The Understudy

The Best Damn Thing by Hanna Kime
2024-02-02 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-02-01 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-01-29 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-01-28 19:30 - 21:30, 2024-01-27 19:30 - 21:30 (America/Chicago) | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
It’s summer of 2011, and Ellie, an awkward 16-year-old, has written what she believes to be a groundbreaking new musical inspired by the early discography of Avril Lavigne. She has invited Rachel, her much cooler ex-best friend and their theatre teacher’s favorite, to her house to pitch the show in hopes that Rachel can convince him to program it for their spring musical. Over the course of one evening of workshopping, the two girls rekindle their friendship and reopen old wounds. The Best Damn Thing is a piercing and boldly theatrical exploration of what it means to be a teenage girl in a world that refuses to take you seriously.
This premiere production of The Best Damn Thing is the first fully-staged production inside The Understudy Coffee and Books. The play transforms the bookstore into an inventive and dynamic performance space, complete with a full band performing each song live. The Best Damn Thing is a bold and exciting new piece of theatre, and also a full-blown throwback pop-punk concert. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind theatregoing experience.
PLUS: Opening performance on 1/27 and closing performance on 2/5 feature a Post-show set by Sara Geist and the Best Damn Thing band!
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 15+
CAST
Ellie – Elisabeth Del Toro
Rachel – Maya Hlava
Ellie U/S – Jordan Levene
Rachel U/S – Ruby Gibson
BAND
Music Director – Sara Geist
Guitar – Tariq Shihadah
Drums – Vince De Re
Bass – Steve Schaeffer
CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright – Hanna Kime
Composers – Sara Geist, Hanna Kime
Director – Grace Dolezal-Ng
Associate Director – Danny Fender
Costume Designer – Jessica Van Winkle
Lighting Designer – Katelyn Le-Thompson
Sound Designer/Audio Engineer – Hunter Leach
Intimacy Designer – Kayla Menz

Kokandy Book Club Presents: LOVE FOR SALE
2024-01-31 19:30 - 21:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Kokandy Productions explores the lyrics, letters, and writings of Cole porter in the latest installment of their cabaret series BOOK CLUB

Join The Understudy and our friends from Kokandy Productions for the latest installment of our series Book Club. Kokandy Book Club is an intimate salon series celebrating theatre, music and community. Each meeting will focus on a well known play (or in this case, a person)—investigating themes through musical performance. Have a sit, have a sip and honor the ritual of talking about great art and having a good ole fashion jam session.
For this meet, we explore the man, the myth, the maestro: Cole Porter. It’s giving wit, it’s giving innuendo, it’s giving quadruple entendre. We’ll use Porter’s lyrics, letters and other writings to celebrate the delightful artist and his delicious life to create an absolute de-lovely night. Curated by Kokandy Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham, with musical accompaniment by Nick Sula, our book club performers will be announced soon!
Doors open at 7 PM for a 7:30 PM performance.
The Understudy Cafe will be open for refreshments.

(UNDERSTUDY PERFORMANCE) The Best Damn Thing by Hanna Kime
2024-01-30 19:30 - 21:30 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
An intimate and explosive new play inspired by the early discography of Avril Lavigne. The Best Damn Thing is witty, campy, punk fun.

It’s summer of 2011, and Ellie, an awkward 16-year-old, has written what she believes to be a groundbreaking new musical inspired by the early discography of Avril Lavigne. She has invited Rachel, her much cooler ex-best friend and their theatre teacher’s favorite, to her house to pitch the show in hopes that Rachel can convince him to program it for their spring musical. Over the course of one evening of workshopping, the two girls rekindle their friendship and reopen old wounds. The Best Damn Thing is a piercing and boldly theatrical exploration of what it means to be a teenage girl in a world that refuses to take you seriously.

