The Fourth Annual Old Town Theater Week will run from Sunday, June 6th through Saturday, June 12th, 2021. This celebration of the iconic Old Town theater scene will include week-long deals across our historic neighborhood.
From written plays, to action-packed comedy, to the latest and greatest stand-up performers, there’s a show for everyone. We’re excited to share in our appreciation for the arts in the community with everyone.
Scroll down to see the incredible shows from our theater partners below!
A Red Orchid Theatre
This multi-disciplinary art piece inspired by the geographical area of southern Illinois called American Bottom begins life here as an experimental audio fiction, written in verse, performed by a full cast, and featuring original music and illustrations. Kevin disappeared in rural Illinois near the site of the Cahokia Mounds. American Bottom follows the thoughts of the people who knew him, unearthing the many layers of life and story connected to the place he called home. Tickets can be purchased here. Use the code OTMRA for $10 tickets!
Porchlight Music Theatre
For more than 25 years, award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre has been Chicago’s center for music theatre. Porchlight offers exciting Mainstage productions, the New Faces Sing Broadway cabarets and the Porchlight Revisits series of rarely-seen gems in limited run. These productions have made Porchlight the leader in intimate, thoughtful and unforgettable entertainment. Porchlight also offers musical education and training for youth, schools, community groups, professional theatre-makers and enthusiasts of all ages and interests.
While our performance home at Gold Coast’s Ruth Page Center for the Arts is currently dark, we’re thrilled to offer our entire catalog of virtual offerings for your enjoyment during Old Town Theater Week for just $25 each! Streaming is available for:
Broadway by the Decade – Porchlight’s Artistic Director Michael Weber takes the audience on a guided tour of Broadway’s musical history from the late 1800s to the present day. Weber shares the story of how the American idiom, the musical, evolved decade by decade with all-new musical performances designed especially for this video production.
New Faces Sing Broadway 1961 – Filmed on-site at Chicago’s historic Studebaker Theatre, Jeff Award-winner Kelvin Roston, Jr. hosts nine up-and-coming local performers who share songs from the 1961 Broadway season.
New Faces Sing Broadway 1987 – Broadway’s Larry Adams hosts a cast of 10 new talents giving the audience a musical tour of the 1987 Broadway season, filmed on-site at Chicago’s historic Studebaker Theatre.
Chicago Sings Rock & Roll Broadway – More than 50 talents combine to create an unforgettable event celebrating Porchlight Music Theatre and two American creations — Broadway and Rock & Roll.
Tickets to these premium offerings and other FREE programming is available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.
Zanies
Chicago’s original home for stand-up comedy. Providing you with nationally touring headliners 7 nights a week since 1978.
Sunday 6/6 @ 8PM- WARREN B. HALL
Simply put, Warren B. Hall is not what you’re expecting…. daring to be different, Warren chooses to focus on the funny!
Warren has been seen on the show “Comics Unleashed” and can be heard regularly on Sirius XM radio. He’s also a regular on the “Bob and Tom Show.” More importantly, Warren has gone overseas and performed for our troops stationed in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan…not once or twice but FIVE times. His style is original, relatable and definitely funny.
Don’t take his word for it – see some of the funny for yourself!
Monday 6/7 @ 8PM- MEZCAL MONDAYS
Wednesday 6/9 @8PM- WEDNESDAY AFTER WORK
Wednesday, June 9th at 8PM, hosted by Dario Durham
It’s the middle of the work week, and you just want to fast forward to the weekend? This is the show for you! Come straight from work and escape the desk to the 6:30pm pre-show mood, complete with drinks and a DJ spinning some of the hottest tracks. Stick around for the coolest comedy show with some of the funniest comedians in Chicago.
So get your work wife or work husband and come catch a vibe this Wednesday After Work!
Thursday 6/10 @ 8PM- SUPER 6 SHOWCASE
Friday 6/11 @ 7PM – CALVIN EVANS | 9PM – CALVIN EVANS
Friday June 11th, and Saturday June 12th at 7PM & 9PM
Chicago native Calvin Evans’ comedy career began during his time at the University Illinois Champaign-Urbana. While obtaining his degree in Sport Management, he fell in love with stand up comedy and put his business aspirations on hold. He took his talents back to Chicago and was quickly named Chicago’s Next Big Comic. Calvin received a Puma Scholarship to attend the famed Second City Training Center.
Upon completing their Improv Conservatory program, Calvin was awarded a Bob Curry Fellowship. With stand up as his focus, he traveled the country, performing at colleges and clubs. In 2017, he was recognized as a New Face at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. In 2018, he was one of 8 finalists in the nationwide NBC Standup competition.
His television credits include the Fox series APB, NBC’s Chicago PD, Sherman’s Showcase on IFC and Shameless on Showtime. He has also performed standup on the Kevin Hart Comedy Central series Hart of The City, LOL @ JFL and TruTV Laff Tracks. He can be seen on the new NBC series Bring The Funny and reoccurring on the hit Comedy Central show SouthSide. His half hour Unprotected Sets special released in 2020 on EPIX.
Saturday 6/12 @ 7PM – CALVIN EVANS | 9PM – CALVIN EVANS | 11PM- AFTER HOURS