Ashlyn Gentry, Sophia Ho, and Katherine Newbanks are the recipients of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Porter County.

THE PUPPETS ARE COMING!  The 8th Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival to import puppeteers from around the globe for 12 days of spectacular shows, intimate works and special events all over the city, January 21-February 1, 2026

Lubeznik Center for the Arts’ Spring Education Offerings Open for Registration January 14, 2026

A Red Orchid Theatre Continues 33rd Season with Chicago Premiere of BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA By Anna Ouyang Moench, Directed by Artistic Director Kirsten Fitzgerald || January 15th – February 22nd

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival & Foundation Announces Details of 2026 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell || Acclaimed festival, the oldest and largest annual live event by the 56-year-old Foundation, celebrates the music, culture, and heritage of Louisiana

Playwrights’ group THE VIVERO granted a three-year residency at City Lit Theater || Incubator for cultivating voices and harvesting new plays celebrating stories of the Latiné diaspora will launch with January readings at City Lit.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble continues its 30th Anniversary Season with the World Premiere of Alex Lubischer’s Pivot, directed by Hallie Gordon ||
Production features RTE Ensemble members Keith Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Ashley Neal and Glenn Obrero with David Stobbe

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces One Knight Only! Sir Ian McKellen Onstage with Gandalf, Shakespeare, and YOU! || The legendary actor shares his illustrious career and reprises some of his most famous performances in a one-night-only event benefiting the Theater’s commitment to Shakespeare and young people January 30th in The Yard

MUSIC INSTITUTE PRESENTS FREE CONCERT TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. JANUARY 18th AT NICHOLS CONCERT HALL || World premiere choral work by Abisola Toukourou, premiere by Evanston Dance Center

CAMERON MACKINTOSH presents ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S LEGENDARY MUSICAL PHANTOM OF THE OPERA NOW PLAYING! || THIS REVITALIZED NEW PRODUCTION, BASED ON THE BRILLIANT ORIGINAL IS NOW PLAYING AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE THROUGH FEBRUARY 1st AS PART OF A MULTI-YEAR NORTH AMERICAN TOUR