This premiere production of The Best Damn Thing is the first fully-staged production inside The Understudy Coffee and Books. The play transforms the bookstore into an inventive and dynamic performance space, complete with a full band performing each song live. The Best Damn Thing is a bold and exciting new piece of theatre, and also a full-blown throwback pop-punk concert. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind theatregoing experience.
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 15+
This is an Understudy Performance.
UNDERSTUDY CAST
Ellie – Jordan Levene
Rachel – Ruby Gibson

BAND
Music Director – Sara Geist
Guitar – Tariq Shihadah
Drums – Vince De Re
Bass – Steve Schaeffer

CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright – Hanna Kime
Composers – Sara Geist, Hanna Kime
Director – Grace Dolezal-Ng
Associate Director – Danny Fender
Costume Designer – Jessica Van Winkle
Lighting Designer – Katelyn Le-Thompson
Sound Designer/Audio Engineer – Hunter Leach
Intimacy Designer – Kayla Menz

PHARAOH TAROT
2024-01-29 15:00 - 18:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Pharaoh Tarot is BACK on Monday, January 29th!

Imbolc – The First Sabbat of 2024
Imbolc, A Celtic festival celebrating Brigid, the goddess of creativity, poetry, healing, and fertility. February 1st is a sabbat that recognizes new growth, and the first shoots of spring breaking through the thawing ice.
FRESH START
The Root – What is the Nature of your current condition?
The Thaw – What previously unseen gifts are being revealed?
New Growth – How can you increase growth and abundance in your life?
Bookings are 25 minutes. Individual readings are $55, but pay what you can readings are available, lowest donation $11.
Feel free to reach out to Regina via instagram or email with any questions: @officialreginav, officialreginavictor@gmail.com

CLICK HERE to reserve your spot in advance!

READING IS A DRAG Hosted by Kerosene
2024-01-26 19:30 - 21:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Your favorite literary moments are brought to life in fabulous drag form at READING IS A DRAG hosted by Kerosene

The Understudy is combining its passions for literature and performance alongside host Kerosene.
READING IS A DRAG is a fun all-ages event where drag professionals read books and perform a few numbers in the name of creative literacy!
CAST TBA
Doors open at 7PM for a 7:30PM performance. The Understudy cafe will be open for refreshments.

Austin's Home by Jesse Robkin
2024-01-22 19:30 - 21:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
When Austin returns home after an extended absence, old wounds break open, and new tensions arise. A fresh drama from Chicago playwright Jesse Robkin, Austin’s Home explores what it truly takes to see one another.
Directed by Bryar Barborka and Adam Todd Crawford
Cast To Be Announced
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, as its fiscal sponsor. Donations made to the Freshly Brewed program are tax-deductible and can be made via raventheatre.com with a note that the contribution is for The Understudy/Freshly Brewed.

Two Mics featuring Michael Patric Thornton and Michael Shannon
2023-12-29 20:00 - 22:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
A Red Orchid Theatre is thrilled to partner with The Gift Theatre on a special fundraising event on: TWO MICS featuring Michael Patrick Thornton and Michael Shannon!
Friday, December 29
The Understudy (5531 N Clark)
Doors open at 8pm
Close out 2023 with an intimate evening of improv with Michael Patrick Thornton and Michael Shannon all in support of their home theatre companies: A Red Orchid and The Gift. A special line-up of Ensemble Members from both theatres will open the evening.
Tickets for this one-night event will go on sale to A Red Orchid and Gift Season Subscribers tomorrow, Thursday, December 14 at 12pm and to the public on Friday, December 15 at 12pm. Tickets are limited so keep your eyes on your inbox!
Please note: This event is now SOLD OUT!

Pharaoh Tarot
2023-12-20 13:00 - 17:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Pharaoh Tarot is BACK on Wednesday, December 20th!
THE GIFT: A Winter Solstice Reading is inspired by the winter solstice on Dec 21st, a time to review what we’ve learned, renew our intentions for the following year and get a peek at what the universe has in store!
The Present – current state; what lessons are being internalized to make way for the new?
The Package – environment, how will my surroundings be enriched /affected in the coming year?
The Bow – Love and Vitality, what passions may arise in the new year?
The Card – A message of wisdom from The Mighty Dead (those who have accomplished much and since passed on)
CLICK HERE for Advance Reservation

Drag Bingo! Hosted by Drag n' Drop and Cafe Royalty
2023-12-16 20:00 - 21:30 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
what has 5 letters and one big prize?🤔
🩷❤️🧡BINGO!🩵💙💜
Baby, double check that board because we are callin the shots (well… espresso shots…) Visit us Saturday, December 16th for DRAG BINGO!🤩
✨free event!
✨all ages!
✨sober space!
✨insane prizes
✨drag!
and more!
Put some mascara on and let’s play ball!🫨
Doors at 8, balls drop at 8:30🤭
No need to RSVP, Just show up ready to play!

