Columbia College Chicago Theatre Dept. Alums Celebrate Opening of Otherworld Theatre’s New Home July 14

Otherworld Theatre artistic director Tiffany Keane Schaefer (center) cuts the ribbon to officially open Otherworld’s new home on July 14, 2018.

Otherworld Theatre, a company founded and led by Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alumni, officially opened its new home on Saturday, July 14, at 3914 N. Clark, Chicago. Otherworld says this is the world’s first venue dedicated to the performance of science fiction and fantasy oriented theatre. The property — formerly home to the Live Bait and Public House theatres — houses a 120-seat mainstage, a 40-seat black box, a bar, and a lobby. The space was launched with a gala event on July 14 from 7 PM to midnight, where attendees enjoyed food, drink, entertainment, and a 2018/2019 season announcement. Tickets for the gala were $25.

Otherworld also plans to use the new space to create a community hub that celebrates popular geek culture. They plan to host cosplay meetups, watch parties, trivia nights, game nights, and more.
Otherworld Theatre Company was founded in June 2012 by Columbia College alum Tiffany Keane Schaefer ’12, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s Theatre Directing program, with a mission to bring a theatrical experience to the science fiction and fantasy genre.

Tiffany Keane Schaefer

“We are extremely proud to create a space that celebrates science fiction and fantasy performance and provide a community hub for fans of all stripes to explore their passions for these genres and express themselves in a safe and inviting environment. Whether you are mildly interested in science fiction and fantasy or a die-hard fan, we welcome you to Otherworld Theatre to enjoy these stories together,” says Schaefer.

Otherworld Theatre is one of the few theatre companies in the world dedicated to sci-fi and fantasy. All mainstage tickets are pay-what-you-can.