Chicago's TimeLine Theatre Celebrates New Uptown Neighborhood Home

The theater company opens a new 250-seat black box theater, bar, and gallery space after 25 years in East Lakeview.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:50pm

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Following a ribbon-cutting attended by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, the TimeLine Theatre celebrated the opening of its new home in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood on Saturday. The new space at 5035 N. Broadway includes a 250-seat black box theater, a street level bar, and a gallery. The TimeLine Theatre first opened in 1997 and had been located in a church building in East Lakeview for the past 25 years.

Why it matters

The move to a new, larger space in Uptown represents an exciting new chapter for the TimeLine Theatre, which has built a reputation for producing plays inspired by history that connect to today's social and political issues. The new facility will allow the theater company to expand its programming and reach a wider audience.

The details

The TimeLine Theatre's new home features a 250-seat black box theater, a street level bar, and a gallery space. The theater company was previously located in a church building in East Lakeview for 25 years after being founded in 1997 by six individuals who each pitched in $50 to get it started. The TimeLine's first production in its new Uptown space will be a new take on Henrik Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People" in May.

  • The TimeLine Theatre opened its new Uptown location on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • The theater company had been located in East Lakeview for the past 25 years.

The players

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the TimeLine Theatre's new Uptown location.

Elizabeth K. Auman

The director of new home development for the TimeLine Theatre Company.

TimeLine Theatre Company

A Chicago theater company that has produced plays inspired by history and connecting to today's social and political issues since 1997.

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What they’re saying

“This building embodies that mission. It's the place where artists can gain new perspectives, students can discover history in new ways, and we all get to experience the kind of storytelling that invites reflection, conversation, and connection.”

— Elizabeth K. Auman, Director of new home development

What’s next

The TimeLine Theatre will show its first new production at the new Uptown location in May, which will be a new take on Henrik Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People".

The takeaway

The TimeLine Theatre's move to a larger, purpose-built space in Uptown represents an exciting new chapter for the company, which has built a reputation for producing thought-provoking plays that connect history to contemporary issues. The new facility will allow the TimeLine to expand its programming and reach a wider audience in Chicago.