Cirque Us Stories
Ages 3+. This joyful, high-flying performance brings stories off the page and into the air, weaving together themes of community, identity, and creativity through breathtaking
About the Theatre
The Center’s vision is to bring together diverse artists and audiences to create experiences and memories that activate compassion and transform the world. The Center for Performing Arts was founded in 1995, culminating a 10-year quest to bring a world-class performing arts facility to the Chicago Southland. Since its inception, the Center has served over 1.5 million individuals, introduced over 300,000 schoolchildren to arts-in-education experiences, and welcomed over 8,000 artists and touring companies; presenting dozens of local, national and world premieres. The Center annually serves over 50,000 residents from Cook, Will, and Kankakee counties in Northeast Illinois and Lake County in Northwest Indiana. In 2012, guided by the vision of creating an “arts infused university”, the Center became a unit of the College of Arts and Sciences. Our state-of-the art facility seats 1,165 patrons and is located at a vibrant and dynamic university setting that also houses an on-site Visual Arts Gallery and The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park (theNate), offering unique opportunities for pre- and post-show activities and gatherings. With free parking, a convenient location accessible to major highways and presentations ranging from opera to family programs, our venue has served as a vibrant cultural destination in the southland community since 1995.Upcoming Shows
SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure!
This bilingual musical follows 12-year-old Vita as she discovers the meaning of remembrance and heritage through a magical journey with a lively candy skeleton.
Swan Lake by the United European Ballet Company
Step into the enchanting world of Swan Lake — a breathtaking story of love, magic, and triumph, brought to life through the legendary choreography of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, set to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score.
Arrested Development
Hip-hop trailblazers and Grammy award winners Arrested Development perform incredible music about self-reflection and revolution. This show features classic hits like “Tennessee”, “People Everyday”, “Mr Wendal” and more. Along with music from their 2025 double album Bullets in...
William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Ages 12+. Step into a fresh, playful take on one of William Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Performed by student and community artists from GovState’s Theatre and Performance Studies Department.
J is for Jazz: A Celebration of Oscar Brown, Jr.
Ages 5+. Experience the vibrant history and cultural impact of jazz through J is for Jazz, an interactive musical theater event honoring Oscar Brown Jr., featuring his daughters Maggie and Afrika, as Jae teaches her brother, Jason, about jazz's richness.
Ruth Page's The Nutcracker
Experience the beloved holiday classic featuring Clara, her magical godfather, a prince, and delightful performances by international artists and the Southland’s dance students in a stunning recreation of Ruth Page's original choreography.
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Ages 8+. Experience the nostalgia of classic radio theater as talented actors bring George Bailey, Clarence the angel, and the residents of Bedford Falls to life. You will be transported into a vintage radio studio, complete with a Foley artist creating sound effects right...
The Greatest Love of All
A Tribute to Whitney Houston Starring Belinda Davids Not Affiliated with the Estate of Whitney Houston Whitney Houston’s musical legacy is brought to life in this critically acclaimed tribute concert described as “mind-blowingly spot on.” You will be stunned by the breathtaking...
Robert Townsend’s Living the Shuffle
Natural-born storyteller Robert Townsend (known for FX’s The Bear, Meteor Man, A Soldier’s Story, and The Five Heartbeats) takes you on a rollercoaster ride, from the dangerous Chicago streets, to performing Julius Caesar at a pimp convention in NYC. This one-man show takes you...
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra presents: Carmina Burana
Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana is not merely a concert; it is an event and a work of extremes. The opening and closing O Fortuna is one of the most overwhelming things a symphony orchestra and chorus can produce — a wall of sound that hits you in the sternum. Then, without warning...
Once On This Island
Once on This Island, by the Tony Award-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, is a Caribbean adaptation of The Little Mermaid that follows Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with a wealthy boy named Daniel. As the gods wager on whether love or...
The Doo Wop Project presents Echoes of the Street
The Doo Wop Project, America’s premiere Doo Wop group, brings their dynamic 90-minute show “Echoes of the Street,” featuring classic Doo Wop hits and reimagined contemporary songs, to life for audiences of all ages. Experience their unique blend of nostalgia and modernity and...
The Southland Creative Spotlight
Experience the creativity and talent of The Southland, featuring music and dance from the region’s most gifted performers. From show-stopping solos to dynamic duets and energetic ensembles, it’s a celebration of local artistry and community spirit, bringing everyone together for...
