Throughout each holiday season, area performing arts organizations take up audience collections at productions to benefit Season of Concern, Chicago’s nonprofit dedicated to providing financial assistance to Chicagoland theater practitioners impacted by illness, injury or circumstance. This season, from November 10, 2025 - January 11, 2026, theater companies raised $140,537 for the organization.
Season of Concern Managing Director Christopher Pazdernik comments, “We are so grateful to the theatre companies that partner with us in our mission of supporting Chicagoland theater workers facing emergencies, and to the audience members who gave so generously during this year's holiday collections. In these challenging times, it is a testament to the resilience of our community.”
For more information about Season of Concern, visit https://seasonofconcern.org/.
Season of Concern welcomes audience collections at any time of year. Many theatre companies participate in the annual tradition of collecting over the winter holidays, embracing the spirit of giving during that time of year.
Participating theaters during the 2025 holiday season included: The Beautiful City Project, Chicago Cabaret Professionals, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, City Lit Theater Company, Drury Lane Theatre, Gary Thomas, The Goodman Theatre, Jeffrey Cooke, Kokandy Productions, Lakeside Pride Music Ensembles / Wilde Cabaret, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Marriott Theatre, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Music Theatre Works, Northlight Theatre, The Second City, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Theater Wit & Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.
The leading companies for collections were: Drury Lane Theatre ($37,786), Steppenwolf Theatre Company ($35,627), Goodman Theatre ($23,013), Chicago Shakespeare Theater ($14,217), Northlight ($9,007), Kokandy Productions ($6,203), Lookingglass Theatre Company ($3,741), City Lit ($3,086), Metropolis Performing Arts Centre ($2,082) and The Second City ($2,076).
Funds raised also support the Entertainment Community Fund's Central Region office, which provides additional resources for local performing arts & entertainment professionals.
About Season of Concern
Founded in 1987, Season of Concern Chicago is dedicated to providing financial assistance to all Chicagoland theater practitioners impacted by illness, injury or circumstance. SOC provides short-term emergency financial aid to theater workers through both The Biscotto-Miller Fund and The Malcolm Ewen Emergency Fund. Originally formed to assist those afflicted with AIDS-related illnesses, Season of Concern continues to support Chicago-based direct care HIV/AIDS organizations and has expanded its mission and support to meet the greater health needs of the Chicagoland theater community. Season of Concern relies on fundraising and donations to complete its mission, and to date has distributed more than $4 million to those in need.