UPCOMING
Hygge Night
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stories at 8:00PM CT
Online from our home to yours
Back by popular demand, Hygge Night returns for an evening of warmth, wonder, and storytelling—all online. Slip into something cozy, grab a warm drink, and join us on Zoom for some family-friendly, heart-filled tales.
Production team:
Curated by Amanda Delheimer*
Directed by Grace Dolezal-Ng
Music by MG Green
Produced by Ali Drumm*
Featuring stories by:
Stephanie Chavara*, Erica Cruz-Hernandez, Jorge Silva
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
A note about ticket sales
2nd Story shows have three ticket levels in order to increase financial accessibility and transparency around what it actually costs to produce a 2nd Story show. All ticket tiers receive the same show experience.
$125 - This ticket level reflects Transparency. It covers the real cost of creating a 2nd Story experience.
$25 - This ticket level reflects Balance. Less than full cost, it helps us grow and share more stories.
$7 - This ticket level reflects Care. It’s here for ease–so everyone can be a part of the story without financial strain.
Stream Later
Stream later tickets sales now close 24 hours AFTER the event. Example: If a show begins at 6:00pm on Sunday, tickets will remain open until 6:00pm on Monday.
The stream later link is sent out via system email around 12:00pm CT on the day after ticket sales close.
Behind the Curtain
Sunday, January 25, 2025
Doors @ 5:30PM CT, Stories @ 6:00PM CT
Haymarket Pub & Brewery (737 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60661)
Production team:
Curated by Amanda Delheimer*
Directed by Reshmi Hazra Rustebakke*
Produced by Stephen Patrick Bell
Music by Jeff Schaller
Featuring stories by:
Julie Ganey*, Rukmini Girish, Ali Siddiqui
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
A note about ticket sales
In person shows have three ticket levels in order to increase financial accessibility and transparency around what it actually costs to produce a 2nd Story show. All ticket tiers receive the same show experience.
$125 - This ticket level reflects Transparency. It covers the real cost of creating a 2nd Story experience.
$25 - This ticket level reflects Balance. Less than full cost, it helps us grow and share more stories.
$7 - This ticket level reflects Care. It’s here for ease–so everyone can be a part of the story without financial strain.
Livestream
2nd Story streams all of its regular season shows on Zoom. The livestream is free, but you do need to register to receive the link. Registration is open until the livestream ends.
Stream Later
Stream later tickets sales now close 24 hours AFTER the event. Example: If a show begins at 6:00pm on Sunday, tickets will remain open until 6:00pm on Monday.
The stream later link is sent out via system email around 12:00pm CT on the day after ticket sales close.
Show 5
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Doors @ 5:30PM CT, Stories @ 6:00PM CT
Haymarket Pub & Brewery (737 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60661)
Production team:
Curated by Earliana “Earl” McLaurin*
Directed by Aliza Feder
Produced by Sheri Tarrer
Music by Jake Sorgen
Featuring stories by:
Layne Dixon, PJ Gray, LaTanya Lane*, Dr. S
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
A note about ticket sales
In person shows have three ticket levels in order to increase financial accessibility and transparency around what it actually costs to produce a 2nd Story show. All ticket tiers receive the same show experience.
$125 - This ticket level reflects Transparency. It covers the real cost of creating a 2nd Story experience.
$25 - This ticket level reflects Balance. Less than full cost, it helps us grow and share more stories.
$7 - This ticket level reflects Care. It’s here for ease–so everyone can be a part of the story without financial strain.
Livestream
2nd Story streams all of its regular season shows on Zoom. The livestream is free, but you do need to register to receive the link. Registration is open until the livestream ends.
Stream Later
Stream later tickets sales now close 24 hours AFTER the event. Example: If a show begins at 6:00pm on Sunday, tickets will remain open until 6:00pm on Monday.
The stream later link is sent out via system email around 12:00pm CT on the day after ticket sales close.
Story Circle
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 6:30PM- 8:30PM
2nd Story (3001 W Lawrence Ave)
When the world feels uncertain, one of the best things we can do is be in community together as we share and listen deeply to each other’s stories. Story circles are informal gatherings where we’ll use a series of exercises, prompts, and activities to spark story ideas and encourage sharing. You don’t need to bring anything prepared - just yourself, an open mind, and a willingness to listen and share as you feel moved. This is a great entry point if you’d like to get to know 2nd Story a little better!
These Story Circles will be in-person at 2nd Story.
Show 6
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Doors @ 5:30PM CT, Stories @ 6:00PM CT
Haymarket Oub & Brewery (737 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60661)
Production team:
Curated by CP Chang*
Directed by Brandi Jiminez Lee
Produced by Stacey Saunders
Music by Dionne Addai and Tracie Kunzika
Featuring stories by:
Kim L. Hunt, Aaron Talley, TL Sellers, Nicholas Ward*
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
A note about ticket sales
In person shows have three ticket levels in order to increase financial accessibility and transparency around what it actually costs to produce a 2nd Story show. All ticket tiers receive the same show experience.
$125 - This ticket level reflects Transparency. It covers the real cost of creating a 2nd Story experience.
$25 - This ticket level reflects Balance. Less than full cost, it helps us grow and share more stories.
