Congo Square Theatre
Specialty: Theatre inspired by and about African-Americans
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at the theatre, on the website or via phone
Prices: $10.00 to $40.00
Payment: Cash and all major credit cards
Parking: Free Parking
ADA: Wheelchair accessible
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at the theatre, on the website or via phone
Prices: $10.00 to $40.00
Payment: Cash and all major credit cards
Parking: Free Parking
ADA: Wheelchair accessible
General Info
Congo Square Theatre Company is dedicated to telling the stories of the African Diaspora. But the Ensemble’s work is not limited; the Company’s performances incorporate other world cultures. The Congo Square Theatre opened its first season, in October 2000, with August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize winning play The Piano Lesson; coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the show’s Broadway run. The Company’s performance sparked such an interest in the arts community that even August Wilson bestowed praise upon the Ensemble.
The Ensemble is named after Congo Square, the sacred ground the Houma Indians used for celebrating their annual corn harvest before the arrival of the French. As early as the 1740s, Congo Square became the gathering place of Africans during Louisiana's French Colonial period and continued to serve as a haven during the Spanish Colonial era. By 1803, Congo Square was known as the gathering place for Africans and free people of Color. They celebrated their freedom through dance, drumming, singing and trade each Sunday afternoon. Less than 20 years later, attendance at these gathering had swelled to as many as 500 to 600 people. Among the most famous dances performed on those historic Sunday’s were the Bamboula, the Calinda and the Congo. As time progressed, these African cultural expressions eventually developed into Mardi Indian traditions, the 2nd Line, and eventually New Orleans jazz and rhythm and blues.
About the Venue:
The Congo Square Theatre company was founded by ten artists in 1999. Eight of the founding ensemble members obtained Masters of Fine Arts Degrees from the University of Illinois, with the other two hailing from Howard University and The University of Pittsburgh. The company has earned several Black Alliance Awards, an After Dark Award and has produced three Jeff nominated productions.
Their home is in the Theatre Building, a breeding ground for Chicago’s hottest theatre companies. The three-theatre complex has been the home for more than 225 companies since opening in 1977. Each theatre seats 148 people.
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