April Theater Highlights: All Eyes on Chicago

This month, our fair city is home to multiple world premieres—making us the center of the universe in the theater world.

As we should be, the Chicago area is home to tremendous talent on and off stage. Get your tickets now, so you can tell your NYC friends you’ve already “been there, done that.”

Big Fish
Opens April 2
Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago
800-775-2000

Dipping its toes on the shore of Lake Michigan, this musical, based on the much-beloved book and film, makes its pre-Broadway world premiere this month. Think you can dream big? This is the musical to dare you to do it.

Head of Passes
Opens April 4
Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago
312-335-1650

Another world premiere, from ensemble members Tarell Alvin McCraney and Tina Landau—a dark family secret sits at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Don’t you want to know what it is?

Still Alice
Opens April 10
Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago
312-337-0665

Lookingglass ensemble member Christine Mary Dunford has adapted, and is directing, another world premiere. Based on the NYT-bestselling book, it’s the story of Professor Alice Howland and the impact of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

The Happiest Song Plays Last
Opens April 13
Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago
312-443-3800

Still another world premiere, this one is story of personal conflict and the possibility of hope amid crumbling communities, both in the States and abroad.

theater-guide-april-happiest-song

Yellow Moon
Opens April 16
Writers’ Theatre, 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe
847-242-6000

Directed by Associate Artistic Director Stuart Carden, two teens lost to themselves find each other one night, and are flung together when tragedy strikes. The theater’s intimate setting promises to plunge you into the action as well.

The Exonerated
Opens April 19
Next Theatre (performed at Josephine Louis Theatre, 20 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston)
847-475-1875

Once you’ve been jailed, can you ever be free? This exciting collaboration is between Next Theatre and the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University. Audiences meet six former Death Row inmates whose convictions are reversed.

 

Theater Guide

 

BANK OF AMERICA THEATRE
Book of Mormon
Ongoing
800-775-2000

CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE
Catch Me If You Can
April 2–14
800-775-2000

CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE
The Elephant & The Whale
Opens April 10
773-227-0180

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER
Othello: The Remix
Through April 28
312-595-5600

GOODMAN THEATRE
Measure for Measure
Through April 14
312-443-3800

LIFELINE THEATRE
KidSeries: The Emperor’s New Threads
Through April 28
773-761-4477

NORTHLIGHT THEATRE
Stones In His Pockets
Through April 14
847-673-6300

REMY BUMPPO THEATRE
Creditors
Opens April 10
773-404-7336

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