Frequently asked questions

You can reach the Box Office via phone at 312.595.5600 Tuesdays through Sundays from 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Central Time. The Box Office is always closed on Mondays as well as on New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. You can purchase tickets at any time on our website.

The Box Office for the Jentes Family Courtyard Theater and the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Upstairs Studio is located in the main lobby of the Courtyard Theater, to the right as you enter. The Box Office for The Yard is located in The Yard lobby, to the right as you enter.

The box office for the Courtyard and Upstairs Theaters is located in the main lobby of the Courtyard Theater, to the right as you enter. The box office for The Yard theater is located in the Yard lobby, to the right as you enter.

If you are a subscriber or booked your tickets far in advance, you will receive them a few weeks before the first performance for each production. If you buy tickets within a week of your performance, you will receive them right after completing your purchase. E-tickets go to the email address where you received your confirmation email.

Subscribers have the option of receiving their tickets by mail. Tickets are mailed in several batches throughout the year. All tickets for 2025 productions have been mailed out as of September 1st. Tickets for productions in 2026 will be mailed out at the beginning of the year. If your address has changed or you have not received your tickets, please contact the Box Office.

Our e-tickets are sent from [email protected] with the subject line “Your Chicago Shakespeare Theater E-Tickets.” If you are unable to find your digital tickets prior to the performance, please reach out to the Box Office and we can resend them to you. If you can’t find them once you arrive for your show, we would be happy to print them for you at will call.

If you are having trouble seeing the attachment, try looking at the very bottom of the email message or over to the right side. You can also check the header. There should be a “B” in a circle, click that “B” and see if “Attachments” or “Documents” opens on the right side of the screen. (“B” is for “Box Office”—many email platforms pull the first letter of the sender’s address here). If you’re still having trouble locating them, we would be happy to print them for you at will call.

You can either exchange your tickets for a future performance of the same production or convert the value to Account Credit to be used for future purchases. We ask that you notify us at least 24 hours before your scheduled performance. Any requests made within 24 hours will be at the discretion of the Box Office. Ticket fees are nonrefundable.

Ticketing service fees are applied to every order wherever it is placed—over the phone, on the website, or in-person at the Box Office. CST is committed to transparent All-In Pricing, so fees are always included in the price and there are no surprises at check-out.

We offer a variety of ways to receive discounted tickets. Learn more about discounts through subscriptions, discounts for groups, and our $30 under 30 program. We also partner with HotTix and TodayTix to offer discounted tickets closer to the start of performances for each production.

When you log in to your account on our website, you will see any credit you have on your “Account Information” page. When you purchase tickets, you will have the option to use your credit or gift certificate on the Payment screen, before inputting your credit card information. If you need any help, please contact the Box Office.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is located at 800 E. Grand Ave. on Navy Pier. View our Parking & Directions for detailed instructions.

We encourage patrons to arrive at the theater at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the show. Doors do open 1 hour prior to show time, so whether you are traveling by car, CTA, or rideshare, feel free to get here earlier so that you can take in the stunning views of the city from our lobbies and sip on a pre-show beverage.

When you arrive, you will be able to check in with our guest services team. They will inform you about the late seating process for that particular production. Late seating occurs at designated moments in the show and may be in alternate seats to minimize disruption to artists and audience members.

There is something for everyone at CST! We leave it up to the discretion of the parent or guardian to determine if the show is appropriate for the young people in their lives as there is no specific age requirement. However, we highly recommend reading our Audience Notices on each show page to give you better insight into the production’s content and staging.

Run times vary for each production and sometimes change during rehearsals! For the most up to date run time, visit the individual show pages on our website and be sure to check your reminder emails after you purchase a ticket.

All three of our theater spaces are accessible. If you have any questions regarding your seating prior to your performance, please reach out to our Box Office. We would be happy to help ensure that your seats will meet your needs and discuss any other questions you may have. Once you arrive at the theater, any member of our Box Office or Guest Services team will also be able to help. You can also visit chicagoshakes.com/accessibility to learn more about our accessibility programming and services.

We offer a complimentary coat check for each of our theaters. You are welcome to check coats, backpacks, suitcases, and other large items that do not fit under your seat.

You are allowed to bring your bag into the theater, so long as it fits under your seat or at your feet. Bags cannot be placed in aisles or obstruct walkways. You are also welcome to check your bag at our complimentary coat check.

Any snacks or drinks that you purchase from our concession stands can be brought into the theater. Outside food and drinks are not allowed into the theater. They can be stored at our complimentary coat check during the show.

Taking photos, videos, and audio recordings is not permitted during the performance. We ask you to please turn off or silence all phones and electronic devices during the show.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater does not have a specific dress code, so please wear what makes you most comfortable. Some patrons dress in business casual attire, some are more formal, and some wear jeans and a t-shirt—all are welcome here. You may want to consider bringing a sweater or jacket in case the theater gets cool.

If you are planning to dress up in costume for a specific show, please first review our costume/cosplay guidelines. 

We offer FM Assistive Technology and T-Coil enabled Listening devices for all our performance spaces. FM assistive listening devices can be used with your own headphones, or with headphones provided by the theater. T-Coil is compatible with certain hearing aids. Our assisted listening devices are available free of charge and can be checked out at the Box Office prior to the performance. If you find that you need one during the performance, please talk to a member of our guest services team. Please note, CST does not currently utilize a LOOP system for our assistive listening technology.