Theatre Center

72 East 11th St.

The Theatre Center offers a dynamic hub for live performance on campus and is a lively part of Chicago’s artistic scene. The Center’s four performance venues incorporate student talent in everything from acting to set design. Each season includes student productions and Mainstage productions, directed by department faculty and professional guest artists.

Visit the Theater Center site

The Theatre Center has a variety of performance and production venues for Columbia's plays, musicals, concerts and directing projects, including the historic Getz Theater.

Mainstage productions are directed by department faculty and professional guest artists; are cast from the student population; and are designed by student design majors in collaboration with other departments in the college that are engaged in the use of new technologies.

Upcoming Events:

  • Grease
    Set in the 1950s, Grease follows the students of Rydell High as they navigate love, friendship, and identity—complete with electrifying dance numbers and the unforgettable sound of rock ’n’ roll. Directed by Daryl Brooks Music Directed by Kailey Rockwell Choreographed by Jonny Martinez Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. November 13-22, 2025 The Getz Theatre Cen......Get the details
  • Choreographic Projects
    Each week’s distinct program is the culmination of 14 Dance majors’ journeys through the choreographic process: from creative impulse through auditions, rehearsals, outside eyes, design decisions to presenting their new works on the concert stage. Faculty Advisor: Colleen Halloran. ...Get the details
  • Grease
    Set in the 1950s, Grease follows the students of Rydell High as they navigate love, friendship, and identity—complete with electrifying dance numbers and the unforgettable sound of rock ’n’ roll. Directed by Daryl Brooks Music Directed by Kailey Rockwell Choreographed by Jonny Martinez Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. November 13-22, 2025 The Getz Theatre Cen......Get the details
  • Choreographic Projects
    Each week’s distinct program is the culmination of 14 Dance majors’ journeys through the choreographic process: from creative impulse through auditions, rehearsals, outside eyes, design decisions to presenting their new works on the concert stage. Faculty Advisor: Colleen Halloran. ...Get the details
  • Grease
    Set in the 1950s, Grease follows the students of Rydell High as they navigate love, friendship, and identity—complete with electrifying dance numbers and the unforgettable sound of rock ’n’ roll. Directed by Daryl Brooks Music Directed by Kailey Rockwell Choreographed by Jonny Martinez Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. November 13-22, 2025 The Getz Theatre Cen......Get the details
  • Grease
    Set in the 1950s, Grease follows the students of Rydell High as they navigate love, friendship, and identity—complete with electrifying dance numbers and the unforgettable sound of rock ’n’ roll. Directed by Daryl Brooks Music Directed by Kailey Rockwell Choreographed by Jonny Martinez Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. November 13-22, 2025 The Getz Theatre Cen......Get the details
  • Choreographic Projects
    Each week’s distinct program is the culmination of 14 Dance majors’ journeys through the choreographic process: from creative impulse through auditions, rehearsals, outside eyes, design decisions to presenting their new works on the concert stage. Faculty Advisor: Colleen Halloran. ...Get the details
  • Choreographic Projects
    Each week’s distinct program is the culmination of 14 Dance majors’ journeys through the choreographic process: from creative impulse through auditions, rehearsals, outside eyes, design decisions to presenting their new works on the concert stage. Faculty Advisor: Colleen Halloran. ...Get the details
  • South Chicago Dance Theatre's Lamentations for Peace
    The world premiere holiday show by Founder and Director of Vision and Strategy Kia S. Smith, Lamentations for Peace, is South Chicago Dance Theatre’s third evening length work by the 9-year-old company. “I want families and audience members to feel like now you can get into the holiday season and when you leave the theater,...Get the details
  • South Chicago Dance Theatre's Lamentations for Peace
    The world premiere holiday show by Founder and Director of Vision and Strategy Kia S. Smith, Lamentations for Peace, is South Chicago Dance Theatre’s third evening length work by the 9-year-old company. “I want families and audience members to feel like now you can get into the holiday season and when you leave the theater,...Get the details
  • AMANDLA: Repertory Performance Works
    Translated as “power” from the Nguni languages Xhosa and Zulu, these culminating concerts of 2025 at the Dance Center feature works by visiting choreographer Monique Haley and faculty Bevara Anderson and Kelsa Rieger-Haywood set on students in one of the most popular Dance courses: Repertory Performance Workshop. Originally created by Dance Center founder Shirley Mordine,...Get the details
  • AMANDLA: Repertory Performance Works
    Translated as “power” from the Nguni languages Xhosa and Zulu, these culminating concerts of 2025 at the Dance Center feature works by visiting choreographer Monique Haley and faculty Bevara Anderson and Kelsa Rieger-Haywood set on students in one of the most popular Dance courses: Repertory Performance Workshop. Originally created by Dance Center founder Shirley Mordine,...Get the details
