Hottest tickets in Chicago

03.09.2024 - 22:48 / lonelyplanet.com / Bill Murray

Sep 3, 2024 • 6 min read

Chicago knows how to put on a show, with some 200 theaters sprinkled around town. Improv comedy was born here and continues to headline on legendary stages. The drama scene draws equal acclaim, with many productions exporting to Broadway.

Want to find the top performances in town? Read on for our top theater picks in Chicago. A tip to get you started: check Hot Tix, which sells discounted tickets to theaters around the city. 

Steppenwolf Theatre is Chicago’s top stage, and mounts provocative plays by its Pulitzer Prize–winning, movie-star-filled ensemble that includes John Malkovich, Tracy Letts, Gary Sinise, and Laurie Metcalf. Performances take place in the main Downstairs Theater, in-the-round Ensemble Theater (where all seats are within 20ft of the stage) and cabaret-style 1700 Theater (which hosts emerging actors and playwrights). Hang out after the show in Steppenwolf’s cozy cafe, and you might end up having a drink next to the performers.

How to score a ticket: It’s best to book tickets for Steppenwolf Theatre a few weeks in advance online. That said, a small number of $20 tickets go on sale for same-day shows; call the box office (312-335-1650) right when it opens at noon and see if you get lucky. Tuesday tickets are pay what you can (available by phone only).

Glitzy touring productions set up shop in the Theater District downtown, where several century-old, neon-lit playhouses cluster around State and Randolph Sts. The opulent, seven-story Chicago Theatre is star of the lot. Cadillac Palace Theatre (with an interior based on the Palace of Versailles) and Nederlander Theatre (with stunning East Asian architectural elements) stand out among the others for seeing the likes of Back to the Future: The Musical and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. 

How to score a ticket: Broadway in Chicago handles tickets for all of the theaters except the Chicago Theatre. Buy online, or save around $10 per ticket in handling fees by buying in person at the box office (hours vary for each theater, so check before heading out). Same-day tickets often are available, especially for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday shows.

Second City is the comedy venue that put improv on the map and launched many superstars’ careers. Bill Murray, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Steve Carrell and more honed their wit at the nightly shows here. The slick Mainstage, e.t.c. Theater and UP Comedy Club host the most hilarious and polished ensembles riffing on politics and pop culture in ever-changing sketch revues. Several smaller stages put on the up-and-comers.

How to score a ticket: Book tickets on the Second City website. Prime-time weekend shows on the Mainstage often sell out a few weeks in advance. Late-night shows and