Theatre matters. Love matters.

Angry Fags by Topher Payne returns for its final weekend tonight, November 20.

Instead of another post talking about how great the show is (it IS!) we thought we’d let Ensemble Member and Angry Fags cast member Jean E. Mueller-Burr tell you about why theatre really matters in these trying times and what your support of the arts really means.

Jean E. Mueller-Burr as Kimberly Phillips in Angry Fags by Topher Payne (Photo by Pete Guither/For Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre Co.)

Jean E. Mueller-Burr:
“Theatre is an escape. Theatre makes you face tough truths. Theatre is empathy embodied. Theatre is rage and joy and sadness and envy and unbridled energy. Theatre gives a voice to those who feel like they're shouting into the void.

“Theatre is comfort. Theatre is political. Theatre gives a giant hug or a giant middle finger to allies or enemies. Theatre is limitless. Theatre is magic. Theatre is electric. Theatre is fabricated. Theatre is real.

“Theatre matters.

“Let's be honest, it's terrifying to do anything right now. It's scary to even approach plays that lean in any sort of political direction. Going to see a show can feel like a waste of precious time that could be spent doing something that can show more tangible change. Something that really ‘matters.’

“But theatre is undeniably political. Theatre can start movements and launch stars. Theatre has always been a way to drive conversations and a way to offer other perspectives. In a time when we are so divided by the actions of greedy individuals, it's important to feel heard; it's important to offer those who oppress the ability to see the world through the eyes of the oppressed, if only for the slight chance they have a change of heart. It's important to show that, no matter how lonely you feel or how desperate you become, you are not alone - you are in the pages and on the stage. It's important to sit in a space with people from all walks of life and experience a new world, free from any restrictions we have in our own.

“Words, actors, direction, costumes, props, lighting and collaboration. Theatre is a movement. And it matters.”

You can help support art that matters and organizations that matter via our Love As A Verb Fundraiser, which is in its final weeks.

Angry Fags runs through Nov. 23 on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. The performances take place at Lifeline Theatre. Tickets are pay-what-you-will, with a minimum suggested donation of $25 and are available now.

Angry Fags is part of Ghostlight’s 9th Season celebrating otherness and uplifting Queer characters and voices.

Get ready to Bingo with Ghostlight and Hamburger Mary's

Hamburger Mary's is BACK! And Ghostlight is excited to be part of its Wednesday’ night HamBingo event in October to benefit our fall production of Angry Fags.

Hamburger Mary's Chicago is a lively burger bar and drag show destination, now in the heart of Edgewater, serving up gourmet burgers, playful appetizers, and unforgettable performances. Known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community vibe, the restaurant features nightly drag events, themed brunches, and a glampy atmosphere full of personality.

HamBINGO is a weekly charity event held in the dining room at Hamburger Mary’s at 7 p.m. every Wednesday, hosted by one of their fabulous drag queens! In addition to traditional BINGO games, they throw in a few audience-participation games to keep things fun!

Join us on Wednesday, October 21 for some fabulous prizes. The Bingo will be as vicious as the Queens who host it!

Make sure to reserve your spot in advance at: Chicago Events - Hamburger Mary's – Gourmet Burgers & Drag Shows in Chicago.

Cool Off with Ice Cream & a Good Cause

As part of our Love As A Verb season fundraiser, we are excited to be partnering with Jeni's for an Ice Cream Social!

Jeni's will be donating 25 percent of sales during the event to Ghostlight as part of our efforts to raise funds for our 9th Season. No special passwords or forms to fill out. Just show up and get some ice cream!

Stop by the Jeni’s Andersonville location on Wednesday, August 27 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to learn more about our upcoming season, grab a scoop and help support Chicago theater! See you there! 

Can’t make it to Jeni’s but still want to donate? Check out the Love As A Verb fundraising page where you can learn more about our upcoming season and the two Chicago area LGBTQ+ organizations —  Brave Space Alliance and Gerber Hart Library & Archives — for which we are also raising money. Every donation helps, no matter how small.

Thank you for supporting theatre that challenges the status quo.

Kick off August and our 8th Season with Karaoke (and us!)

We’re looking forward to serenading you with the sweet sounds of our karaoke powerhouse ballads at the Season 8 Kickoff on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at My Buddy’s. Tickets are pay-what-you-will, but the first 25 people to reserve tickets at the $10 or more level will G.E.T. a special Ghostlight Ensemble swag bag. (They’re going fast, though!)

