Chicago’s theater scene is offering a variety of productions in March, featuring stories that range from historical drama to family-friendly musicals and dance showcases.
One of the month’s highlights is Collaboraction Theatre’s “Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till,” which has been extended through March 15 at the House of Belonging in Humboldt Park. The play reenacts the 1955 trial following the lynching of 14-year-old Chicagoan Emmett Till during his visit to the South. The production allows audience members to participate by sitting in jury seats, while actors portraying witnesses are seated among them. According to organizers, “The horrific injustice of the trial was one of the key igniters of the Civil Rights Movement.” More information and tickets can be found on Collaboraction Theatre’s website.
Porchlight Music Theatre presents “The Irish … And How They Got That Way” at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts through March 15. Based on writings by Frank McCourt, this musical looks back at two centuries of Irish history with a score including traditional songs and music from U2. “Get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with this offering from Porchlight Music Theatre,” according to event organizers.
For families, Lifeline Theatre offers “Kitty and the Beanstalk” on weekends through March 22 in Rogers Park. This adaptation shifts focus from Jack to sibling stray cats Kitty and Tom as they embark on an adventure after discovering magic beans.
Fans of pop culture can attend “Buffy Revamped” at Studebaker Theatre from March 8-22. Brendan Murphy plays Spike and all other characters as he condenses all seven seasons and 144 episodes of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” into a seventy-minute performance.
Dance enthusiasts can see new works at Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Works showcase, running March 13-22 at Museum of Contemporary Art’s Edlis Neeson Theater. Now in its sixteenth year, this competition features original choreography by ALAANA artists — Fran Diaz, Julia Feldman, DaYoung Jung, Daniel Ojeda and Alexandra Schooling — each presenting world premiere pieces with accompanying original scores.
Chicago audiences have several options this month for engaging with theater that reflects both local history and broader cultural themes.
