritaville is the ultimate musical vacation for Parrot Heads and newcomers alike.

The cast of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville includes Brian Acker (he/him, Tully); Kate McQuillan (she/her, Rachel); Khaki Pixley (she/her, Tammy); Chase Grabowski (he/him, Brick); Dee Kimpel (she/her, Marley); Brian James (he/him, J.D.); Matt Frye (he/him, Chadd/ensemble/U/S Brick); Rachel Thomas (she/her, ensemble/U/S Rachel); Mackenzie Furlett (she/her, ensemble/U/S Tammy/dance captain); Andrew Faggion (he/him, Ted/ensemble/U/S Tully); Mikala Curless (she/her, ensemble); Ivan James (he/him, ensemble/U/S J.D./non-equity deputy); Jacob Merschel (he/they, Jamal/ensemble); Kelcy Taylor (she/her, ensemble); Kenny Miller (any with respect, ensemble/swing) and Juliet Lopez-Gutierrez (she/her, ensemble/swing).

Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville’s creative team includes Brenda Didier (she/her, director/choreographer); Sarafina Vecchio (she/her, co-director); Clayton Cross (he/him, co-choreographer); Linda Madonia (she/her, music director); Amber Wuttke (she/her, intimacy and violence choreographer); Kathy Logelin (she/her, dialect coach); Mack Finklea (she/they, stage manager); Ryker Blankenship (he/they, assistant stage manager); Bob Knuth (he/him, scenic designer); Ab Rieve (they/them, props designer); kClare McKellaston (she/her, costume designer); Kristen Brinati (she/her, wardrobe head); Melanie Saso (she/her, hair, wig and makeup designer); Carl Wahlstrom (he/him, sound designer); Kalyssa Montoya (she/her, assistant sound designer); Forrest Gregor (he/him, production sound engineer); Ben Lipinski (any, technical director); Liz Brachman (she/her, assistant technical director); Keely Vasquez (she/her, casting director); Chris Chase (he/him, production manager); Katie Meine (she/her, company manager) and Kyle Dougan-LeBlanc (any with respect, producing artistic director).

Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville’s orchestra includes Linda Madonia (she/her, keyboard/conductor); Cara Strauss (she/her, reed); Greg Strauss (he/him, trumpet); Eric von Holst (he/him, bass); Kyle Paul (he/him, guitar 1); Mike Lockler (he/him, guitar 2); Tina Laughlin (she/her, percussion) and Lindsay Williams (he/him, drums).

Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville Special Events

Post Show Discussions

Behind the Curtain with Thomas M. Shea

Audiences are invited to stay after the 2 p.m. performances on Sunday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 18 to join musical theater historian Thomas M. Shea, author of “Broadway’s Most Wanted,” for a post-show talk exploring the behind-the-scenes history of Escape to Margaritaville. Free with ticket, this engaging discussion is perfect for audiences to learn about the production, its history and more.

ASL Interpreted Performance

The Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. performance will be ASL interpreted.

Escape to Margaritaville Partnerships

TicketREACH

Music Theater Works supports more than 25 local nonprofits and community organizations and 18 area public libraries through distribution of a minimum of 600 free tickets for every production. TicketREACH is sponsored by Wintrust Financial and Northbrook Bank and Trust.

Jimmy Buffett’s Foundations

Music Theater Works is pleased to be promoting two of Jimmy Buffett's foundations, Singing for Change and Save The Manatee, through informational exhibits in the inner lobby of the theater during Escape to Margaritaville. Singing for Change "turns good vibes into good deeds" by honoring Jimmy Buffett’s spirit of giving, helping others and having fun along the way by offering grant support to thousands of nonprofits across the United States, including five organizations in Chicagoland. The mission of Save The Manatee is to protect manatees and their aquatic habitats for today and for future generations.

