Athenaeum Center Theatre presents

Constellations

Written by Nick Payne
September 12–October 19, 2025
 

About the Show

What if every moment in our lives was just one of infinite possibilities? What if each choice we make—or don’t make—splits the world into a new universe, a new timeline, a new version of ourselves? In Nick Payne’s critically acclaimed play Constellations, these mind-bending questions come to life through a remarkably intimate and emotional love story.

At the center of this poetic and innovative work are Marianne, a theoretical physicist, and Roland, a beekeeper. Their relationship unfolds across a multitude of parallel universes, with scenes repeating in variation, shifting subtly or drastically based on a single gesture, a different word, or a change of heart. Through this kaleidoscopic lens, Payne explores not only the nature of time and reality but also the deeply human experiences of love, regret, and the fragile beauty of connection.

Constellations is more than a romance—it’s a profound meditation on fate, free will, and the choices that shape our lives. Drawing inspiration from cutting-edge scientific theories, particularly quantum mechanics and string theory, the play asks: Are we free to choose our path, or are we bound by forces we cannot control?

Originally premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London and later hailed on Broadway and the West End, Constellations has been celebrated for its bold structure, emotional clarity, and intellectual daring. Payne’s writing is spare and lyrical, allowing audiences to feel both the emotional weight and the philosophical wonder of his vision.

This production of Constellations opens in tandem with our Entangled Beauty conference—a citywide gathering that explores art, science, and the aesthetics of complexity. In presenting the play alongside this conference, we hope to foster new conversations about our place in the cosmos and our role in shaping the future of quantum science and culture in our city.

Whether you’re a theater lover, a science enthusiast, or simply curious about the intersections between the two, Constellations offers an unforgettable journey through the heart, the mind, and the multiverse.

This show is part of our 2025 Fall Season. Tickets are only available today to season subscribers. Follow our pages for updates on single-show ticket purchases.

The Director is a Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

Entangled Beauty: Shanthi Chandrasekar’s Cosmic Imagination

At Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture, our mission is to invite people into encounters with beauty, experiences that awaken wonder, renew imagination, and deepen our sense of meaning. With our Entangled Beauty series, we create space for artists and thinkers to explore how science and art illuminate one another, revealing the richness of.... (read more)

Beyond Reality: Quantum Artistry — Sandra Kaufmann, the Hank Center, and the Living Heart of Entangled Beauty

At the heart of the Athenaeum Center’s Entangled Beauty: Conversations on Quantum Science conference stands a performance unlike any other: Beyond Reality: Quantum Artistry. Choreographed and directed by Sandra Kaufmann, and supported by the Joan and Bill Hank Center for Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago, this interdisciplinary work transforms.... (read more)

Featuring

Creative Team

Isa PardillaStage Manager
Tseela Sokolin-MaimonAssistant Stage Manager
Olivia VolkScenic Designer
Shokie TseumahScenic Designer
Clara SchmidtCostume Designer
Aria MorrisLighting Designer
Dylan KinterSound Designer

Critical Praise

Audience Reaction

Join us for a talkback after the show

Thursday, September 18 - Opening night reception room 311, directly after the show. Cash bar.

Thursday, October 9 - There will be a special talkback with director J.R. Sullivan + Cast  directly after the show. Cash bar in lobby outside of the studio.

Sunday, October 12 - There will be a talkback with the director J.R. Sullivan + Cast directly after the show in the first floor Paradiso room. Cash bar.

Sunday, October 19 - Closing Reception in Paradiso after the show. Cash bar.

 

 

Showtimes

This production has ended

Event Details

Doors Open: 30 minutes before showtime
Ages: 18+
Performance Space: Studio A
Address: 2936 N Southport Ave. Chicago, IL 60657
Parking: Free parking behind the building on Oakdale, and south of the building on Southport
Late Arrival Policy: You are subject to lose your assigned seat if you arrive more than 15 minutes after the start of the event
Refund Policy: NO REFUNDS

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Come on out tonight!

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