Chess

Secrets, lies, collusion and betrayal? Love, courage and loyalty? Checkmate! In this highly acclaimed rock musical, the ancient and distinguished game of chess becomes a metaphor for romantic rivalries and super-power political intrigue as two great chess masters—American and Russian—meet in Bangkok to battle for the world championship at the height of the Cold War. 

1776

Long before Hamilton, there was 1776! It’s a long, hot summer in Philadelphia, and the Continental Congress is an exhausted and quarrelsome assemblage, at each other’s throats over the burning question of independence from Great Britain. The nation is on the brink of revolution – if only our founding fathers can agree to sign the declaration! 

Anyone Can Whistle

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Written by Stephen Sondheim, Anyone Can Whistle is an absurdist social satire about insanity and conformity (among a dozen other things!). This legendary cult show is a wacky, intelligent, highly unconventional musical which tells the story of a corrupt mayoress who fakes a miracle to revitalize her bankrupt town and the ill-fated romance between the rational nurse and the easy-going doctor who is determined to enjoy the chaos that it brings.

Newsies

Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to "Seize the Day" and strike for what's right! 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

40 Seasons of Love

Aida

Beauty and the Beast

Xanadu

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE *YOU* ARE MAGIC
Slap on your roller skates, hike up your leg warmers, and prepare for the glitter explosion of Xanadu, the laugh-out-loud musical stage adaptation of the 1980 film 

2017-18 Season

Carrie

She goes from victim to woman in charge... and then everybody dies. A morality tale set in high school. This is one prom you don’t want to miss, so get a date, a tux or gown, a corsage, and be there!

Mary Poppins

You’ll be singing along to these classic tunes: A Spoonful of Sugar, Chim Chim Cher-ee, Feed the Birds and Let’s Go Fly a Kite. The perfect Springtime fantasy. You can almost smell the cherry blossoms on Cherry Tree Lane!

RISE! 2017 Annual Benefit

The Wiz

Join arms and "Ease on Down the Road" with Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man & Lion. "Freedom, you see, has got our hearts singing so joyfully!"

Joseph

Near West universalizes this Judeo-Christian story and puts a 2016 stamp on it. Joseph like you've never seen it before!

Urinetown

This hysterically irreverent sociopolitical musical satire comes to the Near West stage with an all-youth cast! A spoof on practically everything, including musicals themselves.

2016-17 Season

Assassins

On the eve of the 2016 Presidential Election, Near West's Summer Teen/Young Adult Theater presents Stephen Sondheim's examination of the American dream, the haves and the have-nots, and guns.

Show Boat

Our intergenerational spring blockbuster! Large, racially diverse cast, lavish sets and costumes, and a steam boat on stage!!! 

2016 Annual Benefit: LET THE SUN SHINE

Our 2016 Annual Benefit was a rousing success! Scroll below for a video & photos from the event!

Godspell

WINTER CHILDREN’S PRODUCTION, FULL OF LOVE, SEARCHING AND SENTIMENT

Scrooge!

This classic story of awakening and redemption features all the songs from the film, including the Oscar nominated song "Thank You Very Much"

The Snow Queen

Be spirited away by this new musical adaptiation of Hans Christian Andersen's fantastical coming-of-age adventure, which inspired the hit Disney movie Frozen.