Theater on the Lake: The Chicago Summer Theater Festival

Welcome to Theater on the Lake: The Chicago Summer Theater Festival.  Celebrating 68 years of Chicago’s rich off-Loop theater community.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival will not be presented this summer. Before the curtain fell on live performance, our curators had spent the season preparing to present six shows remounted from Chicago’s vibrant storefront and emerging artist community as well as the Theater on the Lake: In the Works New Play Commission winner. It was a thrilling summer line-up, leaning heavily into our city’s chosen theme, The Year of Chicago Music, which we were very excited to share.  And while we can’t get you a ticket to the hottest shows in town just yet, we’re excited to highlight them here just the same and encourage you to get to know these companies, and their work, a little better. Follow the link below to the 2020 season.