Out Here - Court Theatre

“Stellar…outstanding cast…a poignant and entertaining reminder that self-actualization lasts far longer than a single decision.” – Chicago Reader, Reader Recommended

Life happens outside of your comfort zone. Out Here is a courageous new musical, developed through a dynamic collaboration with the University of Chicago. Audiences will have the rare opportunity to be the first to experience this fresh and intimate look at a family reconfiguring itself and rediscovering joy.

Dawn has a house, a husband, and a family, but she wants more. She wants her ex-girlfriend, Robin. She wants nothing to change and she wants everything to change, and she wants to control all the terms. As she’s caught between what’s been and what’s next, Dawn must learn to reimagine her expectations, harmonize with loved ones, and trust the process. If she can do all that, she might just learn a new song. Strikingly original, Out Here explores the unexpected freedom in relinquishing control, and how, sometimes, you have to break something apart to create something better.

Led by acclaimed director Chay Yew, making his Court debut, Out Here arrives as a bold, innovative work that invites Chicago audiences to be among the very first to witness its evolution—bringing the 2025/26 season to a joyous conclusion.

Approximate running time: 100 minutes; presented without intermission.

DIGITAL PROGRAM

Accessible Performances:

Touch Tour: Saturday, May 2 at 12:30pm
Audio Description and ASL Interpretation: Saturday, May 2 at 2:00pm
Open Captioning: Sunday, May 3 at 2:00pm

Developed in partnership with

Supported by

The Charles Newell Production Fund

Gustavo Bamberger and Martha Van Haitsma

Photo of Cliff Chamberlain, Amanda Pulcini, Z Mowry, Ellie Duffey, Alex Goodrich, and Becca Ayers by Michael Brosilow.

Artistic Team

Concept, Book, Lyrics
— Leslie Buxbaum
Concept, Music, Lyrics, Orchestrations
— Erin McKeown
Concept, Dramaturgy
— David J. Levin
Director
— Chay Yew
Orchestrations, Music Supervision
— Christie Chiles Twillie
Movement Direction
— Breon Arzell
Co-Scenic Designer
— Andrew Boyce
Co-Scenic Designer
— Lauren M. Nichols
Costume Designer
— Christine Pascual
Lighting Designer
— Lee Fiskness
Sound Designer
— Mikhail Fiksel
Vocal and Dialect Consultant
— Sammi Grant
Casting Director
— Becca McCracken, CSA
Production Stage Manager
— Katrina Herrmann
Assistant Stage Manager
— Jaclynn Joslin
Associates: Celeste M. Cooper (Casting)

Cast

Dawn
— Becca Ayers
Brian
— Cliff Chamberlain
Cleo
— Ellie Duffey
Robin
— Bethany Thomas
Jett
— Z Mowry
Gina
— Amanda Pulcini
Martin
— Alex Goodrich
MUSICIANS:
Percussion
— Maddi Vogel
Cello
— Rachel Schuldt
Violin
— Daniela Bisenius
Guitar
— Percy Nesbary III
Understudies: Lexi Alioto, Michael McCracken, Avery Moss, Danielle Davis

Videos

Photos

First Rehearsal

Production Photos

Articles and Interviews

Singing the Praises of Out Here

"A truly unforgettable theatrical experience." The reviews for OUT HERE are here!

Learning Guide: Out Here

Check out these resources for academics, enthusiasts, and educators to support your learning and viewing of Out Here.

In Conversation: OUT HERE

As anticipation built for the debut of Out Here, three ensemble members—Becca Ayers (Dawn), Ellie Duffey (Cleo), and Cliff Chamberlain (Brian)—sat down to discuss their journey with the new musical.

An Abridged OUT HERE Dictionary

"In this brief essay, I want to introduce two terms —undo-sical and tripod—that emerged over the course of our work on Out Here, terms that I hope will help to explain how the piece works and how we worked on it."

Out Here Reading List

Dive into this reading list focused on themes in OUT HERE and the complementary public programs. Happy reading!

Discover Erin McKeown: Musical Innovator Behind OUT HERE

As Court Theatre opens its doors to a brand new musical on April 10, we are thrilled to introduce our audience to the exceptional composer behind the work: Erin McKeown.

A Laboratory for Musical Theatre

Developing a new musical requires substantial resources—time, space, funding and more. It’s a lot to ask for, and all the more so in a precarious arts landscape.

My Time in the Room: Out Here

Jo Selmeczy, a Theatre and Performance Studies major at the University of Chicago, offers a firsthand account of their experience working on Out Here. They give insight into what it means to be “in the room” during the development of a new musical and how that process deepened their sense of collaboration and creative agency.

Related Events

Out Here Public Programs
Complementing the new musical Out Here, we’re presenting a suite of public programs exploring the play, its themes, and its modern relevance. These programs will span the run of this production, providing ample opportunities for engagement.