Theater/Dance

The Shakespeare Project of Chicago offers Shakespeare performances such as 50 Minute Macbeth and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest throughout the year, bringing high-quality drama to the public for free.

The Free Street Theater group puts on productions in various inner-city communities throughout Chicago. Shows range from political satire to performance puppetry and admission is by donation.

Chicago's annual summer dance festival is held for 11 weeks each year. Get a free one-hour dance lesson and follow that by indulging in two hours of live music and dancing. The dance extravaganza—which includes jazz, Latin, funk, and ballroom—is held Thursday through Sunday in the Spirit of Music Garden at Grant Park.