It’s game, set, match for the premiere of Billie Jean

Chicago Shakespeare Theater wins the tournament this summer for booking Billie Jean for its world premiere. Based on the life of tennis grand slam champion Billie Jean King, this play at The Yard is a history lesson that crosses the line into the future.

Chilina Kennedy relishes the role of playing the title character and many cast members play multiple parts. The plot covers a great deal of territory, beginning in 1955 and ending in the present time. The script does an adequate job of highlighting King's obstacles in her career and how navigating her personal life didn't match with her job well.

While her story should be a thing of the past, much of it bleeds into the sad state of the world today in terms of equal pay and treatment as a queer person.

From the jump, King comes out questioning disparities in the world of sports and quickly realizes she has to fight for every opportunity. Title IX and the women's liberation movement became vital to further support gender equality.

The dialogue is well-written and this athletic activist is highly quotable after decades of being interviewed in the media. These high-pressure interviews, in which she is placed in the hot seat, are depicted with cameras projected on large screens. The venue uses video monitors on the sides for subtitles to assist with some audience members' challenges.

BJK walked so others queer Billies, like Billie Eilish, could run and that makes this important piece appropriate for all ages to learn from. She retired from competitive tennis in 1984, but kept going as the first woman commissioner in professional sports and remains active in her advocacy of LGBTQ+ rights.

King did more than just enjoy a song written about her by Elton John, but served on his AIDS Foundation organization as a board member. She was inducted into the Chicago LGBTQ+ Hall of Fame in 1999 and had residences both in New York City and the Windy City.

Rotating tennis court and smooth set transitions. There are various perspectives offered at this modern Navy Pier venue, whether someone has a ticket for a courtyard seat or a bird's eye view from the balcony.

The team scores high points for keeping their eyes on the ball and delivering a queer match worth watching. Love might mean zero in tennis, but in this case, love wins!

See Billie Jean fight for equality at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 East Grand Avenue, from now until August 10, 2025. Find tickets to the game at chicagoshakes.com today.