The Varsity Center for the Arts

What started as a single-screen movie house in 1940 has become a power house for live music and community theater. This gorgeous theater is one of the greatest components to Carbondale's thriving art & culture scene, as it serves as home to the Jackson County Stage Company, which presents several plays during the year, and hosts the weekly Friday Night Film series. The Varsity serves as a venue for live entertainment during the Carbondale Rocks Revival, an annual city-wide music festival in addition to accommodating local and regional musicians during the year to bring the city exceptional entertainment.

CITY: Carbondale

Porchlight Music Theatre

By uniting the arts of music, drama, dance, and design we transform stories into thrilling, passionate and relevant events, which affect the lives of artists and audiences alike.

CITY: Chicago

The Music Theatre Company

The Music Theatre Company explores the musical in the interest of expanding the canon of musical theatre through fully-staged productions, commissions of new works and musical experiments.

CITY: Highland

Drama Group Studio

All ages will enjoy this celebration of dr. Seuss stories with terrific music and a fine message: be loyal to your friends, don't give up, keep your promises, and let your imagination soar.

CITY: Chicago Heights

Chicago Center For The Performing Arts

This theater venue includes three performing arts schools, a casting center, a 350-seat theater, a lobby bar and banquet space. Plays, musicals and original productions are performed here.

CITY: Chicago

Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run Resort

Brand new theater includes stadium seating for 320 people with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.

CITY: St. Charles

Writers' Theatre

Over the past twenty seasons, Writers' Theatre has become a major Chicagoland cultural destination with a national reputation for excellence. The company – known for the finest interpretations of classic and contemporary theatre – has garnered critical praise for the consistent high quality and intimacy of its artistry. Throughout the season Writers’ will be offering post-show discussions on select Wednesday evenings following the performance in our Tudor Court space. In the Books on Vernon space they will be offering post-show discussions every other Wednesday evening.

CITY: Glencoe

Sophie Leschin Theater

Home to Jacksonville Theatre Guild Productions, large auditorium theatre

CITY: Jacksonville

The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University

Chicago Southland's grandest performing arts center at Governors State University, in University Park, features a wide array of world class attractions, children and family programming

CITY: University Park

Porchlight Music Theatre

By uniting the arts of music, drama, dance, and design we transform stories into thrilling, passionate and relevant events, which affect the lives of artists and audiences alike.

CITY: Chicago

Lewis University Phillip Lynch Theatre

Watch an array of plays in this intimate theater on the campus of Lewis University. The Phillip Lynch Theatre presents a diverse selection of productions from comedy, to tragedy, and everything in between.

CITY: Romeoville

Irene’s Cabaret

Open since 1976, Irene’s features dancing to live DJs, drag shows and live entertainment.

CITY: Quincy

Circle Theatre of Oak Park

Circle Theatre is an artist-based company whose mission is to produce exciting and innovative theatre accessible to our widely diversified suburban and city audience. Through variety-filled seasons including drama, comedy, musicals, and new works, Circle Theatre challenges, entertains, and educates audiences and artists of all ages.

CITY: Oak Park

Kirkland Fine Arts Center

A full-scale, live performance theater, with art galleries, on the campus of Millikin University.

CITY: Decatur

Moraine Valley Fine & Performing Arts Ctr John and Angeline Oremus

The FPAC presents quality cultural programs and popular entertainment in the 600-seat Dorothy Menker Theater, 150-seat Oremus Theater and the Robert F DeCaprio art gallery.

CITY: Palos Hills

Riverfront Playhouse

This popular local theater group performs original plays, musicals, murder mysteries, comedies and children's theater.

CITY: Aurora

Timber Lake Playhouse

Illinois' oldest continuously-running professional summer stock theatre. Live performances June-August. Reservations required. Children's program July-August.

CITY: Mount Carroll

The Riviera Theatre

One of Chicago's oldest concert venues still hosts national headliners, up-and-coming acts, and even the occasional movie, including The Break-Up.

