Someone sneezes. Someone can’t get a signal. Someone won’t answer the door. Someone put an elephant on the stairs. Someone’s not ready to talk. Someone is her brother’s mother. Someone hates irrational numbers. Someone told the police. Someone got a message from the traffic light. Someone’s never felt like this before.
In this fast-moving kaleidoscope, more than a hundred characters try to make sense of what they know.
"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek...." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside …
The Magic Box: Music inspired by the Chicago bassist Fred Hopkins
Drummer-composer Mike Reed explores the legacy of Chicago bassist and AACM member Fred Hopkins with new works, including …
May 7 - Jun 7 | Thur - Sat 7:30p, Sun 3p
Playhouse Theatre
$43 Senior* | $45 Adult*
One woman. One Cake. One Hundred Years of Life.
By Noah Haidle
Directed by …
2025/26 CSO Artist-in-Residence Joyce DiDonato is “a supreme artist, as much through sheer triumph of spirit as through musicianship” (Financial Times). The esteemed mezzo-soprano sings the Neruda Songs, Peter …
Two women find that they have everything in common until the death of a brother drives them apart. Part stand-up comedy, part stand-up tragedy for two. The redhaired mythology that glorifies and empowers two women leads them into a big love, but can’t lead them safely out again. A play about the heaviness of the things we carry.
Join legendary singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, members of the CSO and special guests for a joyful singalong with Mother Goose. This captivating program features traditional nursery rhymes adapted by …
“Sparkle, clarity, and flair”
—New York Sun
Xuefei Yang is acclaimed as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists. Hailed as a musical pioneer, Yang was the first guitarist in …
Following her sold-out Symphony Center debut, Samara Joy returns to join the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable evening spotlighting her singular voice and charisma. As a five-time …
Juraj Valčuha conducts three works that are distinctively French in their refinement, charm and ingenuity. Ravel’s “five children’s pieces” brim with delight and affection while Poulenc’s Gloria evokes, in his …
Get ready to rock out with "Listen to Her Heart," a tribute show that pays homage to the legendary Tom Petty! This captivating performance brings his greatest hits to life, from "Free Fallin'" to "American Girl," all delivered with heartfelt emotion and high energy. Whether you're a lifelong fan or just love great music, this live act is a must-see. Join the journey and celebrate the enduring legacy of one of music's greatest icons—prepare to sing along, dance, and enjoy an unforgettable night!
A piano sensation since his arrival on the international scene in the 1980s, Evgeny Kissin returns with a spectacular, eras-spanning recital. Beethoven’s revolutionary Piano Sonata No. 7 pairs …
THE SHOW THAT SET BROADWAY BACK 1,000 YEARS…RETURNS!
TOURING ACROSS AMERICA
THE TONY AWARD-WINNING BEST MUSICAL COMEDY
MONTY PYTHON’S
SPAMALOT
Peter Marks of The Washington Post exclaims, “It’s UNFAIR to make me laugh …
Tempora mutantur — the nickname of Haydn’s Symphony No. 64 — takes its name from the Latin adage, “The times change, and we change with them.” Inspired by this …
Known as “The Butterflies,” the spirited and courageous Mirabal sisters inspired a fight for freedom in the Dominican Republic. For 30 years, President Trujillo’s iron fist of authoritarianism tightened around the throat of the Dominican Republic. But the people would not be silenced, and as the revolution grew, so too did the four Mirabal sisters. As the girls became women, their deep love for their family and passion for their country led them to become activists and martyrs for the revolution against the Trujillo dictatorship. Their legacy led to the creation of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Based on Julia Alvarez’ acclaimed novel, this play bears witness to the joy and laughter, terror and violence that shaped a nation and its people.
“Hahn’s superpowers were on display from the first ascending octaves through the final chords” (San Francisco Classical Voice).
Having embraced Chicago and its musical life during her three years …
Brahms’ First Piano Concerto awes with its grand scale, intense passion and unabashedly dramatic piano writing — the ideal showcase for Martin Helmchen, “who brings both freshness and …
A brother and sister parse through their late father’s journal in an attempt to learn why their birthright has been left to a family friend instead. As their research proves futile, the secrets of their family history inevitably are revealed. A play about architecture, love triangles, and when the most critical moments of history are left unrecorded.
Timeless jazz, acclaimed ensemble
The legendary Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and its trailblazing leader Wynton Marsalis return to Symphony Center, their home in Chicago. “Technically precise and emotionally …
Jazz, blues and orchestral sounds converge in a rousing celebration of the American story. The CSO joins forces with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for Liberty (Symphony No. 5), …
In his 2023 CSO subscription debut, Conrad Tao gave a “dazzling, staggering” performance of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, wrote the Chicago Tribune, in which Tao “carried his melodies …
Adding his trademark whimsical storytelling, instrumental virtuosity and ever-present sense of humor to Symphony Center’s America 250 tribute, Grammy Award-winning mandolinist Chris Thile returns for his second appearance …
As part of the CSO’s tribute to 250 years of American history, Jean-Yves Thibaudet takes on the extravagant, jazz-infused piano solo in Leonard Bernstein’s The Age of Anxiety, based …
As part of Symphony Center’s tribute to America’s 250th anniversary, the renowned CSO Brass Quintet presents a program highlighting the power and pageantry of brass music. From Ives’ …
