Theater for People who Hate Theater

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November 2020

Re-Writing the Declaration

November 8, 2020 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)

An event every week that begins at 7:00 pm on Monday, Thursday and Friday, repeating until November 8, 2020

An event every week that begins at 2:00 pm on Saturday, repeating until November 8, 2020

An event every week that begins at 2:00 pm on Sunday, repeating until November 8, 2020

What happens when a class of young Black women and non-binary folx of color take a trip to 1776? A collage of time and space, a blend of character and self — the ensemble of Re-Writing the Declaration exists in both today and yesterday in order to change tomorrow. Believing that the founding fathers and documents never intended to include us, we consider the impacts of that founding on our lives today & realize it’s time to re-write the Declaration…

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September 2021

Free Street Theater Youth Ensemble Auditions

September 23, 2021 @ 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Free Street Theater, 1419 W. Blackhawk St. 3rd floor
Chicago, IL 60642 United States + Google Map

Free Street’s Youth Ensembles are made up of 14-19 year olds looking to create original plays about issues affecting Chicago youth. They come to us with varying levels of theatrical experience, from none, to “I’ve been acting since I was 3.” We meet students where they are at, focusing on their individual strengths, while training our ensemble in performance, writing, critical thinking, and research skills. In the past, we’ve looked at water justice, a history of labor in Back of…

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October 2021

Free Street Theater Youth Ensemble Auditions

October 2, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Free Street Theater, 1419 W. Blackhawk St. 3rd floor
Chicago, IL 60642 United States + Google Map

Free Street’s Youth Ensembles are made up of 14-19 year olds looking to create original plays about issues affecting Chicago youth. They come to us with varying levels of theatrical experience, from none, to “I’ve been acting since I was 3.” We meet students where they are at, focusing on their individual strengths, while training our ensemble in performance, writing, critical thinking, and research skills. In the past, we’ve looked at water justice, a history of labor in Back of…

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Ghosts on the Bloomingdale Trail

October 19, 2021 - November 15, 2021
Along the Bloomingdale Trail

Ghosts on the Bloomingdale Trail is a collaboration between Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail, Free Street Theater, Chicago Mobile Makers, and Radio Luzifer. Project funding and support are provided by the Chicago Park District. This project features 15 ghost stories as told to us by Chicago residents. Some are told by the people who experienced the haunting, and others are performances based on interview transcripts. All stories are true in the sense that real people - your neighbors - believe…

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February 2022

A poster that shows a plane flying in a blue sky with Free Street Theater presents above a red strip mall style sign that says Map O Rama Back of the Yards

Map O Rama

February 3 - February 13
The Storyfront, 4346 S. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60606 United States + Google Map
Free

Free Street premieres our first in-person gallery, Map-O-Rama, as the culmination of our work on the Cultural Asset Mapping Project.

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March 2022

A poster for the event features bright neon pink and yellow letters saying Rad Love

7th Annual Radical Love: Radical Survival Fundraiser and Lip Sync Battle

March 12 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
10$

You're invited to join us for our annual de-commercialized love fest honoring Free Street's work and our beloved communities. This year's Radical Love: Radical Survival fundraiser will feature a live Lip Sync Battle with pre-recorded submission videos of community members competing to raise the most "tips" (donations) and will be entered to win a prize package. Throughout the night enjoy performances from featured Drag Kings and Queens, and bid on our silent auction with one-of-a-kind experiences to help get you…

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May 2022

A hand-drawn poster for the show features an all black starry background in a cityscape. A train zooms from left to right through the poster past the FREE STREET logo and on a track made of the link "FREE-STREET-57-BLOCKS.EVENTBRITE.COM." Hovering above various black and white two story buildings, In giant mustard colored block letters the poster reads 57 BLOCKS. A billboard behind and to the left of the train shows white text on a black background that reads "Directed by Katrina Dion, Marilyn Carteno, and Sebastian Arboleda." On the same billboard in mustard colored text it reads, "Written and Performed by The Free Street Youth Ensemble." The bottom of the poster features a mustard colored bus and a sign on the side that shares the dates of the "Virtual Show June 11, 14, 18, 21 at 7pm CST, PAY WHAT YOU CAN." On the bottom of the poster in white font we expressed gratitude with our donor support statement: "Free Street Theater is a long standing artist-in-residence for the Chicago Park District and receives support from the Arts Work Fund, the Crossroads Fund, The Chicago Community Trust, The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Field Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Reva and David Logan Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, MAPFund, After School Matters, the Network for Ensemble Theaters, The League of Chicago Theatres, and United Way."

57 Blocks

May 25 - June 23
Free Street Theater, 1419 W. Blackhawk St. 3rd floor
Chicago, IL 60642 United States + Google Map
Free

During 57 Blocks, this 2 hour “orientation,” audience members will learn about the history of education in our city, while being invited to listen to the personal stories of the youth leading them. Audience members will take a bus ride between our two locations. This is part of the performance, and the show will continue while inside the bus.

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July 2022

A sunny poster featuring a neon sign 'Drag Loteria Night'

Drag Loteria in Collaboration with Star Farm Chicago

July 21 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Star Farm, 944 W 50th Place
Chicago, IL United States + Google Map

Corre y se va!

Free Street and Star Farm come together to host Drag Loteria Night in Star Farm’s garden in Back of the Yards. Grab your carta and prepare for a night of performances, and loteria. We will be featuring Cindy Nero, Cosmo Dragon, and Roma.

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A color path featuring a clown shoe, ventra card, a pink goose and an African American clown peering playfully showcases the journey of A Mild Goose Chase.

Night Out In The Parks A Mild Goose Chase

July 29 @ 6:00 pm - August 1 @ 7:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)

One event on July 26, 2022 at 6:00 pm

One event on July 27, 2022 at 6:00 pm

One event on July 28, 2022 at 6:00 pm

One event on July 29, 2022 at 6:00 pm

Free Street Theater and Night Out In The Parks presents The Chi Clowns presents 'A Mild Goose Chase' #ChiParks #ChiClowns #BeFreeStreet

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August 2022

Featuring a shining sun, the date and time of the Back to School Event: Saturday August 6th 11am to 3pm.

Back to School Event

August 6 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Davis Square Park, 45th and Marshfield
Chicago, IL United States + Google Map

Free Street Theater and DCASE present free dance lessons, youth storytelling, drag performances, back to school supplies, Star Farm paletas, and of course all of your favorite sustainable vendors!

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