The Mercury Theatre in Chicago will not reopen.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/17/20 at 3:10pm

Absolutely heartbroken to hear this. I have enjoyed the productions at The Mercury so much and so many promising actors and designers have gone through its doors. Hoping we don’t have to see anymore news like this, but I doubt it. 

[markypoo]

Posted: 6/17/20 at 7:37pm

This is just the beginning of the domino effect in Chicago.
Just wait.

The only time I was in the Mercury was for Bailiwick Reps production of Parade in 2004.

 

Updated On: 6/17/20 at 07:37 PM

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/17/20 at 9:20pm

No!!! I just discovered them on my last trip to Chicago! I saw an amazing production of Spamalot there. Horrible set. But with actors and direction as good as I have seen anywhere in any production of the show. Including the original Broadway cast.

[markypoo]

Posted: 6/18/20 at 9:54am

If the Goodman closes, my life's over.

[Ravenclaw]

Posted: 6/18/20 at 10:36am

It's really the mid-size theaters that are in the most danger. The big and long-established theaters--Goodman, Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, etc.--have enough deep-pocketed donors dedicated to keeping them alive that they're going to weather it no matter what, and the small companies with very few (or all-volunteer) staff renting on a show-by-show basis also are likely to survive. Mercury was a mid-size commercial venue, meaning they can't rely on donations, and I imagine their lease isn't that cheap with no money coming in (compare that to Lookingglass, which famously pays the city of Chicago $1 a year for their performance space). It's very sad to see them close, and I also fear for companies like TimeLine, Steep, Pride, Theo Ubique, Raven, and A Red Orchid.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 6/18/20 at 10:41am

It is not just people this horrid virus kills.