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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: Black Cat Theatre's ELEPHANT IN THE WOMB at Theater Wit

Review: Black Cat Theatre's ELEPHANT IN THE WOMB at Theater Wit

by Angela Lin · September 4, 2026

Elephant in the Womb somehow strikes a perfect balance between inappropriate humor, social commentary, and tasteful fourth wall breaking that will leave you feeling uncomfortable, pensive, and warm and fuzzy all at once.…

Review: COME FROM AWAY at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL

Review: COME FROM AWAY at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL

by Tina St. Angelo · September 4, 2026

Next Friday, the Country will pause to remember, mourn and honor those victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001. The town of Gander, Newfoundland, is called the Rock. During the week that followed, it truly was a rock. The current production at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is the emotional b…

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…

Past Shows

49 total · showing 41–49

Sons of Serendip

Sons of Serendip

Jan 20

Back by popular demand! This Billboard charting quartet returns to win your hearts once again with their ethereal and emotionally stirring interpretations of pop music, arranged with a unique blend of vocals, harp, piano, and cello. Sons of Serendip won the hearts of fans and...

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker

Dec 8 – Dec 10, 2023

The Original San Jose Nutcracker will capture your imagination and transport you to a magical world of brave toy soldiers & dancing snowflakes. For over 58 years, San Jose Dance Theatre has created countless family memories and holiday traditions with their magical production of...

A Very Electric Christmas

A Very Electric Christmas

Dec 9

Saturday, December 9 at 1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. Follow the story of a young bird named Max and his family, as they begin their journey south for the winter. When Max gets blown off course and ends up at the North Pole…his adventure begins! Dancing toy soldiers, caroling worms and...

It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life

Dec 1 – Dec 3, 2023

Friday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 2 at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, December 3 at 2:30 p.m. Limited On Stage Tiered Seating A special treat from the Center’s Staff to You! This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With...

She Kills Monsters

She Kills Monsters

Nov 2 – Nov 5, 2023

Thursday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 5 at 2:30 p.m. Performed in Sherman Hall - GENERAL ADMISSION When Agnes finds her late sister Tilly's Dungeons & Dragons notebook, she stumbles into a journey of...

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Oct 27

Let’s do the Time Warp again! with a Live Shadow Cast and Audience Partici...pation! One of the oddest cult films ever made, this kinky, rock'n'roll, science fiction, horror satire is the perfect night out for Halloween. A young couple Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan...

DEARLY BELOVED... A Tribute to Prince

DEARLY BELOVED... A Tribute to Prince

Oct 21

This group made up of former members of the New Power Generation (NPG) have built a reputation for playing as if their famous boss was still front and center. Their shows are a non-stop musical kaleidoscope of the most iconic chart-topping hits from all eras of Prince's career...

SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure

SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure

Oct 13

SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure is a touring bilingual/bicultural musical for young audiences and families that uses traditional regional music and dance from Mexico to tell the story of twelve-year-old Vita Flores. Vita thinks her family has gone loco planning a...

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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)
Pete the Cat in Chicago Pete the Cat
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts - North Theatre (11/12-12/11) PHOTOS
Northern Lights  in Chicago Northern Lights
Pilgrim Congregational Church (10/16-10/16)