It’s no Broadway, but Chicago is known for a vibrant theater scene, with many of the world’s biggest shows making their way to the Midwest. Of course, high–quality theater doesn’t come cheap, and most shows are typically stuck firmly outside a student’s price range.
Thankfully, this week is an exception, as Chicago Theatre Week makes prices on a wide variety of shows significantly easier to stomach. Tickets for all shows are $30 or less, with many of them significantly cheaper. Below, explore some exciting shows with tickets still available.
Amadeus
Where: The Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University, 431 S. Wabash Ave., 7th floor
When: Friday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.
Price: $10
In this show, students at Roosevelt University offer their take on the Tony Award–winning Amadeus. It tells the tale of Antonio Salieri, a composer whose work pales in comparison to the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. As he realizes his inability to surpass Mozart, Salieri plots his competitor’s downfall, in a dramatic tale full of intrigue. This one will surely set any Bienen student or history major’s hearts aflutter, making it potentially a great Valentine’s Day treat.
Beautifully
Where: The Theatre of Western Springs, 4384 Hampton Ave.
When: Thursday & Friday 8 p.m., Saturday 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Price: $15
Making its debut in Chicago, Beautifully tells the heartbreaking tale of two doomed relationships. Focusing on the lives of two sisters, the play explores multiple timelines and travels back in time to see why relationships may ultimately collapse. While this may be a bit painful to watch on Valentine’s Day for those who’ve had their hearts broken one too many times, it could also serve as the perfect romantic evening, a reminder of just how special your own relationship is.
Breach
Where: Dog & Pony Theatre Company, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Second Floor
When: Thursday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 6 p.m.
Price: $15
Using the tragic tale of lives lost at sea to explore questions of individuality and collectivity, Breach should both tickle the heartstrings and stir the mind. The play examines the lives of five women who lose their husbands at sea in a whaling accident. In spite of their grief, a beached whale offers them the opportunity to escape their lives and start fresh in New York City. While this one may seem quite bleak on the surface, the play’s nuanced look at death, opportunity and relationships should make for an engaging tale in spite of its overall sad tone.
The Game of Love and Chance
Where: Open Door Repertory Company, 902 South Ridgeland Ave.
When: Friday-Saturday 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.
Price: $15
The Game of Love and Chance is a French farce, originally created in 1730. Updated for modern sensibilities and performed in contemporary English, this production should retain the original play’s lighthearted energy while still remaining relevant to a modern audience. The play tells the tale of a woman engaged to marry a man whom she’s never met. In preparation for meeting him, she disguises herself as a maid to learn more about him. Of course, her fiancée does the same as a waiter, leading to a variety of comical romantic misunderstandings. Surely the greatest show for any couple on Valentine’s Day, this one should be a special treat.