In March, Ghostlight Ensemble will present a staged reading of short plays with one thing in common — they’re all set in bars. The readings will take place IN a bar (of course), so join us on Tuesday, March 18, at My Buddy’s to keep the St. Patrick’s Day fun going.

The plays range in theme from online lovers meeting for the first time to craft beer snobs outranged by the appearance of mass-produced beer at their table to two people saying goodbye to a closed bar in their own unique ways.

There is a suggested donation of $5 for this staged reading.

In February, Ghostlight shakes up its live moving reading series with Ghostlight's Gone to the Movies: A live singing of our favorite movie soundtrack songs.

Ensemble members and guest artists sing their favorite songs from movie soundtracks (or Broadway shows) and our MCs will share a little movie trivia about each. You’re invited to join in the fun afterwards with your own karaoke version of YOUR favorite movie song.

Music has been an important part of movies since their inception — even before actors were able to give voice to their characters. A single song can remind you of an entire movie and so we celebrate this often overlooked aspect of the motion pictures in February.

Join us at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 20 at Black Eagle Club as we sing our hearts out and showcase the best of our talented singers.

On the planet of Mathmatica, math and science are revered above all else, but their culture has advanced without artistic expression and with a fear of outsiders. The planet has shut itself off from other worlds, figurative and literally.

But when three outsiders crash on the surface bringing with them music, art and dance, the princess of Mathmatica begins to question the logic of their isolationists tendencies and the history she’s always been taught.

Invaders of Mathmatica is written by Ensemble Member Nick Conrad and is part of our Nightlight young audiences series, which produces original, adapted and forgotten plays geared toward children and the adults who love them.

The show takes place 2 p.m. on February 8-9, 15-16 2025 at the Bughouse Theater, 1910 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613.

On the planet of Mathmatica, math and science are revered above all else, but their culture has advanced without artistic expression and with a fear of outsiders. The planet has shut itself off from other worlds, figurative and literally.

But when three outsiders crash on the surface bringing with them music, art and dance, the princess of Mathmatica begins to question the logic of their isolationists tendencies and the history she’s always been taught.

Invaders of Mathmatica is written by Ensemble Member Nick Conrad and is part of our Nightlight young audiences series, which produces original, adapted and forgotten plays geared toward children and the adults who love them.

The show takes place 2 p.m. on February 8-9, 15-16 2025 at the Bughouse Theater, 1910 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613.

On the planet of Mathmatica, math and science are revered above all else, but their culture has advanced without artistic expression and with a fear of outsiders. The planet has shut itself off from other worlds, figurative and literally.

But when three outsiders crash on the surface bringing with them music, art and dance, the princess of Mathmatica begins to question the logic of their isolationists tendencies and the history she’s always been taught.

Invaders of Mathmatica is written by Ensemble Member Nick Conrad and is part of our Nightlight young audiences series, which produces original, adapted and forgotten plays geared toward children and the adults who love them.

The show takes place 2 p.m. on February 8-9, 15-16 2025 at the Bughouse Theater, 1910 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613.

On the planet of Mathmatica, math and science are revered above all else, but their culture has advanced without artistic expression and with a fear of outsiders. The planet has shut itself off from other worlds, figurative and literally.

But when three outsiders crash on the surface bringing with them music, art and dance, the princess of Mathmatica begins to question the logic of their isolationists tendencies and the history she’s always been taught.

Invaders of Mathmatica is written by Ensemble Member Nick Conrad and is part of our Nightlight young audiences series, which produces original, adapted and forgotten plays geared toward children and the adults who love them.

The show takes place 2 p.m. on February 8-9, 15-16 2025 at the Bughouse Theater, 1910 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613.

Ghostlight Ensemble rings in a new year of live events with the next installment of its ongoing live movie reading series: Houston, You Have a Problem: A live reading of Armageddon.

Join us at 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 30, at Black Eagle Club (1938 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60613), as we all just try to survive the impending end of the world…

Armageddon is a 1998 American science fiction disaster film produced and directed by Michael Bay that follows a misfit team of deep-core drillers hand-picked by NASA to save Earth from an extinction-level asteroid hit. Using some questionable science, movie NASA devises a plan to drill a deep hole into the asteroid, into which they will insert and detonate a nuclear bomb to destroy it.

The reading is directed by Chad Wise.

And stick around after the reading is done because you don’t want to miss Backstage Boogie Karaoke. Come together with the cast of Houston, You Have a Problem as we belt out our favorite Aerosmith tunes. (Non-Aerosmith song choices, also allowed.)

The reading is directed by Chad Wise.

Drinks are available for purchase at Black Eagle Club.

