UPCOMING EVENTS
Join TSOC back at the Bramble Arts Loft for a queer cabaret extravaganza, this time on the Beatrice Thrust Stage!This campy parody of a noir mystery follows a cafe pianist in lieu of a detective. As this narrator plays his way through the show, he guides the audience through the tangled web of attraction, seduction, and general silliness that occurs when a bunch of attractive queer people end up in the same place. Dave Walther’s Off-Nights at the Sometimes Café is both a delightful, poignantly unserious celebration of queer joy and desire, and a heartwarming portrayal of how to find a chosen family— warts and all.
Running Time: 70 minutes, no intermission
Appropriate for audiences age 13 and up; pervasive suggestive innuendo but no explicit language
Performance dates:
Thursday March 19, 8:00pm
Friday March 20, 8:00pm
Saturday March 21, 2:00pm - cover performance
Saturday March 21, 8:00pm
Sunday March 22, 3:00pm
OFF-NIGHTS AT THE SOMETIMES CAFÉ
music & text by Dave Walther
Pianist & Narrator: Kingsley Day
Sarah: Katherine Petersen; Cece Glass (cover)
Bob: Brian Pember
Madame Nappu: Jade Dashá; Julie Soroko (cover)
Drew: Alexander Quackenbush
Drag Performers: Delta Badhand & Mx. O’Lydian (3/19, 3/21 @ 2pm, 3/22); Kimberly Summer & Wes Andy Sims (3/20, 3/21 @ 8pm)
Stage Director: Claire DiVizio
Choreographer: Jordan Ricks
For this production, there are two types of tickets: VIP cabaret table seating (limited number per performance) and pay-as-you-can General Admission. The Bramble is physically accessible, including an elevator and an ADA-certified bathroom. If you require specific physical accommodations (such as a companion seat directly next to a wheelchair user), please indicate that at the time of ticket purchase so that we can ensure that it's available for you.
All audiences are encouraged to come ready to tip the drag performers; in addition to collecting cash tips we will also have a virtual tip jar with a QR code.
PAST PRODUCTIONS
All performances at the Bramble Arts Loft, Berry Black Box theater
THE LAST WORD by Craig Carnahan & James Broughton; Oct. 2024
THE LAST WORD by Craig Carnahan & James Broughton; Oct. 2024
FOREVER by Elizabeth Gartman & Melisa Tien; Oct. 2024
GROUNDWATER by Flannery Cunningham; June 2025
GROUNDWATER by Flannery Cunningham; June 2025
GROUNDWATER by Flannery Cunningham; June 2025
FOREVER by Elizabeth Gartman & Melisa Tien; Oct. 2024
2023-2024 Season, performances at City Lit Theater & PrideArts Center
WE'VE GOT OUR EYE ON YOU, by Nkeiru Okoye & David Cote, performed Feb. 2024
WE'VE GOT OUR EYE ON YOU, by Nkeiru Okoye & David Cote, performed Feb. 2024
WE'VE GOT OUR EYE ON YOU, by Nkeiru Okoye & David Cote, performed Feb. 2024
WET DIRT (premiere) by Collin Kemeny & Andrea L. Hart, performed May 2024
WET DIRT (premiere) by Collin Kemeny & Andrea L. Hart, performed May 2024
IL NOSTRO POSTO NEL MONDO by Marco Emanuele & Marco Gnaccolini, performed May 2024
IL NOSTRO POSTO NEL MONDO by Marco Emanuele & Marco Gnaccolini, performed May 2024
2022-2023 Season at Otherworld & PrideArts
MICHIGAN TREES by Grey Grant; June 2023
MICHIGAN TREES by Grey Grant; June 2023
MICHIGAN TREES by Grey Grant; June 2023
REDENCIÒN by Johanny Navarro, libretto by Felix Gomez Aponte; presented in a double bill Nov. 2022
REDENCIÒN by Johanny Navarro, libretto by Felix Gomez Aponte; presented in a double bill Nov. 2022
THE BOY WHO WANTED TO BE A ROBOT by Pedro Finisterra, libretto by Edward Einhorn; presented in a double bill Nov. 2022
THE BOY WHO WANTED TO BE A ROBOT by Pedro Finisterra, libretto by Edward Einhorn; presented in a double bill Nov. 2022
2021-2022 Season at The Athenaeum Theater & PrideArts
DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH by J. Young & Alan Olejniczak; Sept. 2021
DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH by J. Young & Alan Olejniczak; Sept. 2021
DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH by J. Young & Alan Olejniczak; Sept. 2021
THE KAMIKAZE MIND by N. Murphy & R. Allen; presented in a double bill July 2022
THE KAMIKAZE MIND by N. Murphy & R. Allen; presented in a double bill July 2022
WOULD YOU EAT ME? by J. Brown; presented in a double bill July 2022
WOULD YOU EAT ME? by J. Brown; presented in a double bill July 2022
2020-2021 Season - two entirely remote productions and one filmed opera!
