
Black Ensemble Theater
4.9 (1,299)theater
An intimate 170-seat venue showcasing vibrant musical revues and productions rooted in African-American history.
People
Jackie TaylorOwner
Description




Founded by Jackie Taylor on N. Clark St. in Chicago, the Black Ensemble Theater features main stage shows, educational programs, and community initiatives aimed at dismantling bias and cultivating cross-cultural understanding. Inside the intimate 170-seat theater, audiences encounter vibrant musical revues and diverse productions rooted in African-American history and culture.
Selected reviews
Also featured in
Why a Low-Effort Chicago Week Runs on Family TheatreSeated stages · Youth productions · Single stops
A Chicago Weekend of Different RoomsCocktail rooms · Blues listening · Sweet mornings
A Chicago Weekend for Looking CloselyCivic interiors · Art pauses · River views
Chicago Library Turns Theater Themes Into a Reading ListBook Browsing · Second Floor · Quiet Workspaces
Uptown's Old Music Halls on FootA 1917 movie palace, a 1926 ballroom and a honky-tonk running since 1972
A Cold Chicago Day With Blues Rooms and Covered StagesHalsted · Lakeview · State Street
Chicago Holiday Lights Along State Street and the RiverState Street · Wacker Drive · Clark Street
Thanksgiving in Chicago With a Honky-Tonk and Soul StagesNorth Clark · South Michigan · Theater night
Vampire Theater Pairs Fast Banter With a Drinking PerformerInteractive comedy · Throne bidding · 4.9 rating
10 Chicago Christmas 2026 Ideas: Shows, Food & BarsThe Grinch · Improv comedy · Deep-dish pizza
Club Beats Meet Country Twang in UptownAges 21 plus · Patio breaks · Pub food