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The Center for Performing Arts

1 University Dr
University Park, IL 60484

Upcoming Shows

Cirque Us Stories

Cirque Us Stories

Oct 3

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

SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure!

Oct 24

Ages 5+. This bilingual musical follows 12-year-old Vita as she discovers the meaning of remembrance and cultural heritage through a magical journey with a lively candy skeleton. Featuring traditional Mexican music and dance.

Swan Lake by the United European Ballet Company

Oct 28

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

Nov 7

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

Nov 12 – Nov 15, 2026

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.

Nov 20

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

Dec 5 – Dec 6, 2026

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

Dec 12 – Dec 13, 2026

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

Feb 12, 2027

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

Mar 6, 2027

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

Mar 13, 2027

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

Apr 8 – Apr 11, 2027

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

May 1, 2027

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

Jun 26, 2027

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...

Review: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Kokandy Productions

Review: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Kokandy Productions

by Rachel Weinberg · August 31, 2026

It was a bold choice for Kokandy’s artistic director Derek Van Barham to stage such a huge musical in the tiny cabaret space at the Chopin Theater. Fortunately, Sondheim’s brilliant score and lyrics are gorgeously delivered in Kokandy’s version.…

Review: BUDDY THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Review: BUDDY THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, IL

by Tina St. Angelo · August 28, 2026

The current production at the Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace is Buddy: the Buddy Holly Story. It was the first of the jukebox musicals premiering in 1989.  It was conceived and written in England. It ran in London’s West End for 12 years. An interesting fact: Paul McCartney holds the copy…

Review: THE NOTEBOOK Presented by Broadway In Chicago

Review: THE NOTEBOOK Presented by Broadway In Chicago

by Angela Lin · August 6, 2026

The Notebook’s company does their best with the material they’re given, but without the impactful soundtrack to accompany it, the show ultimately falls short of delivering the emotional depth you might expect or desire from a generational love story.…

Review: MARBLE at The Gift Theatre

Review: MARBLE at The Gift Theatre

by Emily Werner · August 5, 2026

The Gift Theatre continues its 25th Anniversary 'Homecoming Season' with the Chicago premiere of Marble. First performed at Dublin's Abbey Theatre in 2009, the play was inspired by a conversation between Irish playwright Marina Carr and actor Fiona Shaw, and Giorgio de Chirico's painting 'Mystery an…

Review: IN THE CONTINUUM at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre

Review: IN THE CONTINUUM at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre

by Angela Lin · August 2, 2026

In The Continuum is an unapologetic show about the way Black women are forced to navigate the world — and how our experiences are all connected, even, or especially, when we feel isolated and alone.  …

Past Shows

49 total · showing 21–30

LOVE Happens

LOVE Happens

Feb 8

The Silhouettes® acclaimed show, “LOVE Happens” is an entertaining, family-friendly shadow dance story filled with the types of love that fill our world.

HARANA

HARANA

Jan 26

An evening of arias, songs, and serenades.

Ruth Page's The Nutcracker

Ruth Page's The Nutcracker

Nov 23 – Nov 24, 2024

Featuring Original choreography by Ruth Page Additional choreography by Larry Long, Dolores Long, and Birute Barodicaite Directed by Victor Alexander This beloved holiday family classic is the only production that recreates the original version’s full-length staging. Little...

Re-Writing the Declaration

Re-Writing the Declaration

Nov 1 – Nov 3, 2024

Written and Directed by Quenna Barrett What happens when a class of young Black women and non-binary folx of color take a trip to 1776? A collage of time and space, a blend of character and self — the ensemble of Re-Writing the Declaration exists in both today and yesterday in...

The Beat Goes On

The Beat Goes On

Nov 2

Accomplished singer and stage actor Lisa McClowry stars as Cher.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Oct 25

with a Live Shadow Cast and Audience Partici…pation! CONTAINS MATURE THEMES AND STRONG LANGUAGE. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PATRONS UNDER AGE 17. PATRONS UNDER THE AGE OF 17 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A GUARDIAN (AGED 21+). Let’s do the Time Warp again! One of the oddest cult films ever...

Sweeney Todd In Concert

Sweeney Todd In Concert

Oct 19

Just in time for Halloween, the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra returns to the Center, in partnership with the Jeff Award-winning Kokandy Productions , to perform Stephen Sondheim’s macabre masterpiece. Musical theatre fans and classical music aficionados will not want to miss...

Queens of Rock and Soul

Queens of Rock and Soul

Oct 6

Headed by lead singer Dr. Cherise Joy Stone-Thompson “Joy Storm”, the Rock & Soul Band pays tribute to the women who revolutionized classic rock and soul including Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Donna Summers, Whitney Houston and more!

BOOM X: The Music, Politics, and Culture of Generation X

BOOM X: The Music, Politics, and Culture of Generation X

Sep 13

BOOM X is an explosive solo performance that documents the music, culture, and politics that shaped Gen X. Starting at Woodstock in August of ‘69, and taking us to 1995, when the internet began to dominate our lives. In 100 minutes, Miller plays over 100 colorful characters from...

Teen Performance Intensive

Teen Performance Intensive

Aug 5 – Aug 9, 2024

Dates: Monday, August 5-9, 2024, 9am – 4pm Fee: $275 Final showcase: Friday, August 9 at 7pm, approximately 50 minutes Tickets to the Showcase are FREE , but registration is required. Description: Stretch your artistic muscles; grow as a performer. A unique opportunity for teens...

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Raue Center For The Arts (10/03-10/03)
Love Story: A Tribute to Taylor Swift in Chicago Love Story: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Raue Center For The Arts (11/07-11/07)
Mean Girls in Chicago Mean Girls
Paramount Theatre (8/26-10/11)
Rotary Rocks The Raue: James Garner's Tribute to Johnny Cash in Chicago Rotary Rocks The Raue: James Garner's Tribute to Johnny Cash
Raue Center For The Arts (10/24-10/24)
The Dave Matthews Tribute Band in Chicago The Dave Matthews Tribute Band
Raue Center For The Arts (9/25-9/25)
Blond Ambition: A Tribute to Madonna in Chicago Blond Ambition: A Tribute to Madonna
Raue Center For The Arts (11/07-11/07)
Memphis The Musical in Chicago Memphis The Musical
Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building (10/24-10/25)
Chicago Live! in Chicago Chicago Live!
Navy Pier (9/19-9/20)
Million Dollar Quartet in Chicago Million Dollar Quartet
Stolp Island Theatre (10/07-1/03)
Sean Heely's Celltic Christmas in Chicago Sean Heely's Celltic Christmas
ECC Arts Center (12/18-12/18)