LINGERING ECHOES by N. Phungula; all-remote Fall Commissioning Project, Dec. 2020
MAMIE'S SONG by D. Taylor; all-remote Fall Commissioning Project, Dec. 2020
SO LONG by Y. Perinpanaygam; all-remote Fall Commissioning Project, Dec. 2020
THESE WINGS ARE MEANT TO FLY by S. Serpa & Z. Kline - ALL-REMOTE PRODUCTION, Feb. 2021
THESE WINGS ARE MEANT TO FLY by S. Serpa & Z. Kline - ALL-REMOTE PRODUCTION, Feb. 2021
GHOST VARIATIONS by T. Manfredonia & A. Feltkamp - filmed production, May 2021
GHOST VARIATIONS by T. Manfredonia & A. Feltkamp - filmed production, May 2021
2019-2020 Season, at the Athenaeum and the INTUIT Center
I WILL FLY LIKE A BIRD by J. Plant & A.J. Wainwright, Sept. 2019
I WILL FLY LIKE A BIRD by J. Plant & A.J. Wainwright, Sept. 2019
I WILL FLY LIKE A BIRD by J. Plant & A.J. Wainwright, Sept. 2019
APART/MENT by R. Driscoll, Dec. 2019.
APART/MENT by R. Driscoll, Dec. 2019.
TRIFLES by J. Bilotta & J. McGrew (adapted from S. Glaspell); CANCELLED due to Covid-19
SOJOURNER by S. Friedman & S. Truth; CANCELLED due to Covid-19
2018-2019 Season, at PrideArts, Atlas Arts, and The Athenaeum
WHEN ADONIS CALLS by C. Borzoni, J. de los Santos, & G. Dillard; Dec. 2018
WHEN ADONIS CALLS by C. Borzoni, J. de los Santos, & G. Dillard; Dec. 2018
WHEN ADONIS CALLS by C. Borzoni, J. de los Santos, & G. Dillard; Dec. 2018
AGONY by C. Murphy; presented as part of a larger event in Feb. 2019
...FOR THE SAKE OF A NARRATIVE CLOSURE by S. Ellis Hussey; presented as part of a larger event in Feb. 2019
THE HAT by K. Siegel & Z. Ardò; presented in a double bill Apr. 2019
THE MAN WHO WOKE UP by R. Haigh; presented in a double bill Apr. 2019
2017-2018 Season, at the Preston Bradley Center, Adler University, and the Greenhouse Theater Center
COSMIC RAY & THE AMAZING CHRIS by E. Lindsay & T. Truels; Sept. 2017
COSMIC RAY & THE AMAZING CHRIS by E. Lindsay & T. Truels; Sept. 2017
COSMIC RAY & THE AMAZING CHRIS by E. Lindsay & T. Truels; Sept. 2017
UNCLE ALEX by J. Bornfield & C. Vincent; presented as part of a larger event, Jan. 2018
UNCLE ALEX by J. Bornfield & C. Vincent; presented as part of a larger event, Jan. 2018
DUST OF THE ROAD by M. Maroney; presented in a double bill, April 2018
BOBOK by A. Komanetsky; presented in a double bill, April 2018
2016-2017 Season, at Stage 773 (co-produced with the Inoffensive Theater Series) and the Raven Theater
THE ROOTABAGA STORIES by Y. Freckmann, presented in a double bill Aug-Oct 2016
THE MOUSEDEER AND THE CROCODILE by H. Chin, presented in a double bill Aug-Oct 2016
THE MOUSEDEER AND THE CROCODILE by H. Chin, presented in a double bill Aug-Oct 2016
THE FINAL BATTLE FOR LOVE by P. Thompson, Jan. 2017
THE FINAL BATTLE FOR LOVE by P. Thompson, Jan. 2017
THE FINAL BATTLE FOR LOVE by P. Thompson, Jan. 2017
THE FINAL BATTLE FOR LOVE by P. Thompson, Jan. 2017
We've Got Our Eye On You
WE'VE GOT OUR EYE ON YOU
music by Nkeiru Okoye
libretto by David Cote
February 16-18 & 23-25, 2024
We are excited to bring you a Chicago premiere by award-winning composer Nkeiru Okoye and librettist David Cote: a one-hour comedy about seduction, just in time for Valentine’s Day! We’ve Got Our Eye on You follows the mythological Grae sisters on a series of encounters with the “hero” Perseus, whose charms are numerous (and abilities to control his impulses are few). Bring a date to this sexy, side-splitting romp at City Lit Theater!
