2024 Samuel G. Roberson Jr. Resident Fellowship Recipient Announced – Abby Thompson and Filament Theatre

The League of Chicago Theatres has awarded the 2024 Samuel G. Roberson Jr. Resident Fellowship to artivist Abby Thompson and Filament Theatre to collaborate on development of the play Alex in Windyland. The fellowship is funded by the McMullen & Kime Charitable Trust and administered by the League of Chicago Theatres. The 2024 Samuel G. Roberson Jr. Resident Fellowship is an annual grant awarded to a Black Theatre Artist to fund a residency or collaboration with a Chicago area non-profit organization. Thompson and Filament will collaborate on the development of the new …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

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 …

Read more

LOCT: 45th Anniversary Programming

Community Empowerment Series: 2025 Advocacy Planning

Date: November 18, 2024 
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Location: Raven Theatre (6157 N Clark St)
This segment of our CES is designed to gather our members to discuss the short and long term goals of their organizations and the Chicago Theatre Community. This discussion will be followed by an in depth review of the 2024 Annual Membership Survey results and an opportunity to contribute to the League’s advocacy plan for 2025.

Read more

Now Accepting Applications for August Wilson Youth Intensive

The August Wilson New Voices Competition (AWNV) is a city-wide competition open to all Chicago high school students in honor of the late Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, August Wilson. To participate, students engage in three rounds of competition by either performing a 2-3 minute monologue or creating a visual design presentation from one of the ten plays in August Wilson’s Century Cycle. The top two students from the Chicago Regional Finals receive a cash prize and are granted the opportunity to compete at the AWNV National competition with students from across the …

Read more