Alex in Windyland – Free Outdoor Theatre

Come experience a new play in development by Abby Thompson, created through research and collaboration with youth in Chicago’s foster care system at Lydia Home.

The production is part of the League of Chicago Theatres’ Samuel G. Roberson Jr. Fellowship in Artivism, supporting the launch of this project and its community-rooted storytelling.

On the eve of her 12th birthday, Alex is separated from her sister and suddenly finds herself aboard a mysterious train called Windyland. This magical, liminal space becomes the setting for her journey through uncertainty, connection, friendship, and survival within a shifting system.

As the train moves forward, Alex must navigate new challenges and ask the questions that shape her future:
Will she be reunited with her sister?
Will she find a forever home?

The clock is ticking—and the train keeps running.

This powerful new work explores the complexities of the foster care system through a poetic and imaginative lens, reflecting the real experiences of thousands of youth navigating it every day.