Rising Stars Theatre

The Rising Stars Theatre Company is a community of actors, singers, dancers, and make-it-happeners of all ages and ability levels. We are a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, and our goal is to create a welcoming place for people to get their theatre groove on. We are friends and family who enjoy creating quality performances at reasonable prices for the theatre lovers of Chicagoland.

Our History

The Rising Stars Theatre Company was founded by the late Ann Dunn in 1979 as an Explorer post, a co-educational division of the Boy Scouts of America. It encompassed the ages of 14-21 and its special interest was musical theatre. It began as an ensemble of students who had been in Ann's chorus at Portage Park School. The students wanted to continue performing after graduation, hence the formation of the Explorer post. As the years progressed, the Company branched out to include more and more high school and later college-age students. The major emphasis of the group was performances at hospitals, nursing homes, churches, and civic organizations looking for entertainment. Some of the young people who performed with the Company went on to professional careers in the arts. Some performers also remained active in the Company after reaching adulthood, serving in advisory capacities as well as performing with the younger members. One year, the Company performed over 50 traveling shows!

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide a platform for actors, singers, dancers, and make-it-happeners of all ages and ability levels to come together and create quality performances at reasonable prices for the theatre lovers of Chicagoland. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where people can express themselves and pursue their passion for the arts.

Our Services

We offer a range of services, including productions of classic and modern musicals, as well as educational programs and workshops. Our productions are designed to be entertaining and engaging, with a focus on showcasing the talents of our performers. We also offer costume, prop, and set rentals for other theatre companies and organizations.

Support Us

We rely on the support of our community to continue providing quality performances and programs. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and your donation is tax-deductible. Your support will allow us to continue to reach for the stars and provide a performance outlet for actors of all ages.