Shows To See In Chicago In May
Kevin, April 23rd, 2025Summer in the Windy City is heating up!
Mind-blowing musicals, laugh-out-loud comedy masterpieces, or Tony-winning hits? The choice is yours this month with these shows to see in Chicago this May! Whether it's a blockbuster Broadway sensation right on your doorstep or a Shakespearean rump - we've got the perfect show just for you!
The Da Vinci Code
Jun 1
Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace
Get ready to crack the code as Dan Brown's 100 million-selling novel comes to the Windy City in this Chicago premiere production! An epic thriller that begins in the deep labyrinth of the Louvre and erupts through the streets of Paris and London, join Professor Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu as they race to solve a centuries-old mystery before the forces of darkness extinguish the secret forever.
The Prom
Jun 20 - 29
Woodstock Opera House
Grab your corsages and start planning your prom-proposals because the Tony-nominated Broadway hit The Prom is coming to you. Originally directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Casey Nicholaw The Prom features music by Matthew Skylar and a book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, Beguelin also penned the lyrics. Uplifting and extremely amusing with show-stopping dance numbers, this musical is about acceptance and being the star you were born to be!
Hairspray
Jun 12 - 22
Beverly Arts Center
Can you hear the bells? That's the sound of this musical juggernaut making its way to a stage near you! A fantastically buoyant and joyful celebration of positivity, inclusivity, and majestic hair-do's set in 1962, Hairspray is a spirit-lifting hit the whole family will love! Originally finding life in celluloid with John Waters's unforgettable 1988 cult-hit, Hairspray finally made it to the stage in 2002 and has never looked back. The winner of eight Tony Awards, its full-hearted story, plucky heroine, and delicious soundtrack make this one an unmissable instant classic.
Hauser
Jun 10
The Chicago Theatre
The award-winning cellist Hauser is going on tour this summer. A powerhouse in the musical world, Hauser not only plays classical cello music, he also delves deep into rock and pop music and has played with musical legends such as Elton John and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He's even played twice for King Charles of the United Kingdom, so join in with royalty and get your tickets to see Hauser today!
Always...Patsy Cline
Jun 21 - 29
Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace
Besides being a delightful tribute to the renowned country singer, "Always..." is based on the true story of the friendship between Patsy and her most devoted fan, Louise Seger. One of the most staged musicals in the country, the heartfelt show has enjoyed great success all over the United States, including a successful run off-Broadway.
Piaf! The Show
Jun 9 - 10
North Shore Center
The life of Edith Piaf is brought to life in Piaf! The Show, a part concert, part musical, centered on an extraordinary central by French singer Anne Carrere. Piaf! The Show first debuted in 2015 in France on the centennial anniversary of the singer's birth. It has since played to acclaim across the world, including a performance at Carnegie Hall.
The Color Purple
Jun 21 - 29
Albert Goodman Theater
From the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg comes a soul-stirring new musical and landmark theater event, coming to the Goodman Theatre this season with direction by Lili-Anne Brown. The original Broadway production was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 2006, including Best Musical. Don't miss this fantastic new production - one that is sure to capture the soul and spirit of the original.
Drunk Shakespeare
Jun 1 - 30
The Lion Theatre
Take a journey to a mysterious hidden venue where mayhem awaits! Enter through a secret door and discover a glam cocktail bar and library where the infamous Drunk Shakespeare Society are ready to perform! But the main event really begins when one actor takes to the stage after at least five shots of whiskey and attempts to perform an entire play by William Shakespeare. No two shows are the same, four sober actors must try and keep the script going whilst one actor tackles the script through blurred vision and slurred words.
Joffrey Ballet - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Jun 5 - 22
Civic Opera House
Outrageous and eye-poppingly theatrical with stunning sets and costumes by Bob Crowley, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a thrilling ballet-jaunt down the rabbit hole, set to an energetic, riveting score by Joby Talbot. Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon revisits and brings to the stage many of the familiar characters from the book, but in ways, and in such brilliant choreographic arrangements, that we feel we're meeting them for the first time.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Muti Conducts Verdi Requiem
Jun 19 - 24
Symphony Center Orchestra Hall
With all the emotion of an opera and the ambition of a master, Verdi's Requiem is truly one of the most unmissable and staggering live performances an orchestra can stage, a sentiment especially true of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, who, under the baton of Muti, have won Grammy Awards for their past efforts.
Nikki Glaser
Jun 1
The Chicago Theatre
If you've ever had the pleasure of seeing an episode of Comedy Central mainstay 'Not Safe with Nikki Glaser', then you'll be well acquainted with her unapologetic, no-holds-barred comedy style, but you may still blush when confronted with her racy live stand-up routine. Leaving no stone unturned when it comes topics including sex, relationships, the single life, Target fashion triumphs and invasive TSA practices, Glaser spreads her mischievous glee around venues across North America on 'The Alive and Unwell' tour!
Kevin Hart
Jun 15
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana
Kevin Hart is a Philly-born former shoe salesman who has become one of the funniest actor-comedians in America today. He has appeared in films such as the Jumanji franchise, Get Hard and Central Intelligence. A lot of his material usually drawn from his personal experiences with family, friends and loved ones. Don't miss your chance to catch him live as he heads to a venue near you!
