COME
AS YOU
AREN'T
BALL
A
Celebration
of
Costume
Design
to
Benefit
Lookingglass
Theatre
Company
THE WELLSLEY, CHICAGO | MAY 2, 2026
Save your spot for the most anticipated social event of the year! The "Come As You Aren't Ball" invites guests to celebrate in "character couture" as we rally around costume design in support of Chicago's Tony Award-winning, corkscrew-creative theatre company, Lookingglass Theatre. Explore the festivities and get ready to make your mark on Chicago's cultural scene.
What To Expect
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Show-Stopping Styles
Guests are invited to dress in magnificent, theatrical attire inspired by the costume designs of beloved stage productions. You can arrive in a stage-worthy interpretation of a fictional character, a nod to the red carpet in lavish materials, or a more restrained display of creativity, such as a smart suit and a prop from one of the characters. Whether or not you go "all in" with a full-blown costume reproduction, coming dressed in character for the night is part of the Come As You Aren't experience.
Lookingglass Ensemble Original Performances
The award-winning Lookingglass Ensemble will bring their signature storytelling and physical theatricality to life with performance and improvisation that animates every corner of the evening's celebration. Keep an eye out for ensemble members roaming the room and approaching each other — and you — in character. Scenes may suddenly unfold in front of you! Do you know your lines?
INTERNATIONAL CABARET STAR
LE GATEAU CHOCOLAT
Voted by Time Out London as one of its ‘Top 10 Cabaret Stars’ this one-man, golden-voiced theatrical phenomenon wrapped in jaw-dropping couture performs with mesmerizing power. With his bewitching baritone, commanding stage prowess, and pure joie de vivre, everyone wants their taste of Le Gateau Chocolat. Welcome to one of the most memorable, fashionable and hilarious pop culture moments of your life.
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High Voltage Glam Dance Party
A dramatic DJ offers us a dance floor with infectious beats, transforming the night into a vibrant, ecstatic nightclub of celebration. Drop character, grab your dearest friends and let loose! Or ask yourself: How exactly does my character dance?
Jubilant Costume Parade and Contest
Strike a pose in the spotlight for the Costume Parade, where your look takes center stage. Guests who arrive in the most show-stopping theatrical style bring delight and take center stage, making costume history. Line up to be a photographed star of the night, where Judges will award the most creative interpretations that pay tribute to the spirit of the Ball.
Cast Yourself In Chicago's Cultural Story
Event Details
A night of pure imagination, Lookingglass Theatre's Come As You Aren't Ball offers an electrifying combination of spectacle and artistic wonder. Guests will soak in breathtaking displays, interact with improvisers on-demand, delight in vibrant dance interludes, indulge in inspired cuisine and enjoy cocktails that add additional theatrical artistry to the night.
The Come As You Aren't Ball is more than a costume ball; it launches a future where creative connectivity generates the materials of deep civic and cultural resonance.