ABOUT BRENDA DIDIER, DIRECTOR and CHOREOGRAPHER

Brenda Didier is thrilled to make her Music Theater Works debut with this fun show! Didier is a freelance director and choreographer based in Chicago. Credits: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Goodman, Marriott, Paramount, Royal George Theatre, Theatre at the Center, Chicago Theatre, Theatre Wit, Porchlight Music Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago, Second City, Theo Ubique, City Lit, Six Flags and Busch Gardens theme parks and many others. Tours: The Kenny Rogers Christmas Tour and Cirque Shanghai-Navy Pier’s Skyline Stage with engagements at the Tropicana Resort in Atlantic City, Harrah’s in Las Vegas and The New Victory Theatre in New York’s Broadway District. Didier made her TV choreography debut with T-Mobile’s national commercial “Home for the Holidays”. She is a multiple Jeff Award recipient in both direction and choreography (Equity and Non-Equity wing), Guy Adkins Award recipient and artistic director/founder of the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance, now in its 29th Season. Upcoming: Jekyll and Hyde (Kokandy Productions/Broadway Playhouse), Christmas Carol at Paramount Theatre and Dead Outlaw with Porchlight Music Theater/Theater Wit. 

ABOUT SARAFINA VECCHIO, CO-DIRECTOR

Sarafina Vecchio is thrilled to be making her Music Theater Works debut! She is a director and actor in Chicago, as well as an educator at Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and Acting Studio Chicago. Chicago performing and directing credits include: Chicago Shakespeare, Lakeside Shakespeare, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Metropolis, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Timeline, Shattered Globe, Drury Lane, Invictus, Janus Theatre, The Other Theatre Company, North Central College, Elgin Community College and CCPA. Film: “Let's Start a Cult,” “Flatchested,” “North of the 10,” “Once Upon A Christmas Wish,” “Finding Hope” and “Coyote.” TV: “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Justice” and “Toon In With Me.” She is proud to be a member of SAG-AFTRA and is represented by Paonessa Talent. 

ABOUT CLAYTON CROSS, CO-CHOREOGRAPHER

Clayton Cross works nationwide as a choreographer, performer and dance instructor. Cross appeared in the ensemble of White Christmas at Paramount Theatre, as well as ensemble and dance captain of Rock of Ages with Mercury Theater Chicago and with Drury Lane in the ensemble and dance captain in Grease and ensemble in Evita. Cross choreographed West Side Story, Guys and Dolls and Brigadoon at Music Theater Works (MTW) and was last seen on the MTW stage as “Scuttle” in Disney’s The Little Mermaid and in the ensemble of Mamma Mia, and as choreographer for Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and Billy Elliot the Musical. He was choreographer in residence with Music Theater Works under the direction of Rudy Hogenmiller for seven seasons where he choreographed and/or performed in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as “Benjamin;” Hunchback of Notre Dame; How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Into the Woods; Anything Goes as ensemble; Pirates of Penzance as ensemble; Peter Pan as“Nana/Croc;” Gypsy as “Tulsa,” Mame as ensemble; Candide; Guys and Dolls; My Fair Lady; Die Fladermaus; The Fantastiks as “Mute” and Damn Yankees as “Eddie;” and was also in A Chorus Line as “Greg” with Porchlight Music Theatre. Cross also performed at Marriott Theatre in La Cage as “Mercedes.” Cross is an instructor and choreographer for M.A. Dance Nation, a Texas based traveling convention circuit, where he has been choreographing, teaching and judging since 1999. Cross has five times been a consultant and contributed choreography for the Capital One Bowl’s All American Halftime Show. Throughout his 25 year career as a dancer he has worked with Robert Battle, Fernando Bujones, Sherry Zunker, Paul Taylor and Anne Reinking. Cross’s television credits include “Every Dancer Has a Story,” a PBS special on the River North Chicago Dance Company, where he was a company member for 10 seasons and toured nationally and internationally. Cross is originally from Midland, TX where he received his early training from La Petite Dance Co., Coleman Academy and the Midland Community Theatre as a member of the Pickwick Players. Cross holds a double B.F.A. in ballet and modern dance from Texas Christian University.

