Whether it is a sporting or food event, cultural experience or art of any form like plays, musicals, or improv, Chicago is well-known for its offerings to city visitors and residents.
Broadway in Chicago, founded in July of 2000, has brought some of the best and brightest stars from the Broadway stages to the Chicago musical theater district for over twenty years. As far as attractions go, there is hardly anything better than understanding the feelings and emotions of becoming one with a live performance.
So, if you’re interested in seeing Broadway musicals in Chicago or simply wanting to experience musical theater in Chicago, use this as your guide.
Seeing Broadway Musicals in Chicago
Since Chicago is a world renowned city for many things, but especially the arts, there is no need to fly to New York City. Almost exclusively located in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, theaters dot the city landscape with sparkling marquees conveying the current shows, including the titles of the Broadway musicals in Chicago that are running.
The easiest way to discover all of the Broadway shows that are running, or will be arriving, in the Windy City is through Broadway in Chicago. The lineup for 2023 is strong with 16 shows sprinkled throughout the year; with one musical, The Wiz, introducing itself as the pre-Broadway Chicago premiere in late November into early December.
Other Broadway musicals in Chicago include the well-known and sought-after shows such as Hadestown (this musical has a quick run in Chicago: June 20 through June 25, 2023), To Kill a Mockingbird (its show runs August 8 through August 13, 2023), Hamilton (which will run from September 13 through December 3, 2023), and Stomp, which is in Chicago for most of December, running from the 13th through the 31st.
Other lesser-known but well worth seeing Broadway musicals in Chicago include The Lehman Trilogy, A Wonderful World, Company, Beetlejuice, and The Hip Hop Nutcracker, amongst others.
Whether you are looking for a show to see in 2023 or in future years, know that the musical theater scene in Chicago is thriving and will continue to delight audiences for years to come.
Watching Plays and Musicals in Chicago
Although there are many Broadway musicals in the city that are available to see, there are countless other plays and musicals in Chicago that are enchanting to be part of the audience.
Though not currently on a show run in Chicago, there is no talking about plays and musicals in Chicago without mentioning the musical with our city’s name, Chicago. Although the Chicago musical opened on Broadway in New York City in 1996, it has found a home while on tour in the Windy City. In fact, the musical most recently played in Chicago in January 2023.
One such musical that has audiences dancing in their seats is Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which hits the Marriott Theatre in November and runs through January 1, 2024. Prior to the tunes of Carole King hitting the stage, a favorite of the screen, Young Frankenstein, comes to the Mercury Theater from October 13 to December 31, 2023.
Also at the Mercury Theater, Rock of Ages — a musical that features rock music spanning from Pat Benatar to REO Speedwagon and Night Ranger to Twisted Sister — arrives in the Windy City in July 2023 and runs through mid-September 2023. If you are ready to rock, be moved by the musical numbers, and be in awe of the dancing and music of all the plays and musicals in Chicago, take the step and get a show or two on your schedule. These experiences are memorable ones that you simply won’t forget!
