Lincoln Park has one of Chicago’s densest clusters of stages: Steppenwolf Theatre on Halsted Street, a row of theaters and music rooms on Lincoln Avenue near Fullerton, The Second City and UP Comedy Club at North and Wells, and late-night blues at Kingston Mines. This guide covers 13 venues by type, with addresses, what each is known for and what’s on the fall 2026 calendar where the venue has posted it.
Lincoln Park stages at a glance
| Venue | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Steppenwolf Theatre Company | 1650 N. Halsted St. | Ensemble theater, three spaces |
| Apollo Theater | 2550 N. Lincoln Ave. | Touring and commercial shows |
| Greenhouse Theater Center | 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. | Multi-stage home for many companies |
| Porchlight Music Theatre at the Biograph | 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. | Musicals in a 1912 landmark |
| The Theatre School at DePaul | 2350 N. Racine Ave. | Student productions |
| The Second City | 1616 N. Wells St. | Sketch and improv comedy |
| UP Comedy Club | 230 W. North Ave., 3rd floor | Comedy |
| Lincoln Hall | 2424 N. Lincoln Ave. | Indie, rock and folk concerts |
| Park West | 322 W. Armitage Ave. | Concerts and comedy |
| Kingston Mines | 2548 N. Halsted St. | Blues club, two stages |
| Old Town School of Folk Music | 909 W. Armitage Ave. | Music classes and concert hall |
| Theater on the Lake | 2401 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. | Lakefront event venue |
| Facets | 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. | Nonprofit cinema |
Steppenwolf on Halsted
Steppenwolf Theatre Company, at 1650 N. Halsted St. just north of North Avenue, has made theater in Chicago since 1974 and works as an ensemble company. Its campus has three spaces: the Downstairs Theater, the Ensemble Theater and the 1700 Theater.
As of late October 2026, Steppenwolf’s site lists the world premiere of Adirondack Chair Circle (through December 6), Hayward presented by The Gift Theatre (through November 22), Gary Sinise on November 24, John C. Reilly on December 10–13 and Jessie Mueller with Seth Rudetsky on December 18–19. The North/Clybourn Red Line station is just south.
Lincoln Avenue’s theater row
Lincoln Avenue, from just south of Webster to just north of Fullerton, holds three theaters and a music venue, all walkable from the Fullerton ‘L’ station.
- Porchlight Music Theatre at the Biograph (2433 N. Lincoln Ave.): the Biograph opened as a movie house in 1912, is a Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s best known as the theater John Dillinger left just before federal agents shot him in July 1934. Today Porchlight stages musicals in the roughly 250-seat Začek-McVay Mainstage and the roughly 109-seat Richard Christiansen Theater. Its 2026–27 season lists Little Shop of Horrors, Dead Outlaw and Shake It Away: The Ann Miller Story; see its season page for dates.
- Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave.): a multi-stage building (Up Main, Down Main, Up Studio and Down Studio) used by many local companies and independent producers, so one week can bring plays, improv and children’s theater. It also has a used theater bookstore. The box office opens on show days only and is closed Sundays.
- Apollo Theater (2550 N. Lincoln Ave.): touring and commercial productions, parody musicals, cabaret and late-night shows, with a smaller Studio Theater. Tickets are on Ticketmaster, and the theater sells parking passes online. Box office hours vary, so call (773) 935-6100.
Make a night of it with dinner nearby; our Lincoln Park restaurants by cuisine guide lists options along Lincoln Avenue.
Student theater at DePaul
The Theatre School at DePaul University stages public productions in the Healy and Watts theatres at 2350 N. Racine Ave., with discounted tickets for students, seniors and DePaul faculty and staff. The 2026–27 Chicago season includes:
- A Map of Me (Chicago Playworks for Young Audiences), Healy Theatre, October 20–November 7, 2026
- Peter Pan, Watts Theatre, November 6–14, 2026
- Dancing at Lughnasa, Watts Theatre, February 12–21, 2027
- Lear, Healy Theatre, February 26–March 7, 2027
Comedy at North and Wells
The Second City’s resident stages sit at the neighborhood’s southern edge, in the Old Town Triangle.
- The Second City: the Mainstage, with about 290 seats, is on the second floor of 1616 N. Wells St. The e.t.c. Theater is on the second floor of 230 W. North Ave. in the Piper’s Alley building.
- UP Comedy Club: Second City’s 230-seat club on the third floor of 230 W. North Ave., hosting revues and other comedy shows, with tickets through The Second City.
Parking is in the Piper’s Alley self-park garage at 230 W. North Ave.; Second City says it does not validate. The Sedgwick Brown Line station, at 1536 N. Sedgwick St., is a few blocks away.
