Theatre & Performing Arts
Orpheus in the Underworld July 12, 2026
GREAT LAKES OPERETTA PRESENTS JACQUES OFFENBACH’S “ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD,” A RIOTOUS MUSICAL RETELLING OF THE ORPHEUS LEGEND, FEATURING THE FAMOUS ‘CANCAN’ SONG!
Great Lakes Operetta (Where Opera Meets Musical Theatre!) presents “Orpheus in the Underworld,” running from July 10th to July 19th 2026 at the Bramble Arts Loft in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. This musical spoof of the Orpheus myth was the Hadestown of 1858’s Paris upon its debut and had a contemporary cultural impact comparable to Hamilton or Phantom of the Opera. The show is raucous, wacky, and surprisingly modern, with a fabulous score of memorable tunes, including the world-famous cancan.
In this version of the Orpheus myth, Orpheus and Eurydice can’t stand each other, there is no great moral lesson or redemption for anyone, and the story ends with everyone happily dancing the cancan. This colorful and lively production will feature a cast of 14 singers and 4 instrumentalists.
General admission tickets for adults are $38, with discounted rates for children, students, and seniors. Tickets are on sale now and will also be available at the door (while supplies last). Visit https://greatlakesoperetta.com/orpheus/ for tickets and more information about the show, venue, cast, and creative team.
About Great Lakes Operetta
Founded in 2024, Great Lakes Operetta (GLO) produces musical theater works of the operetta genre (also known as light opera, comic opera, or lyrical theater) re-imagined for contemporary audiences. Based in Northbrook, IL, GLO performs at various venues within the city of Chicago, along the North Shore, and elsewhere within the greater Chicago area. Operetta is a hugely underrated genre which, just 80 or so years ago, was the pop music of its day and its influence on modern musical theater cannot be overestimated. GLO’s inaugural 2024-2025 season included Victor Herbert’s “The Magic Knight,” a spring concert featuring 40 local singers, and a specially adapted Theater for Young Audiences production of the Victor Herbert rarity “Prince Ananias,” presented in partnership with the Skokie Parks District.
