Invictus Theatre Company, whose summer 2025 production of the two-part epic, ANGELS IN AMERICA, was named top Chicago theatre production of the year and “the best non-Equity production here since before the pandemic” by the CHICAGO TRIBUNE’s Chris Jones, has announced programming for its 2026 season. All performances will be at the Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road. Consistent with Jones’s assertion (in his review of the company’s THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND) that Invictus “is cementing a reputation as the home of epic American drama,” the company will continue its tradition of presenting classic and contemporary American plays along with innovative stagings of Shakespeare. Founding Artistic Director Charles Askenaizer announced the company’s 2026 season today, which will open with Tennessee Williams’s 1955 drama, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Askenaizer will direct the play, which will open to the press on February 24, 2026; following previews from February 17. It will play through March 29.
Following its success with Tony Kushner’s ANGELS IN AMERICA, Invictus will again tap into Kushner’s canon with CAROLINE, OR CHANGE – the company’s first musical. Kushner penned both book and lyrics for the semi-autobiographical musical. The story was inspired by his childhood growing up as a young Jewish boy in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and his interactions with the Black woman who worked as the family’s maid. The music is by Jeanine Tesori, a Tony Award winner for her scores for KIMBERLY AKIMBO and FUN HOME, and a nominee for her scores for CAROLINE, OR CHANGE and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. CAROLINE, OR CHANGE will open to the press on June 1, 2026, following previews from May 26; and will play through July 10. The show will be directed by frequent Invictus collaborator, Aaron Reese Boseman. Creative team to be named. Invictus’s production of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE is licensed by Music Theatre International.
In August, Askenaizer will direct Paula Vogel’s 2015 drama INDECENT, which recounts the controversy surrounding the 1923 play GOD OF VENGEANCE by Sholem Asch. When GOD OF VENGANCE was produced on Broadway, its producer and cast were arrested and convicted on the grounds of obscenity because the play depicted a Lesbian relationship with an onstage kiss between two women. NEWSDAY’s Linda Winer said of INDECENT’s 2017 Broadway production, “Has there ever been anything quite like INDECENT, a play that touches — I mean deeply touches — so much rich emotion about history and the theater, anti-Semitism, homophobia, censorship, world wars, red-baiting and, oh, yes, joyful human passion?...” INDECENT will open to the press on August 17, following previews from August 14, and will play through September 22.
The 2026 season will close with Shakespeare’s ever-popular story of young love thwarted by hate and prejudice, ROMEO AND JULIET, which will be directed by Louis Contey, a Jeff Award winning Chicago theater veteran. The tragedy, which has enjoyed numerous film adaptations and was updated for the musical WEST SIDE STORY, will open on November 2, 2026, following previews from October 30. It will play through December 13.
Tickets and season subscriptions for the 2026 season are on sale now at www.invictustheatreco.com.
LISTING INFORMATION
CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
by Tennessee Williams
Directed by Charles Askenaizer
February 17 - March 29, 2026
Previews: February 17 at 7 p.m., February 21 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., February 22 at 1 p.m., February 23 at 7 pm
Press Opening: Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p.m.
Press Opening: Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p.m.
Performances Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.
No performance Monday, March 23.
Additional performance Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Performances at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago
Ticket prices: Previews $25. Monday $25. Friday through Sunday $45. Season subscriptions available.
www.invictustheatreco.com
As the Pollitt family gathers in their Mississippi Delta plantation house to celebrate the birthday of their patriarch, Big Daddy, the mood is somber, despite the festivities. Big Daddy’s favorite son Brick is struggling with alcoholism and grieving the loss of a teammate on his high school football team who may have been more than just a friend. Brick’s wife Maggie is desperate for his affection and for security within the family. Secrets, lies, and the looming threat of mortality drive the characters to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other.
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Book and Lyrics by Tony Kushner, Music by Jeanine Tesori
Directed by Aaron Reese Boseman
May 26 - July 10, 2026
Previews: May 26 and 29 at 7 p.m., May 30 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., May 31 at 1 p.m.
Press Opening: Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m.
Performances Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. Additional performances Thursdays June 18 and July 2 at 7 pm. No performances June 19, July 4 or July 5.
Performances at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago
Ticket prices: Previews $25. Monday $25. Friday through Sunday $45. Season subscriptions available.
www.invictustheatreco.com
In 1963 Louisiana, Caroline, an African American maid working for a Jewish family, navigates the challenges of racial, social, and economic change during the Civil Rights era. The play uses the backdrop of the family's laundry room and the symbolic "change" left in the pockets of clothes to explore Caroline's internal struggles, her relationship with the family, and the broader societal shifts happening around her. The musical blends personal drama with historical context, highlighting themes of dignity, transformation, and hope.
INDECENT
By Paula Vogel
Directed by Charles Askenaizer
August 14 - September 22, 2026
Previews August 14 at 7 p.m., August 15 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., August 16 at 1 p.m.
Press Opening Monday, August 17 at 7 p.m.
