Court Theatre

Court Theatre Court Theatre is a Tony Award-winning center for classic theater located in the heart of Hyde Park.

Established in 1955, Court Theatre is the professional theatre on campus at the University of Chicago. We are guided by our mission to create innovative productions of classic plays that are thought provoking, character-driven, and thematically enduring. Through main stage productions, audience enrichment programs, and collaborations with the University of Chicago, we re-examine, re-envision, and

renew classic texts that pose enduring and provocative questions that define the human experience. Underlying this mission is our vision of becoming the Center for Classic Theatre, where the arts community looks for leadership in the creation, production and study of classic theatrical works. Court works to fulfill this mission first through the rigorous exploration of dramatic texts, including the African-American canon and musical theatre works; second by expanding the canon of classic theatre through initiatives such as the Barbara E. Franke Commissioning Program for New Classics; and third, by ongoing institutional strategic planning, which currently includes the possibility of an expanded, state-of-the-art facility. In all of its work, Court strives to sustain an artistic environment conducive to deeply creative work. Named “the most consistently excellent theater company in America” by The Wall Street Journal, Court has a national reputation for excellence and innovation. Through five adventurous and compelling main stage productions per season, as well as a wealth of free symposia, post-performance discussions and education programs, it endeavors to make a lasting contribution to American theatre by thoroughly examining and imaginatively re-envisioning classic works to illuminate timeless themes and uncover immediately relevant messages.

We're thrilled to introduce our new Costume Shop Manager, Liz Taylor!Most recently, Liz spent a decade on staff at the G...
05/28/2026

We're thrilled to introduce our new Costume Shop Manager, Liz Taylor!

Most recently, Liz spent a decade on staff at the Goodman Theatre. During her tenure, she also collaborated with several Chicago-area theatre companies as a freelance tailor specializing in menswear.

Previous experience includes work at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Weston Playhouse, Huntington Theatre Company, Glimmerglass Opera, and the University of Delaware’s Resident Ensemble Players. She earned her BFA from Boston University, where she double majored in Costume Design and Costume Construction.

Fun fact: Liz loves camping with her family in their homemade teardrop trailer!

Please join us in welcoming Liz to Court staff 🎉

Get the Spotlight ready - something special is in the works 👀 Exciting updates coming soon!
05/22/2026

Get the Spotlight ready - something special is in the works 👀 Exciting updates coming soon!

Happy birthday to Lorraine Hansberry, celebrated playwright, author, and South Sider!We staged her classic, A RAISIN IN ...
05/19/2026

Happy birthday to Lorraine Hansberry, celebrated playwright, author, and South Sider!

We staged her classic, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, as part of our 2024/25 season (pictured), which went on to become the most successful production in our history.

Hansberry’s work continues to challenge, inspire, and resonate across generations. Beyond RAISIN, her extraordinary body of work includes LES BLANCS, TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK, and THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN’S WINDOW.

Today, we celebrate her life, her voice, and her lasting impact on American theatre. Happy birthday, Lorraine!...
📸 Kierra Bunch, Brian Keys, Jeremias Darville, Shanésia Davis, and Martasia Jones by Michael Brosilow

“My hair remembers the ocean”This week, we welcomed students from Lindblom High School to perform their powerful devised...
05/15/2026

“My hair remembers the ocean”

This week, we welcomed students from Lindblom High School to perform their powerful devised play EQUAL?. The piece, developed through Court’s Artists in the Schools Residency, was a lively and thoughtful exploration of hair discrimination, colorism, and bullying against Black youth. After the performance, Lindblom parents and Court staff heard from the students about their insights and experiences:

“[The play] talks about things that people are afraid to talk about because of the climate that we’re in.”

“This play allowed me to share how I really felt about experiences I had when I was little.”

“This isn’t just a Black issue; it’s an all-of-us issue.”

Congrats Lindblom, and a special thank you to Lindblom Teaching Artist India Nicole Burton, Lindblom classroom teacher Krista Motley, and all of our partner schools and teachers for another successful year of in-school residencies! ...
📸 Jarrett King

“All of this is in a house.”Happy Closing to the cast, crew, and creative team behind the new musical (or should we say,...
05/10/2026

“All of this is in a house.”

Happy Closing to the cast, crew, and creative team behind the new musical (or should we say, “undo-sical”) OUT HERE! This production concludes our 2025/26 season with joy, and is a celebration of q***rness, family, freedom, and the creative process. It has been an honor to be the very first home for this new work, and we can’t wait to see how it continues to grow and evolve.

