Exclusive: First annual Chicago Theater Week coming in February

Deb Clapp

The League of Chicago Theatres is teaming with Choose Chicago, the city's new official tourism entity, to spearhead a first annual Chicago Theater Week in February 2013. Much like Chicago Restaurant Week, which will mark its sixth year in February, the nascent Theater Week promotion is aimed at driving traffic to theaters at a typically slower time of year.

The plan was briefly outlined for League members at the League's annual meeting on Monday evening, in remarks by Melissa Hayes Cherry, Choose Chicago's newly appointed vice president for cultural tourism and neighborhoods, and League executive director Deb Clapp.

"It's similar in shape and tone to Restaurant Week—everyone participating at a specific price point, or probably two price points, [though] we haven't set that yet," Clapp said in a follow-up interview this afternoon. Like Restaurant Week's discounted prix fixe menus, participating theaters will set aside blocks of tickets at those chosen price points for every performance during Theater Week.

Choose Chicago's role will involve promoting the event as an attraction for both Chicago area residents and regional visitors, Clapp says; she anticipates tie-ins with restaurants, hotels and other businesses. Clapp also foresees a kickoff party similar to Restaurant Week's First Bites Bash. "Not that we're going to do everything exactly like Restaurant Week, but it seems to be a great model that's working really well for them," she says. "I think this could be spectacular."