The Wirtz Center Chicago hosts, presents, and produces work by innovative local and national artists, many of whom are performing in Chicago for the first time. The center opened in 2021 with the Chicago premiere of Native Guard, co-produced with Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre.

One of Chicago’s newest performance venues, the Wirtz Center Chicago, features two black box theaters, an expansive lobby and gathering space overlooking Lake Michigan, a well-equipped backstage area with a green room and dressing rooms, two rehearsal studios, a design studio, and a large conference room.

The Wirtz Center Chicago is a resource shared by academic programs and initiatives across the School of Communication. It is home to Northwestern’s MFA in Acting program and hosts readings, performances, and screenings of work by students in the MFA programs in Writing for the Screen and Stage, Documentary Media, Directing, as well as PhD programs in Performance Studies and Screen Cultures, among others.

The Black Arts Consortium strengthens Northwestern’s involvement in Black arts by connecting with a broader community of scholars, practitioners, and community members; it presents numerous events in the space throughout the year, including public screenings, symposia, and performances. The Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab also hosts events throughout the academic year, these focused on depictions of mental health in the cinematic arts. With its accessible downtown location and robust resources, the center offers a valuable resource for the larger Chicago creative community, providing an affordable space for readings, workshops, events, and productions. The Wirtz Center Chicago is ideally positioned to serve as a meeting place and a launching pad for artistic experimentation, engaged scholarship, and community celebration.

For rental inquiries, contact Michael Constantino, associate managing director, michael.constantino@northwestern.edu