Oil Lamp Theater is proud to present the first production of its 2026 season, The Outsider, written by Paul Slade Smith and directed by Scott Westerman, January 23 - February 22, 2026 at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road. 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.
The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. There will be additional Wednesday performances Jan. 28 and Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. There will be an understudy performance on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.Tickets are on sale now for $30 for previews and $55 for the run at OilLampTheater.org.
Oil Lamp Theater is at 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview, IL.
It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (11/20/25-12/28/25)
Gaslight (10/2/25-11/2/25)
Side by Side by Sondheim (8/15/25-9/14/25)
The Marvelous Wonderettes (6/6/25-6/29/25)
Lifespan of a Fact (3/14/25-4/6/25)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (1/24/25-2/16/25)
First Date (9/5/24-10/20/24)
The Revolutionists (3/16/23-4/30/23)
Almost, Maine (1/19/23-2/26/23)
It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (11/25/22-12/30/22)
Videos
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Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Paramount Theatre (11/12 - 1/11) | |
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A Soulful Motown Christmas Holiday Cabaret
Harris Theater (12/13 - 12/13) CONCERT HOLIDAY SHOW | |
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Anthony Rapp: Home for the Holidays
Lookingglass Theatre Company (12/17 - 12/20) | |
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Jingle Belles Comedy
Raue Center For The Arts (12/11 - 12/11) | |
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A Carpenters Christmas
Raue Center For The Arts (12/10 - 12/10) | |
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Amadeus
Steppenwolf Theatre Company (11/6 - 1/4) | |
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RCSA presents A Cripple Creek Christmas Carol
Raue Center For The Arts (11/21 - 12/7) | |
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Miracle on South Division Street
Citadel Theatre (11/14 - 12/14)
DISCOUNT
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Elgin Symphony Orchestra
Raue Center For The Arts (12/12 - 12/12) | |
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It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!
American Blues Theater (11/21 - 12/28) | |
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Sister Act
Drury Lane Theatre (11/12 - 1/11) | |
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Arthur and Friends Make a Musical
Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center (2/14 - 2/22) | |
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A Neil Diamond Story
Raue Center For The Arts (1/30 - 1/30) | |
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