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 [...]
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 [...]
We asked women in leadership positions in the BTD about their experiences as a woman in the theater industry and what we can do to support gender parity. Here are their responses. What do you think of the discussions regarding [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
“For someone who would never go to theater, they’ll love this show. For someone who normally goes to theater, they’ll love this show.” - Aaron Rabkin, Trickery Chicago Right in the heart of Boystown, near the intersection of Halsted and [...]
Happy New Year! We made it out of 2020, where many theater companies learned how to stream shows and pivot to online programming and also reopen with new protocols. We asked the BTD member theaters for their 2021 forecast and what [...]
(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 [...]
(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 [...]
2020 was the year that theaters went dark, suddenly and indefinitely. As this tumultuous year comes to a close, here are 3 streaming shows from Belmont Theater District theaters to bring you some light and joy this holiday season. It’s [...]
(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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Fresh off their three-day streaming spectacular GENRETHON earlier this month, Otherworld Theatre debuts Of Dice and Men - A Play about Dungeons and Dragons, a heartwarming comedy by Cameron McNary. “Of Dice and Men is a heroic tale of friendship, [...]
Maybe you’ve seen shows at the Athenaeum or Stage 773, or watched your favorite comics at The Laugh Factory, or noticed the American Blues signs lining Belmont Ave. You might follow us on Twitter or receive our newsletter, but has [...]
(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 [...]
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 [...]
BTD Skyped in with Teenage Dick director Brian Balcom to talk about what it took just to get the play produced, why the story is personal to him, and how streaming options helped give the show a run that almost [...]
The Spring is usually a busy time for most theater companies as they’re usually mounting and running shows and holding fundraisers. But when Broadway went dark on March 12 this year due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in New York, [...]
This fall, Thornton Wilder's classic play OUR TOWN gets a fresh interpretation with the Saint Sebastian Players. Director Jim Masini shared why he felt drawn to retelling this foundational script right now. BTD: What has kept this classic play relevant [...]
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 [...]
We're well into #OctoberMonthOfTheater, and Otherworld Theatre couldn't be more in their element. I caught up with resident playwright Nick Izzo on his adaption Countess Dracula to learn more about how he updated the classic vampire tale for modern audiences. [...]
Can a play show what it feels like to have a medical condition take over your mind? BE HERE NOW, Shattered Globe's season opener, tackles this daunting question. I spoke with lead actress and company member Rebecca Jordan to learn [...]
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 [...]
A theater that once served as a staple in Chicago comedy gets a fresh start, thanks to Program Director Megan Hartmann and the team behind the Newport Theater. This week on the blog, Megan shares her thoughts on working to [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]