Things are heating up in the Belmont Theater District! From storytelling to improv to musicals and more, here are just five of many BTD shows to fill your summer nights. For a complete listing of shows playing now and coming soon to the BTD, click here.
About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble: 20/20
Immersed in a timeless club atmosphere, 20/20 explores the resilience of chosen families, the generational impacts of AIDS, and the evolution of gender. Inspired by true stories of today’s youth, program alumni, and master storytellers, this performance and all ages party draws out powerful lessons from the past to envision a vibrant and affirming future for queer lives.
July 12th- 28th, Hoover-Leppen Theatre @ Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted St, $20 or pay-what-you-can
The Chicago Moth GrandSLAM: Fuel to the Fire
The Moth presents the GrandSLAM, a battle of wits and words – fierce, hilarious, heartbreaking, and all points between. The Moth is dedicated to finding intriguing people to tell inspired stories. At The Moth StorySLAM, those people find us. On this night, using words as weapons, they compete to determine The Moth’s Chicago GrandSLAM Story Champion.
Monday, June 24th @ 8pm, The Athenaeum Theaatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave, $28
The Spitfire Grill – A Musical
A feisty parolee follows her dreams, based on a page from an old travel book, to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. The New York Times calls THE SPITFIRE GRILL “a soul satisfying…work of theatrical resourcefulness” and The Wall Street Journal heralds its “soaring melodies”.
July 12th-August 17th, American Blues Theater at Stage 773, 1225 W Belmont Ave, $19-39
Improvised Dungeons and Dragons
Improvised Dungeons and Dragons brings classic table top RPGs to life in this 90 minute improvised show! Each week, the audience selects a core cast of adventurers to embark on an epic quest guided by a guest Dungeon Master! Watch as our heroes endure triumph and tragedy, romance and revenge, all while reckoning with the whims of the almighty D20!
Sundays @ 7pm, Otherworld Theatre, 3914 North Clark Street, Pay-what-you-can
“Welcome to the NRA: A Musical ‘Bout Guns” traces the Association from their post-Civil War beginnings to their polarizing influence in today’s society. One man learns just how much of an effect the organization is and questions the remarkable persuasion of their propaganda. It’s a very silly show about a very serious topic. Music & Play written by Alex Waldhour. Percentage of ticket sales will be donated to the Cure Violence organization, where their mission is “To reduce violence globally using disease control and behavior change methods.”
June 12th-July 31st, Wednesdays at 7:30pm, The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave, $12-14