CITY: Chicago

Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire

See the "The Best of Broadway" at the Marriott Theatre featuring 5 great musicals every year. The intimate arena theatre is designed so everyone has the best seat in the house. The theatre earns lavish praise from critics, receiving a record 370 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations - Chicago's highest theatrical honor for artistic achievement. Marriott's Theatre for Young Audiences presents numerous original works as well as classic fairy tales. Through these works, children experience the joy and magic that is "live" theatre.

CITY: Lincolnshire

Arie Crown Theatre

McCormick Place's theater located in the Lakeside Center.

CITY: Chicago

White Pines Dinner Theater

Entertainment abounds with a dinner theater sporting musical comedies and murder mystery plays. Groups large or small. Call for reservations located in the beautiful White Pines Forest State Park.

CITY: Mount Morris

Paramount Theatre

This historic landmark theater offers affordable, live entertainment, comedy, concerts, dance and plays in both The Paramount Theatre & Copley Theatre. Group discounts. Theater rentals are perfect for meetings, performances, fundraisers and banquets.

CITY: Aurora

Metropolis Performing Arts Center

More than 40 productions and 360 performances each year ranging from musical theatre, plays, live music, dance, family shows, The Second City Comedy and professional regional children's theatre.

CITY: Arlington Heights

Rosemont Theatre

The plush Rosemont Theatre is your ticket to lavish Broadway musicals, full-scale productions and world-class entertainers. We also get raves for our extra-wide aisles, on-site parking, and our superior sound system. The Theatre presents unforgettable show-going experiences.

CITY: Rosemont

Skokie Theater

This state-of-the-art, 150-seat auditorium presents musical and theatrical programs.

CITY: Skokie

PM&L Theatre

PM&L Theatre is a non-profit, community-based volunteer organization located in downtown Antioch. Each annual season contains six shows, ranging in style from musicals to comedy and drama.

CITY: Antioch

The Chicago Heights Drama Group

Bringing Broadway to the South Suburbs since 1931, The Drama Group is one of the oldest volunteer community theatres in the country. This drama group is a not-for-profit community theater.

CITY: Chicago Heights

Conklin's Barn II Dinner Theatre

dinner theatre

CITY: Goodfield

Alton Little Theater

Entertaining audiences since 1934, the Alton Little Theater offers a season of great live theatrical performances from dramas to comedies to everyone's favorite musicals. The Alton Little Theater is one of the oldest community theaters in the state of Illinois.

CITY: Alton

The Black Ensemble Theater

The Black Ensemble Theater is a dynamic organization described as a local cornerstone, a national treasure and an international success. It has launched over 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists since its inception. Annually 50,000 patrons experience its musical theater and it has become one of the most prominant African-American theater companies in the nation.

CITY: Chicago

Light Opera Works

Light Opera Works presents a season of professional musical theater with full orchestra at Cahn Auditorium.

CITY: Evanston

Drury Lane Theatre & Conference Center

The Drury Lane Theatre & Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace is a beautiful, unique and versatile facility that combines ideal location, functionality and elegance to make it one of Chicagoland's finest facilities for business and entertainment. 971-seat proscenium style live theater featuring musicals, comedy, hollywood personalities and dinner theatre. Banquets for 2,500. 40,000 square feet of trade show space. Conveniently located to the airports.

CITY: Oakbrook Terrace

Apollo Theater

The Apollo Theater in Chicago is a lush venue with a prestigious reputation located in the fashionable Lincoln Park Theatre District. Its repertiore includes a fresh blend of comedies, musicals and special events.

CITY: Chicago

Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Recipient of the 2008 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Chicago Shakespeare Theater offers a broad spectrum of theatrical experiences year-round, engaging and entertaining audiences from all walks of life and from around the world. The plays of William Shakespeare form the core of our company's work and Subscription Series, featuring selections from Shakespeare’s 38-play canon complemented by other dramatic works—from traditional classical theater to new classics that resonate with Shakespeare’s timeless insights into the human condition.

