Elisa Carlson

I didn't think I'd ever see a singing Antarctic explorer in a musical, but that's exactly what ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME delivers. This quirky but conventionally structured two-hander introduces audiences to Kat, a struggling experimental musician with a newborn baby and a deadbeat, absent boyfriend who's on tour with a Journey cover band, and the eponymous Ernest Shackleton.

Porchlight Music Theatre is presenting the Chicago premiere of the critically acclaimed musical comedy Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, music by Brendan Milburn, lyrics by Val Vigoda, orchestrations and additional music by Ryan O’Connell and book by Joe DiPietro, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, now playing in a limited run through June 1 only. Check out photos from opening night here!

Special Offer: Save $10 on tickets to the Chicago Premiere of

See photos of the Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago premiere of the critically acclaimed musical comedy Ernest Shackleton Loves Me.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced the Chicago Sings Broadway Pop cast and that Rick Boynton of Chicago Shakespeare Theater is the 2023 Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago recipient.

Porchlight Music Theatre, in association with Skylight Music Theatre, presents the Chicago premiere of the critically acclaimed musical comedy Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, music by Brendan Milburn, lyrics by Val Vigoda, orchestrations and additional music by Ryan O'Connell and book by Joe DiPietro, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., May 6 - June 1.

Writers Theatre will continue its 2022/23 Season with the Tony Award-winning musical Once, based on the 2007 film written and directed by John Carney. 

The Alliance Theatre's annual production of the Charles Dickens classic, A CHRISTMAS CAROL adapted by David H. Bell and directed by Leora Morris, runs on the Coca-Cola Stage until December 24, 2022. Described as 'one of Atlanta's most treasured holiday traditions,' this production is Alliance’s 34th. It is also a remount of last year's reimagined staging, design, and performance features 'stunning new costumes, beautiful live music, exciting puppetry, and a reconceived set design.' It's easy to say Alliance's A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a holiday gift in itself. The story is a timeless reminder of what a little kindness, generosity, and gratitude can do to not only change your own life, but also your community that surrounds you.

Theatrical Outfit returns to the stage this holiday season with Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. from November 17 – December 19, 2021.

The Alliance Theatre has announced its return to the Coca-Cola Stage with the world premiere musical, DARLIN' CORY.

PlayMakers Laboratory will present Stories Under the Sun, a series of free, family-friendly performances presented across the city this summer through the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks initiative.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced a line up including more than 50 Chicago artists performing, greetings and well wishes from Broadway stars including E. Faye Butler, Sean Allan Krill, Telly Leung, LaChanze, Susan Moniz and Kathy Voyto, a new raffle prize for a weekend in the home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and more as a part of its annual Chicago Sings fundraising concert.

Each year, Porchlight Music Theatre celebrates an individual who has made an exceptional and lasting contribution to the state of the art of Chicago music theatre with the prestigious Guy Adkins Award. This year, Felicia P. Fields is the recipient.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced Chicago Sings Rock & Roll Broadway, premiering Saturday, March 20 at 7 p.m. CDT.

PlayMakers Laboratory celebrates Pride Month virtually with a FREE presentation of That's Queer, Grandma, a hilarious romp through student-written stories that at the heart are centered on inclusivity, equality and what it means to be authentic. Directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd and production managed by Cedar Larson, the virtual production will stream live on Mondays at 8 pm CDT via Eventbrite from June 22 a?" July 6, 2020. Please RSVP at pmlthatsqueergrandma.eventbrite.com. Donations are welcome. All proceeds support PML's arts education programs.

Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble has announced the final performance of its 2019-20 Art & Activism Performance Series, WHAT WE CARRIED, a documentary-style danztheatre work created by ensemble-members that brings to life the voices, stories, and struggles of asylum-seekers, featuring text pulled from interviews with local immigrants. The performance is also a collaboration with sculptural artist Jean Parisi, serving as both devised performance and immersive exhibition of her work. WHAT WE CARRIED will play May 8-16, 2020 at Chicago Danztheatre's permanent home, Ebenezer Lutheran Church Auditorium, 1650 W. Foster Ave. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Tickets are currently available at danztheatre.org.

PlayMakers Laboratory, formerly Barrel of Monkeys, is pleased to continue its 2019-20 season with THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Travels Through Time, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from January 19 – February 16, 2020 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

PlayMakers Laboratory, formerly Barrel of Monkeys, continues its 2019-20 season with THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Travels Through Time, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from January 19 – February 16, 2020 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.playmakerslab.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. The press opening is Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 3 pm.

A Christmas Carol, Alliance Theatre's annual holiday production, returns for its 30th season, November 16 - December 24, 2019. After two seasons at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, the Alliance's production will return home to the newly renovated Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre on the campus of the Woodruff Arts Center.

PlayMakers Laboratory, formerly Barrel of Monkeys, is pleased to launch its 2019-20 season with a spooky twist: THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Goes Trick or Treating, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from October 6 – November 3, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.playmakerslab.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. The press opening is Sunday, October 13 at 3 pm.