Robert R. McCormick

Victory Gardens Theater has announced a Chicago tour of its production of Pipeline, written by 2018 MacArthur Fellow Dominique Morisseau and directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce. As a leader in developing and producing new theater work and cultivating an inclusive Chicago theater community, Victory Gardens will tour the production this spring with free performances at six locations on the South and West sides of Chicago, bringing this highly praised work into local communities, March 16 - 21, 2020.

The Victory Gardens Theater Board of Directors and Artistic Director Chay Yew today announce plans for Yew's departure from Victory Gardens at the end of the 2019-20 Season. An internationally renowned stage director and playwright, Yew has been the Artistic Director of Victory Gardens since July 2011. Yew will finish his ninth and final season through June 2020, and will pursue personal projects upon leaving the theater.

Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor announces the 6th year of Soul of a Powerful Woman, a performance to help raise funds for the Black Ensemble Theater to support its mission of eradicating racism through the theater arts.  Co-created by Jackie Taylor, and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Soul of a Powerful Woman has become a premier annual event having raised more than $300,000 to support Black Ensemble Theater programs.  

Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events are thrilled to announce hip-hop star Desiigner (“Panda”) as the headliner for YAS! Fest, the youth arts showcase for the Year of Creative Youth presented by Allstate Insurance Company on Saturday, September 22 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Opening for Desiigner's mainstage performance is 19-year-old breakout artist Ravyn Lenae, a graduate of Chicago High School for the Arts, fresh off her performance at Pitchfork Music Festival last month.

Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) will honor 35 outstanding young artists selected for the city's 2018 Rising Star Honor Roll at a private reception tonight, August 8, at the Chicago Cultural Center. Recognized for their creative leadership and exceptional artistic talents, the young artists were nominated directly by their mentors from arts organizations, school arts programs and community organizations in the following areas: music, theatre, dance, visual arts, media arts, literary arts and culinary arts. The full list of 2018 Rising Star honorees and nominating organizations follows.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) opens its new, innovative third theater on Navy Pier, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on September12 and the inaugural performance -- James Thierr e's The Toad Knew -- on September 19. Introducing a new trend in theatrical architecture, The Yard combines adaptive reuse with innovation in flexible design.

Navy Pier, Chicago's mission-driven cultural district, has commissioned world-renowned contemporary artist Nick Cave and international architect and MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang for Here Hear Chicago, a new site-specific project that incorporates art, design and performance.

The innovative educational program that launched last year at Hamilton on Broadway, in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation, will debut in Chicago today, February 22, when 1,900 students and teachers from 30 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) attend the matinee performance of the musical at Broadway In Chicago's The PrivateBank Theatre (18 W. Monroe Street).

The innovative educational program that launched last year at Hamilton on Broadway, in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation, will debut in Chicago on February 22 when 1,900 students and teachers from 30 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) attend the matinee performance of the musical at Broadway In Chicago's The PrivateBank Theatre (18 W. Monroe Street).

World-renowned tenor Anthony Kearns joins a star-studded musical cast in 'America Salutes You,' a multi-platform broadcast celebrating active duty military, veterans, and veterans' causes.

Active members of the military, veterans and their families will be honored over Thanksgiving weekend during America Salutes You, a star-studded musical spectacular asking viewers for their financial support of programs that assist military communities across the country.

"America Salutes You," a concert honoring those who serve in the military, veterans and their families, will take place on Saturday, November 12 at 8pm CT at the Rosemont Theater outside of Chicago in Rosemont, Illinois.

American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, under the continued leadership of Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, hosts 2016 Ripped: The Living Newspaper Festival on Tuesday, May 17, 2016.

Chicago Shakespeare Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, Executive Director Criss Henderson and Board Chair Sheli Z. Rosenberg were joined by Navy Pier, Inc. CEO Marilynn Gardner and Board Chair William J. Brodsky as well as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today to announce the creation of an innovative performance venue, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. Construction on the theater begins this spring; Chicago Shakespeare plans to stage its first production in The Yard in the 2017-18 Season.

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the lineup for its 2016 - 2017 Season, "Define Yourself."

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) launches its 26th Fall Festival, featuring 130 events which will explore the theme of 'Citizens', today, Oct. 24, through Nov. 8, 2015 at venues across Chicago.

Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) has announced its 26th Annual Benefit Evening tonight, September 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (N Michigan Ave at Delaware Pl). The Benefit Evening will feature author and Aspen Institute president Walter Isaacson in conversation with Mellody Hobson, president, Ariel Investments. Isaacson will participate in the CHF Benefit Evening following a public program at 5:30 p.m. the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago (126 E Chestnut St). Proceeds from both programs will directly advance the CHF's mission to create opportunities for people of all ages to support, enjoy, and explore the humanities. Additionally, proceeds from the event's paddle raise will support CHF's EdLab education and outreach initiatives.

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) announced today the complete schedule for the 26th Fall Festival, 130 events which will explore the theme of Citizens, Oct. 24-Nov. 8, 2015 at venues across Chicago.

Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) has announced its 26th Annual Benefit Evening on Tuesday, September 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (N Michigan Ave at Delaware Pl). The Benefit Evening will feature author and Aspen Institute president Walter Isaacson in conversation with Mellody Hobson, president, Ariel Investments. Isaacson will participate in the CHF Benefit Evening following a public program at 5:30 p.m. the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago (126 E Chestnut St). Proceeds from both programs will directly advance the CHF's mission to create opportunities for people of all ages to support, enjoy, and explore the humanities. Additionally, proceeds from the event's paddle raise will support CHF's EdLab education and outreach initiatives.

Closing out the celebration of the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University's 125th Anniversary Season, the Auditorium's Creative Engagement Department announces community initiatives that will continue through the entire summer. The award-winning summer camp "Hands Together, Heart to Art" ("HTHTA") returns for the 11th year July 6 - 31, allowing children ages 7-14 who have experienced the loss of one or both parents the opportunity to use the performing arts to encourage communication, foster emotional growth and provide young people with the consolation of friendship and compassion from their peers and instructors. The theatre will also introduce the new "Brave Face Project," a devised play created to shine light on women's roles in society with performances June 26 - 28 in the Katten/Landau Studio. In a continuing effort to encourage young talent, the Auditorium's "Made in Chicago" Summer Dance Intensive invites dancers (ages 11-18) to take part in a unique opportunity to train with some of the best professional dancers in the city June 29 - July 3 at the Auditorium.