A wizard is never late, especially when he has a solo show! Tony and Olivier Award winner Ian McKellen will perform in a solo show in Chicago, to benefit the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and their mission of bringing the classics to young people. The show, called One Knight Only! (with the subtitle Onstage with Gandalf, Shakespeare, and YOU!) will be performed January 30, 2026. McKellen will do two performances of the show—one for a paying audience and a free performance for Chicago-area students and teachers.

The show will trace McKellen's six-decade career, from his work as a preeminent interpreter of classic texts to his iconic screen roles. CST donors are able to access tickets to the event now, while subscribers will be able to purchase beginning December 12. Remaining tickets will be made available to members of the theatre's mailing list December 13. Visit ChicagoShakes.com.

For those who cannot make it to Chicago, the former X-Men will be lending his voice to a new play at Off-Broadway's The Shed, An Ark, a new play using mixed reality that will have audiences use headphones to hear the prerecorded voices of McKellen and other actors.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a winner of the 2008 Regional Theatre Tony Award.