A Season of Transformation: Definition in 2025
Definition is thrilled to announce the lineup for its 2025 season, promising audiences a mix of powerful, thought-provoking, and original works. Joining the previously announced co-production of Fat Ham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Definition Ensemble Member James Ijames in collaboration with the Goodman Theatre, are two new productions: the Chicago premiere of Splash Hatch on the E Going Down by Kia Corthron and the Amplify world premiere of Black Bone by Tina Fakhrid-Deen. The season also marks the annual return of the highly anticipated Amplify New Play Festival.
Alongside these incredible productions, Definition Theatre is also launching its new flexible membership, Definition+, offering theater lovers an exclusive way to engage with the entire 2025 season.
CHICAGO PREMIERE
Splash Hatch on the E Going Down
by Kia Corthron
directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce
March 14 – April 13, 2025
Kicking off in March is Kia Corthron’s Splash Hatch on the E Going Down, a gripping exploration of love, motherhood, and environmental justice in Harlem. Directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce, the play follows 15-year-old Thyme, who faces the realities of her first pregnancy while living with her husband, Erry. As Erry’s health deteriorates from lead poisoning, Thyme embarks on a deep dive into environmental racism, uncovering shocking truths about her own home and community.
Corthron’s powerful writing, combined with Bruce’s visionary direction, promises to shed light on the intersections of race, class, and systemic inequality. This is a story of resilience, hope, and the strength of marginalized voices.
AMPLIFY WORLD PREMIERE
Black Bone
by Tina Fakhrid-Deen
May 30 – June 29, 2025
Following Splash Hatch, Definition Theatre will host the world premiere of Black Bone by Tina Fakhrid-Deen, an Amplify Series alum. This satirical fantasy blends the structure of a game show with real-life drama, centered around a group of Black academics at a predominantly white institution who make a startling discovery: one of them has been "passing" as Black.
The play takes audiences on a wild, hilarious, and deeply unsettling journey as panic spreads, and the group spirals into chaos. Through this razor-sharp satire, Fakhrid-Deen examines the complexity of racial identity, privilege, and performance in a way that’s both uproariously funny and profoundly moving.
Artistic Director Tyrone Phillips shares his excitement for the lineup, saying, “This season invites our audience into a dialogue about identity, exploring the journey of self-discovery within the context of a larger community. Expect to be moved to both laughter and tears as we unpack what it means to truly come into one’s own.”
Amplify New Play Festival 2025
In addition to its mainstage productions, Definition Theatre is proud to bring back its Amplify New Play Festival, with Amplify Series Five—which focuses on the theme, The Music of Language. Submissions for the next cycle open December 1, 2024. Playwrights are encouraged to submit works that explore the rhythm and tone of dialogue, with or without music, to showcase how language can evoke emotion and build deep connections.
Introducing Definition+: Your All-Access Pass to the 2025 Season
For the first time ever, Definition Theatre is offering fans a brand-new way to experience its 2025 season with the launch of Definition+, an all-access membership designed to bring audiences closer to the action.
Priced at $75, the Definition+ pass includes tickets to both Splash Hatch on the E Going Down and Black Bone, along with a screening from the Amplify Series Five. Additionally, members will enjoy reserved seating, promotional codes for additional programming, and two free ticket exchanges. As an extra perk, Definition+ members can purchase tickets to Fat Ham at an exclusive 50% discount.
“We’ve been incredibly grateful to build a loyal community of supporters over the years, and we created Definition+ to offer our audience VIP access to every moment of our 2025 season,” explains Executive Director Neel McNeill. “It’s about offering even more ways to experience the bold, raw narratives we bring to life, all with immense gratitude for the continued support that makes it possible.”
With a savings of $60, the Definition+ pass ensures that every theater lover can experience the best of what Definition Theatre has to offer—all at an unbeatable price.
Join us for an unforgettable season
Definition Theatre’s 2025 season promises to be one for the books, with stories that explore identity, community, and resilience. Whether you're attending Fat Ham at the Goodman Theatre, witnessing the Chicago premiere of Splash Hatch, or joining us for the world premiere of Black Bone, you're in for an experience that’s sure to move, challenge, and inspire.
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it all with the Definition+ all-access pass. Visit definitiontheatre.org/plus to purchase your membership and secure your spot for the upcoming season.
