Now Playing

by Henrik Ibsen
a new version by Amy Herzog
directed by Ron OJ Parson

Chicago Premiere

May 6 – June 27, 2026

at TimeLine Theatre,
5035 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640

An award-winning new take on the historic masterwork about citizens standing up to power. 

When a respected doctor in small-town Norway makes a deadly discovery that threatens the health of the entire village, he raises the alarm. But as local leaders—including his own brother, the mayor—scramble to protect their own interests, the truth becomes inconvenient, and the doctor finds himself the target of the very community he’s trying to protect. Winner of the 2024 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Adaptation, this vibrant new version of Ibsen’s thunderous masterwork asks: what happens when doing the right thing means losing everything? 

Hailed by The New York Times as “crackling and persuasive … a bitter satire of local politics that soon reveals itself as a slow-boil tragedy of human complacency,” Amy Herzog’s new Tony Award-nominated version of An Enemy of the People is “brilliant” (The Daily Beast) and “a rousing adaptation of a story that carries a discomforting contemporary relevance” (The Guardian). 

An Enemy of the People had its premiere on Broadway at Circle in the Square Theatre in March 2024, in a star-studded and headline-grabbing production directed by Sam Gold and featuring Jeremy Strong (Succession) and Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos), among others. 

Approximately 2 hours, including one 15-minute intermission

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Cast

Production Team

Understudies

* Member of Actors Equity Association

# Member of United Scenic Artists

~ Member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

+ TimeLine Company Member

^ TimeLine Associate Artist

§ TimeLine Playwrights Collective

Features

  • Broadway World

    May 1, 2026

    “It’s a singular event. It will never happen again. We love history at TimeLine, and this is a moment in Chicago theatre history. It’s very special to be a part of.”

    —Angela Lin

    Read the full feature

Reviews

  • Chicago Tribune

    May 15, 2026

    ★★★★ (out of 4)

    “A masterful first play in TimeLine’s new home … you watching something that moves with Aaron Sorkin-like currency but is underpinned by the old-school honesty and vulnerability we associate with top-tier Chicago theater.z’

    “[This] fast-moving, high-stakes production emphasizes all of the qualities that have led this bold, 30-year-old company to this affirmative new home: Its stellar, ensemble-based, Chicago-style acting, its clarity of purpose, respect for an audience, unpretentiousness and deep commitment to truth.”

    —Chris Jones

  • Let's Play Theatrical Reviews

    May 15, 2026

    ★★★★ (out of 4) “Outstanding … this play highlights [Ron OJ] Parson’s strength as a director, with its smooth flow and captivating storytelling making it a must-see experience. … Noted for its streamlined modern script and masterful condensation of Ibsen’s drama into a “lean and mean” modernization, Herzog stays true to the original plot, while making a few subtle changes to better suit today’s audience.”

    “TimeLine Theatre has embarked on an exciting journey, and if the past is any indication, this marks merely the beginning of a remarkable era of exceptional theater in Uptown.”

    —Rick McCain

  • Around The Town Chicago

    May 15, 2026

    Sheer perfection…[featuring] a magnificent performance by Will Allan…When Doctor Stockmann takes the floor, he truly takes over the theater as well. Directed by Ron OJ Parson, on a set designed by John Culbert, in this glorious new venue, the audience becomes spellbound by the political atmosphere that almost feels as if this is current…there are some special effects that will stun you.

    —Alan Bresloff

  • The Fourth Walsh

    May 15, 2026

    Writing, directing, acting, AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE has it all! On an impressive set by Scenic Designer John Culbert, this theatrical experience is relevant and entertaining. I highly recommend getting a ticket to the inaugural production at Timeline’s new beautiful Uptown home.

    —KT Walsh

Discussions & Events

  • AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE: PRE-Show Discussion
    Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 6pm

    Join us for an informal sneak peek into this production with members of the production team.

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  • AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE: Post-Show Discussions
    Various Dates

    Join us for informal post-show discussions with members of the production team and cast.

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  • Open Captioned Performances of AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
    Friday, May 29 at 7:30 pm & Saturday, May 30 at 2pm

    Featuring a text display of words and sounds heard during the performance.

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  • AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE: Sunday Scholars
    Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 4pm

    This one-hour post-show panel discussion features experts on the themes of the play.

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  • AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE: Company Member Discussion
    Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 9pm

    Join us for an informal chat with TimeLine’s Company Members after today’s performance.

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  • Audio Described Performance of AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
    Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 2pm

    Featuring audio description of visuals during the performance via individual headset.

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