Our Events
We’ve designed The Understudy from the ground up to support a variety of events. Join us after close for play readings, drag performances, concerts, meetups, and more! The calendar is always updating, so check back often.
We’re always on the lookout for new ways to share our space and bring creative people together. If you have an idea for a new one-off event or series at The Understudy, please fill out the form below. Please note that we give priority to theatre related events, and, though we really want to, we can’t accommodate every request. Let’s chat!
recurring series
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WE SENT HER TO THE SEA by Maddie Powell
March 17 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
In eighteenth-century Europe – well, eighteenth-centuryish “Europe” – difficult women are sent to the seaside, where they are kept out of sight and out of mind. Five such women find […]
WE SENT HER TO THE SEA by Maddie Powell
March 17 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
A Conversation with the Authors:THE DANCE AND OPERA STAGE MANAGER’S TOOLKIT
March 10 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Don’t miss this in-depth discussion on the experiences of seasoned stage managers Sue Fenty and Michele Kay following the launch of their new book The Dance and Opera Stage Manager’s […]
A Conversation with the Authors:THE DANCE AND OPERA STAGE MANAGER’S TOOLKIT
March 10 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
That Black Ass Show Hosted by Rachel Slurrz
February 28 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Ready to close out Black History Month with a SICKENING SHOW?!? ‼️‼️‼️Join Rachel Slurrz as she hosts “That Black Ass Show” featuring some Chicago drag faves: Luv Ami Stoole, Trisha […]
That Black Ass Show Hosted by Rachel Slurrz
February 28 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
THE PILON by Zach Barr
February 17 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
In a Seattle sports card shop, a schism is brewing between those who collect for sentimental reasons and those who look only for high-dollar cards to resell. When a potential […]
THE PILON by Zach Barr
February 17 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Anyone Who Had A Heart – A Trans Voices Cabaret
February 14 @ 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm
CALLING ALL LOVERS! Trans Voices Cabaret is elated to be back in action with Anyone Who Had A Heart, a Valentine’s Day Show! Hosted by producer John-Payne, and featuring some […]
Anyone Who Had A Heart – A Trans Voices Cabaret
February 14 @ 7:45 pm – 9:00 pm
MUFFED by Zack Peercy
December 7, 2024 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
The Meaningful Action Theatre Company comes to The Understudy for Chester Greenwood Day! Never heard of Chester Greenwood Day? Oh, you will. Join us on Chester Greenwood Day (December 7th […]
MUFFED by Zack Peercy
December 7, 2024 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
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In eighteenth-century Europe - well, eighteenth-centuryish “Europe” - difficult women are sent to the seaside, where they are kept out of sight and out of mind. Five such women find themselves at The Sea, a remote treatment center spearheaded by the absurd Mr. Doctor (who may or may not have actually studied medicine?). From the melancholic to the homosexually-inclined, the Sea’s newest inpatients quickly become disillusioned with their treatment and decide they want out - but how many hysterical women does it take to screw the patriarchy? Powered by irreverence, hijinx, and a passion for musical improv, Maddie Powell’s new comedy We Sent Her to the Sea explores how we tend the garden of progress, and what we can do when we discover rot in the roots.
Maddie Powell - Playwright
Hershey Suri - Director
Karina Patel - Dramaturg
Sunnie Eraso - Charlotte
Olivia Pryor - Nellie
Hayley O'Toole - Birdie
Juliet Kang Huneke - Beverly
Sonia Goldberg - Leta
Micah Mabey - Mr. Doctor
Zihan Xiong - Stage Directions
Freshly Brewed Team:
Nadya Naumaan - Co-Artistic Producer
Emma Durbin - Co-Artistic Producer
Joel Willison - Co-Artistic Producer
Magdalena Dalzell - Literary Committee Coordinator
Danny Fender - The Understudy Co-Owner
Adam Crawford - The Understudy Co-Owner
About Freshly Brewed
Freshly Brewed seeks to invest in Chicago’s emerging playwrights and theatre artists in keeping with The Understudy’s commitment to Community, Collaboration, and Discovery. The series features monthly readings of new plays in various stages of development. Each artist conrtibuting– playwrights, directors, and actors– will receive a stipend underwritten by the series' anonymous donor.
Freshly Brewed also marks the inaugural collaboration between The Understudy and its neighbor, Edgewater’s Raven Theatre, who is thrilled to support The Understudy as their fiscal sponsor for this series. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to Freshly Brewed.
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Don't miss this in-depth discussion on the experiences of seasoned stage managers Sue Fenty and Michele Kay following the launch of their new book The Dance and Opera Stage Manager's Toolkit: Protocols, Practical Considerations, and Templates.
About the Book
The Dance and Opera Stage Manager’s Toolkit details unique perspectives and approaches to support stage managers beginning to navigate the fields of dance and opera stage management in live performance.
This book demystifies the genre-specific protocols and vocabularies for stage managers who might be unfamiliar with these fields and discusses common practices. Filled with valuable industry-tested tools, templates, and practical information, The Dance and Opera Stage Manager’s Toolkit is designed to assist stage managers interested in pursuing these performance genres. The book also includes interviews and contributions from a range of professional stage managers working in dance and opera.
