Four walls. A Stage. And everything else.

In April 2010, Theater Wit completed its renovation of 1229 W Belmont, a building with a proud history as a center for the performing arts in Lakeview for the previous 20 years.

Theater Wit Shared Spaces Program

Unprecedented Support for Chicago's Neighborhood Theater Community

Theater Wit is excited to announce our expanded Shared Spaces program, made possible through generous support from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. Starting immediately, we'll offer our three theaters to not-for-profit producers for $1,000 per week. This is a significant reduction from the standard $2,250 market rate.

This three-year initiative addresses a critical need in Chicago's theater landscape. Since the pandemic, 19 stages that fostered storefront theater have closed or become unsuitable, while production costs have skyrocketed. With only 51 theater companies now producing full seasons (compared to 127 in 2019), Chicago's distinctive storefront community faces real challenges.

Shared Spaces offers more than affordable rent. Participating producers receive comprehensive support. This includes marketing assistance, production guidance, and full accessibility services such as touch tours and equipment for assistive listening / audio description. We handle the infrastructure so artists can focus on making great art.

Chicago's theatrical ecosystem is unique because of its innovative storefront community. Many of our most influential theaters started in converted spaces. This program ensures that pathway remains open for the next generation of companies.

These reduced rates will enable producers to plan longer runs, build deeper audience connections, and develop more ambitious seasons. Instead of short showcases, companies can invest in the kind of extended programming that builds sustainable producers and careers.

Theater Wit believes great art strengthens the entire community. Thanks to our foundation partners, we're investing in Chicago's creative future—one production at a time.

If you are looking to book space, please email us

Shared Spaces is sponsored in part by

A community center

The space is home not only to Theater Wit, but other resident companies, all bringing a remarkable history of vivid and exciting work to our stages. In addition, we rent out our space at competitive rates to visiting producing companies, guest artists, late and off-night productions, local businesses and community groups.

We also have a limited amount of complimentary space available to community organizers and groups

Performance Venues

We have three beautiful black box theatres seating up to 98 patrons each. Theatre One and Two are proscenium spaces, Theatre Three is a flexible performance space. Rentals include phone and online box office, lobby access and in building display.

Theater Wit is committed to providing space to arts and community organizations at low rates; we believe in our building as a hub of the community and welcome interested applicants to find out more. If you are looking to rent space from us, please contact us by email at rental@theaterwit.org with any questions you may have.