Thank you for joining us in our house, and thank you for joining us for the 2025/26 season. ..
📸 Amanda Pulcini, Alex Goodrich, Z Mowry, Cliff Chamberlain, Becca Ayers, Bethany Thomas, and Ellie Duffey by Michael Brosilow
📸 Bethany Thomas and Becca Ayers by Michael Brosilow
📸 Amanda Pulcini, Z Mowry, and Ellie Duffey by Michael Brosilow
📸 Amanda Pulcini, Ellie Duffey, Z Mowry, Cliff Chamberlain, Becca Ayers, and Alex Goodrich by Michael Brosilow
📸 Alex Goodrich, Ellie Duffey, and Becca Ayers by Michael Brosilow
📸 Z Mowry, Bethany Thomas, Becca Ayers, Alex Goodrich, Ellie Duffey, Cliff Chamberlain, and Amanda Pulcini by Michael Brosilow
📸 Michael Brosilow
✍️ Leslie Buxbaum, David J. Levin, and Erin McKeown, Concept
📖 Leslie Buxbaum, Book and Lyrics
📖 Erin McKeown, Music and Lyrics
📚 David J. Levin, Production Dramaturg
🎭 Chay Yew, Director

🎶 Erin McKeown with Christie Chiles Twilie, Orchestrations
🎼 Christie Chiles Twillie, Music Supervisor
🕺 Breon Arzell, Movement Supervisor
🥁Maddi Vogel, Percussion
🎻 Rachel Schuldt, Cello
🎻 Daniela Bisenius, Violin
🎸Percy Nesbary III, Guitar

🛠️ Andrew Boyce, Co-Scenic Designer
🛠️ Lauren M. Nichols, Co-Scenic Designer
👔 Christine Pascual, Costume Designer
💡 Lee Fiskness, Lighting Designer
🎧 Mikhail Fiksel, Sound Designer
🫂 Sheryl Williams, Intimacy Choreographer
🗣 Sammi Grant, Vocal and Dialect Consultant
🎬 Becca McCracken, Casting Director
📒 Katrina Herrmann, Production Stage Manager
📒 Jaclynn Joslin, Assistant Stage Manager
📒 Lawrence Jacquan and Katie Mae Ryan, Production Assistants
🎭 Understudies: Lexi Alioto, Danielle Davis, Michael McCracken, and Avery Moss

05/08/2026

As the 2025/26 season winds down, we’re already building what’s next. First up: a brand-new paint deck! Technical Director Luke Lemanski and the team have built a new paint deck in the shop, one of many upgrades we’ve got planned for the summer.

Big things happening behind the scenes. Stay tuned.

A full-circle moment for the stage! In a recent interview with Chicago Magazine, Brendan Hunt (currently performing in h...
05/06/2026

A full-circle moment for the stage! In a recent interview with Chicago Magazine, Brendan Hunt (currently performing in his solo show, THE MOVEMENT YOU NEED, at Steppenwolf), gave a shout-out to our 1983 production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

Brendan, we're thrilled you had a great field trip and thank you for the reminder that theatre can change lives. ...
✍ Web Behrens, Chicago Magazine
📸 Ingrid Blekys

🏆 Chicago Wins Big at the Steinberg/American Theatre Critics/Journalists Association New Play Awards!Mickle Maher’s BERL...
05/04/2026

🏆 Chicago Wins Big at the Steinberg/American Theatre Critics/Journalists Association New Play Awards!

Mickle Maher’s BERLIN, seen last season at Court Theatre, was honored with a citation at the 2026 Steinberg/ATCA Awards last weekend in Costa Mesa, California—alongside Kristoffer Diaz’s THINGS WITH FRIENDS at American Blues Theater. Huge congratulations to Zach Barr, winner of the award for their play THE PILON at Red Theater 👏.

What a moment for new work in Chicago! Read more ➡️ https://americantheatrecritics.org/zach-barr-wins-2026-steinberg-atca-new-play-award-for-the-pilon/

📷 BERLIN director Charles Newell, playwright Mickle Maher, and Court Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre attended the ceremony.

Diana Solís. Patric McCoy. Two artistic icons. One unforgettable event. Join us tomorrow at Blanc Gallery for an intimat...
05/02/2026

Diana Solís. Patric McCoy. Two artistic icons. One unforgettable event.

Join us tomorrow at Blanc Gallery for an intimate conversation in which Solís and McCoy discuss their decades-long work documenting Chicago’s q***r history. This event is free and reservations are recommended → https://bit.ly/WeAreStillBecoming

Part of the public programming complementing the new musical OUT HERE, this is the second installment of We Are Still Becoming, presented in partnership with the LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project.
….
📸 Diana Solís by S Oviedo
📸 Patric McCoy

Address

5535 S. Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 5pm
Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Wednesday 12pm - 7:30pm
Thursday 12pm - 7:30pm
Friday 12pm - 8pm
Saturday 12pm - 8pm
Sunday 12pm - 7:30pm

Telephone

+17737534472

Website

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