DIAL M FOR MURDER to be Presented at Oil Lamp Theater

Oil Lamp Theater has revealed the final production in its 2026 season,the classic thriller with a modern twist, Dial M for Murder. The final production in Oil Lamp’s 2026 season will run October 2 – November 1, 2026 and joins the previously announced productions that includes a comedy of campaign chaos, The Outsider, January 23 - February 22, 2026, followed by a wild play with zero filter, Poor Behavior,  April 10 - May 10, 2026, then the latest Broadway musical from Jason Robert Brown, The Last Five Years, June 5 - July 5, 2026, and the season continues with a musical audiences will fall in love with, I Love You Because, August 14 - September 13, 2026. 

The 2026 Oil Lamp Theater season includes:

THE OUTSIDER 

January 23 – February 22 
By Paul Slade Smith 

Directed by Scott Westerman

Preview Performances: Friday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m. 

Opening Night: Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. 

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.;  Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m.

When the sitting governor gets kicked out of office for, you guessed it, corruption, it’s time for someone new to take the throne… uh...the role. And the polls are in, it's time for an outsider. Enter bumbling brainiac Ned Newley. With bright ideas and hope in his eyes, he’s the perfect candidate - on paper. It will take a team of dedicated pollsters, campaign coordinators and more notecards than one can count, to turn him into a poised politician who can expertly avoid questions like it's his job. This knee-slappingly hilarious play will have the audience reaching across the aisle to share a laugh. Audiences may even find a renewed sense of hope for politics…okay maybe not… but they'll at least enjoy an absolutely hysterical and highly entertaining break from the news.

POOR BEHAVIOR 

April 10 – May 10, 2026

By Theresa Rebeck

Directed by Lauren Katz

Preview Performances: Friday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 11 at 3 p.m. 

Opening Night: Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, April 15 at 11 a.m and 3 p.m.; Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, April 29 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m.

A visit from old friends takes an unexpected turn when a bombshell accusation throws niceties out the window. Hospitality turns to havoc. Sanity shatters into shambles. Manners take a backseat as two couples are pushed to their limits during a weekend in the country. Will they be able to pick up the pieces over wine and muffins or will their poor behavior leave them irrevocably broken? Find out in this sharp-witted play by acclaimed playwright Theresa Rebeck. 

THE LAST 5 YEARS 

June 5 – July 5, 2026
Book, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown 

Directed by Christina Ramirez

Preview performances: Friday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday June 6 at 3 p.m. 

Opening Night: Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. 

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, June 10 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, June 24 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and Wednesday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. There are no performances on Saturday, July 4. 

Straight from Broadway, Jason Robert Brown’s musical masterpiece The Last Five Years comes to Oil Lamp Theater. This widely beloved show takes audiences on the romantic rollercoaster of Jamie and Cathy as they fall in and out of love over the last five years. Told from each individual’s perspective – one chronologically and one backwards – audiences will be swept into the unique storytelling and find an anti-love story full of humor and heart. Hailed as a powerful and intimate production, this Drama Desk Award-winner for Outstanding Music is not to be missed. 

I LOVE YOU BECAUSE 

August 14 – September 13, 2026
Book and Lyrics by Ryan Cunningham 
Music by Joshua Salzman

Directed by Scott Shallenbarger

Preview Performances: Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Aug. 15 at 3 p.m .

Opening Night: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. 

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Modern dating is a mess. Sometimes to find Mr. Right you need to find Mr. Wrong even if that means seeing someone stuck on their ex, awkward encounters of the intimate kind and lots of horrible coffee dates. Opposites attract in this feel-good musical that will transport audiences into the heart of your favorite guilty pleasure rom-com. Created by acclaimed musical team Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman and inspired by Jane Austen’s gold-standard romance novel “Pride and Prejudice,” this delightful musical will make you fall head over heels. 

DIAL M FOR MURDER 

October 2 – November 1, 2026
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the original play by Frederick Knott

Directed by Daniel King

Preview Performances: Friday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday Oct. 3 at 3 p.m. 

Opening Night: Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. 

Performance schedule: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with additional Wednesday performances Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Wednesday Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday Oct. 21 at 11:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Alfred Hitchcock’s adored, chilling thriller gets a modern twist that no one will see coming. A murderous misstep begins a high-stakes hunt for the real criminal as time is quickly running out. This captivating, heart-racing play leaves audiences on the edge of their seats while the mystery of the year unravels before their eyes. Will the clues unlock the right person, or will an innocent victim pay the price? The suspense is to die for…

Chicago Awards - Live Stats

Best Musical - Top 3

1. RENT (Highland Park Players)

6.9% of votes

2. HAIRSPRAY (Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park)

6.6% of votes

3. DREAMGIRLS (The Drama Group)

6.6% of votes

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