2026 R.A.W. Reading Series

R.A.W. (Real. Aggressive. Writing.) Reading Series is back!

R.A.W. is free and open to all. We offer a Pay What You Can ticketing structure so that cost is never a barrier. If you are able to give more, your support goes directly toward the development of bold new work right here in Barrio Borikén.

R.A.W. (Real Aggressive Writing) was established in 2013 and brings bold, unfiltered new plays from across the country straight to Humboldt Park. We invite national playwrights to share powerful, thought-provoking stories that spark conversation and reflect the complexities of our world today.

Each reading is followed by a Community Discussion with the playwright, director, and cast.

MAY 1 @ 7:30PM

HOUSE ON 59TH STREET

Written by Marilyn Camacho | Directed by Raquel Torre

A driven 16-year-old Puerto Rican girl on Chicago's South Side dreams of Broadway while holding together a family on the edge. When buried secrets surface, the cost of identity, grief, and home come into sharp focus.

MAY 9 @ 6:30PM

EL SANTO

Written by Karla E. Rivera | Directed by Eddie Torres

Distant siblings reunite after the death of their estranged father, a once-beloved Humboldt Park salsero. As they face their mother's dementia and a crumbling family home, they must reckon with what it means to belong to a place, a culture, and each other.

MAY 17 @ 2:30PM

LAS COMADRES: OUR GOLDEN GIRLS

Written by Miranda Gonzalez | Directed by Marcela Munoz

Three retired women gather regularly for cafecito, conversation, and the beautiful mess of life. Sharp opinions and revealed secrets test their bond, but through humor, honesty, and love they always find their way back to each other.

UrbanTheater Company | 2620 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60622
312-767-8821 | reservations@urbantheater.org