eta Creative Arts Foundation

About the Theatre

eta Creative Arts Foundation was incorporated in April, 1971 as a non-profit organization to provide training and performance opportunities for youth and adults on Chicago's South Side. eta has become one of Chicago's leading performing arts organizations in the Black community, with a commitment to the production of new works and the development of individual artists. eta houses a 200-seat theater, art studio and event space with stage. Our annual programming features five plays, 8-week Summer Arts camp for the youth, Multiple pop-up workshops, acting, dance and playwriting classes for young adults and a host of community events and performances!

Featuredfor colored girls who considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf

Nov 8 – Nov 29, 2026

NOMINATED FOR 6 BTAA AWARDS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Articles

Review: THEATER OF THE MIND Presented by Goodman Theatre

by Angela Lin · November 3, 2026

Step into the memory palace and experience a one-of-a-kind experience where neuroscience, philosophy, and theater collide. Theater of the Mind, presented by Goodman Theatre, co-created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar, and directed by Andrew Scoville, is a fascinating immersive theatrical journey tha…

Review: ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE at Steppenwolf Theatre Company

by Rachel Weinberg · November 2, 2026

Adirondack Chair Circle is a satirical take-down of a group of wealthy conservative Chicago moms dedicated to their cause.…

Review: MANUAL CINEMA'S FRANKENSTEIN at Studebaker Theater

by Zac Thriffiley · November 2, 2026

Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein has come to life once again, further establishing itself as one of the city’s most thrilling holiday traditions in the shadowy hall of the Studebaker Theater.…

Review: Babes with Blades Theatre Company KING LEAR at Theater Wit

by Emily Werner · October 27, 2026

What did our critic think of BABES WITH BLADES THEATRE COMPANY'S KING LEAR at Theater Wit?…

Review: Remy Bumppo Theatre Company's MUD ROW at Theater Wit

by Emily Werner · October 25, 2026

What did our critic think of MUD ROW at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company?…

Review: THE WINTER'S TALE at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

by Zac Thriffiley · October 23, 2026

The Winter’s Tale—now playing and soon to run in repertory with the even wilder Midsummer Night’s Dream—provides audiences with an emotional, uplifting, and even redemptive story sure to thaw frozen hearts and provide a much needed escape.…

Review: TIME TRAVELER at Chicago Magic Lounge

by Angela Lin · October 22, 2026

Magic is a timeless art full of secrets, and as Parr reveals through the course of Time Traveler, history is even stranger and more serendipitous than we know.…

Review: The Gift Theatre's HAYWARD at Steppenwolf Theatre

by Emily Werner · October 20, 2026

What did our critic think of HAYWARD at Gift Theatre?…

Review: Dance Theatre of Harlem's FIREBIRD at The Auditorium

by Lauren Sheely · October 20, 2026

Saturday night brought the long-awaited return of Dance Theatre of Harlem to The Auditorium for a celebratory evening of dance that showcased the range and versatility of this 57-year old company, which had not been seen in Chicago since 2016.…

Review: CLUED IN: TRAVEL CAN BE MURDER at The Second City

by Angela Lin · October 19, 2026

With spooky season upon us, what better way to get into the haunted spirit than with a murder mystery — one that no one has ever seen before, and one that no one will ever see again.…

Detroit '67

Sep 11 – Nov 1, 2026

Set during the Detroit uprising of 1967, Detroit '67 follows siblings Chelle and Lank as they struggle to preserve family, hope, and home amid profound social change. Both an intimate family drama and a sweeping historical portrait, the play explores the enduring strength of...

FeaturedA Lot to Unpack

Apr 24 – May 3, 2026

Get ready to laugh, gasp, and say “wait… WHAT just happened?!” Our newest contemporary one-act comedy is hitting the stage—bringing bold characters, unexpected twists, and laugh-out-loud moments that feel way too real. In just one act, everything unravels… secrets spill...

Comedy

MIKA SCROOGE URBAN CHRISTMAS PLAY

Dec 12 – Dec 14, 2025

THIRD ANNUAL PRODUCTION Mika Scrooge: A Hip-Hop Holiday Remix Back for its third year!

FeaturedOnce on This Island

Nov 3 – Nov 19, 2023

PULSE Theatre Chicago ONCE ON THIS ISLAND | NOVEMBER 3-19, 2023 at eta Creative Arts Foundation Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens Music by Stephen Flaherty Directed by Aaron Reese Boseman Choreography by Florence Walker- Harris Music Directer by Elliott Bell Purchase Tickets at...

By The Apricot Trees

Feb 24 – Apr 2, 2017

TK was the only female arrested among the 11 students during the 1976 Soweto uprisings. During her confinement, the "other" TK emerges and confronts her personal and political convictions.