Articles
Review: Refracted Theatre's I'M GONNA MARRY YOU TOBEY MAGUIRE at Den Theatre
This farcical Off-Broadway show is sure to leave you laughing while making you simultaneously nostalgic and relieved you’re no longer in the throes of middle school.…
Review: PRAYER CIRCLE at Redtwist Theatre
Redtwist Theatre begins its 22nd season, entitled “State of Violence”, with the world premiere of Prayer Circle. This is resident playwright Erik Gernand’s second play with Redtwist since his successful Jeff-winning The Totality of All Things in 2024. What is brought to the stage is an enjoyab…
Review: PLAY ON! at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Play On! is a lively retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Conceived by Sheldon Epps (who also directs) and with a book by Cheryl L. West, Play On! transports Shakespeare’s story to Harlem, New York. West’s book skillfully weaves Duke Ellington’s songs into the narrative.…
Review: LILIOM at Joffrey Ballet At The Lyric Opera Of Chicago
Joffrey Ballet soars in John Neumeier's LILIOM…
Review: DANCING WITH BOB: RAUSCHENBERG, BROWN AND CUNNINGHAM ONSTAGE at Harris Theater
The Trisha Brown Company shimmers in their tribute to Bob Rauschenberg.…
Review: THE BIRTH OF THE PILL at TimeLine Theatre Company
TimeLine Theatre Company’s The Birth of the Pill takes some big swings...and sometimes misses. Adapted for the stage by Jessica Huang from Jonathan Eig’s book, it’s certainly relevant now. And Huang’s script takes “A People’s History of the United States” approach to storytelling. The …
Review: BLACK GIRL FROM A WHITE SUBURB at American Blues Theater
Richard brings us on a deeply personal journey through trauma and belonging in finding and regaining her voice in a society built by and catered to white people.…
Review: Kokandy Productions' JEKYLL & HYDE at Broadway In Chicago
Jekyll & Hyde is rarely produced, and Kokandy brings it to vivid life in this new, larger venue. As Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde and Lucy, David Moreland and Ava Lane Stovall really lead the way for the ensemble with their captivating performances. And in its most compelling moments, this Jekyll & Hyde truly…
Review: THE ATTIC at Goodman Theatre
The Attic: Things I’ve Seen While Lying On My Back is genuinely a unique experience at the Goodman. The 7 Fingers Co-Founder Shana Carroll wrote, directed, and choreographed this world-premiere autobiographical performance piece that shares vignettes from her life story. An international company o…
Review: A WRINKLE IN TIME at Lifeline Theatre
What did our critic think of A WRINKLE IN TIME at Lifeline Theatre?…
Past Shows
49 total · showing 11–20
La Llorona
Ballet 5:8, Chicago’s premiere female and minority-led ballet company, presents its critically acclaimed production La Llorona . This powerful performance reframes the legend of "La Llorona" through a deeply human lens—illuminating the often-overlooked struggles of postpartum...
The Center Southland Spotlight
Experience the magic of musical theatre in The Center Southland Spotlight—a showcase of the best Southland community theatres and their 2025–26 season selections. The afternoon will feature song and dance from the region’s most talented performers, offering a sneak peek into the...
South Chicago Dance Theatre
Kick off The Center’s 30th Anniversary Season with the electrifying artistry of South Chicago Dance Theatre (SCDT), one of Chicago’s most dynamic dance companies. In this milestone performance, SCDT presents a powerful retrospective celebrating the best of its repertory from the...
Mimosas and Melodies: A Mother's Day Brunch
Spanning Broadway to Classical and Opera, celebrate Mother’s Day with this mimosa-fueled, musical extravaganza!
DOG SEES GOD
An "unauthorized continuation," this play reimagines characters from the popular comic strip Peanuts as degenerate teenagers.
Rosie and The Rivets
An electrifying female-fronted retrospective tribute to the first ten years (1954-1964) of Rock & Roll.
ARTRAGEOUS!
The Electrifying Art & Music Circus!
UPTOWN
From New York City, the epicenter of contemporary Pop and Soul, Uptown is a group of men who combine the smooth stylings of R&B with the fresh hits of today. The perfect mix of Bruno Mars caliber stage presence with the vocals of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. You’ve never seen...
DREAM
Join us for an exceptional dance showcase that celebrates the beauty of dreaming.
DRUMLine Live!
DRUMLine Live! embodies the soulful, high-stepping style of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching band experience.
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Fleetwood Max Raue Center For The Arts (10/03-10/03) |
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Love Story: A Tribute to Taylor Swift Raue Center For The Arts (11/07-11/07) |
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Mean Girls Paramount Theatre (8/26-10/11) |
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Million Dollar Quartet Stolp Island Theatre (10/07-1/03) |
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Rotary Rocks The Raue: James Garner's Tribute to Johnny Cash Raue Center For The Arts (10/24-10/24) |
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The Dave Matthews Tribute Band Raue Center For The Arts (9/25-9/25) |
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Blond Ambition: A Tribute to Madonna Raue Center For The Arts (11/07-11/07) |
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Memphis The Musical Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building (10/24-10/25) |
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Lucy's Comedy Raue Center For The Arts (10/09-10/09) |
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SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure! The Center for Performing Arts (10/24-10/24) |
