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Chicago Shakespeare Theater

4.5 (163 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 5:00 PM

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Maronda H.

My first time coming here. I saw online the tickets $30 under 30 years deal they had for selected shows. I purchased a ticket for the show Rome Sweet Rome. A very nice theatre every seat in this place had a good view. There were no selective seating. First come First seated. I was one of the first in line and was seated near the stage area. I had a perfect view of the stage. The seats were comfortable and plush. The production and audio was was good. I really enjoyed the show, the singing and the performance. I was happy that I purchased tickets to this show. There is a bar in the back area that serves non alcoholic drinks, special cocktail drinks and snacks. If you come for a show and park your car in the garbage. They validate your parking at the Box Office. You also can get discounts at restaurants and parking with your ticket to your play. The ushers were helpful and friendly. I will be back to see another show. FYI there are quite a bit of stairs to walk. But there is an elevator on the side to ride up. .

Jane V.

The Jentes Family Courtyard Theater is the perfect setting for any of Shakespear's plays. It is remeniscent of of the Globe Theater in London.

View from upstairs during golden hour (so beautiful!)
Johnfavour N.

We came to see 42 balloons recently and it was phenomenal! It was such an amazing story and the singing/choreography was spectacular. I love that the lighting and visuals were like an 80s music video. From the trailer and reading the Wikipedia I didn't expect the story to be so gripping (also tragic). The performers had incredible voices, my favorite was Carol's mom. I appreciate the $30 under 30 discount they offer to incentivize the youth to appreciate the arts. The fine print of the ticket says if you're late you may be redirected to another seat so you don't interrupt the experience of others. This makes sense as the seats are a bit cozy and the other patrons will need to stand to let you walk to your seat. We were running a bit late but thankfully the check-in process was really quick, and the show started maybe 5 minutes after the scheduled time. We were walking down the pier looking for the entrance, when you're on the main Pier level the door signs say it's for the Chicago Shakespeare parking. You'll need to walk up the flight of stairs up towards the Ferris wheel area to get to the main entrance of the theater. The timing of our play was perfect because we had 30 minutes until the 10pm fireworks show too! I recommend this theater to anyone that likes musicals or is curious. Parking is expensive and there will be a lot of traffic once the fireworks show is finished, so I recommend getting a Lyft/Uber or taking public transit. When you get dropped off via Lyft, you can select the center terminal of the Pier and it will be closer to the theater entrance. There's an entrance into the main Pier once you walk into the garage and usually there's a parking attendant that can help direct you to the correct door (Door 5).

Claire W.

Every show I have seen at the Shakespeare is great! The theatre is cozy and there aren't any bad seats in the house. Recently saw paranormal activity and it was much scarier than I expected!

Excellent seats!
Brie G.

I came here to see Pericles in December with friends. We had Dress Circle seats I believe and they were perfect! We could easily see the performers and stage with zero obstructions. Parking was pricey, but actually discounted compared to other events. Apparently, you'll always have parking available if you're coming to a show here and it's usually $21 I believe. The convenience was worth it, especially in the middle of winter! We also found out that if you visit one of the hotel restaurants, they will transfer your drink into a portable cup to take into the theater if you need to dash. The performers for this show were from the Royal Shakespeare Company I believe, so the quality was off the charts. I would definitely come back to see them in this beautiful indoor space.

Matthew B.

Amazing place for great theatre. We go a few times a year, and it's some of the best Shakespeare that you could ever hope to find. Nestled into Navy Pier it's also easy to come and have dinner beforehand

Franke H.

It was kinda hard to find however I got there and was greeted nicely. It's right on the pier which is cool. Coat check is free the theater itself is quaint and every seat is good. Will definitely check out more plays. Staff was cool!

Kinks actors were fan static singers .
Onyte A.

I've been a season ticket holder for 20 years, I love Shakespeare and plays. I just saw SUNNY AFTERNOON yesterday , which is a musical about the Kinks . It was so much fun I can't tell you how much we enjoyed it . I never got to see the Kinks live , but I think this was even better . It was about their history and incorporated almost ALL their songs . The actors/singers are the original from West End Theater in London. They passed out ear plugs for people. lol we sat close , 10 th row, any closer and we would have been blown away when they played "You Really Got Me Goin'". It was as loud as a concert, and I LOVED IT ! The end song was "Lola" L O L A LOLA ! And then a repeat medley of their songs. The whole audience ( mostly people who were in there teens when Kinks were current , now seniors) lol lol lol. Well, we were all standing and singing to Lola , and other songs. IF YOU LIKED THE KINKS GO SEE THIS PLAY AT SHAKESPEARE THEATER . YOU WILL HAVE A BLAST ! Just don't sit in the first 10 seats , without ear plugs .

Meryl F.

