Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to Chicago! Rob McClure will reprise his Tony-nominated Broadway performance on tour alongside co-star (and real wife!) Maggie Lakis in this internationally acclaimed hit musical critics call “wonderful, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud funny” (Manchester Evening News) and “a feel-good, family-friendly comedy that delivers” (The Hollywood Reporter). Based on the beloved film and directed by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks, MRS. DOUBTFIRE tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. It’s “the lovable, big-hearted musical comedy we need right now,” raves the Chicago Tribune – one that proves we’re better together.

This year’s Sarah Siddons Society Swell Soirée highlights many of Chicago’s famed clubs from the 1940’s through the 1970’s, like Chez Paree, Mr. Kelly’s, London House and Robert’s Show Lounge.  This evening of cabaret will feature some of Chicago’s most talented and experienced performers paired with musical theatre students from universities supported with Sarah Siddons scholarships.   

Following the performance, join us for an intimate fundraiser dinner with the cast at one of Chicago’s best Chinese Restaurants, MingHin Cuisine - 1234 South Michigan Avenue

Join us as we set sail for the 90th anniversary production of Cole Porter’s smash-hit musical comedy.  His iconic score includes a shipload of tunes that built the Great American Songbook including “Anything Goes,” “Friendship,” “You’re the Top” and “I Get a Kick Out of You.”

Noon - Lunch at Italian Village

2:00 pm - Boop! at CIBC Theater

For almost a century, Betty Boop has won hearts and inspired fans around the world with her trademark looks, voice, and style. Now, in BOOP!, Betty’s dream of an ordinary day off from the super-celebrity in her black-and-white world leads to an extraordinary adventure of color, music, and love in New York City—one that reminds her and the world, “You are capable of amazing things.” Boop-oop-a-doop!

Come join us for the Chicago premiere of a new one woman play written & performed by: ALMANYA NARULA, a 2016 Sarah Siddons Scholarship recipient.  The Chicago premiere is being produced by The Sarah Siddons Society.

 'Noor Inayat Khan: The Forgotten Spy'  premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival to much acclaim and sold out performances.  It is based on the untold true story of Noor Inayat Khan, an Indian princess turned British WW2 spy who became the first woman to be sent out as a radio operator and was vital to the success in D-Day. She evaded the gestapo for months in France, while creating a network that would sabotage their plans until eventually she was caught, tortured, and executed in Dachau. 

The Arts Club of Chicago
201 E Ontario Street, Chicago
*All Proceeds Benefit the Sarah Siddons Society Scholarship Program.

You are invited to an intimate evening with the Tony Award winner, Stephanie J Block. There will be wonderful musical selections from her memorable shows (Into The Woods, THE CHER SHOW, Falsettos, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes, 9 to 5: The Musical, Wicked, The Pirate Queen, and The Boy From Oz) performed by some of Chicago’s most talented theatre stars.  There will also be the induction of our 2023 Scholarship Recipients.

A Wonderful World is the singular story of jazz legend, Grammy Award winner, and American icon Louis Armstrong, as told by the women in his life. Armstrong's innovative musicianship and incredible charisma as trumpet player and vocalist would lead him from the early days of jazz in his native New Orleans to five decades of international stardom.

The Great American Songbook Is Alive and Well and Living in CHICAGO!

Beckie Menzie, Music Director
Carla Gordon, Director

This year’s Sarah Siddons Society Swell Soirée celebrates the Great American Songbook.  This evening of cabaret will feature some of Chicago’s most talented and experienced performers paired with musical theatre students from universities supported with Sarah Siddons scholarships.   

2:30 pm 
Mercury Theatre | 3745 N. Southport Avenue | Chicago

Mark Twain’s timeless classic sweeps audiences down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim escape from slavery to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are hilarious, suspenseful, and heartwarming, bringing to life everyone’s favorite characters from the novel.

Reasons takes us on a journey of how Earth, Wind & Fire was formed from their humble beginnings, to become the musical revolutionaries that changed the course of music. They took a vision that no one said would work, and turned it into a musical powerhouse that still lives on today.

Join us Sunday, March 19th for the Paramount Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods. Preceding the show enjoy a special St Patrick’s Day weekend breakfast  with a special guest. 

A fantastical musical adventure inspired by a father’s incredible stories. Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, Big Fish tells the story of Edward Bloom, a charming traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest, and then some. Overflowing with heart and humor, Big Fish is the extraordinary story that reminds us why we love going to the theatre. 

Tuesday, December 20, 4:00 pm CST via Zoom

There is no charge to attend, but advance registration is required.

Brief presentation of the year in review and plans for 2023.

Monday, November 14 at 6:00 pm

You are invited to an intimate evening with the three time Tony Award nominated, Sandy Duncan. There will be wonderful musical selections from her memorable shows (The King and I, The Boyfriend, The Canterbury Tales and of course, Peter Pan) performed by some of Chicago’s most talented theater stars. There will also be the induction of our 2022 Scholarship Recipients.

Please join us for the world premiere of the musical of The Notebook on Sunday, October 9. We will have lunch preceding the show at Lirica, Sable Hotel at Navy Pier.