Live music: blues, rock and folk
- Kingston Mines (2548 N. Halsted St.) calls itself Chicago’s blues center since 1968. It runs two stages, the Main Stage and the North Stage, so bands play in two rooms at once. Its site lists hours of 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday; it’s closed Monday through Wednesday. Free or discounted entry is offered for students, seniors, military, police, firefighters and birthdays; see its FAQ for terms.
- Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln Ave.), across from the Biograph, opened in 2009 in a 1912 building long known as the 3-Penny Cinema. It books mostly touring indie, rock, folk and singer-songwriter acts most nights and shares a website with Schubas Tavern in Lake View.
- Park West (322 W. Armitage Ave.) opened in 1916 as a movie and vaudeville house and became a concert hall in the late 1970s. JAM Productions runs it, and it’s known for a diamond-shaped room. It books touring music and comedy; age limits vary by show (all ages, 17+, 18+ or 21+), and booth and table seats sell through AXS.
- Old Town School of Folk Music (909 W. Armitage Ave.), founded in 1957, uses this former Aldine Hall as its Lincoln Park campus. It offers group classes and private lessons for adults and kids, including Wiggleworms for babies and toddlers, and houses the Richard Bers Armitage Concert Hall. It’s near the Armitage Brown and Purple Line stop.
For bars to pair with a show, browse the bars and nightlife directory.
On the lakefront and on screen
- Theater on the Lake (2401 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr., at Fullerton) is a Prairie-style building designed in 1913 and built in 1920. It now hosts ticketed events sold through Eventbrite, which in fall 2026 include comedy, a Bruce Springsteen tribute and holiday parties. The Lakefront Restaurant inside says it is open year-round.
- Facets (1517 W. Fullerton Ave.) is a nonprofit cinema founded in 1975, showing independent, international, classic and cult films in themed series. Its early-November 2026 lineup includes a fall horror program and the classic Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles. It also runs Family Sundays and film camps for kids.
See every venue in the arts and entertainment directory, and for neighborhood festivals and seasonal events, our Lincoln Park events calendar. Holiday plans? Pair a show with ZooLights or our winter guide.
Good to know
| Lincoln Avenue venues | Greenhouse (2257), Biograph (2433), Lincoln Hall (2424), Apollo (2550); Fullerton Red, Brown and Purple Line station |
|---|---|
| Comedy | Second City Mainstage, 1616 N. Wells St.; e.t.c. and UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave.; Sedgwick Brown Line |
| Latest night | Kingston Mines, until 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday |
| Steppenwolf | 1650 N. Halsted St.; Adirondack Chair Circle through Dec. 6, 2026 |
| DePaul student shows | 2350 N. Racine Ave.; Peter Pan Nov. 6–14, 2026 |
| Parking | Piper’s Alley garage for Second City (no validation); Apollo sells parking passes online |
| Sources checked | October 2026; schedules change, so check each venue |
Frequently asked questions
Is Steppenwolf Theatre in Lincoln Park?
Yes. Steppenwolf Theatre Company is at 1650 N. Halsted St., just north of North Avenue in Lincoln Park. Its campus has three performance spaces: the Downstairs Theater, the Ensemble Theater and the 1700 Theater.
Where is The Second City?
The Second City’s Mainstage is at 1616 N. Wells St., at the south edge of Lincoln Park’s Old Town Triangle. Its e.t.c. Theater and UP Comedy Club are next door in the Piper’s Alley building at 230 W. North Ave.
What nights is Kingston Mines open?
Kingston Mines, the blues club at 2548 N. Halsted St., is open Thursday through Sunday and closed Monday through Wednesday, as of October 2026. It stays open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
What is the Biograph Theater?
The Biograph, at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., opened in 1912 as a movie house and is a Chicago Landmark. It’s where John Dillinger was leaving when federal agents shot him in 1934. Today it is the home of Porchlight Music Theatre, which stages musicals on two stages.
Have a question we didn’t answer, or spot something out of date? Tell us and we’ll update the guide.
Sources
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company
- Steppenwolf: Visit
- Porchlight Music Theatre: The Biograph Theater
- Porchlight Music Theatre
- Porchlight: 2026–27 subscription FAQs
- Greenhouse Theater Center
- Apollo Theater Chicago
- The Theatre School at DePaul: On stage
- The Second City: Chicago locations
- Kingston Mines
- Time Out Chicago: Kingston Mines
- Lincoln Hall and Schubas
- Wikipedia: 2424 North Lincoln Avenue
- JAM Productions: Park West
- Old Town School of Folk Music: Lincoln Park
- Theater on the Lake
- Facets
Last updated October 2026 by Live Lincoln Park.