A good way to describe Chicago's theatre scene is like a "mini New York." There are hundreds of professional theatre companies in Chicago that employ thousands of actors and actresses each year, including many children. Professional theatre companies are housed in many different spaces all over the city including storefront theaters, like The Gift Theatre, and buildings with several different sized theaters, like The Goodman Theater. Some theatre companies are housed in churches, community centers, and concert halls and some theatre companies don't have permanent homes, like The Hypocrites. Chicago is also known for the many Broadway touring company shows that are performed at theaters like The Oriental, The Cadillac, and The Drury Lane Water Tower, otherwise know as the Chicago Theatre District.
The Second City was founded in 1959 as Chicago's first improvisational theatre company. Several years after the success of The Second City and a couple other smaller theatre companies, popular theatre companies such as Steppenwolf and Victory Gardens were created. These theatre companies as well as the Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, and Lookingglass theatre companies would later go on to win regional Tony Awards. Many theatre companies became ensemble- based, which means a team of actors, directions, designers, etc. are a part of the company.
Many plays and musicals are debuted in Chicago, at various theatre companies. Shows are workshopped, staged and sometimes performed before going to Broadway in New York City. Some of the theatre companies are union and some are not. Actors who do a large number of shows at union theatre companies become Equity and get paid higher rates. There are equity and non-equity Jeff Awards, where theatre companies, directors, designers, and more are able to win awards for performing or putting on the best productions.
The Second City was founded in 1959 as Chicago's first improvisational theatre company. Several years after the success of The Second City and a couple other smaller theatre companies, popular theatre companies such as Steppenwolf and Victory Gardens were created. These theatre companies as well as the Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, and Lookingglass theatre companies would later go on to win regional Tony Awards. Many theatre companies became ensemble- based, which means a team of actors, directions, designers, etc. are a part of the company.
Many plays and musicals are debuted in Chicago, at various theatre companies. Shows are workshopped, staged and sometimes performed before going to Broadway in New York City. Some of the theatre companies are union and some are not. Actors who do a large number of shows at union theatre companies become Equity and get paid higher rates. There are equity and non-equity Jeff Awards, where theatre companies, directors, designers, and more are able to win awards for performing or putting on the best productions.