TSOC presents: MICHIGAN TREES
MICHIGAN TREES: a guide to the trees of Michigan and the Great Lakes Region
an opera by Grey Grant
This Pride Month, join Thompson Street Opera Company for an exploration of trans identity through music and theatre. This 80-minute folk opera follows a transfemme person on a journey to self-actualization. The action centers on Orna, who in the opening scene is split into two beings-- one who represents how she feels the world sees her, and one who embodies how she sees herself. She embarks on a trek through rural Michigan in an attempt to become fully herself and along the way has formative encounters with both the plant life around her and a figure called The Mother of Trees, who acts as a guide to both the outside world and the universe inside Orna herself.
At a time of unprecedented open hostility towards trans people in America, we are honored to close our season with this story featuring a transfemme performer, written by a transfemme composer, about the complex inner life of a trans person who dares to live unconfined by the binary expectations of the world around her.
ARTISTIC TEAM
Orna, as she feels she is seen: Elektra Voyante (they/them)*
Orna, as she sees herself: Ariadne Lih (she/her)*
Mother of Trees Trio: Parker Carls* (she/her), Paige Dirkes-Jacks (she/they), Brian Pember (they/them)
Director: Claire DiVizio (they/them)
Conductor: Eli Chen* (he/him)
Pianist-Coaches: Cody Michael Bradley (he/him), Leo Radosavljevic* (he/him)
*indicates TSOC debut
THE KAMIKAZE MIND//WOULD YOU EAT ME?
This double bill of new works explores nothing less than the meaning of life….and what to do when your snack talks back.
THE KAMIKAZE MIND//WOULD YOU EAT ME?
This double bill of new works explores nothing less than the meaning of life….and what to do when your snack talks back.
THE KAMIKAZE MIND//WOULD YOU EAT ME?
This double bill of new works explores nothing less than the meaning of life….and what to do when your snack talks back.
THE KAMIKAZE MIND//WOULD YOU EAT ME?
This double bill of new works explores nothing less than the meaning of life….and what to do when your snack talks back.
DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH
This operatic adaptation of Tolstoy’s novella cuts right to the heart of the human dilemma:
If death is a certainty, how do we want to live our life today?
DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH
This operatic adaptation of Tolstoy’s novella cuts right to the heart of the human dilemma:
If death is a certainty, how do we want to live our life today?
DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH
This operatic adaptation of Tolstoy’s novella cuts right to the heart of the human dilemma:
If death is a certainty, how do we want to live our life today?
DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH
This operatic adaptation of Tolstoy’s novella cuts right to the heart of the human dilemma:
If death is a certainty, how do we want to live our life today?