CHICAGO — The city of Chicago is renowned for its vibrant theater scene, offering a multitude of options for theatergoers seeking their next cultural experience.
This July, Block Club Chicago highlights five must-see shows, ranging from a captivating magic performance to an engaging improv festival, plus an extraordinary storefront theater offering a two-night, seven-hour production.
One of the standout performances is Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America” at Windy City Playhouse, located at 3014 W. Irving Park Road.
Running through September 7, this ambitious two-part play, which examines the AIDS crisis of the 1980s through a fantastical lens, has not been presented on a Chicago professional stage for 13 years.
Invictus Theatre is producing this overarching narrative, and audiences can experience the emotional depth of the story over two evenings—Part One: Millennium Approaches and Part Two: Perestroika.
For tickets and more details, readers can click here.
Another thrilling adaptation comes from Lifeline Theatre at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., with their extended production of “The War of the Worlds,” available until July 20.
This sci-fi epic based on H.G. Wells’ novel presents a harrowing tale of Martian invasion as Earth’s inhabitants come to grips with the impending threat.
The staging of such a complex narrative showcases the theater’s creative ambition and makes it a compelling must-see this season.
Find tickets and additional information through this link.
Uptown’s Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center is showcasing “That’s What Friends Are For: Gladys, Dionne and Patti,” which has been extended until August 10.
In this musical extravaganza, performers embody iconic singers Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, and Patti LaBelle as they reflect on their careers before a Las Vegas residency.
Audiences will enjoy memorable classics such as “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “Walk on By,” and much more as they delve into the lives of three influential figures in popular music.
For more information, visit this link.
Improv enthusiasts should mark their calendars for the iO Festival, which will take place at iO Theater from July 24 to 27.
This exciting event features a gathering of past alumni including Tim Meadows, Matt Walsh, Chris Kattan, Ryan Asher, and Susan Messing, alongside beloved iO staples like Improvised Shakespeare and Whirled News Tonight.
Taking place over four days across multiple stages at the Lincoln Park venue, the festival promises diverse offerings including long-form improv, stand-up, sketches, and live podcasts, ensuring plenty of laughter for everyone.
More details can be found here.
Lastly, magic lovers won’t want to miss Ryan Plunkett’s “Old Fashioned Magic” show at the Chicago Magic Lounge, 5050 N. Clark St., every Wednesday.
Renowned for its mastery of close-up magic, the lounge offers Plunkett’s uniquely modern take on classic magic styles.
His performances are characterized by witty sleight-of-hand techniques that will leave the audience questioning, “How did he do that?”
This intimate show also has a speakeasy charm, as the venue entrance is tucked away behind a nondescript laundromat.
For tickets and further information, readers can click here.
For those interested in sharing their own theater recommendations, Block Club Chicago encourages submissions to [email protected].
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