porchlight logo photo
about porchlight
Mission and Vision
Leadership
Production History
Funders, Sponsors & Donors
Outreach
Awards

 

Our Mission

Porchlight is Chicago's Music Theatre.

By uniting the arts of music, drama, dance, and design we transform stories into thrilling, passionate and relevant events, which affect the lives of artists and audiences alike.

As professionals and leaders in this field, we nurture and develop new artists and works, expanding and redefining the music theatre genre while matching artistic vision with fiscal responsibility.

 

Mission and Vision

Porchlight Music Theatre is Chicago's music theatre leader, making a name for itself by producing award-winning musicals on intimate stages. The Chicago Tribune in assessing the musical theater scene in Chicago proclaimed that Porchlight "is rapidly becoming one of Chicago's marquee theaters."

Ragtime photoThe company has staged 36 shows including five world premieres and seven Chicago premieres. Since becoming an equity contract theater with its 10th anniversary 2004-2005 season, Porchlight has merited 24 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations. In its first year of equity eligibility, the critically acclaimed hit Sweeney Todd earned five Jeff Awards. PMT has also received 31 Jeff Citation (non-equity) nominations, 11 Jeff Citations and 28 After Dark Awards.

Founded in 1994 as Porchlight Theatre Ensemble by former artistic director Jill Moore, our humble beginnings included ambitious productions of Chekhov's Three Sisters and original musicals by Robert Hartmann and Scott Keys. Over the last decade, Porchlight has gone from performing at a mix of venues to a three year tenure at the Athenaeum to our present home at Theatre Building Chicago. These intimate spaces have allowed us to give audiences an up-close experience with the grandeur, excitement and emotion of the musical genre.

In 1996 we refined our mission statement to focus exclusively on music theatre. As our identity evolved, so did our name, and in 2000 we became Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago.

As our productions have grown, so has our reputation. Audiences have come to expect sophisticated, well-sung musical fare, replete with inventive direction and design. We always feature the best new talent in Chicago. Porchlight is recognized for nurturing new talent in a challenging yet supportive environment. Catch the stars of tomorrow on the Porchlight stage today.

Eventually we took our shows on the road. Porchlight shows have been featured additions to the season at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights and for many seasons at Chicago's Theatre on the Lake. The storied production of Ragtime this past season made Porchlight history with three month transfer and extension at the 461 seat Apollo Theater in Lincoln Park.

Our artists and board of directors are committed to developing the audiences and artists of the future. Our community outreach program targets youth from underserved populations hosting them at performances which for the majority is their first experience of live, professional theater.

Along the way we have picked up enthusiastic reviews from local and national arts critics, numerous awards, as well as corporate and foundation supporters, loyal subscribers and most importantly, a discerning audience.

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