Spring Performing Arts Preview

Chicago’s North Shore has set the stage for a stunning series of events this season. Screwball comedy and political satire bring on the belly laughs. Intense psychological and relationship dramas will put you on the edge of your seat. Get your tickets now for these electrifying stage productions, winning musicals, rousing concerts and more — all when you discover What’s Playing on Chicago’s North Shore.

 

The Angel Next Door, Northlight Theater, Skokie

Northlight Theater (Skokie)
The Angel Next Door (Apr. 9–May 10, 2026)
Limber up your face muscles for this laugh-out-loud screwball comedy. Poised for success, young author Oliver Adams’ novel is about to be published …then adapted for the Broadway stage! He meets with his longed-for leading lady, a narcissistic leading man and the famed (and married) playwright couple for a chaotic weekend in a Newport mansion armed with an irritable housekeeper. Tensions and misunderstandings threaten to derail it all until only the power of theatre can save the play in this ultimately romantic story.
 

Job, Writers Theatre, Glencoe

Writers Theatre (Glencoe)
Job (Apr. 9–June 14, 2026)
One session. Two minds. A battle of truth and control. After big tech employee Jane has an emotional breakdown at work that goes viral, she’s placed on leave. Before she can return to the job that gives her life meaning she must be evaluated by crisis therapist Loyd. Their first session together, however, quickly escalates into an epic showdown with a shocking and disturbing twist. An Off-Broadway sensation, this intense psychological thriller skewers the insidiousness of the internet, the meaning of work and the ramifications of a secret revealed.
 

Poor Behavior, Oil Lamp Theater, Glenview

Oil Lamp Theater (Glenview)
Poor Behavior (Apr. 10–May 10, 2026)
Take in this wild play with zero filter. A visit from old friends takes an unexpected turn when a bombshell accusation throws niceties out the window. Hospitality turns to havoc. Sanity shatters into shambles. Manners take a backseat as two couples are pushed to their limits during a weekend in the country. Will they be able to pick up the pieces over wine and muffins or will their poor behavior leave them irrevocably broken? Find out in this “sharp,” “sexy” and “funny!” play by acclaimed playwright Theresa Rebeck.
 

Capitol Fools, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts (Skokie) 
Michael Feinstein & Linda Eder (Apr. 22-23), Capitol Fools (Apr. 25–26)

Kicking off the North Shore Center’s 30th Anniversary celebration, a special concert featuring Michael Feinstein and Linda Eder sets the stage for a standout season. Feinstein, a five-time Grammy-nominated artist known for bringing the Great American Songbook to life, adds a touch of classic elegance to the milestone. Washington, DC’s premiere, political satire group – The Capitol Steps – may have called it quits (after nearly 40 years). But like a cheeky phoenix, an intrepid group of cast members and a co-writer couldn’t help but respond to the flail-your-arms-around state of the world: Welcome Capitol Fools! Fast-paced, cackle out loud show…check.  Equal opportunity offenders…check.  Skewering both sides of the aisle…check. The mind-boggling spoonerisms, break-neck costume changes, over-the-top impressions and song parodies live on as the day’s news and crazy political culture get uproariously roasted. 

 

Della Mae, Evanston SPACE

Evanston SPACE (Evanston)
Della Mae (Apr. 23), Shawn Mullins (Apr. 30), ARTEMIS (May 10), mekons (May 31)
A favorite destination for music fans, SPACE marries state-of-the-art sound and lighting with an inviting, comfortable vibe for a memorable night out. Check out Della Mae, the Grammy-nominated all-women string band redefining bluegrass to a growing audience around the globe. Singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins navigates folk rock, instrumental rock, adult alternative and Americana with songs fueling Olympians and TV show soundtracks. ARTEMIS, another powerful ensemble of instrumental virtuosos, was hailed by NPR as “a killer line-up” with “an extremely cosmopolitan, sleek, rhythm-forward sound.” One of the longest running, most prolific post-punk bands, genre-defying mekons delight with their surprising and influential embrace of folk and country music.
 

Love & Information, Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, Northwestern University, Evanston

Ethel M. Barber Theater, Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts (Northwestern University, Evanston)
Love & Information (May 1–10, 2026)
Someone sneezes. Someone can’t get a signal. Someone won’t answer the door. Someone put an elephant on the stairs. Someone’s not ready to talk. Someone is her brother’s mother. Someone hates irrational numbers. Someone told the police. Someone got a message from the traffic light. Someone’s never felt like this before. In this fast-moving kaleidoscope, one hundred plus characters try to make sense of what they know. A complex, unique exploration of connection, isolation and everything in between. Marvel at how this special theatrical experience comes to life!
 

Damn Yankees, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Evanston

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre (Evanston)
Damn Yankees (May 22–July 5, 2026)
Batter up! Kick off your summer with the grand slam of musical theatre. In this high-energy, Tony Award-winning classic, die-hard fan Joe Boyd makes a devilish deal to transform into a star player and lead the Washington Senators to victory over the dreaded Yankees. But as the stakes rise, Joe must decide if fame and glory are worth the cost. Packed with unforgettable tunes like “Heart” and “Whatever Lola Wants,” dazzling choreography, and plenty of laughs, Damn Yankees is a winning mix of romance, comedy, and America’s favorite pastime.