  • Musical Theatre Dance Concert
    The 3rd annual student produced, directed, choreographed and performed revue featuring Acting, Dance, Design, and Musical Theatre majors bringing their take on musical theatre dance numbers. ...Get the details
  • Musical Theatre Dance Concert
    The 3rd annual student produced, directed, choreographed and performed revue featuring Acting, Dance, Design, and Musical Theatre majors bringing their take on musical theatre dance numbers. ...Get the details
  • B-Series Battle and Jam
    The 2026 celebration of Hip Hop & Street Dance Culture co-curated by faculty Daniel BRAVEMONK Haywood and Kelsa K-SOUL Rieger-Haywood centers on the theme B-PRESENT: a call to gather and move—physically, soulfully, and energetically—with awareness, intention, and deep connection to the sounds, the space, the culture, the legacies, our inner selves, and one another. ...Get the details
  • The Seldoms' FLOE
    The Chicago premiere of Floe fits into a set of The Seldoms’ repertory about environmental issues and that the new normal is change. Research in the creation of the work included learning from locals affected by the Wisconsin floods of 2018, the sea ice changes at the Arctic’s Beaufort Sea Lagoon, and Houston’s Hurricane Harvey, revealing...Get the details
  • The Seldoms' FLOE
    The Chicago premiere of Floe fits into a set of The Seldoms’ repertory about environmental issues and that the new normal is change. Research in the creation of the work included learning from locals affected by the Wisconsin floods of 2018, the sea ice changes at the Arctic’s Beaufort Sea Lagoon, and Houston’s Hurricane Harvey, revealing...Get the details
  • Natya Dance Theatre's 50th Anniversary
    For its 50th anniversary season, Natya Dance Theatre (NDT) continues to share important milestones in NDT’s rich history at the Dance Center. In 2001, NDT made its Dance Center debut and celebrated its 25th anniversary with a 3-day international conference, Bharatanatyam in the Diaspora, convening scholars and artists from India, Europe, and North America. Subsequent...Get the details
  • Natya Dance Theatre's 50th Anniversary
    For its 50th anniversary season, Natya Dance Theatre (NDT) continues to share important milestones in NDT’s rich history at the Dance Center. In 2001, NDT made its Dance Center debut and celebrated its 25th anniversary with a 3-day international conference, Bharatanatyam in the Diaspora, convening scholars and artists from India, Europe, and North America. Subsequent...Get the details
  • Natya Dance Theatre's 50th Anniversary
    For its 50th anniversary season, Natya Dance Theatre (NDT) continues to share important milestones in NDT’s rich history at the Dance Center. In 2001, NDT made its Dance Center debut and celebrated its 25th anniversary with a 3-day international conference, Bharatanatyam in the Diaspora, convening scholars and artists from India, Europe, and North America. Subsequent...Get the details
  • Columbia Ballet Club Showcase
    This inaugural festival showcases four of the student run organizations dedicated to dance and open to all majors at Columbia College Chicago: C2K Dance Team, Columbia Renegades Dance Team, En Pointe, and Renegades Hip Hop Dance Crew. ...Get the details
  • Renegades Hip Hop Dance Crew Showcase
    This inaugural festival showcases four of the student run organizations dedicated to dance and open to all majors at Columbia College Chicago: C2K Dance Team, Columbia Renegades Dance Team, Columbia Ballet Club, and Renegades Hip Hop Dance Crew. ...Get the details
  • Columbia Renegades Dance Team Showcase
    This inaugural festival showcases four of the student run organizations dedicated to dance and open to all majors at Columbia College Chicago: C2K Dance Team, Columbia Renegades Dance Team, Columbia Ballet Club, and Renegades Hip Hop Dance Crew. ...Get the details
  • C2K Showcase
    This inaugural festival showcases four of the student run organizations dedicated to dance and open to all majors at Columbia College Chicago: C2K Dance Team, Columbia Renegades Dance Team, Columbia Ballet Club, and Renegades Hip Hop Dance Crew. ...Get the details
  • Spring Forward: Student Performance Night
    The coveted platform for student choreographers to share original, short works on the Dance Center’s stage, where the audience is as dynamic as the performances. ...Get the details
  • Spring Forward: Student Performance Night
    The coveted platform for student choreographers to share original, short works on the Dance Center’s stage, where the audience is as dynamic as the performances. ...Get the details
  • Spring Forward: Student Performance Night
    The coveted platform for student choreographers to share original, short works on the Dance Center’s stage, where the audience is as dynamic as the performances. ...Get the details
  • Break/Through
    The Dance Center’s renowned professional dance faculty and alumni choreograph new works performed by students. ...Get the details
  • Break/Through
    The Dance Center’s renowned professional dance faculty and alumni choreograph new works performed by students. ...Get the details
  • Break/Through
    The Dance Center’s renowned professional dance faculty and alumni choreograph new works performed by students. ...Get the details