Big White Fog - A Production of the Court Theatre

Big White Fog plays at the Court Theatre, the professional theatre of the University of Chicago, from September 12-October 12, 2025. 

This guide brings together resources from the library's collections for those interested in deepening their knowledge of the play, its themes, and its historical context. It is designed to supplement the Court Theatre's learning guide on Big White Fog, which has educational resources for the broader public as well as more information about the production's dramaturgy and design. Please note that many resources in this guide require University of Chicago borrowing privileges. If you are not faculty, staff, or a student at UChicago, you are welcome to use the Library’s print and electronic collections by visiting the Library.

Visit the Court Theatre website for more information or to purchase tickets. Feel free to email me if you need assistance with library resources or have a research question. 

Poster for the 1938 production of Big White Fog, staged by Kay Ewing and performed at the Great Northern Theatre.

Image credit: Works Progress Administration - Federal Theatre Project/Library of Congress, Federal Theatre Project Collection. https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/eadmus.mu995001

Big White Fog is a theatrical work that centers on an African American family residing on Chicago’s South Side from 1922 to 1932. The play explores the family’s responses to the pervasive racial and class-based divisions characteristic of the era. It was written by Theodore Ward, an African American author and playwright.