The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University

Upcoming Events

Three dancers performing in black dance costumes on a stage with dramatic red and white spotlights and geometric diamond accents.
GovState Theatre and Performance Studies presents
All That Jazz
Directed by Megan Lindsay
Dance, Womxn’s History Month
Runs Mar 05Mar 07, 2026
“All That Jazz” is a high-energy celebration of American dance—past, present, and future. This vibrant performance showcases choreography and dance by students, faculty, and alumni from GovState.
Two dancers wearing matching maroon suits and black tap shoes performing dynamic jumps against a beige background with geometric accents
Unleash the Beats
by Chicago Tap Theatre
Dance, Music
Mar 28, 2026

Don’t miss an electrifying evening of rhythm, innovation, and live music with Chicago Tap Theatre!

As The Center celebrates 30 years of presenting bold performance, Chicago Tap Theatre marks …

GovState Theatre and Performance Studies presents
By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
By Lynn Nottage
Comedy/Drama, Drama, Womxn’s History Month
Runs Apr 09Apr 12, 2026

Performed in GovState’s Sherman Hall.

Includes Sensitive Topics. Recommended for Ages 16+

By The Way, Meet Vera Stark is a seventy-year journey through the life of Vera Stark, a headstrong African-American …

Lizzy and The Triggermen
Comedy, Music
Apr 25, 2026

Lizzy & the Triggermen transport you back to the glamour of the Prohibition Era, but with a sound and swagger that is thrillingly new. As NPR raves, they …

Promotional poster for an event titled "DIVIDED." The word "DIVIDED" is centered and prominently displayed twice—once in large white letters with a red "I" against a dark background, and again below in smaller gold letters.
Divided
Drama, Musical, New Work
Runs Apr 29Apr 30, 2026
In a nation torn by war and prejudice, two women—one enslaved, one privileged—risk everything to reunite and reclaim their freedom. A powerful journey of defiance and hope.
The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State Universtiy
1 University Pkwy
University Park, IL 60484
708-235-2222
The Center for Performing Arts was founded in 1995, culminating a 10-year quest to bring a world-class performing arts facility to the Chicago Southland. Since its inception, the Center has served over 1.5 million individuals, introduced over 300,000 schoolchildren to arts-in-education experiences, and welcomed over 8,000 artists and touring companies; presenting dozens of local, national and world premieres. The Center annually serves over 50,000 residents from Cook, Will, and Kankakee counties in Northeast Illinois and Lake County in Northwest Indiana. In 2012, guided by the vision of creating an “arts infused university”, the Center became a unit of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Our state-of-the art facility seats 1,165 patrons and is located at a vibrant and dynamic university setting that also houses an on-site Visual Arts Gallery and The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park (theNate), offering unique opportunities for pre- and post-show activities and gatherings.

With free parking, a convenient location accessible to major highways and presentations ranging from opera to family programs, our venue has served as a vibrant cultural destination in the southland community since 1995.