Theatre Y's Friday Night Swerve is at
The Lawndale Pop Up Spot 3 times this AUGUST, 2025!
We're very excited to announce the collaboration of Theatre Y & @lawndalepopupspot to bring 3 of our Friday Night Swerves outdoors!
As you know, every Friday, Theatre Y offers up unique, free curations for the community and 3 times in August we'll be taking over
The Lawndale Pop up - 3601 W. Douglas Boulevard
Here's a breakdown of our programming for the month:
1st Friday - (8/1) The Lawndale Pop Up Spot @ 6pm:
Talent Takes The Prize. A talent show hosted by @thelawofhuey & @mudliferoc where the winner gets $100 to take home!
All talents welcome.
2nd Friday - (8/8) The Lawndale Pop Up Spot @ 6pm:
Performer Sandbox. A variety show curated by @chicagojazztheatre & @darienseausa
Ben Zucker
Ben Zucker uses music to speculate on the systems and shapes of change, which has lead to a wide-ranging career as a composer, multi-instrumentalist improviser, producer, and cultural worker, with contributions to experimental scenes across North America and Europe. Acclaimed as a "master of improvisation" (IMPOSE Magazine), and “more than a little bit remarkable” (Free Jazz Blog), their work includes “stirring compositions…built on a lifetime of musical curiosity” (Chicago Reader), performed by artists including Third Coast Percussion, Ensemble Dal Niente, David Moliner, Khorikos, the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Distractfold Ensemble, and Musica Nucleo Nova. As a performer, he utilizes vibraphone, brass, keys, voice, and electronics across styles including with musicians such as Anthony Braxton, Gareth Davis, the Vocal Constructivists, Karen Borca, Rinde Eckert, and Beth Orton, and makes frequent local appearances as an ensemble contributor and bandleader of experimental jazz quartet Fifth Season and creative music collective Mad Myth Science, the latter called “the next generation of Chicago jazz” by the Quietus. Following PhD studies at Northwestern University, they continue to live in Chicago, working as a freelance musician, lecturer, President of New Music Chicago, and curator for Elastic Arts’ Improvised Music Series.
Aquil
AQ, aka ColdPop, immerses listeners and audiences in layers of rap storytelling, live beats, and electronic improvisation. AQ also writes and performs with the band Animate Objects and is one-half of the duo Don't Panic! with DJ and producer, Uncle El. Find AQ's music at https://aq-il.bandcamp.com
Lizzy May
Lizzy May (she/they) is a devising theater artist and educator creating plays, prose, and pedagogy rooted in queer liberation, embodied ritual, and unhinged imagination. She loves dragons and talking about time and can be found on dance floors across the city.
3rd Friday - (8/15) THEATRE Y @ 7pm
How Much 4 Therapy with @@thelawofhuey
4th Friday - (8/22) The Lawndale Pop Up Spot @ 6pm
The Soul Salad. A live music/DJ event curated by @marvintate1959
A SPECIAL 5th Friday - (8/29) THEATRE Y @ 7pm
Fake Plastic Trees Live on Aug 29th!
Playing the music of Radiohead and other surprises.
Fake Plastic trees
FREE Entry - Donations Welcome!
BYOB and a lite bite!
Seating is First Come
We'd love to see you there!
EVERY FRIDAY!
FRIDAY NIGHT SWERVE
Theatre Y introduced the
Monday Night Buzz in 2023...in 2024 it became the Friday Night Swerve!
Make Theatre Y Your Living Room again this year, every Friday
3611 W. Cermak
7pm-10pm
Admission: Free
BYOB - we’ll serve a lite bite!
Prince Roc
1st FRIDAYS -
TALENT TAKES THE PRIZE
A night of comedy, music, and community hosted by Prince Roc and the Law of HUEY where the best performer takes home $100!
2nd FRIDAYS -
PERFORMER SANDBOX
Calling all artists: theater, dance, movement, performance art! Come be a part of an experiment together - try your works in progress with Makoto Yamaguchi and other artists in search of new artistic conversations. Similar to last year’s Exhibition, but MORE! (Also filmed at Theatre Y).
3rd FRIDAYS - HOW MUCH 4 THERAPY?
Using music as a tool for self-reflection and emotional growth, Chicago rapper The Law of HUEY guides participants through personal and social challenges. Law's curriculum fosters a supportive environment for self-expression, helping participants process emotions and consider positive paths forward.
4th FRIDAYS - THE SOUL SALAD
Hosted by Poet/Vocalist Marvin Tate, ‘Soul-Salad ‘is a musical offering of national and local acts, from free-jazz, blues, and classical to merengue, and performance art. Tate’s vision is to cross-pollinate the arts and make his old neighborhood a hotspot for locals and out of towners.
Make Theatre Y your Living Room on FRIDAYS!
Formerly known as the Monday Night Buzz!!!