There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door, which will help Ghostlight fund its season.

Join Ghostlight for a staged reading of its spring show Drink the Past Dry. Take part in the final stage of development for this original work from Ensemble Member Maria Burnham by serving as a test audience for this site-specific production. We welcome your feedback as well.

Drink the Past Dry takes place in a nondescript neighborhood bar in the middle of Chicago that looks like every other bar in every other neighborhood in the city. A few regulars sit sipping drinks, making small talk, doing the things people always do in bars. But this bar has a secret. It can take you anywhere in time….

…but only once and only within the walls of the bar, so it turns out it’s not as popular a place as one might think.

But there are some souls who still need to reach out to the past – or to the future – and this is where they come when they do.

The cast is: Paul Chakrin, Ryan Christopherson, Sarah Beth Johnson, Katharine Jordan, Jean E. Mueller-Burr, Julia Namm, Derek Preston Ray and Tricia Rogers. The reading is directed by Maria Burnham.

The reading takes place at Black Eagle Club (1938 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613) on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 7 p.m.

Ghostlight Ensemble is excited to join The Factory Theatre for the revival of Fight Night — a violent cabaret celebrating the art of stage combat through original storytelling and violence design. The latest installment of this periodic series celebrates its origins and the origins of all things.

Ghostlight's contribution is The House of Ideas: The Lost Scene that imagines a more violent end to the collaboration between Stan “The Man” Lee — writer, co-creator, self-positioned face of and greatest champion for Marvel Comics in the 1960’s and beyond — and Jack “The King” Kirby — his rough and tumble collaborator and arguably the greatest artist the genre has ever seen.

The piece, written by Mark Pracht and directed by Ensemble Member Chad wise, stars Bryan Breau, Megan Clarke and Brian Plocharczyk. The fight choreographer is Brian Plocharczyk.

Ghostlight Ensemble is excited to join The Factory Theatre for the revival of Fight Night — a violent cabaret celebrating the art of stage combat through original storytelling and violence design. The latest installment of this periodic series celebrates its origins and the origins of all things.

Ghostlight's contribution is The House of Ideas: The Lost Scene that imagines a more violent end to the collaboration between Stan “The Man” Lee — writer, co-creator, self-positioned face of and greatest champion for Marvel Comics in the 1960’s and beyond — and Jack “The King” Kirby — his rough and tumble collaborator and arguably the greatest artist the genre has ever seen.

The piece, written by Mark Pracht and directed by Ensemble Member Chad wise, stars Bryan Breau, Megan Clarke and Brian Plocharczyk. The fight choreographer is Brian Plocharczyk.

During the long nights of midwinter, join Ghostlight Ensemble and the Driehaus Museum by the fireplace(s) as we revive the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Yuletide.

Adapted by Ensemble member Maria Burnham, Holiday Spirits: A Collection of Victorian Yuletide Ghost Stories is a multi-story and multi-storied immersive, site-specific adaptations of classic Victorian ghost stories.

Three distinct stories will unfold over three floors of the museum. Some seating will be provided, but be prepared to move with the actors as they uncover these otherworldly visitors.

The one-night event takes place at The Driehaus Museum (40 East Erie St., Chicago, IL 60611) at 6 p.m. on December 12, 2024.

***This event has ben canceled due to weather out of an abundance of caution.***

It’s Turkey Time again! As per Ghostlight Ensemble’s nearly yearly tradition (Thanks COVID), we present Must Eat TV: A Live Reading of Your Favorite Thanksgiving Television Episodes. This is the Thanksgiving-themed installment of the company’s ongoing live reading series.

Thanksgiving is that strangest of American traditions involving stuffing ourselves silly with turkey, pie and whatever weird food that only your family serves at Thanksgiving (20 different kinds of Jello molds, anyone?), as well as ignoring that one cousin nobody likes and tiptoeing around politics while giving thanks and watching television. So join your Ghostlight family (including our weird cousin) for a celebration of the Great American Eating Holiday.

The lineup features “Giblets for Murray” from Mad About You, “Thanksgiving” from Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist and “The Last Temptation of Mac” from Night Court. at 7 p.m. at at Black Eagle Club (1938 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613), in North Center.

There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door, which will help Ghostlight fund its upcoming season, AND a non-perishable good or additional cash donation to benefit North Center’s Common Pantry, which provides emergency food and social services to those in need.

Tethering In Wander Land by Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble is an artistic collaboration performance and art exhibition between 28 artists tethered together through creativity. Storytellers, choreographers and devised theater artists have created new work inspired by visual artists. Using the Red String theory as inspiration, they explore what connects people, artists, and communities.

