Big White Fog

Theodore Ward’s Big White Fog is the big shoulders on which A Raisin in the Sun stands. First completed in 1938, funded by the Federal Theatre Project, and influenced by the South Side Writers Group that cultivated such iconic talents as Richard Wright and Margaret Walker, Big White Fog drove American realism forward by contending with discontent. 

The United States is on the cusp of the Great Depression and like many, the Mason family is struggling. Between the precarious economy and racial violence on Chicago’s segregated South Side, something’s got to give. As different generations strive to secure the Mason family’s future, catastrophic decisions are made, leading to a heartbreaking twist and a blistering condemnation of America’s Big White Fog. 

Resident Artist and the nation’s preeminent director of August Wilson Ron OJ Parson (East Texas Hot Links) opens the 2025/26 season with this rich portrayal of Black life on Chicago’s South Side.

Accessible Performances:

• Touch Tour: Saturday, October 4 at 12:30pm
• Audio Description and ASL Interpretation: Saturday, October 4 at 2:00pm
• Open Captioning: Sunday, October 5 at 2:00pm

Subscriptions to the 2025/26 season are available now. Ticket packages start at just $39 per ticket–enjoy maximum savings and convenience. Individual tickets go on sale August 1, 2025.

Photo of Sharriese Hamilton, Patrick Newson Jr., Greta Oglesby, Alanna Lovely, Amir Abdullah, Joshua L. Green, and Ayanna Bria Bakari by Michael Brosilow.

Sponsored by

Ron OJ Parson’s residency is made possible by