Theatre & Performing Arts
Award-Winning Stage Play “Beyond the Door” Returns Home to Chicago’s West Side August 22, 2026
Following sold-out performances and three 2024 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, including Best Play, Beyond the Door returns for a special engagement August 21–22, 2026, at New Life Covenant Church, 3400 W. Division St., in the heart of the West Side community where the story takes place.
Directed and newly adapted by Julisa Marcel, with Tony-nominated actress Felicia P. Fields serving as artistic consultant, the play is produced by Chicago author Denise Jones and is based on her memoir, Who Said It Couldn’t Be Done?: A Diamond From the Rough. Similar to the book, the play chronicles Jones’ journey through addiction, incarceration, and trauma to faith, family restoration, and redemption.
“Our goal is to bring hope to people who may feel there is no way out,” shared Jones. “This story reminds audiences that no matter how difficult the journey has been, transformation is possible.”
For Jones, bringing the production to the West Side is intentional. The story unfolds in the same neighborhoods where she lived it, and the award-winning play now returns to reflect the lived experiences of countless individuals and families throughout Chicago’s communities.
“It is a privilege to adapt and direct a story this provocative and this true to life,” said Marcel. “Denise lived every moment of this journey, and my responsibility is to honor that truth with an unflinching eye. Stories like this don’t just entertain. They open doors for people who thought theirs were locked forever.”
Marcel is a writer, director, and producer whose work spans stage and screen, including the TIFF-premiering feature Dinner With Friends, on which she served as Associate Producer.
“This story gets in your soul,” said Fields. “Audiences don’t just watch Beyond the Door. They see themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods in it, and they leave believing change is possible.”
More than a theatrical performance, Beyond the Door serves as a platform for healing and community dialogue. The production has been embraced by recovery organizations, faith communities, educators, and individuals impacted by addiction and incarceration, engaging schools, treatment centers, correctional facilities, and community organizations in conversations about recovery, resilience, and second chances.
“We believe stories have the power to change lives,” said Jones. “When people see themselves reflected on stage, they begin to realize they are not alone.”
The engagement opens with a VIP Opening Night Reception on Friday, August 21, at 7 p.m., followed by public performances on Saturday, August 22, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.
To purchase tickets, learn more about the production, or become part of a community dedicated to healing and transformation, visit https://www.beyondthedoorplay.com/.