I love the Chicago Shakespeare Theater situated at the perfect location in Navy Pier. I've watched several Shakespeare plays and it's given me a whole new appreciation and understanding of Shakespeare. The theater is modern and intimate and I haven't had a bad seat yet. Although majority of the shows played here is dedicated to Shakespeare, they also recognize and premier new plays and musicals. This year, I had the opportunity to watch the musical of The Notebook which has been my favorite show I've seen here at CST. Last year, they had a Q Brothers Christmas Carol, an entertaining rap rendition of The Christmas Carol. I always enjoy my time and the chance to see a show here at the CST and then walk around Navy Pier either before or after the show.

Navy Pier

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Delighted with much ado. Lovely performances and lots of space in this theatre. Ah, the way it should be. Bravo!

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Ask the Community - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

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$21 for up to 6 hrs as of August 2024

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Review Highlights - Chicago Shakespeare Theater

“We saw a musical based called Play On which was based on Shakespeare's The Twelfth Night to the music of Duke Ellington.”

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Chicago Theatre - One of the concession stands area

Chicago Theatre

4.2(570 reviews)
1.2 mi•The Loop
•$$$

Short but sweet review - the experiences we've had at the Chicago Theater have always been…read moreconsistently good. This time was no different. My last review still stands. We arrived on time, were seated, and the concert started on time. The acoustics are great and our seats were in a good spot. We used their concession stand to get water and snacks - because we bought our tickets and paid for the concessions using a Chase card, we were given a big discount - nice. We'll continue to go to the Chicago theater when they have shows we want to see. It's a great theater and a wonderful experience.

I have been to the Chicago Theatre several times for concerts and have had experiences in all of my…read morevisits. It's an iconic Chicago landmark for catching live events. I like its ornate décor, the stadium style seats set-up which offers good stage view, the acoustics, and the overall aesthetics of this venue which makes it an ideal place to watch live events. On my recent (late June 2026) visit to see The Human League, Soft Cell, and Alison Moyet for the Generations tour, overall, I had a good experience. There were couple of issues that we had such as lack of cool air circulation inside the auditorium (it was hot and sweaty) and a couple of people standing throughout the show to dance, blatantly blocking other peoples' view and not caring about being inconsiderate and uncourteous to people behind them to which the theatre ushers had no problem with it. Otherwise, I have not had issues at this venue. So, 4.5 stars but rounded up to five. I look forward to going back here.

Photos
Chicago Theatre - Stage - they have added portable chairs in the orchestra pit area

Stage - they have added portable chairs in the orchestra pit area

Chicago Theatre - Balcony row a seat 315

Balcony row a seat 315

Chicago Theatre - Magnificent ceiling of lobby with beautiful chandelier

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Magnificent ceiling of lobby with beautiful chandelier

Cadillac Palace Theatre - Beautiful Cadillac Palace Theater

Cadillac Palace Theatre

3.8(342 reviews)
1.5 mi•The Loop

The Cadillac Palace Theatre is stunning! I feel so lucky to have such a nice theatre in my city…read more This place runs like a well oiled machine. Once doors open, they get everyone in and to their seats quickly. I'm impressed by how clean everything is from the seats to the bathrooms. All of the employees are very courteous and knowledgeable. I enjoy arriving a little early just to take in the beautiful architecture. It is stunning inside! The seats are also comfortable with great sightlines.

Although the actual performance and show were great, what a horrible staff that works here (sans 1…read moreperson who actually helped). When we first arrived, upon checking our tickets, our tickets wouldn't scan/verify. The usher was getting frustrated with us for this, and made us go to the ticket booth to get our physical tickets. We showed the person the tickets on our phone, and she printed them out for us -- after several rounds of confusion on her part. She was so soft spoken (in a noisy theatre entrance) that it led to much confusion. After this, we had to "cut" back into the entrance line (the security guard was helpful here) and we got thru the gates, finally. Then this usher/ticket checker who scanned our tickets (the 2nd time) was literally yelling at us on which direction to go (not a yelling as in being loud, but yelling like we were stupid). I go the way he yells at me because he won't stop yelling at me to go the direction he points me in -- which is the wrong direction. We had orchestra seats and were headed there, but this usher/ticket checker was yelling at us to go up the stairs. Fine, maybe I'm wrong. We get upstairs, and the 2nd usher again points us in the wrong direction to go further upstairs. This is again incorrect. We are flustered and confused, and not sure what is going on. We finally reach the 3rd usher at the top of the stairs, and he finally points us in the correct direction. The ushers here (Sans the 3rd one) were incompetent and rude.

Photos
Cadillac Palace Theatre - Another inside picture

Another inside picture

Cadillac Palace Theatre - Where we're going, we definitely need roads.

Where we're going, we definitely need roads.