CITY: Chicago

Ford Center for the Performing Arts (Oriental Theatre)

This 1926 movie palace's rebirth as a magnificent venue for live theater is another wonderful addition to the emerging North Loop Theater District.

CITY: Chicago

Tommy Gun's Garage

Enter through the back door under the L train tracks, give the password and experience Chicago during the Roaring '20s. Enjoy dinner and an interactive musical comedy revue with gangsters and flappers.

CITY: Chicago

Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University

The historic landmark Auditorium Theatre, an architectural masterpiece designed by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan, opened in 1889. The Auditorium, which regularly hosts live performances, is renowned for its amazing acoustics.

CITY: Chicago

Starlight Theatre at Rock Valley College

The area's oldest outdoor summer theatre with four musical productions in June and July. Starlight's home, the Bengt Sjostrom Theatre, features more than a thousand seats, a stunningly artistic and creative retractable roof, new seating and an improved stage. Starlight Theatre has been named one of Illinois' 150 Great Places by the American Institute of Architects, Illinois Council. This prestigious award is given to places that have been identified by leading architects as contributing to their communities' quality of life.

CITY: Rockford

Cadillac Palace Theater

This venue was completely restored and renovated during 1999, named the Cadillac Palace. the Cadillac palace has been the home to several pre-Broadway hits including "The Producers—The New Mel Brooks Musical" and "Mamma Mia!" in 2001.

CITY: Chicago

Peoria Civic Center

Downstate Illinois' largest center is a four-building complex with a 12,000-seat arena. With 110,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 2,200-seat theater, a ball-room seating 1,500 for banquets and 16 meeting rooms this venue can house it all. As the premier entertainment facility in downstate Illinois, the Civic Center plays host to a variety of concerts, family shows, sporting events and Broadway Theater Series each year.

CITY: Peoria

Broadway Playhouse

Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place is operated by Broadway In Chicago, a Nederlander Presentation. Located at Water Tower Place in Chicago, Illinois, it was formerly known as Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place.

CITY: Chicago

Annoyance Theatre & Bar

For 25 years, The Annoyance Theatre has created some of Chicago's finest comedy. Home of the longest running musical Co-ed Prison Sluts, The Annoyance uses improvisation to create new and original plays, musicals, sketch-comedy and more, in a vibrant, uncensored atmosphere.

CITY: Chicago

Coronado Performing Arts Center

See a play or musical performance at the wonderfully ornate Coronado Performing Arts Center, which was once a 1920s movie palace and vaudeville hall. The Coronado still features its original whimsical details, such as gilded Spanish castles, Chinese dragons in relief on the walls and a faux starry sky. Coronado Performing Arts Center is the venue for many performing arts groups and traveling shows.

CITY: Rockford

Bank of America Theatre

The Bank of America Theatre opened in 1906 originally as the Majestic Theatre in downtown Chicago. The theater has gone through a couple of different name changes including recently the LaSalle Bank Theatre, and the Sam Shubert Theatre before that. The Bank of America Theatre box office has been host to many traveling Broadway shows and events since it's most recent renovation in 2006.

CITY: Chicago

Broadway in Chicago

Broadway In Chicago presents the hottest shows in Chicago's bustling Downtown Theater District. On the stages of the Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, Bank of America Theatre, Auditorium Theatre and Broadway Playhouse, you will discover theater productions direct from Broadway, along with world premieres.

CITY: Chicago

Millennium Park

In the heart of the city you’ll find a state-of-the-art park designed for the new millennium. Discover the reflective Cloud Gate sculpture, the multimedia Crown Fountain and the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, all with Chicago’s stunning architecture as a backdrop. The park is also host to many free cultural programs, concerts and family activities. Plus, there's alfresco dining in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter.

CITY: Chicago