Virtue and Grace by Isabella Van Houzen
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesThe fall of 1814, Kingston upon Thames. As four best friends ready themselves to court this season, Lady Grace Quimby schemes to attend events dressed as a man in order to court other women. With the help of her friends, she dons a disguise and navigates a convoluted web of lies. It is a farcical […]
A Taste of RED with A Red Orchid Theatre
The Understudy 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640, Chicago, IL, United StatesHang out with our friends from A Red Orchid Theatre on February 13th for the latest installment of their series A Taste of Red. A Red Orchid Theatre invites you to take a peek behind the curtain and see how their team goes about exploring a play. What gets their ensemble excited about a script? […]
Crush(ed) By Maria Arreola
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesA heartfelt comedy from Chicago playwright Maria Arreola about the embarrassments and excitements of the search for love. In a desperate bid to get her love life in order, Maria enlists Dr. Love and her fabulous game show Crush(ed). After speaking to Maria’s closest friends and family members, Dr. Love has assembled a cast of […]
For the Lovers Hosted by Georgia Rising
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesAn exploration of the eight kinds of Greek love through the lens of Black drag performers with music by Black artists. Presenting For the Lovers: an exploration of the 8 kinds of Greek love through the lens of Black drag performers with music by Black artists. Hosted by Georgia Rising in collaboration with Cafe Royalty, […]
Working in the 21st Century: A Conversation with Mark Larson
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, Residents' Dining Hall 800 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL, United StatesPLEASE NOTE: This event occurs offsite at the Jane Addams Hull House Museum Join the celebration for the release Mark Larson’s book "Working in the 21st Century" & participate in an exclusive discussion with Larson. Why do we show up to the jobs we’ve chosen? Or why don't we? How has the upheaval of the […]
Legland: An Absurd “Staged” Reading
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesLegLand creates absurdist, bouffon-inspired devised theatre pieces that parody everything from Greek drama to reality TV to consumer culture We thought we had already found all the great lost works of the past. We thought wrong. LegLand is proud to present an absurd “staged” “reading” of all the newly discovered texts from their private archives, […]
USITT Presents The Stage Rigging Handbook
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesJoin us for this special event on March 4, at The Understudy in Chicago! USITT Executive Director Laura Lee Everett will sit down with co-author Shane Kelly and scenic designer Regina García to discuss the latest edition of the Stage Rigging Handbook, working in the industry, and the impact Jay O. Glerum’s work has had […]
THE LACY PROJECT by Alena Smith
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesThe Lacy Project directed by Clara Zucker A Snails on a Bike Production Her mother's photographs turned Lacy into an icon of childhood innocence and beauty. Now, on the night of her 22nd birthday, Lacy has to navigate between image and reality, sex and friendship, self-indulgence and responsibility. This wild tragicomedy presents a portrait of […]
THE LACY PROJECT by Alena Smith
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesThe Lacy Project directed by Clara Zucker A Snails on a Bike Production Her mother's photographs turned Lacy into an icon of childhood innocence and beauty. Now, on the night of her 22nd birthday, Lacy has to navigate between image and reality, sex and friendship, self-indulgence and responsibility. This wild tragicomedy presents a portrait of […]
THE LACY PROJECT by Alena Smith
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesThe Lacy Project directed by Clara Zucker A Snails on a Bike Production Her mother's photographs turned Lacy into an icon of childhood innocence and beauty. Now, on the night of her 22nd birthday, Lacy has to navigate between image and reality, sex and friendship, self-indulgence and responsibility. This wild tragicomedy presents a portrait of […]
BRAWL! by Connor Ermir Bradshaw
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesMasculinity, desire, and belonging form a heady mix at the center of the boxing ring in BRAWL! Will Lucky find a way out? Dug into the backyard of Diesel Philips’ home is The Pit: the home and training ground for young boxers in the Mowbray Mountain valley. Here, limbs lock until a bell dings or […]
Ball & Battle: A Drag Show and Latte Art Throwdown
The Understudy Coffee and Books 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United StatesJoin The Understudy for an evening of fierce looks, fierce competition, and fabulous prizes. PLEASE NOTE: This event is 21+. No underage attendees or contestants will be permitted. It's our birthday, and we're celebrating in style. In honor of our first anniversary, we're bringing together the coffee and performance communities again for a hybrid […]