Today, TimeLine celebrates its 28th birthday! On April 9, 1997, six graduates of The Theatre School at DePaul University met and began the conversation to start a theater company that would focus on plays inspired by history that resonate with contemporary issues. They settled on the name TimeLine Theatre, and each threw $50 in a hat to start their new company. Now 28 years later, what better occasion to share exciting progress to date on construction of TimeLine’s new home in Uptown?
For the past four weeks, pre-cast concrete panels that form walls, floors, and other framing have been transported from Wisconsin and installed on-site, marking a significant construction milestone. Now that the building’s framing is nearly erected, TimeLine will be proceeding to the next phases of construction.
Anticipated to open in spring 2026, our new home will feature an intimate and flexible 250-seat black box theater; exhibit galleries; dedicated space for TimeLine’s Living History high school student audiences, education programming, and community gathering; a bar and café open day and night; a spacious and visible rehearsal room that invites a view of the art as it’s being made; office and production space for TimeLine’s growing staff; plus opportunities for future expansion. We can’t wait to welcome you into the home that TimeLine’s founders could only dream of 28 years ago today.
Check out this timelapse video of the pre-cast panels being installed:
We are very grateful to our incredible design and construction team, including HGA, Schuler Shook, Threshold Acoustics, Bulley & Andrews, and Cullen Construction Management.
We’re also immensely grateful to all the generous supporters who have made this project possible. Since launching our capital campaign, “IT’S TIME: The Campaign for TimeLine’s New Home,” TimeLine has successfully raised more than $41 million toward the approximately $46 million project cost, including $12.9 million in public support ($2.9 million from the State of Illinois, $10 million from the City of Chicago), and funds from more than 200 individual donors. If you’d like to learn more about how you can support TimeLine’s new home project, please reach out to Rosie Schultz, Director of Donor Engagement, at rosie@timelinetheatre.com or (773) 281-8463 x126.
Visit our It’s Time page for further details, including design renderings.