$7 - This ticket level reflects Care. It’s here for ease–so everyone can be a part of the story without financial strain.
Livestream
2nd Story streams all of its regular season shows on Zoom. The livestream is free, but you do need to register to receive the link. Registration is open until the livestream ends.
Stream Later
Stream later tickets sales now close 24 hours AFTER the event. Example: If a show begins at 6:00pm on Sunday, tickets will remain open until 6:00pm on Monday.
The stream later link is sent out via system email around 12:00pm CT on the day after ticket sales close.
The Birthday Bash
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Great Central Brewing Company (221 N Wood St, Chicago IL, 60612)
This year’s annual fundraiser, 2nd Story’s Birthday Bash, celebrates The Shape of Courage—our season-long exploration of what it means to show up, speak truth, and hold one another through uncertain times. And there’s no better place for that story than Chicago: a city that meets every challenge with creativity, resilience, and heart.
Chicago’s artists, educators, and neighbors continue to remind us that courage takes many forms. It’s the act of listening with compassion, of telling one’s story aloud, of making space for others to be fully seen. Through that lens, the Birthday Bash is both a celebration and a call to action: an evening of connection, laughter, and powerful storytelling that fuels the programs keeping our city’s stories alive all year long.
Production team:
Curated by Amanda Delheimer*
Directed by Lexi Saunders
Produced by Ali Drumm*
Featuring stories by:
Khanisha Foster*, Matt Miller, Karla Estela Rivera*
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
A note about ticket sales
This fundraiser, just like all of our events this season, has three ticket levels in order to increase financial accessibility and transparency around what it actually costs to produce a 2nd Story event. All ticket tiers receive the same show experience.
$250 - This ticket level reflects Transparency. It covers the real cost of creating a 2nd Story experience.
$125 - This ticket level reflects Balance. Less than full cost, it helps us grow and share more stories.
$50 - This ticket level reflects Care. It’s here for ease–so everyone can be a part of the story without financial strain.
This party is in-person only, and livestream and stream later ticket options are not available.
Show 7
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Doors @ 5:30PM CT, Stories @ 6:00PM CT
Haymarket Pub & Brewery (737 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60661)
Production team:
Curated by LaTanya Lane*
Directed by Devin Christor
Produced by Kasey Trouba
Music by Jake Sorgen
Featuring stories by:
Jennifer Anglin, Sahar Mustafah, Gregory Pagán-Hill
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
A note about ticket sales
In person shows have three ticket levels in order to increase financial accessibility and transparency around what it actually costs to produce a 2nd Story show. All ticket tiers receive the same show experience.
$125 - This ticket level reflects Transparency. It covers the real cost of creating a 2nd Story experience.
$25 - This ticket level reflects Balance. Less than full cost, it helps us grow and share more stories.
$7 - This ticket level reflects Care. It’s here for ease–so everyone can be a part of the story without financial strain.
Livestream
2nd Story streams all of its regular season shows on Zoom. The livestream is free, but you do need to register to receive the link. Registration is open until the livestream ends.
Stream Later
Stream later tickets sales now close 24 hours AFTER the event. Example: If a show begins at 6:00pm on Sunday, tickets will remain open until 6:00pm on Monday.
The stream later link is sent out via system email around 12:00pm CT on the day after ticket sales close.
2nd Story’s Annual Queer Joy Show
Sunday, June 7, 2026
Doors @ 5:30PM CT, Stories @ 6:00PM CT
Haymarket Pub & Brewery (737 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60661)
Given the nature of 2nd Story's work and the diversity of artists we collaborate with, we have the unique opportunity to build community among and share the stories of marginalized groups by building teams for our shows that share a particular point of view. It is our honor to be a conduit for these collaborations. Created and produced entirely by a team of LGBTQIA+ artists, this show our annual celebration of unbridled queer joy.
A message from show curator Aimy Tien
“I am obsessed with celebrating and sharing queer joy. It's why this is an annual show. Queer people and queerness can be found everywhere and in everything, and yet giving life to our queer selves and finding (or building) a queer community can still be incredibly difficult. We’ve been curating queer and queer joy shows for years now because queer joy is important and essential to celebrate.”
Production team:
Curated by Aimy Tien*
Directed by RJ Silva
Produced by Grace Archer
Featuring stories by:
Byron Flitsch, Brandi Jiminez Lee, jessica young chang*
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
A note about ticket sales
In person shows have three ticket levels in order to increase financial accessibility and transparency around what it actually costs to produce a 2nd Story show. All ticket tiers receive the same show experience.
$125 - This ticket level reflects Transparency. It covers the real cost of creating a 2nd Story experience.
$25 - This ticket level reflects Balance. Less than full cost, it helps us grow and share more stories.
$7 - This ticket level reflects Care. It’s here for ease–so everyone can be a part of the story without financial strain.
Livestream
2nd Story streams all of its regular season shows on Zoom. The livestream is free, but you do need to register to receive the link. Registration is open until the livestream ends.
Stream Later
Stream later tickets sales now close 24 hours AFTER the event. Example: If a show begins at 6:00pm on Sunday, tickets will remain open until 6:00pm on Monday.
The stream later link is sent out via system email around 12:00pm CT on the day after ticket sales close.