Theater on the Lake: The Chicago Summer Theater Festival

Welcome to Theater on the Lake: The Chicago Summer Theater Festival.  Celebrating 67 years of Chicago’s rich off-Loop theater community.

The Festival is thrilled to return to our recently renovated home at Theater on the Lake for the 2019 season.  In November 2013, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Superintendent Michael P. Kelly announced that the Chicago Park District would convert the historic Theater on the Lake building from a summer-only programming site to a year-round event facility. The thoughtfully restored building is now home to Theater on the Lake: The Chicago Summer Theater Festival, The Lakefront Restaurant and a multitude of special events.

This year’s season will include six performances remounted from Chicago’s vibrant storefront and emerging artist community as well as staged readings for the three finalists of the Theater on the Lake: In the Works New Play Commission. New this season,  we are excited to launch Theater on the Lake:  PROLOGUE. Three Days to Celebrate & Shape the Future of Performance.  From June 26-28 at Theater on the Lake. These events are free but advanced RSVP is strongly encouraged.  Learn more about Prologue.