12:00 PM Lunch at Lirica, Sable Hotel at Navy Pier with special guest Mary Ernster (Older Allie at our performance)

2:30 PM Orchestra seat for The Notebook at The Shed, Chicago Shakespeare at Navy Pier

5:00 PM - Dinner at South Branch Tavern and Grille, 100 South Wacker

7:00 PM - Orchestra Seat to Fiddler on the Roof, Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker

Join us for the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s North American premiere of a reimagined all-time classic, Fiddler on the Roof. Originally produced by Komische Oper Berlin, it will be directed by one of the world's leading opera directors, Barrie Kosky. Steven Skybell stars as Tevye, the role for which he won a Lucille Lortel Award for the 2019 off-Broadway Yiddish production; and Debbie Gravitte, a 1989 Tony Award winner for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, as Golde.

Please join us for the Pre-Broadway World Premiere of the new musical with music by Sir Elton John and lyrics by Paul Rudnick and Shaina Taub, The Devil Wears Prada on Sunday, August 21. This highly anticipated show stars Tony Award winner, Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone, The Prom) as Miranda Priestly and Taylor Iman Jones (Groundhog Day, American Idiot) as Andy Sachs. It is directed Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County).

11:30 am - Lunch at Mariposa Restaurant, 737 N. Michigan Ave

2:00 pm - Orchestra seat to Devil Wears Prada (Limited number of premium orchestra seats available) Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph

6:00 pm Reception
7:00 pm Special Performance by Kate Baldwin and Heidi Kettenring

Davenport’s | 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue | Chicago

Join us for a very special and intimate evening, as the Sarah Siddons Society celebrates our seventieth anniversary. Since 1952, the Sarah Siddons Society has awarded over 300 scholarships to promising theater arts students, first at the Goodman School of Drama (now The Theatre School at DePaul University) as well as Northwestern, Roosevelt and Columbia College.

SKATES, co-created by Christine Rea (book/lyrics) and Rick Briskin (music/lyrics), with direction by Brenda Didier, choreography by Christopher Chase Carter (Siddons Artistic Council Member) and music direction by Daniel A. Weiss is a coming of age story with a twist. It’s 1994 and rock star Jacqueline Miller has a lot to celebrate. She’s headlining her first national tour, has a hit record and is riding high. In the midst of this, she has agreed to kick off the gala re-opening of her beloved childhood roller rink, Windy City Skates.

5:15 pm - Dinner at The Exchange in the landmark Railway Exchange Building with special guests to be announced.

7:30 pm - Join us for the world premiere of a new musical, Skates at the newly historic Studebaker Theatre. STARRING AMERICAN IDOL FAVORITES DIANA DEGARMO AND ACE YOUNG.

A NEW PLAY AND DINNER WITH THE PULITZER PRIZE WINNNG PLAYWRIGHT.

SEAN HAYES
in
GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR
Written by Doug Wright

Wednesday, April 13
5:15 pm Dinner at The Dearborn with playwright, Doug Wright
7:30 pm Good Night, Oscar at The Goodman

Anything can happen on live TV. And one night, it did. Emmy Award-winning actor and producer Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) stars as the irrepressible Oscar Levant.

No trip to Paris this Spring? The next best thing….

Please join us for Moulin Rouge!, winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical! and dinner before at François Frankie.

5:30 pm Dinner at François Frankie, 222 W. Randolph

7:30 pm Orchestra Seat Ticket for Moulin Rouge at the Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph

PURCHASE TICKETS

Sunday, December 5, 2021

11:30 am Lunch in the historic Walnut Room at Macy’s State Street Store

2:00 pm. Orchestra seat for the final performance of the much anticipated pre Broadway premiere of the new musical, Paradise Square, Nederlander Theater

SOLD OUT!

JOIN US VIRTUALLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH AT 5 PM CST FOR OUR ANNUAL BENEFIT WHEN TONY AWARD WINNER ANDRE` DE SHIELDS RECEIVES THE 2021 SARAH SIDDONS SOCIETY ACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

CONVERSATION with André De Shields and Ed Tracy

HEAR songs from many of Andre`s Broadway shows performed by emerging artists in the Chicago Theater Community.

MEET the 2021 Sarah Siddons Society Scholarship recipients.

ENJOY MEMORIES, STORIES AND WORDS OF CONGRATULATIONS as shared by a handful of his many colleagues

Monday, October 25, 2021 at 6:30 pm

The Edge Theater | 5451 N. Broadway, Chicago.

You are invited to a taping of an intimate evening with this Tony and Emmy Award winning actor. Limited to 30 guests, the show will include a live interview between André De Shields and Ed Tracy. There will be wonderful musical selections from his memorable shows performed by some of Chicago’s most talented rising stars, congratulatory messages from influential individuals in his life, and the induction of our 2021 Scholarship Recipients.

Photo credit: Lia Chang

Includes orchestra seat and pre theater brunch

11 :00 am-Pre Theater Brunch at Altiro Latin Fusion in downtown Aurora (a block away from the Paramount Theater) where we will have a discussion with Kinky Boots cast and/or production members.

1:00 pm - Kinky Boots- Orchestra seat

A REGIONAL PREMIERE! This flashy, sassy, sexy story of big heels invading a small town shook Broadway and was universally adored by critics and audiences. Now it’s Paramount’s turn to try these shoes on for size.

Join us on Sunday, November 29th at 5:00 p.m. CST at our Virtual Gala where we will present the 2020 Sarah Siddons Society Actor of the Year Award to Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Advance Registration is closed. But you can still view the Gala on Sunday, November 29th at 5 PM CST by simply going to this link: https://youtu.be/8NZ4hSTPUZk