36TH ANNUAL RHINOCEROS THEATER FESTIVAL at Curious Theatre Branch

Curious Theatre Branch and Prop Thtr are pleased to announce the 36th Annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival, the return of Chicago’s longest running theatre festival. The 2025 Rhino Fest returns September 5 - 28 at Facility Theatre, 1138 N. California Ave. in Humboldt Park, Labyrinth Arts Club, 3658 N. Pulaski Ave. in Avondale and Jarvis Square Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave. in Rogers Park. For more than three decades, Rhino Fest has endeavored to welcome as many theater and performance companies and artists from Chicago and across the nation. This year’s festival kicks off with a special Full Moon Vaudeville Concert, Saturday, Aug. 30, headlined by art/folk/cabaret act The Crooked Mouth and includes special guests. 

Following last year’s 35th Annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival, the largest in its history, the 2025 Rhino Fest features plays, music and performances from more than 40 companies and solo artists with a focus on new work created in Chicago featuring themes of resistance and rebellion. Complete line up at RhinoFest.com.

This year’s festival includes nearly 30 performances in a variety of media including solo work, plays, multi-media performance, music and post dramatic theater including longtime Rhino favorite BoyGirlBoyGirl, award-winning writer and storyteller Idris Goodwin, award-winning playwright and audio dramatist Jessica Wright-Buha, Chicago storefront founding set designer and theatre maker Rick Paul, filmmaker Wendy Jo Carlton & director/playwright/professor Cecilie Keenan, actor Charles Pike with playwright and digital artist David Hauptschein, poetry and movement artist Maya Odim, theater company Tellin Tales, theater company El Bear and musician Keith Fort with a one-time Country-Western band. The 2025 line of performances is available at RhinoFest.com.

Tickets to the 2025 Rhinoceros Theater Festival are offered at pay-what-you-can pricing, with a $20 suggested price and are on sale now at RhinoFest.com.