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Juneteenth 2024

About Juneteenth On June 19, 1865, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas with news of freedom. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom by executive decree in what became known as Juneteenth, or Freedom Day. With the principles of self-determination, citizenship, and democracy magnifying their hopes and dreams, those Texans held fast to the promise of true liberty for all.  In 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, opening it to symbolic and global interpretation and providing a …

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Pride 2024 Programming

Happy Pride! Check out our member theatres’ programming, events, and shows taking place this June that highlight and uplift the LGBTQIA community this month, and beyond! Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Learn more here.   Fun Home, Madison Street Theater Runs May 24 – June 2, 2024 https://chicagoplays.com/event/fun-home/   Lavender Men, About Face Theatre …

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March 2024 Women’s History Month Shows

Women’s History Month celebrates the invaluable contributions and achievements of women throughout history. In the diverse theatrical landscape of Chicago, women have played a crucial role in shaping its evolution. From groundbreaking playwrights like Lorraine Hansberry, whose seminal work “A Raisin in the Sun” broke barriers and paved the way for Black storytelling, to innovative directors like Mary Zimmerman, known for her visually stunning productions, women have left an indelible mark on Chicago’s theater scene. Their diverse perspectives, artistic prowess, and fearless creativity have enriched and diversified narratives on stage, challenging norms …

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ASPIRE Arts Leadership

The KCACTF/LORT ASPIRE Leadership Fellows Program is designed to cultivate a new generation of artistic and administrative leaders for the American Theater with a focus of engaging Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and members of other groups that are consistently underrepresented in the field. This diverse national cohort of fellows assembled from all of KCACTF’s eight regions will engage in topics concerning equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism as well as leadership skills building, investigation of institutional challenges, and professional networking opportunities. This week-long fellowship occurs as part of the annual …

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The Artistic Home Call for Submissions

Submissions are now open for the 21st Cut to the Chase one-act play festival, presented by The Artistic Home Studio.  A staple of Chicago’s theater community for over two decades, Cut to the Chase presents six new plays, showcasing moment-to-moment acting in an intimate theater space. This year’s Cut to the Chase will celebrate the theme:  face to face.  Performances will take place May 2 – May 5, 2024 at The Den Theatre in Chicago.   Play submission should meet the following requirements: – One-act plays of no more than 12 minutes …

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MLK Day Events January 15, 2024

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center January 13, 2024; 2-4pm On January 13, 2024, the museum will host  “Been To The Mountaintop:  Dr. King and the Present and Future of Our World,  a free community discussion with civil rights activist, poet and filmmaker Kevin Powell. Explore the exhibits “Freedom: Origin and Journey” and “Troubled Waters: Chicago 1919 Race Riot” Check out their other MLK Day 2024 programming here Chicago Children’s Museum January 15, 2024; 10-5pm Join us for our celebration of Dr. King and his legacy at Chicago Children’s Museum …

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Black History Month Events 2024

Greenhouse Theater Center Tad in 5th City, January 19 – March 3 https://chicagoplays.com/event/tad-in-5th-city/ After the assassination of Dr. King on April 4, 1968, violence erupted on Chicago’s west side, consuming a 28-block stretch of West Madison Street. This traumatic moment changed the landscape of the city and an entire generation.  Chicago Symphony Orchestra Christian McBride’s The Movement Revisited, February 2 https://cso.org/performances/23-24/scp-jazz/christian-mcbride/ Eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist, bandleader and host of NPR’s “Jazz Night in America,” Christian McBride brings his monumental musical tribute inspired by the words of Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Martin Luther …

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