Hanukkah Candle Lighting and Drag Queen Story Time
2023-12-10 16:00 - 17:00 | The Understudy, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640, Chicago, IL, 60613, United States
The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce is proud to launch their first annual Hanukkah candle lighting and Drag Queen Storytime at The Understudy Coffee & Books!

Drag Bubbie Merriam Levkowitz will serenade us with some musical Hanukkah performances and Hanukkah book readings for the whole family.

Afterward, we’ll have a menorah lighting led by Cantor Kenneth Lyonswright.

This event is family friendly and free! Bring the kiddos and enjoy some great Hanukkah entertainment and cozy winter drinks while we celebrate the Festival of Lights!

THE ALMOST EMPEROR OF THE UNOFFICIAL DEESTRICK OF LAKE MICHIGAN
2023-12-05 19:30 - 21:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Winner of the 2020 Judith Barlow Award
2023 Broadway World Chicago Theatre Nominee for Best New Play
CAST & COMPANY:
Director – Kristin L. Schoenback
Design & Production Manager – Rachael Nuckles
– – –
Ky Anderson – Poppy
Kelsey Busboom – Ma Streeter
Viv Delgadillo – Niles West
Keenan Odenkirk – Potter Motherfucking Palmer
Ryan Tang – Cap Streeter

SYNOPSIS:
It is the 1920s in Chicago, and The District of Lake Michigan is thriving. Led by Cap and Ma Streeter, the lakefront plot of land that houses The District is occupied by a ragtag group of Chicagoans living outside the law. They have been allowed to live there, pretty much undisturbed, for decades, but now they are in the way of millionaire Potter Palmer’s master plan to expand his holdings onto Lake Shore Drive. Not one to do his own dirty work, Palmer sends his puppets (The Judge, Sargeant O’Malley, and N.A. Warpbank) to remove Streeter and his followers from the land once and for all in this DaDa adaptation of a Chicago legend.
– – – –
“Streeterville won’t never have a chamber of commerce until it has a cabaret. This is a frontier town and its got to go through its red-blooded youth. A church and a WCTU branch never growed a town yet. Yuh gotta start with entertainment.“
– Captain George Wellington Streeter

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
We as Cats Cradle Theatre and a company of artists, no matter where we work, acknowledge the original owners of that land. This event will take place at The Understudy Coffee & Books, which resides within the traditional homeland of a few indigenous nations including The Peoria and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ tribes as well as many other tribes who traversed this land.
It is our responsibility as individuals who benefit from colonization to understand and support the indigenous communities whose lives were destroyed and whose stories were erased in the name of this nation. Chicago is home to one of the largest urban Native communities with members of tribes from across the content. It’s important to not only look back at the communities that called this land home before us, but to understand that we are still living alongside peoples for whom reparations must be made.

Click here to learn about some of the tribes whose land you currently reside on.

CATS CRADLE THEATRE
Cats Cradle Theatre is a project-based producing collective of artists and advocates. We are dedicated to developing new work and new industry practices that center on themes of empathy, inclusion, and social justice. We believe in the power of community. Through workshops, readings, productions, events, and philanthropic work, we strive to cultivate unique and actionable partnerships. Each project we pursue has a clear purpose in developing civic relationships, always looking for new ways “to citizen.”
​
Our through-line as a company is not found in our continued season or program planning, but instead is centered on how we work. By looking deeply at the underlying structures and practices in our industry, especially in the decision-making processes, Cats Cradle seeks to identify, investigate and develop new ways of working that align with and serve the needs of our community, and investing in a new generation of artists.

Pocket Playfest
2023-12-01 19:00 - 2023-12-02 22:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
6 emerging playwrights and directors have been creating a new work for the past 2 months – time to see their work!

