There is nothing better than going to see a Broadway show. The beautiful costumes, sets and performances can transport you to an entirely new world and allow you to see things from a new point of view. 

But a trip to the theater isn’t just a glamorous evening activity. Theater can shine a light on important social issues, inspire the next generation of creatives and most importantly create a deep sense of community. With recent restrictions placed on the arts, this community is now more important than ever.

  Beginning on May 3, the Trump Administration has begun to cancel grants from the National Endowment of the Arts, (NEA), according to an article from NPR news. Beginning in early May, hundreds of theater companies of all sizes across the United States received emails notifying them of the withdrawal and termination of their grants. Among those affected was the nonprofit Open Studio Project based in nearby Evanston.

As federal funding for the arts dries up, it is more important now than ever to support the arts at the local level. If theater companies begin to crumble under the pressure of the recent administration, not only will communities lose a valuable sense of camaraderie but also the knowledge that can be gained from accessible theater. 

Fortunately, the Oak Park and River Forest communities have many theaters that you can support. Local schools also put on multiple productions each year. The elementary schools regularly pack their auditoriums for the Infinity Arts Academy productions of musicals, and Gwendolyn Brooks and Percy Julian middle schools produce full seasons of shows every year through the BRAVO and CAST program. 

Oak Park and River Forest High School has an extensive arts calendar that gives students opportunities to be part of everything from splashy musicals to intimate black box shows directed by students. “Now that I’m in college, people are so shocked when I tell them that my high school did nine full shows a year,” said Lauren Rainey, a 2024 OPRF graduate and current freshman at University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

Like Rainey, I also benefited from my four years in the OPRF theater community. The program has given me not only a home but an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. Fostering this sense of community and creativity within a school is something that can completely transform the lives of students of all ages and absolutely should not be underestimated.

Community theater is thriving in our community too. Madison Street Theater at 1010 Madison St. hosts theater events throughout the year and serves as the home for resident company Ovation Academy for the Performing Arts. Ovation’s Encore productions are specifically for high school students. 

Comedy fans can check out two relatively new theaters, ComedyPlex at 1128 Lake St. and Babs Comedy Club at 7316 Madison St. in Forest Park. 

Yet another theater opportunity is the Oak Park Festival Theater. Each summer OPFT puts up several showcases including one Shakespeare production. This year OPFT will be producing Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” which will run from July 5 August 16. Having material as rich and profound as Shakespeare so easily accessible within our community helps to not only foster a sense of creativity but expose people to new ideas.

 “I think it’s a lot about exposing people to stories,” Rainey reflected. “I love the concept of Shakespeare in the park, because it takes this thing that people see as so high brow…and it puts it in a literal park. It’s making the most erudite thing so commonplace and that’s the entire point. Theater should be available like that.”

Rainey, who will perform in this summer’s production of “Twelfth Night,” said the play speaks to contemporary audiences.  “OPFT especially, they’re known for “queering” Shakespeare,” she said. “The artistic director, Peter Andersen has really brought this about brilliantly in the last couple years, with 2023’s production of Midsummer gender-swapping Lysander as a girl and Demetrius as a guy, switch(ing) Oberon and Titania’s roles…and he made Puck nonbinary (the actor, Will Wilhelm is nonbinary as well).” said Rainey. 

She added, “I think with things like this under attack from the government, it’s even more important to include them in spaces that those people see as “sacred” or “untouchable” because They’re not. They’re for everybody.” 

Providing spaces for everyone to feel safe, comfortable and educated has become harder and harder over the past several months. Local theater is one of these essential spaces. So I urge you, next time you find yourself at home on a Saturday night, go out and support one of our local Oak Park theaters. Its importance cannot be underestimated.