ABOUT LINDA MADONIA, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Linda Madonia is thrilled to be back at Music Theater Works for Margaritaville where she has previously music directed West Side Story, CATS, Guys and Dolls, Shrek, Mamma Mia and Camelot. Other recent projects include Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages and Sister Act at Mercury Theater Chicago. Anything Goes, Cabaret and A Chorus Line at Porchlight Music Theatre. Madonia also serves as the contractor for the Chicago Federation of Musicians for Porchlight Music Theatre and Music Theater Works. She is the vocal coach for the master’s degree program in Music Theatre Pedagogy at Carthage College and owns American Eagle Productions, which has been at the forefront of Theatre Education in the Chicago area for the past 35 years.

ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS

Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in

1980. During its 45-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics. 

The Auditorium (Chicago's landmark stage at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) begins its 2026-27 Dance Season titled North American Dance with a highly anticipated performance by the acclaimed American ballet company Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH). The evening marks the company's first return to Chicago since 2016. Dance Theatre of Harlem will present a trio of works from the company's extensive repertoire, including the recently revived Firebird - a legendary reimagining of the traditional ballet based on a Russian folktale set in a lush Caribbean world. The one-night-only presentation takes place Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 PM at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. Tickets are $44-$154 and are available at auditoriumtheatre.org or by calling The Auditorium's Box Office at 312.341.2300.

Debuted in 1982, Firebird tells a timeless tale of love over evil set to the iconic classical score by Igor Stravinsky with a twist. Featuring choreography by John Taras, this Firebird takes place in a vibrant Caribbean setting brought to life through the rich sets and revolutionary costumes designed by Geoffrey Holder. DTH captivated the world touring with Firebird, which helped solidify the company's reputation as a global leader of the art form. After a twenty-year hiatus, DTH revived Firebird with a bold new production featuring recreated sets and costumes by Holder's son artist Leo Holder - preserving the integrity of the original design while updating the work for a new era.

In addition to Firebird, the evening will also include a performance of Donizetti Variations – a lively and technically demanding series of dances choreographed by George Balanchine set to music from composer Gaetano Donizetti's opera Don Sebastian. Rounding out the evening is Return choreographed by DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland. Created for DTH's 30^th anniversary, Return is a soulful, high-octane fusion of post-modern urbanism and neoclassicism set to the timeless music of James Brown and Aretha Franklin. 

"The Auditorium is absolutely thrilled to welcome Dance Theatre of Harlem back to Chicago for the first time in a decade," said Rich Regan, CEO of The Auditorium. "This is a truly special moment for our city and for everyone who loves the transformative power of dance. Founded by Arthur Mitchell—the first Black principal dancer of a major American ballet company—Dance Theatre of Harlem has spent more than five decades expanding our understanding of what ballet can be, who it can represent, and who gets to experience its beauty. This extraordinary program celebrates the remarkable depth, artistry, and stylistic range of the company, culminating in DTH's iconic reimagining of Firebird. It is a breathtaking work and an experience that simply must not be missed—not only for devoted dance lovers, but for anyone who wants to witness the power, beauty, and joy of live performance at its very best."

About The Auditorium

The Auditorium, a National Historic Landmark in the heart of downtown Chicago, is a nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to bringing people together through extraordinary performances, education, and community engagement. Since opening in 1889, The Auditorium has been a defining part of Chicago's cultural and architectural legacy, presenting world-class music, dance, theater, and a broad range of artistic and civic programming within its iconic building designed by legendary architects Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler. Located at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive - the center of Chicago, The Auditorium is committed to preserving and protecting its extraordinary historic home through ongoing preservation, restoration, stewardship, and care. Honoring its remarkable past while creating new experiences for audiences today, The Auditorium continues to inspire and connect people from Chicago and around the world.  For more information and a complete calendar of events, visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.