Over the past two months, 6 emerging playwrights and directors have been making new work together, come see what they’ve made!
December 1st
Red Devil – written by Andrea Berting and directed by Allie Robinson
Cast – Bobbie Hart, Jamie Newell, Valerie Gorman

Recess – written by Mikayla De Guzman and directed by Erin Sheets
Cast – Brandon Wright, Amal Salem, Luz Espinoza

Cozy – written by Daphne Gussler and directed by Patrick Starner
Cast – Eph Page, Joyce Porter, Melissa Harrison

December 2nd
Dirt Girls – written by Grace Reasoner and directed by Oskar Westbridge
Cast – Emily Dean, Jessie Shaw, Alana Gordon Levine,

Crossing – written by Morris Mclennan and directed by Tyler Struble
Cast – Rafael Lopez, Nick Trengrove

She Can Declare a Hurricane – written by Melanie Coffey and directed by Rashaad Bond
Cast – Carmia Imani, Crystal Claros, Ruth Kaufman

Flock and Flower: Climate Change Theatre Action @ The Understudy
2023-11-30 19:30 - 21:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Joe Schupbach and Alyssa Mohn are co-curating a reading as part of Climate Change Theatre Action.
Launched in 2015, Climate Change Theatre Action is a worldwide festival of short plays about the climate crisis presented biennially to coincide with the United Nations COP meetings. Every other year, 50 professional playwrights, representing all inhabited continents as well as several co-cultures and Indigenous nations, are commissioned to write five-minute plays about an aspect of the climate crisis based on a prompt. This year’s prompt is “All Good Things Must Begin.” The event includes a reading of climate action-centered short plays that will be performed in rep, creating an evening of live reading, community galvanization, and measurable actions to make an impact on climate change.
Doors open at 7pm. Performance begins at 7:30pm.

Thank You Five: LIVE with Strawdog Theatre
2023-11-29 19:30 - 21:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Join panelists from across Chicago for an engaging, wide-ranging discussion on the industry, the art, and the future!

From Strawdog Theatre, a weekly show bringing theatre artists from around the globe into a conversation about live theatre and digital storytelling with a spirit of gratitude and innovation.
Usually convened digitally, Thank You Five is recording LIVE at The Understudy for one night only.
In addition to viewing in-person, the show will be streamed live online.
Doors open at 7pm, and the recording begins at 7:30pm.
Panelists announced soon.
Click here to catch up on previous episodes of Thank You Five.

Play Reading Club: THE THANKSGIVING PLAY
2023-11-27 19:00 - 20:30 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Join us for the next iteration of Play Reading Club, happening every month at The Understudy. No need to RSVP, just show up ready to discuss the play! Our book club begins at 7 PM.
This month, we’re reading The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse.

About the play:

Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions in Larissa FastHorse’s wickedly funny satire, as a troupe of terminally “woke” teaching artists scrambles to create a pageant that somehow manages to celebrate both Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month.

The Thanksgiving Play/What Would Crazy Horse Do?
$16.95
Buy now

About the playwright:
Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Lakota Nation) is an award-winning writer and 2020-2025 MacArthur Fellow. Her satirical comedy The Thanksgiving Play made her the first known female Native American playwright on Broadway, at the Helen Hayes under the direction of Rachel Chavkin. Her new plays in 2023 are Wicoun (Cornerstone Theater Company), Democracy Project (Federal Hall), Fake It Until You Make It (CTG Mark Taper Forum), For the People (Guthrie), and the national tour of Peter Pan (Networks). Selected past plays include What Would Crazy Horse Do? (KCRep), Landless and Cow Pie Bingo (AlterTheater), Average Family (Children’s Theater Company of Minneapolis) and Teaching Disco Squaredancing to Our Elders: a Class Presentation (Native Voices at the Autry), as well as numerous productions of The Thanksgiving Play, making it one of the most produced plays in America.
Larissa created the nationally recognized trilogy of community engaged theatrical experiences with Cornerstone Theater Company; Urban Rez, Native Nation and Wicoun. She and her collaborator, Michael John Garcés, spend years on each project in an Indigenized community engagement process. “The engagement itself is the art form.” These projects have earned them national funding and an appointment to Arizona State University.
Larissa’s company with Ty Defoe, Indigenous Direction, recently produced the first land acknowledgement on national television for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC and continues to consult for them. They also consult for the largest theater organizations in the country.
Larissa also writes in film and television, most recently as a creator for NBC, Disney Channel, Dreamworks, Muse, Netflix and others. She is based in Los Angeles with her husband, the sculptor Edd Hogan, and represented by Jonathan Mills at Paradigm NY. She is especially honored to follow in the footsteps of the last known Native American playwright on Broadway, Lynn Riggs. hoganhorsestudio.com

