Constellations
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Runs Sep 12Oct 19, 2025

What if every moment in our lives was just one of infinite possibilities? What if each choice we make—or don’t make—splits the world into a new universe, a new timeline, a new version of ourselves? In Nick Payne’s critically acclaimed play Constellations, these mind-bending questions come to life through a remarkably intimate and emotional love story.

At the center of this poetic and innovative work are Marianne, a theoretical physicist, and Roland, a beekeeper. Their relationship unfolds across a multitude of parallel universes, with scenes repeating in variation, shifting subtly or drastically based on a single gesture, a different word, or a change of heart. Through this kaleidoscopic lens, Payne explores not only the nature of time and reality but also the deeply human experiences of love, regret, and the fragile beauty of connection.

Constellations is more than a romance—it’s a profound meditation on fate, free will, and the choices that shape our lives. Drawing inspiration from cutting-edge scientific theories, particularly quantum mechanics and string theory, the play asks: Are we free to choose our path, or are we bound by forces we cannot control?

Originally premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London and later hailed on Broadway and the West End, Constellations has been celebrated for its bold structure, emotional clarity, and intellectual daring. Payne’s writing is spare and lyrical, allowing audiences to feel both the emotional weight and the philosophical wonder of his vision.

This production of Constellations opens in tandem with our Entangled Beauty conference—a citywide gathering that explores art, science, and the aesthetics of complexity. In presenting the play alongside this conference, we hope to foster new conversations about our place in the cosmos and our role in shaping the future of quantum science and culture in our city.

Whether you’re a theater lover, a science enthusiast, or simply curious about the intersections between the two, Constellations offers an unforgettable journey through the heart, the mind, and the multiverse.

This show is part of our 2025 Fall Season. Tickets are only available today to season subscribers. Follow our pages for updates on single-show ticket purchases.

The Director is a Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.