Theater

Spotlight: ‘MDQ’ returns to Aurora’s Stolp Island Theatre; ‘Hamilton’ back in Chicago

Posted February 24, 2026 11:43 am

Stolp Island Theatre's hit production of “Million Dollar Quartet” resumes performances Wednesday, March 4, in Aurora. Courtesy of Liz Lauren

'MDQ' returns to Aurora

The musician/actors who make up Paramount Theatre's “Million Dollar Quartet” cast return after a winter hiatus for Stolp Island Theatre's immersive production. The Dec. 4, 1956, jam session at the Sun Records studio in Memphis that brought together Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley inspired the hit show, which features such rock n' roll hits as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Who Do You Love,” “Real Wild Child,” “I Walk the Line” “Hound Dog” and “Great Balls of Fire.”

1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4; 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6; 2 and 7 p.m. March 7; 1 and 5:30 p.m. March 8 and through May 31 at 55 E. Downer Place, Aurora. $76 in person, additional fees apply to phone and online purchases. (630) 896-6666 or ParamountAurora.com.

Hollywood 'red scare' inspires drama

City Lit Theater Company stages the Chicago premiere of “Changing Channels,” a historical political drama inspired by the McCarthy “red scare” that enveloped Hollywood and the rest of the country during the 1950s. Written by longtime Chicago actor/playwright John Reeger, “Changing Channels” centers on an actress on a popular television sitcom and her husband whose careers are threatened because of her suspected ties to the Communist Party. Kat Evans stars as Maggie Carlin and Skyler Tipton plays her husband, Peter. Kevin Theis directs.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27 and 28; 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. The show opens March 6. $32, $40. (773) 293-3682 or citylit.org.

Chicago Children's Theatre celebrates its 20th anniversary with performances of the immersive show “A Piece of Cake!” for ages 1-6. Courtesy of Joe Mazza, brave lux inc.

CCT's birthday bash

Chicago Children's Theatre hosts a 20th birthday bash this weekend that includes performances of “A Piece of Cake!” an immersive production for ages 1-6 in which they bake an imaginary cake. The celebration also includes musical performances, an art room and a dramatic play room.

9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. $10. (312) 374-8835 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

Theater for very young folks

Goodman Theatre, in collaboration with Northwestern University’s Imagine U, Northwestern undergraduates and 2- to 5-year-olds from Total Child Preschool in Evanston, presents “Splish Splash: A Day on the Lake,” a musical adventure for children up to age 5. “This show is all about community and how helping new friends can lead to all of us achieving a larger goal,” said co-director Jamal Howard in a prepared statement about the show, which centers on a crew of young sailors who help a Great Blue Heron, Crayfish, Beaver, Turtle and Yellow Perch put together the moon, which has tumbled into a lake and broken into pieces.

10 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 28 and March 1; March 7 and 8, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $13 for ages 18 and older; $18 for 12 months to 17 years; free for 12 months and younger. (312) 443-3800 or GoodmanTheatre.org/Splash.

The national tour of “Hamilton” returns Wednesday, March 4, to Chicago's CIBC Theatre. Courtesy of Joan Marcus

'Hamilton's' back

The blockbuster tuner “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Award-winning bio-musical about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, the immigrant who became the nation's first treasury secretary, returns to Chicago. Also, Broadway in Chicago and Metra are offering free rides to and from the theater with a “Hamilton” ticket, valid on the date of the performance only. The offer is available during the run and includes round-trip travel. See Metra.com/Hamilton.

7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, and Friday, March 6; 1 and 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5, and Sunday, March 8; 1:30 and 7 p.m. March 7, and through April 16 at the CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago. $40-$159; premium seats start at $183. BroadwayinChicago.com.

Now and forever …

Music Theater Works opens its 46th season with a revival of “Cats,” adapted from T.S. Eliot's 1939 collection titled “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” by composer/lyricist Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The preview is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The show opens March 6. $31.65-$57.40. (847) 673-6300 or musictheaterworks.com.

Lookingglass Theatre Company premieres “White Rooster,” the latest play by ensemble member Michael C. Yee.

Lookingglass premiere

A family tale rooted in early 20th century China inspired “White Rooster,” a tale of family, grief and moving on by Lookingglass Theatre Company ensemble member Matthew C. Yee. This darkly comic play-with-music is about a woman named Min who, after a tragedy, enters a world of restless spirits, old curses and mysterious traditions.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 5-7 and March 11-13; 2 p.m. March 6 at Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The show opens March 14. Tickets start at $33. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.