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When To See Play On! At Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Key Details For Play On! In Chicago

  • Play On! is a Tony-nominated jazz musical that reimagines Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in 1930s Harlem, presented at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier.

  • The production runs from September 11 through October 18, 2026, with evening shows at 7:00 PM and matinees on Saturdays, Sundays, and select Wednesdays.

  • Critics have praised the Chicago staging, including a four-star review from the Chicago Tribune and strong notices from the Sun-Times, highlighting the cast and Duke Ellington score.

  • The Sunday, September 27 matinee has offered some of the lowest resale prices in September, and the run includes open-captioned, ASL-interpreted, and audio-described performances.

  • OnesToWatch Live highlights how Ellington’s jazz legacy continues to influence emerging artists and today’s live music culture.

Quick Ticket Links For Remaining September 2026 Dates

Today’s date is September 24, 2026. The performances below are still upcoming, and each link goes directly to its Ticketmaster listing.

With these quick links in hand, you can now look more closely at how the full September schedule unfolds.

September 2026 Performances At Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of Play On! runs in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier. The entries below outline the September performances in chronological order, divided into past and upcoming dates.

Upcoming Performances From September 24, 2026

  • Friday, September 25, 2026 — 7:00 PM
    Friday evening performances draw strong weekend audiences, which drives resale prices into the low-to-mid $100s all-in for this date.
    Reserve Seats For Sep 25

  • Saturday, September 26, 2026 — 2:00 PM Matinee
    This Saturday afternoon matinee offers an earlier option for weekend audiences, paired with an evening performance on the same day.
    Reserve Seats For Sep 26 Matinee

  • Saturday, September 26, 2026 — 7:00 PM Evening
    The Saturday evening show completes the double-performance day and remains one of the more flexible weekend options in September.
    Reserve Seats For Sep 26 Evening

  • Sunday, September 27, 2026 — 2:00 PM Matinee
    This Sunday matinee stands out for price accessibility. Resale listings for the September 27 matinee have shown get-in prices as low as $25, which helps budget-conscious theatergoers attend.
    Reserve Seats For Sep 27 Matinee

  • Tuesday, September 29, 2026 — 7:00 PM
    This midweek evening performance typically offers a quieter house and easier access to Navy Pier parking, and it is one of the final Tuesday slots in September.
    Reserve Seats For Sep 29

  • Wednesday, September 30, 2026 — 1:00 PM Matinee
    The Wednesday 1:00 PM matinee closes out September’s afternoon offerings and suits attendees who prefer daytime performances.
    Reserve Seats For Sep 30 Matinee

  • Wednesday, September 30, 2026 — 7:00 PM Evening
    This Wednesday evening show is the final September performance before the production continues into October.
    Reserve Seats For Sep 30 Evening

Duke Ellington’s Sound And The Chicago Production

The Chicago Shakespeare Theater production of Play On! builds its energy from Duke Ellington’s catalog, weaving songs like “It Don’t Mean A Thing,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” and “I’m Beginning To See The Light” into a Harlem-set story. Ellington’s harmonic language and rhythmic sophistication continue to shape jazz, R&B, and contemporary music. This legacy aligns with the production’s focus on Black artistry, highlighted by the September 22 Black Creativity Night, and it reflects the kind of culturally rooted work that OnesToWatch regularly covers.

Critical reception has remained strong. The Chicago Tribune awarded four stars and described the show as “highly entertaining… an experience that bops along quite deliciously.” The Chicago Sun-Times praised the “exceptional cast that delivers show-stopping performances,” and Let’s Play Theatrical Reviews called it “a visual feast, a show-stopping extravaganza of pure magic.”

The September schedule combines 7:00 PM evening shows on most weeknights with 2:00 PM Saturday and Sunday matinees and select 1:00 PM Wednesday matinees. Ticket pricing varies by date and demand, with resale markets showing a wide range across the run.

For readers following live performance and emerging artists, the connection between Ellington’s jazz legacy and current music discovery feels direct. OnesToWatch tracks that lineage from today’s culture-shaping artists back to the sounds that influenced them.

To explore that continuum further, visit OnesToWatch’s 2026 Top 30 Artists To Watch for a curated look at new voices carrying the tradition forward.

Practical Guidance For Attending Play On!

The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater sits at 800 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, on Navy Pier. The venue is accessible via CTA bus routes that serve Navy Pier. Parking is available at Navy Pier garages, and resale parking passes have been listed starting around $24, with rates changing by date and lot.

For accessibility needs, including open captioning, ASL interpretation, and audio description, contact the Chicago Shakespeare Theater box office at 312-595-5600. An open-captioned matinee of Play On! is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM CDT, and an ASL-interpreted performance is set for October 9, 2026.

As noted above, the Sunday, September 27 matinee offers particularly strong value on the resale market. For the final September performances, the September 30 double-header at 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM gives audiences two options on a single day, before the run continues into October.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Play On! The Same As PlayStation’s State Of Play?
Play On! at Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a stage musical with a jazz score and a Twelfth Night story set in 1930s Harlem. PlayStation’s State of Play is a separate gaming showcase event that only shares a similar name.

When Does Play On! Close At Chicago Shakespeare Theater?
The production closes on Sunday, October 18, 2026, with a 2:00 PM final performance at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier.

What Are The Standard Performance Times For Play On! In September 2026?
Evening performances run at 7:00 PM on most weeknights. Saturday performances include a 2:00 PM matinee and a 7:00 PM evening show. Sunday performances are at 2:00 PM, and Wednesday matinees are at 1:00 PM. Runtime is 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission.

Does Chicago Shakespeare Theater Offer Accessible Performances Of Play On!?
Yes. The production includes open-captioned, ASL-interpreted, and audio-described performances. An open-captioned matinee is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM CDT, an ASL-interpreted performance is on October 9, 2026, and an audio-described performance is on October 11, 2026. For accessibility questions, contact the box office at 312-595-5600.

Find Your Date For Play On!

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