About Dance Theatre of Harlem
A singular force in the ballet world, New York-based company Dance Theatre of Harlem is internationally acclaimed for redefining what ballet looks like in the 21st century. With breathtaking athleticism and undeniable artistry, DTH bridges tradition and innovation—featuring beloved classics, neoclassical works by George Balanchine and Artistic Director Robert Garland, as well as innovative contemporary works that use the language of ballet to celebrate DTH founder Arthur Mitchell's belief that ballet belongs to everyone. Through performances, community engagement and arts education, the Company carries forward Dance Theatre of Harlem's message of empowerment through the arts for all. More information available at dancetheatreofharlem.org

The Gift Theatre, led by Artistic Directors Brittany Burch and Jennifer Glasse, continues its 25^th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of Hayward by Gift ensemble member Netta Walker, directed by AmBer Montgomery. Presented in Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, 1700 N Halsted St in Chicago, Hayward runs October 14 – November 15, 2026. The opening is Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 6:00 pm.

Tickets, priced at $45-50, are on sale now through Steppenwolf Theatre Company's box office, http://steppenwolf.org/hayward, and (312) 335-1650. Presenting this production during the Gift's anniversary season in Steppenwolf Theatre's 1700 Theatre feels like a homecoming for the company. Many in the ensemble first met at The School at Steppenwolf, and those experiences shaped how the company thinks about telling stories.

The cast features Gift ensemble members Shanésia Davis and Gregory Fenner and guest artists Ireon Roach, Sydney Charles, Victor Musoni, Watson Swift, and Alfred H. Wilson.

The creative team is AmBer Montgomery (director), Martel Manning  (assistant director), Sydney Lynne (scenic designer), Daniella Brown (sound designer), Saawan Tiwari (costume designer), G. "Max" Maxin (lighting designer), Mariah Bennett (props designer), Maya Vinice Prentiss (violence director), Sarah Luse (stage manager), Dorothy Craven (assistant stage manager), Tom Daniel (technical director and Jennifer Aparicio (production manager). Brittany Burch and Jennifer Glasse are co-artistic directors.

Hayward reimagines Hamlet and Electra through the eyes of Luna, who reveals to her family — on the day of their father's funeral — that his ghost has come to see her. Beneath the haunting, this is a love story: a daughter's love for her father, and the complicated, unresolved feelings he left behind. The story follows a family shaped by the trauma passed down by a father who served in the Navy during the Gulf War. Across grief, they reach for each other, trying, imperfectly, to come back together.

Developed through the Pearl Cleage Writers Workshop with Goodman Theatre and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, and named a semifinalist for the 2025 Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference, Hayward is exactly the kind of bold new work The Gift Theatre was built to tell.

The Gift Theatre Co-Artistic Directors Brittany Burch and Jennifer Glasse comment, "We are so excited to produce this powerful world premiere by Ensemble Member Netta Walker. As one of our newest ensemble members, Netta's history with The Gift goes back 10 years, beginning in 2017 when she understudied The Grapes of Wrath in her first professional play. After last summer's sold-out In the Works reading of Hayward, we are thrilled to bring this beautiful and deeply personal play to the stage."

Fact Sheet | Hayward

Playwright: Gift Theatre Ensemble Member Netta Walker

Director: AmBer Montgomery

Cast:    Gift Theatre Ensemble Members: Shanésia Davis and Gregory Fenner  

Guest Artists: Ireon Roach, Sydney Charles, Victor Musoni, Watson Swift, Alfred H. Wilson

Dates: October 14 – November 15, 2026

Audio description: November 12, 2026

Captioning: November 13, 2026

Location: Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, 1700 N Halsted St in Chicago

Tickets: $45-50

Box office: http://steppenwolf.org/hayward; (312) 335-1650

If you are a veteran who has served or is currently serving in the United States Armed Forces, we thank you for your service to our country.  Veterans may purchase tickets for $15 with code HAYWARDVET with an Active Duty, Reserve, or Retired Military ID Card.

About the Artists: Link to all artist bios and headshots

Netta Walker | Playwright

Netta Walker is an actor and playwright who began her career onstage in Chicago 10 years ago as the Rose of Sharon understudy at The Gift Theater for "The Grapes of Wrath". Now she is known for starring as Keisha McCalla in "All American: Homecoming" and "All American" on The CW for 3 seasons. In 2019, she won a Jeff Award for "Best Supporting Performance in a Play" ("Yen", Raven Theater) and was quickly named one of the Chicago Tribune's "Hot New Faces" by theater critic Chris Jones.