Performances Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.
Additional performances Tuesday, September 8, Thursday September 10, and Tuesday, September 15, at 7 p.m. No performances September 7, 12, 13, or 21.
Performances at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago
Ticket prices: Previews $25. Monday $25. Friday through Sunday $45. Season subscriptions available.
www.invictustheatreco.com
The true story of the controversial 1923 Broadway production of GOD OF VENGEANCE, a Yiddish play that featured a romantic relationship between two women, for which the producer and cast were arrested and convicted on the grounds of obscenity. The play traces the journey of the original work from its creation in Europe to its American debut, examining issues of censorship, artistic freedom, and cultural identity. Through a blend of historical narrative and theatrical innovation, INDECENT celebrates the resilience of artists and the enduring power of love and expression in the face of adversity.
ROMEO AND JULIET
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Louis Contey
October 30 - December 14, 2026
Previews: October 30 at 7 p.m., October 31 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., November 1 at 1 p.m.
Press Opening: Monday, November 2 at 7 p.m.
Performances Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. No performances November 27, 28 and 29 (Thanksgiving Weekend)
Performances at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. Ticket prices: Previews $25. Mondays $25. Friday through Sunday $45. Season subscriptions available. www.invictustheatreco.com
One of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies, it tells the story of two young lovers from feuding families who fall deeply in love and secretly marry, despite their families' bitter rivalry. Their passionate relationship unfolds against a backdrop of violence, misunderstandings, and fate, ultimately leading to a series of tragic events that highlight the senselessness of hatred and the enduring power of love.
BIOS
Charles Askenaizer (Artistic Director, Director CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, INDECENT) is the Founding Artistic Director of Invictus Theatre. He directed Invictus’s 2025 production of ANGELS IN AMERICA, named the best Chicago theatre production of the year by the CHICAGO TRIBUNE’s Chris Jones. Askenaizer won the 2023 Jeff Award (Non-Equity Wing) for his direction of the company’s WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, which also won Jeff Awards for Production of a Play, Scenic Design (Kevin Rolfs), and Performer in a Supporting Role – Play (Rachel Livingston). Other recent Invictus directing credits include: THE WINTER’S TALE, NETWORK, THREE SISTERS, THE CRUCIBLE (Jeff Award Nominations-Director, Production), JULIUS CAESAR, HAMLET, 'NIGHT, MOTHER (Associate Director), THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, and OTHELLO: THE MOOR OF VENICE. Directing credits outside of Invictus include TITUS ANDRONICUS (Bare Knuckles Theater), JULIUS CAESAR (Associate Director- Brown Paper Box), THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (Reutan Collective) and readings with Chicago Dramatists and Piccolo Theater. Since 2018, Charles has also directed several productions for Invictus's outreach programming in partnership with the Cook County Juvenile Justice System and Lawrence Hall, a community based service agency embracing at-risk youth and their families. In 2024, Charles was named one of New City Magazine’s “Players 50 2024: The Rising Stars and Storefront Stalwarts.”
Tennessee Williams (Playwright, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF) was an iconic American playwright whose works are central to 20th-century theater. Born Thomas Lanier Williams III, he rose to fame with plays like THE GLASS MENAGERIE, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, and CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, each exploring complex themes of human vulnerability, desire, and societal pressures. Williams’s poetic dialogue and deeply drawn characters have made his plays enduring favorites on stage and screen. His literary accomplishments earned him numerous awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes for Drama, and his influence on both American drama and global theater remains profound.
Paula Vogel (Playwright, INDECENT) is an esteemed American playwright known for her bold storytelling and exploration of challenging social issues. Her best-known work, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and addresses themes of trauma, resilience, and forgiveness with sensitivity and innovation. Some of her other plays include THE BALTIMORE WALTZ and THE LONG CHRISTMAS DRIVE HOME. Vogel’s career is distinguished by her commitment to mentorship and education; she has taught and inspired countless playwrights through her roles at Brown University and Yale School of Drama. Vogel’s plays often push boundaries, blending humor, emotional intensity, and experimental structures to illuminate the complexities of human experience.
Aaron Reese Boseman (Dire
ctor, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE) is a multi-hyphenate director, actor, photographer, and educator hailed for his contributions to the Chicago stage. As the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Pulse Theatre Chicago, his visionary leadership has garnered numerous accolades, including the Jeff Award-winning ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. His recent directing portfolio features highly acclaimed runs of THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND, TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, THE MOUNTAINTOP, and A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Invictus Theatre); BENEATH THE WILLOW TREE (World Premiere by Isis Elizabeth), IN THE BLOOD, THE COLORED MUSEUM, FABULATION; OR THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE, and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Pulse Theatre Chicago).