RING OF KEYS Meetup and Screening
2023-11-21 19:00 - 21:30 | The Understudy, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640, Chicago, IL, 60613, United States
Click Here for Tickets

Join Ring of Keys, the artists’ service and advocacy organization supporting queer women, trans, and non-binary musical theater artists for a bit of community and the screening of our 2023 concert Queering the Canon: Jerry Herman, featuring Chicago Keys!

At 7pm, we invite all current Chicago-based Keys and anyone interested in joining to meet up for a social hour with Executive Director, Aislinn Frantz (she/her).

At 8pm, we’ll invite in anyone else who would like to catch our concert of Queering the Canon: Jerry Herman, originally performed at The Ubique, with direction by Elizabeth Swanson (they/she), music direction by Harper Caruso (she/they), and brand new queer songs and performances of Herman standards by the Key community.

Tickets are $15 for non-Keys and $5 for Keys.

I Can't... I Have Trivia
2023-11-20 19:30 - 21:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Theatre nerds, your time has come! Join us for another round of trivia at 7:30 on November 20th, We recommend playing with a team of four. Hosted by our friend Patrick Zakem, each round will test your knowledge of a different facet of theatre history, current events, or culture. Think you’ve got what it takes to triumph? Don’t miss it!
No need to RSVP, just bring your team on the 20th!

THE BIG FINISH hosted by Stephanie and Tiki Vonté
2023-11-18 20:30 - 21:30 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Join hosts Stephanie and Tiki Vonté for a drag night for the theatre girlies comprised exclusively of 11 o’clock numbers. THE BIG FINISH is a show for full of stunts, drama, and theatrics.
STAY TUNED for full cast announcement.
Doors open at 8 PM for an 8:30 PM show. The Understudy cafe will be open for refreshments.

Broadway Open Mic Hosted by Porchlight Young Professionals
2023-11-17 20:00 - 23:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
CLICK HERE for Tickets
Porchlight Young Professionals are thrilled to host our first fundraising event to support Porchlight Music Theatre: Broadway Open Mic! Join us for a fun night of karaoke with a live pianist (the always-incredible Alex Newkirk) hosted by Porchlight’s own Producing Artistic Associate Frankie Leo Bennett.
Your ticket includes entry to the event, complimentary beer and wine, access to The Understudy’s coffee and tea menu and an optional song included!
Pay $5 to sing a song or to nominate your friend to sing – pay $10 to get out of singing when you’ve been nominated! All funds raised will support Porchlight Music Theatre’s 29th season, featuring Anything Goes and Porchlight in Concert: Sunday in the Park with George.

A Taste of RED with A Red Orchid Theatre
2023-11-14 19:30 - 21:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Tickets Coming Soon
Hang out with our friends from A Red Orchid Theatre on October 17th 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? How do actors, directors, playwrights, and designers all approach the same text differently? What defines a quintessential A Red Orchid production?
Doors open at 7pm and the reading begins at 7:30pm. The Understudy Cafe will be open for refreshments.