She studied playwriting at The LIR at Trinity College for a year while simultaneously taking acting classes at RADA. As a writer in the Pearl Cleage writers workshop with the Tony Award winning Goodman Theater and Remy Bumppo Theater Company, she began developing Hayward - which was choosen as a Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference 2025 Semifinalist. Her play keerah was selected as a winner in Definition Theaters' 2024 AMPLIFY New Play Festival, where it is set to be workshopped for two years. keerah has also been performed in scratch nights in London with Irish speaking casts. Her Filipino short film Balik won the Horror/Thriller short script category at Hollywood Just4Shorts Film and Screenplay competition, as well as being selected for London Film Festival International and Edinburgh FFI. This was swiftly followed by her short script Baby Gay being selected for the Chicago Script Awards and as a Cambridge Script Festival finalist (LGBTQ Screenplay). Both shorts were selected for the Best Script Awards screenplay competition in London in the same year. Walker was also chosen to pitch her original feminist dystopian series House of Dixie at the American Cinemtheque's Proof of Concept Film Festival in LA in 2024 - it then went on to be selected as a Quarterfinalist for WeScreenplays' Diverse Voices Lab Spring 2025. She is now adapting it for stage.

Chicago onstage acting credits include: Lion in Winter (Court Theater), How to Defend Yourself (Victory Gardens, original cast); Yen (Raven Theatre, Jeff Award for Best Supporting Actor); Hamlet, Grapes of Wrath (The Gift); No Child (Definition Theatre); Continuity (Goodman); truth and reconciliation (Sideshow Theatre Company); Great Expectations (Silk Road Rising/Remy Bumppo); The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (Northlight, original cast) and in workshops and reading series with companies like Steppenwolf Theater, Jackalope Theater, and Pride Films and Plays. Regional: Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Milwaukee Rep).

Born and raised on the Florida/Georgia line in the Westside of Jacksonville, Florida, her unique background as a child of an immigrant and a Navy Chief influences every decision of storytelling she makes. The blended cultures of Cebuano Filipina and traditional Southern African-American heritage fuel her passion for creating multicultural, multilayered, and nuanced representation of the human condition in the arts.

Special events:

These events happen immediately following the respective Sunday performances of Hayward:

October 25, 2026: Scholar Sunday | African American Literature & Psychology of Trauma Speakers: Tara Betts | Author & Professor in Peace, Conflict Studies and Social Justice at DePaul University & Judith Singleton | Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Dominican University

November 8, 2026: Scholar Sunday| The Role of African-American Soldiers in Literature | Speakers: Names to Follow 

The Gift Theatre's 25^th Anniversary Season continues with:

ANNUAL GHOSTLIT AT GALE STREET INN

Dinner and drinks are available for purchase with specialty cocktails designed for the event.

4914 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630 - Monday October 26th - Doors at 6:00pm

Tickets $25 online or $30 at the door

Come gather at the inn to warm your bones and chill your blood. Join The Gift Theatre for our annual evening of live ghost stories and haunting songs presented this year at The Gale Street Inn!

25th ANNIVERSARY BENEFÊTE PERFORMANCE

at Copernicus Center — Gateway Theatre 5216 W. Lawrence, Chicago, IL

December 7, 2026

Tickets $75, thegifttheatre.org and (773) 283-7071 | Tickets on sale now: https://thegifttheatre.org/event/homecoming-benefete/

The season will close out with a spectacular, one-night-only celebration honoring a quarter century of The Gift Theatre. This 25th Anniversary Benefête Performance, will be a night featuring our favorite scenes from over the years performed by ensemble members —the artists who have shaped this theatre across generations.

About The Gift Theatre
The Gift Theatre is a storefront nonprofit theater founded in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood, committed to creating accessible, inclusive, and impactful theatrical experiences. 

Our identity is defined by intimacy, collaboration, and a belief that live storytelling can inspire and transform both artist and audience. 

What began as a spatial limitation became a revelation. For nearly 20 years, we performed in a renovated shoe store—Chicago's smallest Equity theatre—where audience members sat just inches from the actors. That intimacy didn't just shape our work; it shaped who we are as artists.

