The City of Chicago has announced on 9/17/18 that 2019 would be The Year of Chicago Theatre.  The city with the co-operation of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events as well as the League of Chicago Theatres will promote the city as a theatre center on a local, national and international level.  Included in this promotion will be $200,000 in local grants, free performances, exhibitions, pop-up performances and the participation of over 200 theatre companies based in Chicago.  While Chicago has no major equivalent to a Broadway or West End theatre district it does have many downtown, Loop, neighborhood and storefront theatres which can benefit from this promotion.   (Note:  The Loop Theatre district does have 8 houses that are often occupied but this is mostly imported Broadway and other national and international productions.)
See more information in this press release:
https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/provdrs/chicago_s_creativeindustries/news/2018/september/yoct.html
 
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