PREPARE TO BE INTENSELY ENTERTAINED
Upcoming Shows & Events
Mary Jane
By Amy Herzog
January 22 – February 22
THE ANGEL NEXT DOOR
By Paul Slade Smith
April 9 – May 10
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FUTURE HOME IN EVANSTON
After 50 years of productions and nearly 30 years at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Northlight’s 2025-26 Season will be its last as renters in Skokie as we embark on opening our very own home in Evanston, the vibrant community where Northlight began in 1974. Owned and operated by Northlight, a theatre of our own in downtown Evanston will strengthen our ability to produce compelling new and existing work, nurture and grow the next generation of theatregoers, expand our civic impact, spark economic development, and serve as a cultural hub for the entire community. The new Northlight is scheduled to open at 1012 Church Street in September 2026.
NORTHLIGHT NEWS
Today we’re bringing you something special from the Archives! Way back in 2008, Gaslight Scenic Designer Collette Pollard teamed up with Director Jessica Thebus to...
Artistic Director BJ Jones sat down with Laura Schellhardt, a nationally recognized playwright and dramaturg who is currently the head of playwriting at Northwestern University,...
Our Artistic Director BJ Jones sat down with the playwright of Gaslight to get the scoop on why he decided to adapt this classic thriller....
Our Artistic Director BJ Jones is always tuned in to what’s happening in the theatre scene around Chicago, and in June he appeared on the...
On a rainy day in New York back in 2009, Northlight Artistic Director BJ Jones saw a documentary on Gertrude Berg. Yoo-hoo, Mrs.Goldberg followed the...
As we gear up for Twisted Melodies, it’s important to us that we’re providing our audiences with the right tools to navigate their own mental...
Connect With Us
Mary Beth Fisher is back at Northlight for MARY JANE, taking the stage next week! The last time she was here was during our 2014-15 season for White Guy on The Bus. We dove into our archives to bring you a scene from that show so you can get excited to see her take the stage again!
Stay tuned for more clips from the archives throughout our 50th Anniversary Season!
Amy Herzog aimed to capture the universal female experiences of caregiving, faith, and community in MARY JANE. To create “everywoman” characters, she chose names from all walks of life to embody the people we meet on stage. Explore the meanings behind the names here, and see them all come together onstage, starting January 22.
#maryjane #chicagotheatre #theatreinchicago #thingstodoinchciago
Costume Designer Steph Taylor was inspired by the relationships Mary Jane builds with the women around her. To her, each character represents a chakra that Mary Jane opens on her path to finding peace and enlightenment as she navigates caring for her son, Alex. Check out these costume renderings, and see their looks live next week when MARY JANE takes the stage!
#maryjane #chicagotheatre #theatreinchicago #thingstodoinchicago
Describing such a profound show in only a few words is tough to do, but the cast and director of MARY JANE gave it a shot! We hope you’ll join us for this heartwarming show about optimism and community, two things we need now more than ever. We’ll see you at the theatre, starting January 22.
#MaryJane #theatreinchicago #chicagotheatre #skokie
The design team of MARY JANE has been working hard to bring you a world of soft voices, dreamy textures, and quite determination over the last few months, and they couldn’t be more excited to bring it to the stage. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the model photos and research from our Scenic Designer, A Inn Doo. See it all live and in person in a few short weeks!
#maryjane #chicagotheatre #theatreinchicago #chicagoland #skokie
Join us for a beautiful story that is “richly and poignantly told” later this month. MARY JANE takes the stage January 22, and tells the story of a determined mother and the community of women that grows around her and her child. We can’t wait to see you there!
#maryjane #chicagotheatre #chicagoland #theatreinchicago
Today we delved into the archives to bring you a scene from 4000 MILES by Amy Herzog, the writer behind MARY JANE. This show was featured in our 2013-14 season, and this scene features actors Caroline Neff and Mary Ann Thebus.
4000 MILES was “a beautifully rendered portrait” (The New York Times) of a cross-generational relationship - and a glimpse into the same character-driven, intimate storytelling that make MARY JANE so compelling.
Check out this clip from our production and stay tuned for more clips from the archives throughout our 50th Anniversary Season!
Back when MARY JANE was taking the world by storm on Broadway in 2024, The New Yorker sat down with playwright Amy Herzog to chat about the show`s autobiographical nature and what inspired her to put pen to paper. Check out the article via the link in our bio, and get ready to open your heart to Mary Jane’s humor, strength, and perpetual optimism later this month!
We`d like to express our deepest gratitude for all of the folks who attended GASLIGHT this holiday season and made a donation to Season of Concern. This charity is near and dear to our hearts.
Season of Concern was founded in 1987 to support Chicago theater practitioners afflicted with AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses. Thankfully, as the AIDS crisis has become more manageable, they were able to expand their services to meet the day-to-day needs of theater artists who are impacted by any illness, injury, or health-related circumstance that prevents them from working.
Thank you for supporting the artists who bring exciting stories to our stage, year after year!
Join Northlight for a series of celebrations highlighting each of Evanston’s nine wards through some of their favorite restaurants. Enjoy appetizers, drinks, and the opportunity to get to know the Northlight and Evanston communities.
Our next event is at Firehouse Grill. Located in a beautifully restored historic firehouse, Firehouse Grill has been a neighborhood favorite in Evanston for decades. They`re all about great food, cold drinks, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere where friends, families, and coworkers gather.
We’re also supporting ESCCA (Evanston School Children’s Clothing Association)! Bring a warm coat, hat, scarf and/or mittens to the event and we’ll donate them to ESCCA to help keep kids warm this winter.
Check the link in our bio for more info!
Join us for a story of strength, community, and perseverance this month with MARY JANE. Directed by Northlight’s Associate Artistic Director Georgette Verdin, this show follows a resilient young mother caring for her chronically sick child and the community of women that forms around her. MARY JANE takes the stage on January 22nd.