We've learned to lean into the vulnerability and electricity that arise when actor and audience share the same breath, both fully present in mutual emotional exchange.

At the Gift, we are only interested in work that is challenging and transformative —stories that ask big questions and risk discomfort in pursuit of deeper understanding. We delight in the dark humor and unexpected joy that surface in life's messiest moments, reminding us that even pain can carry connection and light. We believe that every story, at its heart, is a love story—rooted in longing and a search for communion. 

Our programming isn't bound by genre but guided by character-driven, emotionally rich storytelling rooted in truth. Whether surreal or starkly naturalistic, each play we share reflects our commitment to creating spaces of deep connection—among artists, between artist and audience, and within our community.

Presenting this show during our anniversary season at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre feels like coming home — many in the ensemble first met at The School at Steppenwolf, and those experiences shaped how they think about telling stories.

The Gift Theatre Ensemble includes its newest members Jennifer Aparicio, Shanésia Davis, Angela Morris, Jennifer Rumberger, Netta Walker, and Patrick Weber. They join fellow ensemble members Daniel Ahlfeld, Cyd Blakewell, Brittany Burch, Hillary Clemens Harbor, Jenny Connell Davis, John Kelly Connolly (in memoriam), Paul D'Addario, Brendan Donaldson, Will Eno, James D. Farruggio, Gregory Fenner, Ed Flynn, Gabriel Franken, John Gawlik, Maggie Andersen Gawlik, Emjoy Gavino, Jennifer Glasse, Andrew Hinderaker, Chika Ike, Evan Michael Lee, Sarah Luse, Marti Lyons, Alexandra Main, Martel Manning, Laura Marks, Kenny Mihlfried, Benjamin Montague, William Nedved, Darci Nalepa, Keith Neagle, Lynda Newton, Sheldon Patinkin (in memoriam), Maureen Payne-Hahner, David Preis, David  Rabe, Mary Ann Thebus (in memoriam), Michael Patrick Thornton, Hannah Toriumi, Erica Weiss, Jay Worthington, and Kyle Zornes.

Steep Theatre will open its new theater this coming January with the U.S. Premiere of playwright Simon Stephens' A Slow Fire. The production, which opens January 22, 2027, will be directed by Steep Ensemble Member Robin Witt and continues the company's long-running relationship with its Tony and Olivier Award-winning Artistic Associate, Stephens. A Slow Fire will mark the company's much-anticipated return in its new home and a full-production calendar. Season tickets are now available online at Steeptheatre.com 

In A Slow Fire, Ashton and Reece shelter in a converted storage unit in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. They sustain themselves by reenacting moments of hope from their past until forces from the outside world challenge how best to carry hope forward. 

A Slow Fire premiered in January 2026 at Glass Mask Theatre in Dublin and made its London premiere August 2026 at the Jermyn Street Theatre in the West End. Simon Stephens is a Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright whose plays have been widely produced in the UK, Europe, Australia, and the US. Stephens is an artistic associate at the Lyric Hammersmith and has been an associate playwright of Steep Theatre since 2013. Director Robin Witt has directed six of Steep's Simon Stephens productions, including Light Falls and Harper Regan.

"Steep's new home will be a testament to the extraordinary faith and generosity of so many in our community," said Steep's Artistic Director, Peter Moore. "I can think of no better way to mark our homecoming than with a new work from our dear friend Simon that celebrates storytelling, community, and hope - albeit in a very Steep way."

Steep's new theater, located at 1044 W. Berwyn, will be a dynamic theatrical venue that reflects the company's commitment to fearless storytelling, inclusive collaboration, and community building. The company has partnered with Civic Projects Architecture, which has been recognized for its experience with community-oriented space, prioritizing universal design and physical accessibility. Steep also worked with Norcon, Inc. to manage the construction of the new space and CharcoalBlue as theater and venue consultants. 

The acquisition and renovation of Steep's new home were made possible by the extraordinary generosity of Steep patrons and community, a grant from the Paul Angell Foundation, a capital funding grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the City of Chicago, which awarded Steep more than $3.8 million in grant funds to support the project.