We will be celebrating the start of our Eighth Season and long-awaited return to mainstage productions, starting with Alabama Story in September, as well as singing our hearts out for one and all. Actually, we’d prefer it if you sang. We might cause noise complaints from the neighbors.

Learn all about our new season, which includes new partnerships with other Chicago institutions, as well as rocking out to some karaoke courtesy of Championship Karaoke. We’ll have snacks and an open bar from 3-4 p.m., as well.

We’re also raising funds for our Season 8 programming, so we’ll be raffling off lots of great items from Chicago businesses.

The event takes place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 10, at My Buddy’s, 4416 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640.

Can’t come, but still want to support Ghostlight, financially? Donate here.

Joins us in August as we Kickoff G.E.T.’s 8th Season

Ghostlight Ensemble invites you to join us for an afternoon of songs, drinks and general merriment at My Buddy’s to kick off our Eighth Season and long-awaited return to mainstage productions and a full season, post-COVID 19 pandemic!

We can’t wait to re-introduce ourselves to you and for you to meet our new artistic management team. At the event you’ll also learn all about our new season, which includes new partnerships with other Chicago institutions and maybe you’ll even see an excerpt from one of the new plays we’ll be bringing you this season.

There will be karaoke. There will be snacks. There will an open bar from 3-4 p.m. And most of all, there will be fun.

We’re also raising funds for our Season 8 programming, so we kindly ask for a donation of $10 (or more!) in advance via Eventbrite or $15 at the door (cash, credit or PayPal). First 25 folks to donate $10 or more will G.E.T. a special Ghostlight Ensemble swag bag!

The Season 8 Kickoff takes place at My Buddy’s (4416 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640) from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2024.

Make every Tuesday a Giving Tuesday

Thanks to everyone who donated to Ghostlight on Giving Tuesday. But there's no need to limit your support to one day. You can help support Ghostlight's mission any day of the year via the PayPal Giving Fund. Learn more about what your donations can do for us.

But that's not all. Relying on Amazon for those last minute holiday purchases? Make us your designated charity on AmazonSmile and a percentage of your sales will go to us! Shop AmazonSmile »

Giving Tuesday: Why Theatre Matters

The Selfish Giant, 2019

As your inbox and social media has surely notified you by now, today is GivingTuesday — a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world.

As we approach the end of 2019, we felt Giving Tuesday was the appropriate time to look back, not just at the year that was, but way back to what made us who we are today. We, the Ensemble, want to share with you our personal stories of why theatre matters to us and, in turn, to others.

We know this time of year you are bombarded with requests from very worthy organizations and some of them are literally saving lives on a day-to-day basis, but theatre can also sometimes make a life or death difference in a person's life. Here’s how.

Giving Tuesday is a chance to talk about our values and why we care so much about the work that we do. Thank for listening, for caring and for Giving.

Up Next: Must Eat TV 3: A live reading of Thanksgiving TV episodes

Ghostlight Ensemble brings back the popular Thanksgiving installment of its ongoing live movie reading series, Must Eat TV 3: A Live Reading of Your Favorite Thanksgiving Television Episodes.

Thanksgiving is all about stuffing yourself silly with family and friends; ignoring your redneck cousin Jack and his 23 kids and his 12 dogs; giving thanks; and television. So join your Ghostlight family, friends and cousin Jack for a celebration of everyone's favorite eating holiday.

The lineup features “Blitzgiving” from How I Met Your Mother,  “Shibboleth” from The West Wing and “Auntsgiving” from Blackish at 7:30 p.m. at Carbon Arc Bar & Board, located in the Davis Theater 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.

Raise a glass to help Ghostlight

District Brew Yards in West Town is hosting Ghostlight Ensemble on Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. for its Cents for Causes.

Come drink with the Ensemble, get to know us, learn more details on what we have planned for this season and find out how you can be involved (if that’s your cup of tea)! District Brew Yards donates 10 cents per ounce of beer you buy to Ghostlight.

District Brew Yards, 417 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago, is a pour-your-own-beer tap room. The cashless beer hall offers brews from Burnt City Brewing, Around the Bend Beer Co. and Bold Dog Beer Co., and serves barbecue, in case you’d like some smoked meats to compliment your drink.

We can’t wait to see you all!