Belmont Theater District Placed on National Stage, Preps Unveiling

Organizers behind the new Belmont Theater District were literally put on a stage recently to share how they’re making plans for an “off-Broadway” entertainment scene in Lake View a reality.

Representatives with the American Planning Association flocked to Stage 773 at 1225 W. Belmont Ave. to learn how they can help replicate the new theater initiative in other communities across the country.

Spearheaded by two executive directors of Lake View business organizations, the newly formed Belmont Theater District is preparing to shed some light on the neighborhood’s bustling live theater scene. The district comprises about 25 theaters around Belmont Avenue between Broadway and Southport avenues practicing traditional stage productions, sketch comedy, dance, improv and more.

“It’s amazing. We were telling the (APA) how many local people have never been to their local theater, even for major productions like the Blue Man Group at the Briar Street Theatre,” said Maureen Martino, executive director of the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.

“We assume everyone must have seen it already,” she continued. “It’s all about how off-the-loop theater compares to what we already have here. Sometimes the Broadway plays are fun and it serves its market, but some of the interesting things you see are in the enclaves.”

"This is going to identify us, like off-Broadway in New York, as smaller and less expensive venues to find entertainment."

Lakeview Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heather Way and Stage 773 Board President Laura Michaud joined Martino on stage in front of the APA, talking about the new Belmont Theater District. It’s a project they’ve been planning for more than a year, and now, it’s finally coming to fruition.

“We had the idea for the initiative about a year ago, and I contacted the two chambers, got their buy-in, and they loved the idea,” Michaud said. “… It’s just really exciting for us, and I think this is going to put off-loop theater on the map. This is going to identify us, like off-Broadway in New York, as smaller and less expensive venues to find entertainment.”

And the plan is something Chicago officials are buying into.

Martino and Way started working together after the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs began working on the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan. After holding workshops and engaging the Chicago community, the Cultural Affairs department said they were interested in focusing on the veins of the city, or in other words, neighborhoods like Lake View.

Now it’s something the nation is recognizing as a movement in the right direction. APA officials had all eyes on Martino, Way and Michaud in hopes of learning how to make the new Belmont Theater District a reality in other cities across the nation.

“They were very interested in what we’re doing here,” said Katrina Balong, planning director for the Rogers park Business Alliance and member of the APA’s mobile workshop committee. “A lot of planners work for other municipalities, so how we do a lot of our neighborhood planning is very different here.”

The district is now working on launching the marketing campaign and setting milestone events to kick off the new initiative. 

Follow Us on Facebook!