As we honor Black History Month in February, we remember that every day is an opportunity to uplift Black voices, Black art, and Black lives. In his 2017 essay on Imagining a Better, More Inclusive Theatre, playwright, educator, and activist [...]
While we try to make the summer last as long as possible, we are already excited about the treasure trove of shows lined up in BTD's 19/20 season. Below are just a sample of the productions coming our way very [...]
The 52nd Annual Equity Joseph Jefferson Award nominees were announced earlier this week, celebrating excellence in Chicago theater and hosting both Equity and Non-Equity award ceremonies each year. The Belmont Theater District extends its congratulations to all nominees and would [...]
It’s no secret that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) stories and performers (and all other artists and crew members) are extremely under-represented on American stages. In May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, but every day [...]
For Women’s History Month, we asked a few women in comedy for their thoughts on the industry, how it’s been, how to make it better for women, and where they hope it will go from here. What is the best [...]
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 [...]
April is National Playwriting Month, and it just so happens to be Shakespeare's birthday on the 23rd. But even if you’re not the Bard, every writer needs a great toolkit to maintain their workflow. Whether it’s for visibility, support, or [...]
From the moment the audience enters TimeLine Theatre to see Jiréh Breon Holder's Too Heavy For Your Pocket, they are in two worlds at once. They walk softly over grass that slopes up a small hill and right into a kitchen. [...]
Presented by Oscarbate and Hollywood Entertainment | Sponsored by DePaul University Films of a higher tier, those stamped with the seal of Art, usually accrue a more serious following than many of the movies being made on a supposedly lower-tier - those branded with [...]
(Brian Balcom photo by Alison Thvedt) October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). BTD spoke with Brian Balcom about his work in accessibility in theater shortly after [...]
Splatter is a staple of the Chicago Halloween season. I got the 4-11 from Annoyance's Managing Director Charley Carroll who told me all about the fascinating, messy history of this shocker of a show. BTD: Tell us the history of [...]
Someone turned up the heat in Chicago's 2020 summer, and the temperature is not the only thing that is hot around here. While the houses are still mostly dark in the Belmont Theater District, here are five theaters inviting you to [...]
It's that time of year again - Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago is back, and quite a few theaters in the Belmont Theater District are vying for your vote for Best of 2021! From "Best venue for dance" to "Best [...]
Theatrical phenomenon Blue Man Group will resume its Chicago residency at Lakeview’s Briar Street Theatre on Wednesday, August 18. A dynamic combination of art, music, comedy, and technology, Blue Man Group encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner (and outer) [...]
After more than a year of being closed, the Belmont Theater District is once again doing live performances, with more shows opening each week. Here’s what some of our member theaters had to say about reopening after a pandemic. To [...]
The Belmont Theater District has such a variety of theater and comedy clubs and yes, even a magic show that we thought they all deserved their own spotlight blog so you can learn more about your favorite theaters and hopefully [...]
Playwright Tyla Abercrumbie’s Relentless is a gift to the Timeline Theatre audience. It is an unforgettable look into a Black family in early 20th century America. Developed through TimeLine’s Playwrights Collective, this world premiere weaves a mother’s past with her daughters’ present [...]
As recently as this time last year, the Mercury Theater looked to be closed for good. In June 2020, Walter Stearns and Eugene Dizon, the venue’s owners and programmers since 2010, announced they’d be shutting the doors permanently due to [...]
Chicago Playback Theatre was founded in 2019 and is one of the youngest companies in the Belmont Theater District. In this video, you'll get a taste of their type of performance and how they're still able to perform during the [...]
(Pictured L to R: Colin Douglas, Regina Victor, Kerry Reid) (Editor's Note: These interviews were conducted in May 2020, prior to the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed, so it is not included in the discussion of [...]
(Pictured L to R: Colin Douglas, Regina Victor, Kerry Reid) (Editor's Note: These interviews were conducted in May 2020, prior to the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed, so it is not included in the discussion of [...]
For the first time, TimeLine Theatre takes the stage in the Loop. With a Tony-winning play and a Chicago premiere on the horizon, I asked Associate Artistic Director and director of OSLO Nick Bowling what he's looking forward to this [...]
As anyone working in the industry knows, theater people often juggle more than one show at once. Kokandy's new Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham is doing just that. This summer, he split his time between the larger-than-life HEAD OVER [...]
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre is proud to announce theatre performance classes starting in September, taught by EFCT Artistic Director, Andrew Pond. EFCT’s Education Program will feature two classes for children in 3-5th grade and 6-12th grade at the Athenaeum Theatre [...]
(Some responses have been edited for length and clarity. Bold emphasis is BTD’s.) This year started strong with hit shows in the BTD and a very busy Chicago Theatre Week. But unfortunately by mid-March, all live productions in Chicago had [...]
The Chicago Playback Theatre Ensemble is seeking new ensemble members for our 2022 season! In Playback Theatre, actors guide audience members in sharing their own memories and experiences which are then brought to life on stage by the actors using [...]
Our world moves at an alarming rate in the 21st century. With so much happening every minute, it can be hard to argue for looking back. With its current production of Kate Fodor's Hannah and Martin, Shattered Globe Theatre is doing [...]
Since the weekend of March 13, 2020, staged in Chicago all over the country have closed until further notice, and some, sadly, have closed forever. The brutal reality is that these closures not only affect the artists and patrons that [...]
Summer vacation in Chicago means it's time for camp! Emerald City Theatre continues their support of Chicago's young artists through their summer theatre camp program, running now. I caught up with Education Coordinator Jessica Smoot and Summer Camp Coordinator Tyra [...]
(Editor's note: Bold emphasis is BTD's.) Laugh Factory Chicago's Year in Review by Curtis Shaw Flagg Curtis Shaw Flagg (Photo by Ashley Lane) 2020 started off amazing. We were surpassing all of our previous attendance goals. It looked [...]