FAQ

[GENERAL] Are you hiring?

We’re not currently hiring, but keep checking in on this page, and on our socials– we’ll publicly announce anytime we’re searching for new team members.

[GENERAL] Do you sell gift cards? Do they work in both the bookstore and cafe?

Yes, and yes! Stop by in person to buy a physical gift card in any denomination. These cards are redeemable in the bookstore or cafe, as well as in our webstore. If you’d like to purchase a digital gift card, click here!

[GENERAL] Do you allow dogs in your shop?

Unfortunately, we cannot allow pets inside the shop in accordance with the health code. The Understudy does allow trained medical service animals. Please note that The Understudy and the City of Chicago do not classify emotional support animals as medical service animals, and therefore we are not allowed to permit them in the shop.

Dog owners may always ring the doorbell at our side window to order from the cafe, and, weather permitting, all dogs are welcome on our sidewalk patio!

[BOOKSTORE] Will you stock my book or play?

We love hearing from authors, especially local ones! If you’re interested in seeing your book on our shelves, send us an email! Due to the volume of inquiries we receive, we cannot respond to every email. *Please note that we do not accept any titles published through CreateSpace, the Amazon self publishing platform.* As always, we prioritize books with a focus on theatre or performance, and books outside this category may bot be a good fit for our store.

[BOOKSTORE] I’m getting rid of some theatre books. Do you accept donations?

Yes we do! We accept used books in good condition, so long as they fall into one of the genres we stock (i.e. plays, technique/theory, design/tech, biography and memoir, and creativity and wellness). There’s no restriction on when to bring donations, just check in at the front desk whenever we’re open!

Donations help support keeping plays and other books accessible for our community, and help support the health and longevity of The Understudy. We really appreciate you thinking of us!

[EVENTS] How do I pitch my own event to The Understudy?

We love supporting our local creative community! To tell us more about your idea, fill out this form! A member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible. Please note that we are a small team fielding a significant volume of requests, so it may take up to a week to receive a reply to your inquiry.