See what's on tap for Happy Hour in March

Join us for a theatre happy hour where short plays by local and national playwrights are what’s on tap! On Tuesday, March 18, Ghostlight presents a staged reading of eight plays with one thing in common — they’re all set in bars.

Happy Hour: A Staged Reading of Short Plays Set in Bars will take place, naturally, in a bar. My Buddy’s is opening up on a Tuesday just for us. The show starts at 7 p.m.

The eight stories include tales of new loves, old loves, connections new and old, grief, joy and craft beer.

Selected scripts include:

• The Last Pub in Burtonsville, NY by DC Cathro. Late Christmas Eve at a shut-down bar, two people come to say goodbye to the business in very different ways. An unconventional Christmas tale. Directed by Alexis Vaselopulos.

• PS I Love You, Gerard Butler by Scott Carter Cooper. A funny story of grief and the impact Hollywood has on the process. Directed by Zoe Sjogerman.

• Mind the Gap by Rishi Chowdhary. A group of people find commonalities as they mind the generational gap at a bar one evening.  Directed by Maria Burnham.

• Swiping Right by Bruce Karp. Two friends, a gay man and a straight woman, feeling old and invisible, lament their frustrated love lives in a gay bar...on Wet Underwear Night. Directed by Justin Broom.

• The Grape Nerds Reunion by Alli Hartley-Kong. Mike and Alyssa are connected by a past he can’t remember. When they meet at a high school reunion, Alyssa confides in Mike her mental health history — and he realizes the impact an encounter from a decade ago could have. Directed by Khnemu Menu-Ra.

• LOL by Annie Hogan. Gus and Eleanor have a budding online relationship and have decided to take the leap to an in-person meeting.  Gus, afraid of disappointing Eleanor, brings Aiden, a digital communication liaison, to their date.  The couple explores what it means to connect in person versus online. Directed by Sean Harklerode.

• Jury Selection by Karissa Murrell Myers. Jesse is in Florida, defending one of the most hated men in America. When his ex, Raina, surprises him with a job offer in Chicago, will he take it? Based on the real-life events surrounding the trial of Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz. Directed by Kaeli Meno.

• Beer Culture by James Nelson. Two craft beer connoisseurs have their evening ruined by a guy with terrible taste. Directed by John Gleason Teske.

Kick off August and our 8th Season with Karaoke (and us!)

We’re looking forward to serenading you with the sweet sounds of our karaoke powerhouse ballads at the Season 8 Kickoff on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at My Buddy’s. Tickets are pay-what-you-will, but the first 25 people to reserve tickets at the $10 or more level will G.E.T. a special Ghostlight Ensemble swag bag. (They’re going fast, though!)

We will be celebrating the start of our Eighth Season and long-awaited return to mainstage productions, starting with Alabama Story in September, as well as singing our hearts out for one and all. Actually, we’d prefer it if you sang. We might cause noise complaints from the neighbors.

Learn all about our new season, which includes new partnerships with other Chicago institutions, as well as rocking out to some karaoke courtesy of Championship Karaoke. We’ll have snacks and an open bar from 3-4 p.m., as well.

We’re also raising funds for our Season 8 programming, so we’ll be raffling off lots of great items from Chicago businesses.

The event takes place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 10, at My Buddy’s, 4416 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640.

Can’t come, but still want to support Ghostlight, financially? Donate here.

Joins us in August as we Kickoff G.E.T.’s 8th Season

Ghostlight Ensemble invites you to join us for an afternoon of songs, drinks and general merriment at My Buddy’s to kick off our Eighth Season and long-awaited return to mainstage productions and a full season, post-COVID 19 pandemic!

We can’t wait to re-introduce ourselves to you and for you to meet our new artistic management team. At the event you’ll also learn all about our new season, which includes new partnerships with other Chicago institutions and maybe you’ll even see an excerpt from one of the new plays we’ll be bringing you this season.

There will be karaoke. There will be snacks. There will an open bar from 3-4 p.m. And most of all, there will be fun.

We’re also raising funds for our Season 8 programming, so we kindly ask for a donation of $10 (or more!) in advance via Eventbrite or $15 at the door (cash, credit or PayPal). First 25 folks to donate $10 or more will G.E.T. a special Ghostlight Ensemble swag bag!

The Season 8 Kickoff takes place at My Buddy’s (4416 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640) from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2024.

Let's G.E.T. Crafty! with a Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre craft beer fundraiser

Let's G.E.T. Crafty! is a Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre craft beer fundraiser at My Buddy's. Join us on Wednesday, March 7 at 7 p.m. to sample five craft beers, then have a pint of your favorite -- all for just $10. The money goes to Ghostlight, the beer goes to your belly!

Featuring the following brews:

• Metropolitan Brewing- Krankshaft Kolsch

• Temperance Brewery- Gatecrasher IPA

• Ravinia Brewing- Four Shore Witbier

• Founder's Brewing- Rubaeus (gluten free)

• Wiseacre Brewing- Gotta Get Up To Get Down Milk Stout

You can RSVP to My Buddy's via their Facebook page here to reserve your spot, or try your luck at the door. Either way, please mention Ghostlight Ensemble when you do!

Tipsy Time: The Holidays are here!

Tickets are on sale for our late night Holiday Cabernet set for Friday, December 14 at My Buddy's.

Enjoy an evening of holiday classics (or not-so-classics) by favorite G.E.T. (that's Ghostlight Ensemble Theatre) performers, emerging artists and surprise guests in a cabaret-style setting hosted by everyone's favorite foul-mouthed Ghost of Christmas Spirits Past, Present and Future, Miz Caitlin Jackson.

The evening includes a wide variety of acts ranging from musical to clown to more traditional theater. And it wouldn't be the Holiday Cabernet without a good dose of holiday cheer in a glass. So get into the holiday spirits and join us for a late night of song, theatre, good cheer and revelry.

G.E.T. yule holiday fun on!

Up Next: Oh My Godddddd!!: A Troll 2 Live Reading

Ghostlight Ensemble presents the next installment of its ongoing live movie reading series: Oh My Godddddd!!: A Troll 2 Live Reading.

Join us at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at My Buddy's (4416 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640) to kick your season of Halloween celebrations off to a frightful start — not because the movie is scary, just scary bad.

Troll 2 is a 1990 horror film that has nothing to do with trolls or the movie to which its title claims to be a sequel. The plot concerns a family pursued by vegetarian goblins who seek to transform them into plants so that they can eat them. It is widely considered to be the worst film ever made.

The reading is directed by Christopher Paul Mueller.

There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door, which will help Ghostlight fund its upcoming season. Costumes are encouraged.