Chicago is home to world-class museums, and you don’t always have to pay full admission to visit them. Throughout the year, museums across the city offer free days and evenings for Illinois residents, while several Chicago museums are free for everyone year-round. This guide covers free museum days in Chicago for 2026, including the Art … Read more
Chicago’s World Music Festival is a free, 10-day celebration of global music presented each fall by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). It typically runs from the last weekend of September into early October, with concerts at venues from downtown to Humboldt Park, Lincoln Square, Beverly and elsewhere — … Read more
October is when Chicago theater stops warming up. Resident companies are in full stride, the Loop has a short list of musicals that will sell, and Lyric opens a new season. Here are the shows worth your money this month — starting with the five that define it. The five that define the month Steppenwolf … Read more
Chicago’s holiday season is full of classic Christmas tales, family musicals, ballet and other festive stage productions at theaters around the city and suburbs. This guide reviews notable holiday programs announced for 2026, ranging from long-running Chicago traditions to limited-engagement touring productions. Dates and productions can change, so check the presenting theater before purchasing tickets. … Read more
The 58th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity theaters were announced Monday, September 14, 2026 at the Harris Theater. The program was directed by Ray Frewen and music directed by Michael Mahler and co-hosted by Michelle Duffy and James Earl Jones II. 72 productions became Jeff of the 85 opening nites judged from July 1, 2025 … Read more
The 58th Equity Jeff Award nominations cover the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 Equity season. Nominees will be honored at a ceremony on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Harris Theater. See the full list of 58th Equity Jeff Awards winners, our Jeff Awards guide, and the official nominees at jeffawards.org/equity-nominees. For an earlier season, … Read more
From Chicago and New York to Baltimore, Kansas City, Paris and beyond, explore memorable Broadway and musical-theatre songs inspired by cities and places.
Looking for more seasonal performances? See our Chicago Holiday Shows & Musicals guide for Christmas theatre, family shows and other holiday productions around Chicago. Chicago and the surrounding suburbs offer a wide range of Nutcracker performances each holiday season, from major professional productions to shorter family versions, community traditions and creative reinterpretations. This guide highlights … Read more
Here are the nominations made in 38 categories for The 55th Annual Equity Jeff Awards. The Jeff Awards will take place Monday, October 2, 2023, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook, IL. The most recent season was from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. For the current season, see the 58th Equity Jeff Awards nominees. … Read more
The Joseph Jefferson Awards, commonly known as the Jeff Awards, recognize excellence in Chicago-area theatre. Established in 1968, the awards evaluate eligible professional productions through separate Equity and Non-Equity programs and recognize achievements by productions, performers, directors, designers and other theatre artists. This page is an evergreen guide to how the Jeff Awards work. For … Read more