OUR MISSION

Madison Street Theatre is a performing arts center that produces, supports, and hosts exceptional arts programming by maintaining a quality and affordable space to create, teach, collaborate, and perform.

Celebrating Performance Arts in Oak Park

Oak Park River Forest Civic Theatre, Inc. was organized without a stage in 1961, and 23 years later, it was able to open a new performance arts venue to the community after renovating the 1920s-era tile warehouse at 1010 Madison Street, Oak Park

Now, 40 years later, the same organization has a new name but the same home: Madison Street Theater

Join us in our Home Theater to Learn Why there is No Place like MST

OUR VISION

WE STRIVE TO:

Inspire Creativity

Nurture Diversity

Promote Equity

Encourage Inclusivity

Enlighten our Community

WE BELIEVE:

In the importance of producing exceptional programming that celebrates all types of arts: including theater, music, dance, and spoken word.

In supporting and featuring artists of all types: renowned performers, local talent, performing arts students, and up-and-coming artists.

In the power of collaborating with producers, renters, and performers and offering quality, affordable space for fine arts education and community gatherings.

In the strength of partnering with other NFP organizations that support the performing arts.

In celebrating the uniqueness of every person who comes through the doors of our theater.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION:

Madison Street Theater is committed to building a creative and diverse space to create art that celebrates the uniqueness of every person who through the doors of our theater – patrons, artists, employees, volunteers, and vendors. We will work to ensure everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, or ability.

To achieve this goal, Madison Street Theater will focus its attention on the following priorities over the next 24 months:

Focus on anti-racism in our organization to include, but not limited to, the development of a board-led committee and annual training on this specific topic,
Ensure productions, educational programs, and digital content consider diverse voices in content, partnerships, staff, cast, artists, and renters,
Engage audience and community through deliberately focused events and partnerships,
Provide pricing structures to make theater accessible to all people at any income level

HISTORY OF MADISON STREET THEATER:

Designed by local architect Errol Kirsch in the early 1980s, the former 1920s-era tile warehouse and storefront was fully repurposed by mostly volunteer labor into an intimate, state-of-the-art performing arts space.

Today, the building is still owned by the same not-for-profit, Oak Park River Forest Civic Theater, founded in 1961. Over the past 25 years, the space has been home to such groups as The Village Players, Circle Theatre and Saltbox Theatre Company. Since 2017, due to leadership turnover and a lack of consistent fundraising, this community treasure had fallen into a state of disrepair. In June of 2019, a new Board of Directors stepped in and, with the assistance of Forest Park Bank, refinanced the property and set about creating a new vision for this wonderful space.

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