Absence of Proof Friendsgiving
2023-11-11 19:00 - 22:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
CLICK HERE for Tickets
Join Absence of Proof & The Understudy for an evening of unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, small bites & great vibes. Grab your friends & ease into the holiday season with a night off of drinking! Let’s party! xx

Included in your ticket:

Unlimited non-alcoholic cocktails made with Ritual Zero Proof, Curious Elixirs
Unlimited Non-Alcoholic Beer from Partake
Small Bites

Please Note (Important):
This event is 21+.
All drinks offered will be below 0.5% ABV (non-alcoholic). Some drinks will utilize non-alcoholic spirits that mimic the taste and aroma of alcohol, without the intoxicating effects. If you are in recovery or are potentially triggered by the taste of alcohol, please do not consume these beverages.
Our events also mimic the environment of a bar (music, socializing, and may be held in venues that otherwise serve alcohol). If this is triggering, please do not attend.
If you are pregnant or nursing, please consult with your healthcare provider before consuming any of our beverages. Your doctor can provide personalized advice based on your individual circumstances.
Our beverages are not guaranteed to be Halal or Vegan. Upon request, we are happy to provide full ingredient lists.
We understand that everyone has unique preferences and dietary requirements and our number one priority is respecting your individual choices. We encourage you to reach out to us with any questions or concerns that may not have been addressed here.
By entering an event or program of Absence of Proof, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur.
Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with Absence of Proof and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising.
By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media.
You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the event premises.

G. L. O. W. : A Queer Sober Open Mic Night
2023-11-10 20:00 - 22:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
The Understudy presents G.L.O.W.: a Queer Sober Open Mic Night

ABOUT THE EVENT
Join The Understudy for G.L.O.W., a queer sober open mic night hosted by K.J Whitehead and Sharon Pasia. Expect comedy, drama, and stunts galore.
Stay tuned for performer signups!
Doors open at 7:30. Performances begin at 8. The Understudy Cafe will be open for refreshments!

A Perfect Map of Everything by Connor Geary
2023-11-08 19:30 - 22:30 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Hugo, obsessed with perfection, decides on cartography as his next project. Hamlin, his roommate, can only pack Hugo’s lunchbox on his brief returns home, which are becoming less and less frequent. Connor Geary’s A Perfect Map of Everything manifests the irrational, all-consuming, heartbreaking lengths a person will go to get someone to love them back.
This reading marks Connor Geary’s Chicago playwriting debut.
Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm reading. The Understudy Cafe will be open for refreshments.
CAST
Bennett Petersen as Hugo
Brandon Acosta as Hamlin
Juliet Kang Huneke as Mrs. Galloway / Mr. McGully
Artist bios:
Connor Geary (he/him) is a Chicago based playwright and director. He is a recent graduate of Northwestern University’s theatre department where he completed the playwriting module and the advanced playwriting sequence. Other plays include The Endless Stream of Junk and Propus. Directing credits include The Aliens (Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts), The Fig and the Wasp (Sit and Spin Productions), and March Nine (Vertigo Productions). He also dabbles in black and white 35mm film photography which can be found on his Instagram @connorshootsfilm. He is extremely grateful to all of you for showing interest in his work. Keep up with him at connorgeary.com.
Bennett Petersen (he/him) is a Chicago-based actor, director, and writer. He graduated from Northwestern University in 2022, where he studied Theatre and Musical Theatre Writing. You may have seen him as Gene Wilder in HEIST! (Eclectic Full-Contact Theatre) or as Victor in DRY LAND (Snails on a Bike). He wrote lyrics for an original one-act musical titled HOME FOR THE SUMMER with his costars Brandon and Juliet, produced by the American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University. He could not be more grateful to breathe life into Connor’s words, and to work with Brandon, Juliet, and Connor once again. Any inquiries can be made to bennettpetersen2018@gmail.com or on Instagram @bennettscottpetersen.
Juliet Kang Huneke is an actor, playwright, and teaching artist who is passionate about theatre that is larger than life. Chicago acting credits include: Arviragus in CYMBELINE (Midsommer Flight), Joan 3 in JOAN AND THE FIRE (Trap Door Theatre), Fanny in THE UGLY ONE (Trap Door Theatre), and WHEN THE SUN MELTS AWAY (Token Theatre). As a writer, she was recently awarded the ReImagine: New Plays in TYA grant to develop her new play for young audiences, HANNAH AND HALMONI SAVE THE WORLD!. When she’s not acting or writing, Juliet teaches silly theatre classes at Chicago Children’s Theatre. Northwestern 2022! https://www.julietkanghuneke.com/
Brandon Acosta (he/him) is a Chicago based Actor/Composer. A proud recent graduate of Northwestern University, Brandon has appeared onstage at Metropolis Performing Arts Center, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, and Paramount Theatre. When he is not performing or writing, Brandon works as the Arts Department Coordinator for PBS Kids’ Donkey Hodie. Special thanks to Connor for his beautiful, silly, touching story! (@pfgum2)