The performance takes place Nov. 1-2 & Nov. 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. at The Auditorium at Ebenezer Lutheran Church (1650 W. Foster Avenue; Chicago, IL 60640)

Tethering In Wander Land includes performances by Ghostlight Ensemble Member Christine Marie.

Tethering In Wander Land by Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble is an artistic collaboration performance and art exhibition between 28 artists tethered together through creativity. Storytellers, choreographers and devised theater artists have created new work inspired by visual artists. Using the Red String theory as inspiration, they explore what connects people, artists, and communities.

The performance takes place Nov. 1-2 & Nov. 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. at The Auditorium at Ebenezer Lutheran Church (1650 W. Foster Avenue; Chicago, IL 60640)

Tethering In Wander Land includes performances by Ghostlight Ensemble Member Christine Marie.

Tethering In Wander Land by Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble is an artistic collaboration performance and art exhibition between 28 artists tethered together through creativity. Storytellers, choreographers and devised theater artists have created new work inspired by visual artists. Using the Red String theory as inspiration, they explore what connects people, artists, and communities.

The performance takes place Nov. 1-2 & Nov. 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. at The Auditorium at Ebenezer Lutheran Church (1650 W. Foster Avenue; Chicago, IL 60640)

Tethering In Wander Land includes performances by Ghostlight Ensemble Member Christine Marie.

Tethering In Wander Land by Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble is an artistic collaboration performance and art exhibition between 28 artists tethered together through creativity. Storytellers, choreographers and devised theater artists have created new work inspired by visual artists. Using the Red String theory as inspiration, they explore what connects people, artists, and communities.

The performance takes place Nov. 1-2 & Nov. 8-9 at 7:30 p.m. at The Auditorium at Ebenezer Lutheran Church (1650 W. Foster Avenue; Chicago, IL 60640)

Tethering In Wander Land includes performances by Ghostlight Ensemble Member Christine Marie.

Ghostlight Ensemble presents the next installment of its live movie readings with The Skin of a Killer: A live reading of Twilight on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

Join us at 7 p.m. at Black Eagle Club (1938 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60613), as we once again turn our attention to a vampire movie…what can we say, they’re our own personal heroin.

Twilight is a 2008 romantic fantasy film based on a novel of the same name that follows the very original plot line of a normal teenage girl who falls in love with a mysterious classmate who reveals himself to be a 108-year-old vampire. But this time set in the Pacific Northwest and with 100 percent more shiny skin.

The reading is directed by Jean E. Mueller-Burr.

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

Join Ghostlight Ensemble and the Chicago History Museum as we celebrate Spooky Season at CHM with a screening of the Chicago-based horror film Child’s Play (1988, dir. Tom Holland).  

Following the film, Ghostlight will provide some spooky-themed trivia about other horror movies set in Chicago and between each round, actors will perform live reenactments of scenes from these movies on stage! Prizes will be awarded to trivia winners. 

Child’s Play is rated R for violence, strong language, and frightening and intense scenes. Visitors must be 17 years of age or older or accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least age 25. Seating will be first come, first served.  

Learn more on the Chicago History Museum website.

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

Cinema Chaos is a monthly unrehearsed movie reading series that joins our ongoing monthly staged movie reading series bringing audiences two movies a month — one rehearsed and well acted and the other…complete and utter chaos.

A group of actors who have never seen the movie in question show up unrehearsed and uncast to perform the script with only 5 minutes to prepare. Roles will be cast at the start of the reading.

In October, we’ll be doing a certain comic book hero movie most people like to pretend never happened: Daredevil. Join us as actors who have no idea what this movie is about do their best to interpret it on the spot for you. It’s the way all good stories are told — in a blind panic.

Readings take place at the Black Eagle Club in Chicago.

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).

As the Civil Rights movement is brewing in Montgomery, Alabama, a segregationist senator and the state librarian clash over the content of a children’s book about bunny rabbits. Meanwhile, a reunion of childhood friends — a Black man and a woman of white privilege — provides a private counterpoint to the public events swirling in the state capital. Political foes, childhood friends and one feisty children’s author inhabit a Deep South of the imagination that brims with humor, heartbreak and hope.

Inspired by true events, Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones is a drama about censorship, book banning and Civil Rights set within the framework of 1950s racial tensions, but look closer and you’ll see it’s really about the issues facing America today as book bans and book challenges overwhelm libraries and schools across the nation.

Alabama Story will take place Sept. 27-29 and Oct. 4-6, 2024, at After-Words Bookstore (23 E. Illinois St., Chicago) and Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20, 2024, at Haymarket Books at Haymarket House (800 W Buena Ave, Chicago).