Cadillac Palace Theatre - Louis Armstrong play

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Louis Armstrong play

The Magic Parlour - Bar area and Shirley Temple

The Magic Parlour

4.9(162 reviews)
1.3 mi•The Loop

Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour -- Chicago…read more What a fantastic experience. If you're looking for something different to do in Chicago, put The Magic Parlour on your list. I'm a hobby magician myself, so I went into the show knowing that sometimes you can recognize the basic principles behind certain effects. But honestly, it doesn't matter. Dennis Watkins is an incredible magician and entertainer, and seeing the show up close is a completely different experience. The show is intimate, funny, entertaining, and incredibly well performed. You're close enough to see everything, which somehow makes it even more impossible. And here's my advice: Don't be the person who spends the entire show trying to figure out how every trick is done. I know you're going to do it anyway. I did too. But at some point, just sit back, enjoy the performance, and let yourself be fooled. That's part of the fun. Even as a hobby magician, I thought it was an amazing show. The combination of magic, storytelling, audience interaction, and Dennis's personality makes for a really memorable Chicago experience. Five stars. Go see it, have a drink, relax, and let the magician do his job. Small bonus out we had the VIP tickets. My wife was very awesome. It's a little intimate setting you get about another 20 to 30 minutes of Magic. Dennis asked for questions you have any doesn't really amazing magic and you get a free drink with a VIP ticket. Recommended but not required.

I have seen the magic of Dennis Watkins prior to The Magic Parlour even opening so when he…read moreannounced this theater as part of the Goodman built for magic, I was all in! I have been there for Dennis's solo show with my daughter and cousins and I treated my dad, my mom, and my family to Three Card Monte for his birthday as a way to spend time together. Three Card Monte was where the audience was seated at three tables and three different close up magicians rotated through. The magic was literally happening in front of your eyes! The variety in the three magicians was great--they had a variety of tricks, varying levels of sarcasm and humor, and overall, made it one of the best Sunday evenings I have had! Your ticket comes with a drink ticket--I don't drink, but they made me a mean Shirley Temple. My daughter bought a 2nd one at intermission and it was very reasonably priced. I made sure to have cash to tip my bartender. With Dennis's solo show, there was an option to pay to be a VIP where we got a taste of close up magic right after the general show. It was very cool and I recommend adding it on. If you love magic or even if you just know someone who loves magic, I recommend! A classy venue with top notch entertainment!

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The Magic Parlour - Beautiful Room

Beautiful Room

The Magic Parlour - Dennis Watkins beginning the show.

Dennis Watkins beginning the show.

The Magic Parlour - Posing with Dennis

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Posing with Dennis

Drunk Shakespeare - Chicago - Welcome shots

Drunk Shakespeare - Chicago

4.7(212 reviews)
1.2 mi•The Loop
•$$

OMG! SO not what we were expecting, but so much more! We saw Romeo & Juliet--but what we saw was…read morenot the traditional play but a very modernized, highly sexualized (in the best, funniest, way) performance, based upon the basics of Shakespeare's most well-known tragedy. Let's put it this way--fight scenes were conducted with dild*** instead of swords, the language was VERY blue, with many references of LGBTQ orientation--and we laughed so hard through the WHOLE thing that my face hurt afterward. I could not recommend this experience enough for people with open minds and hearts. The venue is very small and intimate--three rows of benches--so you almost feel like you're part of the performance. If you pay for the top tier ticket, you're in the front row, and may actually BECOME part of the performance in a small way. As for refreshments, you use QR codes on your benches to order beverages delivered directly to you throughout the show, and they offer seasoned nuts or popcorn if you want something to munch on.

Ignore what you read online, doors do not open until 15 minutes before showtime. But timing is…read moreeverything. We arrived 45 minutes early, not a soul in sight so we went shopping for a bit. We got back 15 minutes before showtime and were almost the last ones seated. It didn't really matter, the venue is quite small and I don't think there is a bad seat in the place. We sat "stage side" which means the front row. (Strongly recommend these seats). Everyone is given a shot (alcohol/not flu) upon entering. Nasty red stuff but it's just setting the stage for what was to come. The actors were in full swing even before showtime. Interacting with the audience, just working the room getting us ready to get loud. It worked! There is no food for sale but a themed drink menu is available. You can order at the bar but they encourage you to use a QR code found on the seat underneath your butt. Everyone was ordering at the same time and the system crashed. I should have taken that as a warning and skipped the drink. By the time I was able to order and the time I waited for my drink, the show was half over. I ordered a "hemoglobin": Evan Williams bourbon, cherry schnapps, black cherry syrup, and lemon juice garnished with a cherry. It was awful. Robitussin comes to mind. In this case, "Pre-gaming" would have been the way to go. The premise - one actor drinks 5 shots of whiskey and proceeds to put on a show. There was definitely some imbibing going on backstage with the other actors. As the show progressed, the laughs from not only the audience but also the actors increased exponentially. There is a lot of audience participation that I'll not ruin for you. Do be warned, if you are easily offended, you probably want to skip this one. the language is pretty raunchy but it was funny. Would we go again? Maybe to see a different show but I doubt it. It's kind of one of those experiences that you need to see once. After that, it's just redundant. (BTW, I don't know if I'm allowed to say this here but look for a Groupon. I'm always up for a deal!)

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Drunk Shakespeare - Chicago - Theater

Theater

Drunk Shakespeare - Chicago
Drunk Shakespeare - Chicago - Entrance that didn't open until 15 mins prior

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Entrance that didn't open until 15 mins prior

Chicago Shakespeare Theater - theater - Updated October 2026

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