Thom Britton’s "THE SÉANCE: LIVE (AND DEAD)" Returns to Chicago This Fall

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Creator Thom Britton's immersive 90-minute theatrical demonstration will run at the intimate 80-seat Stars & Garters venue in Wrigleyville.

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Following a critically acclaimed, completely sold-out run in 2025, producer and creator Thom Britton announces the return of THE SÉANCE: LIVE (AND DEAD) IN CHICAGO for an extended fall 2026 engagement. Staged at Stars & Garters (3914 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60613), the production runs for seven exclusive Saturday evening performances, opening Saturday, September 19, 2026, and running through Halloween night, October 31, 2026.

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Described as "a spook-house show for the smart set," THE SÉANCE is a 90-minute immersive theatrical demonstration that recreates an authentic 1890s spirit circle. Rejecting contemporary haunted house tropes and novelty magic tricks, the production transports audiences directly into the heyday of 19th-century American spiritualism (1840-1912). Combining historical narrative with psychological stagecraft and hands-on spirit parlor techniques, Britton explores the social grief, scientific curiosities, and theatrical craft that defined Victorian séances.

"This is genuine time travel," says creator Thom Britton. "I'm taking you back to exactly how you would have felt sitting in a Chicago parlor in 1859 or 1890. What audiences experience in the room is completely real. Whether the spirits themselves choose to show up is strictly between you and them."

THE SÉANCE has performed periodically in Chicago since 2013, developing a dedicated following for its intimate atmosphere and cerebral approach to supernatural theater. The 2026 engagement is strictly 21+ and hosted in the intimate 80-seat showroom of Stars & Garters in the heart of Wrigleyville. The final Halloween night performance on October 31 has already sold out in advance.

Creator & Performer: Thom Britton Venue: Stars & Garters, 3914 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60613 Ages: 21+ only Dates: Saturdays: September 19, September 26, October 3, October 10, October 17, October 24, and October 31, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) Tickets: $40 General Admission (VIP packages available up to $80) Ticketing & Box Office: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/starsgarters/2275567 Official Website & Production Info: https://weplaywiththedead.com

Nominate your favorite local productions and performers before the deadline on October 31, 2026.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/chicago/article/THE-SANCE-LIVE-AND-DEAD-to-Return-to-Chicago-This-Fall-20260923)._