Tue. October 7, 2025
Chicago -
Chicago’s LGBTQ community will get a treat this October when Rhapsody Theater hosts a daring adults-only puppet musical called Avenue D to benefit the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives. The special fundraiser takes place on October 17 and 18 at 1328 W. Morse Ave., with all ticket sales going directly to support the library’s mission to preserve and celebrate queer history.
Avenue D is not your childhood puppet show. It is described as a “showtune-heavy, puppet-lite, adults-only adventure” following a group of newcomers who arrive in a strange city and stumble into the provocative and pleasurable world of Avenue D. Directed by Casey S. Campbell and Doug Jensen, the production promises humor, heart, and cheeky theatricality that pushes the boundaries of puppet performance and musical theater.
Gerber/Hart, the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ library and archive, has been a cornerstone of Chicago’s queer community since 1981. It houses more than 14,000 books, hundreds of periodicals, and countless archival materials chronicling decades of LGBTQ life in the region. Events like this benefit performance make it possible for the library to continue expanding its programs, preserving its collection, and offering a space where LGBTQ history and culture can thrive for generations to come.
Performances of Avenue D are scheduled for Friday, October 17 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, October 18 at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The show is intended strictly for adult audiences, with themes that include sex, desire, identity, and humor. While it is “puppet-lite,” the production uses its puppets as part of a larger exploration of human relationships, queer joy, and freedom. It may even feature moments of nudity, whether from humans or puppets, all in good theatrical fun.
What makes Avenue D especially meaningful is its blend of art and activism. Puppet theater has traditionally been seen as whimsical or innocent, but this production turns that idea on its head, using puppets to tell an unapologetically adult story of liberation and self-discovery. In doing so, it helps support a vital institution that safeguards LGBTQ stories and makes sure queer history is not forgotten.
For tickets and more information, visit rhapsodytheater.thundertix.com. Whether attending in person or donating directly to Gerber/Hart, supporters will be helping ensure that the community’s voices, stories, and archives continue to be protected. Avenue D may be a puppet musical, but its impact is very real, reminding Chicago that preserving queer culture is an act of both joy and defiance.
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