From the student stage manager studying in Theatrical Design and Production university programs to the experienced stage manager wanting to broaden their skill set, this book provides resources and advice for a successful transition into these worlds.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Fenty Studham has been stage managing professionally in many genres of theatre for almost four decades. She has stage managed at major performing arts venues including on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Sydney Opera House. Sue began working with dance companies in New York City in 1986 and toured extensively before relocating to Australia, where she was resident stage manager with West Australian Ballet for ten years. During her four-year tenure as Head of the BFA Stage Management Program at DePaul University in Chicago, Sue created a curriculum that introduced students to the unique world of dance stage management. Sue holds a PhD from Edith Cowan University, Australia, and a BFA from Adelphi University, New York. She is a pioneer in doctoral studies in the field of stage management and a published author on topics that explore brave spaces, intimacy and violence protocols in performing arts, supporting language revitalization in performance, and stage managing intercultural theatre.
Michele Kay has been stage managing for over 30 years across all genres, musicals, plays, opera, and dance, in a variety of environments including New York, Chicago, and regionally across the US. She spent several years stage managing opera regionally, including two and a half years as the resident production stage manager at the Virginia Opera. She is an Associate Professor of Stage Management at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) where she has translated her practical opera knowledge into a curriculum for BFA and MFA stage management students, many of whom have graduated to work at prestigious opera companies across the country. Michele holds a MS in Organizational Leadership and a BA in Theatre from Miami University of Ohio. She is a member of Actors Equity Association, American Guild of Musical Artists, Stage Managers’ Association, and USITT. Most recently, Michele authored the essay “Already Calm, I’m the Stage Manager” for Off Headset: Essays on Stage Management Work, Life, and Career edited by Rafael Jean and Christopher Sadler (Routledge, 2022).
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[post_content] => Ready to close out Black History Month with a SICKENING SHOW?!? ‼️‼️‼️Join Rachel Slurrz as she hosts “That Black Ass Show” featuring some Chicago drag faves: Luv Ami Stoole, Trisha Can, and TiKi Vonté. You DONT want to miss this. Admission is Free but bring some coin to tip these baddies🔥 Hope to see you there! - Muah💋
Doors open at 7:00PM
Show begins at 7:30PM
Attendance is free!
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[post_content] => In a Seattle sports card shop, a schism is brewing between those who collect for sentimental reasons and those who look only for high-dollar cards to resell. When a potential goldmine card is found by a trans teenager, the resulting scramble to sell it forces the store’s co-owners, and their regular customers, to re-evaluate how they define themselves as collectors – and, furthermore, as male.
Playwright: Zach Barr
Director: Kidany Camilo
Dramaturg: Cori Lang
Rhonda: Lisa Antonia Cruz
Corbin: Rio Ragazzone
Lex: Harsh Gagoomal
Marc: Kevin Aoussou
Griffey: AC Rakotoniaina
Stage Directions: David Goodloe
Freshly Brewed Team:
Nadya Naumaan - Co-Artistic Producer
Emma Durbin - Co-Artistic Producer
Joel Willison - Co-Artistic Producer
Magdalena Dalzell - Literary Committee Coordinator
Danny Fender - The Understudy Co-Owner
Adam Crawford - The Understudy Co-Owner
About Freshly Brewed
Freshly Brewed seeks to invest in Chicago’s emerging playwrights and theatre artists in keeping with The Understudy’s commitment to Community, Collaboration, and Discovery. The series features monthly readings of new plays in various stages of development. Each artist conrtibuting– playwrights, directors, and actors– will receive a stipend underwritten by the series' anonymous donor.
Freshly Brewed also marks the inaugural collaboration between The Understudy and its neighbor, Edgewater’s Raven Theatre, who is thrilled to support The Understudy as their fiscal sponsor for this series. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to Freshly Brewed.
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[post_content] => CALLING ALL LOVERS! Trans Voices Cabaret is elated to be back in action with Anyone Who Had A Heart, a Valentine’s Day Show! Hosted by producer John-Payne, and featuring some of Chicago’s most unique and powerhouse theatre performers, this TVC is sure to be fun, intentional and a celebration of queer/trans love, as it falls on Feb 14! ♥️
We know tix cost money honey! So tickets are pay-what-you-can and QR codes will be provided in the space to tip/support both TVC and our stunning performers :)💋
Click Here for Tickets
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[post_content] => The Meaningful Action Theatre Company comes to The Understudy for Chester Greenwood Day! Never heard of Chester Greenwood Day? Oh, you will.
Join us on Chester Greenwood Day (December 7th at 7:30PM for those not in the know) for a one-night-only presentation of The Meaningful Action Theatre Company Presents A Workshop Reading Of:
Muffed: A Recounting of Farmington, Maine's 43rd Annual Chester Greenwood Day" Devised By The Members Of The Meaningful Action Theatre Company
written by Zack Peercy and directed by Kayla Menz
Need we say more?
The cast includes:
Reggie Hemphill, Karly Solon, Mersedez Hoover, Josh Philoon, Evin McQuistion, Jaycey Carlson, Izis Mollinedo, Liz Falstreau, with Jordan Rawlings reading Stage Directions
Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm Performance
The Understudy cafe will be open for refreshments before the performance.
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