Jenna Fischer Announces Return To Stage In Chicago Play Ashland Avenue

Instagram/@msjennafischer

Jenna Fischer swaps the office for the stage this fall. The actress most well-known as Pam Beesly in The Office gave the heads-up about acting in Ashland Avenue at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, with previews starting September 6 and the official opening on September 15.

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Fischer just could not contain her excitement about returning to live theatre while announcing it on Instagram! She gushed over coming together with playwright Lee Kirk, director Susan Booth, and her fellow actors Francis Guinan, Chike Johnson, Cordelia Dewdney, and Will Allan. Even so, she put up a radiant photo of herself with a new hairstyle and makeup, never clarifying whether this was her look for the production.

The responses came back instantly! Several commenters claimed they had already bought tickets, with one traveling as far away as Atlanta to see the show. Another self-proclaimed theatre fanatic exclaimed it being her birthday on even night and could not think of a better way to celebrate it.

Chicago opened its arms for her. “I just moved to Chicago❤️ I’m so getting tickets!” Another chimed, “Welcome to the best city!!” That’s Midwest hospitality at its finest in the comments section.

One fan interestingly made a personal connection to the play’s title: “My son just started at Northwestern University… their baseball field is on Ashland Avenue!” Now, the thought of touring the campus followed by catching Fischer’s show has set in.

The announcement was strongly about tickets, with people going on and on about Fischer’s look. Compliments flew around for her hairstyle, with one person even saying, “Oh wow, your hair is 🔥.”

The Office connection, of course, came naturally in the comments. One commented something about Fischer’s Office Ladies podcast documenting her theatre prep once the show wraps. One more tagged Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin in The Office), reminding fans that cast camaraderie in real life is still an ongoing joy for them far beyond the end of the show.

Most comments were of people excited to go to the theatre, save a few. But some faraway foreign fans could only express their disappointment that they are so far away. “I wish I lived in the US. I would have loved to watch you do some good theatre!” came one from miles away.

The production promises an almost homecoming for Fischer, who began theater before making the big leap into television. Ashland Avenue is her first stage work in a number of years, having mainly concentrated on screen acting in between. Judging from the response Fischers’s announcement got, the Chicago crowds will throw open their arms and show houses all the way.

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Tickets are available now at the Goodman Theatre website with a run-through in October. Judging by the instantaneous reports of ticket sales in the comments, this could well be that #penciltobuy_for. Whether you’re an old Fischer fan or just can’t resist that theater, Ashland Avenue is surely one of Chicago’s hottest shows this fall.