Other notable directing credits include CONFEDERATES (Redtwist Theatre); CLYDE’S and American Son (Ghostlight Theatre); THE MUSIC MAN (Metropolis Performing Arts); DETROIT '67 and FABULATION (Columbia College Chicago); and FAIRVIEW (Theatre at Cedar Rapids). As a performer, Boseman has appeared in BLUE HEAVEN (Black Ensemble Theater), RAGTIME (Metropolis), RUINED (Invictus), and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Skylight Music Theatre, Citadel Theatre, and TCR). A dedicated mentor to the next generation of artists, he serves as an adjunct professor of Theatre at Columbia College Chicago. He is a multi-award nominee for the Joseph Jefferson, Black Excellence, and Black Theatre Alliance Awards.
Tony Kushner (Book and Lyrics, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE) made his Broadway debut in 1993 with both ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES and ANGELS IN AMERICA: PERESTROIKA. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. He adapted the acclaimed 2003 miniseries of ANGELS IN AMERICA, directed by Mike Nichols, for which Kushner received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie. In 2003, he wrote the lyrics and book to the musical CAROLINE, OR CHANGE which earned Kushner Tony Award nominations for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.
He has collaborated with director Steven Spielberg on the films MUNICH (2005), LINCOLN (2012), WEST SIDE STORY (2021), and THE FABELMANS (2022). His work with Spielberg has earned him four Academy Award nominations, one for Best Picture, two for Best Adapted Screenplay, and one for Best Original Screenplay.
Jeanine Tesori (Composer/Lyricist, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE) is a renowned American composer whose innovative contributions have significantly shaped contemporary musical theater. She is best known for her work on acclaimed Broadway productions such as KIMBERLY AKIMBO and FUN HOME both of which won the Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Score of a Musical. Tesori also earned Tony nominations for her scores for SHREK, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE; and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Tesori’s compositions are celebrated for their emotional depth and genre-spanning styles, often blending classical, jazz, and popular music influences. In addition to her creative achievements, Tesori is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the arts, mentoring emerging artists and supporting initiatives that foster new voices in theater.
Louis Contey (Director, ROMEO AND JULIET) Lou’s directing career spans over 40 years, most of it in the city of Chicago. He is an ensemble member with Shattered Globe Theatre and an associate artist at TimeLine Theatre. He has directed more than eighty productions, is a multiple Jeff Award nominee and has received one Equity Jeff Award and seven non-Equity Jeff Citations, as well as an After Dark Award. He earned an MFA in Directing from The Theatre School/DePaul University. He has taught acting and directing for the theatre programs at The Theatre School/DePaul University, Roosevelt University, UIC, Victory Gardens, The Acting Studio, and Act One Studio. His many Chicago directing credits include THE PRICE, AWAKE AND SING!, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, ALL MY SONS, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG, and THE HEAVENS ARE HUNG IN BLACK. He has also worked at The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Strawdog Theatre, A Red Orchid, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, Eclipse Theatre; and American Theatre Company.
ABOUT INVICTUS THEATRE COMPANY
Invictus Theatre Company has been one of the most notable success stories among Chicago’s storefront theatres in spite of the challenges facing the theater community in recent years. Founded in 2017, they were an itinerant company until the fall of 2021, when they established residency in the former Jackalope Frontier Theatre in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, renaming it the Reginald Vaughn Theatre in honor of a deceased founding member. In that space, they continued to build a reputation for intimate and honest interpretations of classics with fidelity to the original texts and close attention to character development. The company’s extraordinarily successful 2021-22 season netted the company five Jeff Awards for its 13 nominations. When a fire gutted the Thorndale Avenue building housing the Reginald Vaughn Theatre in July 2023, the company was again homeless until early 2024, when they took up residence in the Windy City Playhouse on Irving Park Road. The company’s inaugural season in that space included highly regarded productions of TOPDOG/UNDERDOG, Chekhov’s THREE SISTERS, the Chicago premiere of NETWORK, and Shakespeare’s THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH. The company’s 2025 season, in addition to the two parts of ANGELS IN AMERICA (named by the CHICAGO TRIBUNE’s Chris Jones as the best theater production of the year), included THE WINTER’S TALE and THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND. Invictus was also the proud recipient of the League of Chicago Theatres’ 2024 Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award.
At Invictus Theatre Company, our mission is to create theatre that promotes a better understanding of language: its poetry, its rhythm, its resonance; through diverse works by diverse artists. We respect the power of heightened language: spoken, written, sung; to express the breadth of the human condition. We work to harness the power of language: to promote diversity, to engender respect, to foster collaboration; and to empower our communities to share their voices.
Invictus Theatre Company incorporated in January 2017 and received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in February 2017. A diverse group of Chicago actors and directors founded Invictus with the vision to empower their communities through theatrical productions of heightened language. We are committed to the idea that our productions should reflect the communities we represent, and, to that end, we are committed to non-discriminatory hiring practices. In working with local artists, designers, and production teams, Invictus Theatre Company does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, nationality, citizenship, religion, or any other status protected by law.
Invictus Theatre Company is generously supported by Michael and Mona Heath of The Heath Fund, The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Untouchable Times Tours, Inc., and the Illinois Arts Council.