Called 'the most fearless theater in town' by the Chicago Tribune, Steep has produced over 80 plays with remarkable critical and commercial success, earning 63 Jeff Award nominations, 12 Jeff Awards, and recognition on numerous "Best of" lists, including the Tribune's Top Ten Shows of the Year and WBEZ's Top Ten Shows of the Decade.

WHAT:

The U.S. Premiere of

A Slow Fire

by Simon Stephens

Directed by Robin Witt

Sheltered in a converted storage unit in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Ashton and Reece sustain themselves by reenacting moments of hope from their past, until forces from the outside world challenge how best to carry hope forward. 

WHERE:

Steep Theatre

1044 West Berwyn Avenue

Chicago, IL 60640

WHEN:

January 22 – February 28, 2027

Previews: January 16, 17, and 21, 2027

Press Opening: Friday, January 22, 2027 at 7:30pm

Schedule: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm | Sunday matinees at 3 pm

Accessible Performances: To be announced

Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-649-3186 for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Web: www.steeptheatre.com

Phone: 773-649-3186

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Steep Theatre Company

1044 W Berwyn Ave.

Chicago, Illinois 60640

Social:

Facebook: SteepTheatre

Instagram: @steeptheatre

LinkedIn: @SteepTheatreCompany

CAST

Nate Faust*

Peter Moore*

Melissa Riemer*

Omer Abbas Salem*

CREATIVE TEAM:

Director: Robin Witt*

Stage Manager: Lauren Lassus*

Production Manager: Jennifer Aparicio

Scenic Design: Sotirios Livaditis

Lighting Design: Brandon Wardell*

Costume Design: Sally Dolembo

Sound Design: Thomas Dixon*

Props Design: Spencer Diaz Tootle

Dramaturg: Jean Marie Higgins

Intimacy and Violence Consultant: Christina Gorman

Assistant Director: Spencer Diedrick

* denotes Steep Ensemble Member 

Production Sponsors: Ken Burlington, James T. O'Neill, Timothy Sherck, Barbara & Randy Thomas, Lisa & Randy White, and Martha Anne & Stephen Yandle 

Steep Theatre is supported in part through generous grants from the Paul Angell Foundation, the Bayless Family Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for its world premiere of Chicago playwright Stephanie Alison Walker's biting satire Adirondack Chair Circle, directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Downstate, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?).

The Adirondack Chair Circle cast features a stellar lineup of talent including ensemble member Caroline Neff, who returns to the Steppenwolf stage, adding to her extensive Steppenwolf credits including Mr. Wolf, Fool for Love, POTUS and Another Marriage. She is joined by David Darrow, who dazzled Steppenwolf audiences as Mozart in last season's record-breaking Amadeus. Broadway favorite Katrina Lenk, who received Tony and Grammy Awards for her turn in The Band's Visit, returns to Steppenwolf for the first time since 2005's Lost Land. Making her Steppenwolf debut is Chicago actor Wendy Mateo, while Sadieh Rifai returns to Steppenwolf after captivating audiences in last year's You Will Get Sick.

Launching Steppenwolf's 51^st Season, Adirondack Chair Circle will play October 22 — December 6, 2026 in Steppenwolf's Ensemble Theater, 1646 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. Single tickets are now on sale at steppenwolf.org or the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. 

About the Production:

A gaggle of suburban moms, armed with pickleball paddles and hard kombucha, are ready to take on the school board in the fight of their lives: attempting to ban the controversial books available to their kids in the school library. But is this trusted inner circle all on the same page? A piercing world premiere from a Chicago playwright, Stephanie Alison Walker's Adirondack Chair Circle exposes the hilarious hypocrisy of the causes we claim and the company we keep. And has a damn good time doing it.

