Manifest: Breakthrough, the 2024 edition of Columbia College Chicago‘s annual student-powered Manifest Arts Festival, takes place Friday, May 10, to celebrate student achievements at the end of the 2023-24 school year, and the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department is proudly participating, with performances in the areas of Playwriting, Musical Theatre, Stage Combat, Solo Performance, and Comedy Writing and Performance, as well as an exhibit of work by students in the department’s Theatre Design and Technology program. All Theatre Department events are free at the historic Getz Theatre Center of Columbia College, located at 72 E. 11th St. in Chicago’s South Loop. There are presentations and performances throughout the building all day. Events include:

Tech/Design Showcase – Advanced students in the Columbia College Theatre Department’s Theatre Design and Technology Program present innovative projects, blending creativity with technical prowess. From sleek set designs to one-of-a-kind costume pieces to complex stage management organizational tools, the showcase is a testament to the students’ ingenuity and skills. Studio 404, 11 AM-6:30 PM.

Combat! – A rip-roaring, high-paced, full-out display of stage combat. Sheldon Patinkin Theatre, 1-2 PM.

Spa! – Sketch comedy revue by Comedy students Max Balderston, Dylan Gann, Chris Hill, Eliot Indigo, Madeleine Libman, Taylor Meredith, Cadence Messier, Evan Palmblad, and Evan Palmblad. While there are no licensed massage therapists or estheticians in Spa!, there are licensed experts on hilarious characters, uncanny parody, original songs, clever social commentary, and “vibez.” Courtyard Theatre, 1-2 PM.

Shoot the Duck – An independently produced developmental workshop of a queer coming-of-age drama written and directed by Finley Silas Brisko that explores the relationship between staying, leaving, love, and getting older. Samantha’s life as a queer rollerskater is chronicled in three distinct eras, and along with it, their struggle to find meaning in love and on their own. Classic Theatre, 1-2:30 PM.

Advanced Playwriting – Showcase of work by advanced Playwriting students. Sheldon Patinkin Theatre, 2-3 PM.

IMPROVable – This student-created comedy event is “faster than a caffeine rush, funnier than a cram session, and guaranteed to split your sides.” Courtyard Theatre, 2:30-3:30 PM.

Solo Performance – One-person performances written and performed by students in Stephanie Shaw‘s Solo Performance class. Sheldon Patinkin Theatre, 3:15-4:15 PM.

Playwrights Aloud – A fast and fun student-produced program of captivating short plays. Each play brings to life a unique story with unforgettable characters created by our talented and dedicated students. Courtyard Theatre, 3:30-4:45 PM.

Farce for the Passionate, a two-act drama/comedy by Gavin Connell that follows the intertwining lives (and deaths) of artists experiencing varying degrees of success. This introspective ensemble piece explores themes of love, monetization, grief, ego, and the human condition. The play comes to life with an electric cast that’s guaranteed to make you laugh and make you feel. Classic Theatre, 4-6:15 PM.

Pippin Cabaret – Cast members of the Columbia College Theatre Department’s Mainstage Season production of Pippin perform songs from the Stephen Schwartz score in an intimate and memorable afternoon of musical theatre. A tuneful way to end the day! Courtyard Theatre, 5:15-6:15 PM.

Here’s a promotional video for Manifest: Breakthrough, which features numerous events throughout Columbia College’s campus in Chicago’s South Loop: