Free Street Theater

At Free Street, we work hard to be funny, joyful, and welcoming. But we have to tell you something serious. Most theater in Chicago isnt accessible to most people in Chicago. Its expensive. Its mostly located on the Northside. And it doesnt reflect Chicago communities on stage or include them in the production process. Thats why Free Street has spent the past 50 years working to make theater that challenges our citys racial and economic segregation. We believe that theater matters, and if it matters, we should find ways to make it accessible and inviting to as many people as possible. Free Street was founded in the wake of the 1968 riots, in the hopes that theater might invite a divided city to come together. Since then, we have consistently adapted our programming to speak to the current needs of the city: We were one of the first interracial theater companies in the city, and one of the first to commit to performing in public spaces across Chicago. For a long time, we were one o...