The creative team includes Todd Rosenthal (Scenic Design), Izumi Inaba (Costume Design), Barbara Samuels (Lighting Design), Mikhail Fiksel (Sound Design), Nicholas Hussong (Projection Design), Steph Paul (Choreographer), Kate DeVore (Vocal Coach), Bryar Barborka (Dramaturg), Patrick Zakem (Creative Producer), Elise Hausken (Production Manager), JC Clementz, CSA (Casting), Michelle Medvin (Production Stage Manager) and Kathleen Barrett (Assistant Stage Manager). For full cast and creative team bios, click here.

Production Details:

Title: Adirondack Chair Circle
Playwright: Stephanie Alison Walker
Director: Pam MacKinnon
Cast: ensemble member Caroline Neff (Evelyn Grace) with David Darrow (Crow), Katrina Lenk (Banna), Wendy Mateo (Winona) and Sadieh Rifai (Libby).
Understudies: Tiffany Bedwell (Banna), Brittany Burch (Evelyn Grace), Alex Casillas (Winona), Warren Keith Duncan (Crow) and Erinn Fredin (Libby).

Location: Steppenwolf's Ensemble Theater, 1646 N. Halsted St., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Thursday, October 22 – Saturday, October 31, 2026
Opening: Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 6 pm
Regular run: Tuesday, November 3 – Sunday, December 6, 2026
Curtain Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 3 pm & 7:30 pm; and Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will not be 7:30 pm performances on Tuesday, October 27, Thursday, November 5, Tuesday, November 10, Wednesday, November 18, Wednesday, November 25, Thursday, November 26 and Tuesday, December 1; there will be an added 2 pm matinees on Wednesday, November 25 and Wednesday, December 2.

Tickets: Classic Memberships starting as low as $165 are now on sale for Steppenwolf's 2026/27 season at steppenwolf.org/myseason. Single tickets for Adirondack Chair Circle ($20 – $149*) are now on sale at steppenwolf.org and the Box Office at (312) 335-1650. Steppenwolf Flex Memberships are currently on sale: Black Card Memberships with six tickets for use any time for any production and RED Card Memberships for theatergoers under 30. *Pricing includes an $8.50 handling fee

Steppenwolf offers 20 tickets for $20 (no added fees) for each performance of every Main Series production. Use promo code 20FOR20 to redeem this offer online, available in advance until they're sold out for every main series show. Limit 2 tickets per person. You can also purchase by phone at (312) 335-1650 on the day-of show at 12 pm for main series performances. Limit 2 tickets per person.

Accessible Performance Dates:

Audio-Described and Touch Tour: Sunday, November 22 at 3 pm (1:30 pm Touch Tour)
Open-Captioned: Saturday, November 7 at 3 pm, Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, November 28 at 3 pm
ASL-Interpreted: Friday, December 4 at 7:30 pm

Education and Engagement:

Throughout the 2026/27 season, Steppenwolf continues its commitment to the next generation of theatre learners, makers and appreciators with robust education and engagement programming. Programming includes dedicated student matinee performances during four of the five Main Series productions including Topdog/Underdog, Adirondack Chair Circle, The Comeuppance and Ellen B., in-school residencies in partnership with Chicago Public schools, workshops, panels and events specifically geared towards teens, as well as professional development trainings and resources for educators. For additional information about Steppenwolf's Education and Engagement programming and to register your school for a field trip visit steppenwolf.org/education-community/school-teacher-programs/field-trips.

The hilarious musical parody Menopause the Musical® is on a 25th Anniversary National Tour this fall, and Aurora’s Paramount Theatre is the only Chicago-area stop, one-show-only, Saturday, October 17 at 3 p.m.

What better way to celebrate National Menopause Awareness Month in October, than gathering your favorite gal pals to enjoy the best feel good cure-all of all: a healthy dose of comedy.

In Menopause the Musical, four women at a lingerie sale have nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more. Set to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, this hilarious musical parody will have audiences cheering and dancing in the aisles. 

Join the party and see what more than 15 million women and fans worldwide have been laughing about for 25 years - this uproariously funny celebration of women and “The Change.”

Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, with easy, affordable parking and plenty of new restaurants nearby. Tickets to Menopause the Musical are $40-$70*. For tickets, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or until show time on show days. For group discounts, contact Melissa Striedl, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (630) 723-2461.