My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Photo Flash: First Look at THE LAST DEFENDER, Extending at The House Theatre of Chicago

By:

After selling out more than 90 percent of the live action game times for The House Theater of Chicago's THE LAST DEFENDER, the show is extending four additional weeks (46 performances), running March 30 through April 23, 2016 at The Chopin Theater Downstairs, 1543 W. Division St. Plus, BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Artistic Director Nathan Allen and Company Member and D.C. Comics artist Chris Burnham, have teamed up with some of Chicago's best loved puzzle and game designers in this world premiere. Together, they created a wholly new experiment in immersive story and stagecraft call THE LAST DEFENDER. It's part performance, part puzzle hunt, and part live action game.

Set during the Cold War, THE LAST DEFENDER draws on the era's sense of paranoia, and fear of nuclear attack to give audiences a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience. Audience members become the heroes of the story in The Defenders' underground headquarters. The United States and The Soviet Union are still mired in the Cold War. Artificial intelligence has been deployed alongside 8 bit arcade-style computer technologies to control our nuclear weapons.

The game will present teams of players with a classic "trolley problem" resulting in three possible endings based on their choices and actions: Nuclear War, which is easy to achieve. Nuclear Peace, which is very difficult, and a costly compromise scenario for teams who fail to reach Nuclear Peace but wish to avoid Nuclear War. Players will navigate their own paranoia, as well as the stresses of Mutually Assured Destruction to do the job of The Defenders. Everyone will work as a team to gather information, solve puzzles, and make increasingly difficult decisions in real time. All to complete The Defenders' mission and save the world.

Photo Credit: Johnny Knight

Photo Flash: First Look at THE LAST DEFENDER, Extending at The House Theatre of Chicago Image
The cast of THE LAST DEFENDER

Photo Flash: First Look at THE LAST DEFENDER, Extending at The House Theatre of Chicago Image
The cast of THE LAST DEFENDER

Photo Flash: First Look at THE LAST DEFENDER, Extending at The House Theatre of Chicago Image
The cast of THE LAST DEFENDER

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Revival of a Play - Top 3
1. Death of a Salesman
29.5% of votes
2. Every Brilliant Thing
27% of votes
3. Oedipus
8.7% of votes

Need more Chicago Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


Windfall in Chicago Windfall
Steppenwolf Theatre Company (4/09-5/31)
South Pacific in Chicago South Pacific
Paramount Arts Centre (4/29-6/14)
The Outsiders  in Chicago The Outsiders
The Cadillac Palace Theatre (8/04-8/16)
Scaramouche in Chicago Scaramouche
City Lit Theater Company (5/01-6/14)
2026 Festival Concert in Chicago 2026 Festival Concert
Westminster Presbyterian Church (6/05-6/05)
Rick Ross Live OUTDOOR Concert at Basecamp in Chicago Rick Ross Live OUTDOOR Concert at Basecamp
BaseCamp Pub (8/01-8/01)
Brooks And Dunn in Chicago Brooks And Dunn
Vibrant Arena at The MARK (10/03-10/03)
OUTDOOR SHOW- The Morgan Wallen Experience in Chicago OUTDOOR SHOW- The Morgan Wallen Experience
BaseCamp Pub (8/22-8/22)
Bach Iben Organ Marathon in Chicago Bach Iben Organ Marathon
Westminster Presbyterian Church (5/31-5/31)
Bride To Be in Chicago Bride To Be
Newport Theater (6/05-6/05)