The Gift Theatre

CYGNUS by Susan Soon He Stanton
2025-03-06 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-03-07 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-03-08 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-03-09 15:00 - 17:00, 2025-03-13 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-03-14 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-03-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2025-03-16 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Filament Theater, 4041 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL, 60641
CYGNUS -World Premiere Production
Written by Susan Soon He Stanton Multi Award Winner, Writer, and Producer of HBO’s Succession
Directed by Co-Artistic Director, Brittany Burch

Cydney believes an angel rescued her from an ineffable trauma, and the truth may prove stranger than she imagines. In this mythic, hilarious, and poetic new play, a burnt feather may illuminate the possibility of a divine intervention.

February 6 – March 16, 2025
Performing at the Filament Theatre
4041 N. Milwaukee Ave

Preview Performances: February 6-February 15th. Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3pm.
Opening Night Performance February 16th at 6pm

CYGNUS runs 1 hour and 45 mins with no intermission
Please note there will be NO LATE SEATING for this production
Click here for tickets
Featuring
Angela Morris, Jeff Rodriguez, and Rengin Altay

In the Works- Hayward by Netta Walker
2025-07-28 19:30 - 21:30 | The Understudy, 5531 N. Clark, Chicago, IL, 60640
Next up in our In The Works series:
HAYWARD by Netta Walker — a bold, personal, and haunting new reimagining of Elektra and Hamlet.
Monday, July 28th at 7:30pm
The ⁠Understudy Coffee and Books
5531 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
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“On the day of her father’s funeral, Luna confesses to her siblings she has seen her father’s ghost.”
A semifinalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwriting Conference and soon to be published by 1319 Press, Hayward is a searing exploration of grief, family, and the echoes that refuse to fade.
⁠
In The Works is our ongoing staged reading series focused on plays in development by local playwrights at all stages of their careers. Join us to witness the process—and the power—of new work in progress.
This exciting presentation is a collaboration with The Understudy Coffee and Books and 1319 Press,
Directed by AmBer Montgomery,
Stage Managed by Sarah Luse, and featuring:
Ireon Roach
Gregory Fenner
Sydney Charles
Victor Musoni
Shanésia Davis
Robert Cornelius
Alfred Wilson
Tia Pinson
This reading is now SOLD OUT. We suggest arriving to The Understudy at 7pm on the day of the reading to join the waitlist. Thank you!

GiftLit: Back to School
2025-09-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Chief O’Neill’s, 3471 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618
Back to School with GiftLIT!
Join us on Wednesday, September 10th at 7:00pm on the patio at Chief O’Neill’s (3471 N Elston) for an evening of stories, community, and connection.
Come celebrate the return of Fall and GiftLIT—for an evening of stories that connect and inspire.
Tickets are $15 click here to buy tickets!

Ghost Lit: An Evening of Scary Storytelling
2025-10-29 19:30 - 21:30 | Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave., Chicago, IL 60630, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Join us for one of our new favorite traditions — GhostLIT, our Halloween-themed edition of the GiftLIT storytelling series.
Wednesday, October 29th from 7:30–9:30pm (doors at 7pm) in the Fifth Province Bar at The Irish American Heritage Center. We’ll have reserved tables on the ground level, a cozy atmosphere, and plenty of food and drinks available for purchase from the bar.
We’re curating a spooky lineup of storytellers and musicians with songs, stories, and poems ranging from funny to chilling, heartfelt to haunting!
Tickets are $20 online or at the door but we recommend getting them ahead of time because space is limited!
Click here for tickets!

In the Works- A Little Ghost Story
2025-11-10 19:30 - 21:30 | IL
The Gift Theatre presents
In The Works: A Little Ghost Story
by Jennifer Rumberger
Directed by John Gawlik
Stage Managed by Sarah Luse
Join us for the next installment of In The Works, our staged reading series devoted to new plays in development by local playwrights.

“Lettie returns to her childhood home in Florida for Christmas, taking a break from her struggling acting career in New York. She finds the house empty and mid-renovation, her father on edge and haunted by strange occurrences in the space where her sister, Mara, died of an opioid overdose a year earlier. As the holidays approach, the family grapples with how to move forward in a home that, even stripped to its bones, refuses to let go of the past.”

Monday, November 10 at 7:30 PM
The Gateway Lounge at the Copernicus Center
5216 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
Doors open at 7 PM — come early to grab a drink at the bar and find a good seat.
Featuring:
Jack – Jack Bronis
Lettie – Angela Morris
Claire – Alexis Atwill
Mara – Hannah Toriumi-Fragman
Shandee – Allison Cain
Stage Directions – Pat Weber
Click below to RSVP your ticket!

TEN 25th
2025-12-01 10:00 - 2026-04-04 10:00 | a Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells, Chicago, IL, 60610
We are so excited for the long awaited return of TEN our annual 10 minute new works festival. We are embarking on our 25th anniversay season in 2026 and are thrilled to bring you TEN 25th!
Featuring the work of Gift ensemble members Cyd Blakewell, Erica Weiss, Gregory Fenner,
Jennifer Glasse, Jennifer Rumberger, Jim Farruggio, John Gawlik, Kenny Mihlfried, Pat Weber,
Paul D’Addario and Shanésia Davis.
10-minute world premiere plays from Chicago playwrights John Gawlik,
Jennifer Rumberger, Gregory Fenner, Kimberly Dixon-Mays, Dolores Diaz, Stephanie Alison Walker,
Emilio Williams, and Brett Neveu.
Performing at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N Wells St., Chicago
March 25 – April 4, 2026