QUEER HORROR with Bruce Owens Grimm and Adam M. Rhodes
2023-11-01 19:30 - 20:30 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Queer Horror
This event celebrates the one year anniversary of the Los Angeles Times bestseller It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror. Closet contributor Bruce Owens Grimm will be in conversation with writer, activist, and queer horror nerd, Adam Rhodes, about Grimm’s queer reading of Hereditary and why queer audiences love horror movies.
Contributors
Adam M. Rhodes is a nonbinary first-generation Cuban American journalist whose work primarily focuses on queer people and the criminal justice system. Their recent work has examined HIV treatment access in Puerto Rico, HIV criminalization laws and a homophobic capital murder trial in Illinois, as well as housing of transgender prisoners in New Jersey. Rhodes was most recently a staff writer and social justice reporter at the Chicago Reader, and they have been published in outlets including The Appeal, BuzzFeed News and The Washington Post.
Bruce Owens Grimm’s work appears in, among others, The Rumpus, Zócalo Public Square, and in the Los Angeles Times bestseller, It Came from the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror. They coined the term “haunted memoir.” They are one of the co-editors of Fat and Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives. They are a PEN/America grant recipient, a Pushcart nominee for their essay, “Inventory of a Haunted House, No.4,” and are at work on a nonfiction book about ghosts, queer horror movies, and all the ways they’ve lived on the borderline.

Play Reading Club: ENFRASCADA
2023-10-30 19:00 - 20:30 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Join us for the next iteration of Play Reading Club, happening every month at The Understudy. No need to RSVP, just show up ready to discuss the play! Our book club begins at 7 PM.
This month, we’re reading Enfrascada by Chicago playwright Tanya Saracho.

About the play:

When Alicia finds out that her boyfriend of nine years has been cheating on her, she is devastated beyond belief. Luckily her friends are ready to help her – by any means necessary. They urge Alicia to experiment with brujería, hoodoo, and santería magic; not only to heal her broken heart, but to help get her man back. Reminiscent of Sex and the City, Tanya Saracho’s comedy explores the truly magic side of love.

Enfrascada
$11.95
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About the playwright:
Tanya Saracho was born in Sinaloa, México. She is a playwright and television writer who’s worked on How To Get Away With Murder and HBO’s Looking, among other shows. Currently, she serves as the creator and showrunner of the series VIDA on Starz. She is also developing a television series called Brujas with Big Beach, which deals with the intersection between Brujería culture and feminism.
Named “Best New Playwright” by Chicago magazine, Saracho has had plays produced at: Dallas Theatre Center, Victory Gardens Theatre, Theatreworks, Primary Stages and 2nd Stage in NYC, Denver Theatre Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Goodman Theater, Steppenwolf Theater, Teatro Vista, Teatro Luna, Fountain Theater, Clubbed Thumb, NEXT Theater and 16th Street Theater. Saracho was named one of nine national Latino “Luminarios” by Café magazine and given the first “Revolucionario” Award in Theater by the National Museum of Mexican Art. She is the founder of Teatro Luna (all-Latina Theatre Company) as well as the founder of ALTA (Alliance of Latino Theatre Artists). She is currently under commission with South Coast Repertory and Two River Theatre.

CROOKED hosted by Betty Theft
2023-10-27 20:30 - 22:00 | The Understudy Coffee and Books, 5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60640, United States
Join host Betty Theft alongside a sordid cast of drag things. CROOKED is a show for villains, freaks, and petty thieves. A show that celebrates all things strange, dark, bizarre, fringe, and alternative!
CROOKED is a theatrical platform for dark and alternative drag- ominous, expressive, and dramatic.
Stay tuned for info on performer lineup.
Doors open at 8 PM for an 8:30 PM show. The Understudy cafe will be open for refreshments.
