We had good seats this time when we saw the band America play. It was an amazing show and the…read moretheater helped with the acoustics. CIBC Theater is a large one. I can't guess how many seats but when we were there, it was packed. I didn't any open seats in the theater. The theater is beautiful, with decorations restored to it's opening in 1906. The seats are comfortable and our seats we on the mezzanine levels, center, so our view of the stage was great. America does a good job with their light show, and as I mentioned above, the acoustics are quite good. Like other large theaters, CIBC has a snack and drink stand, and they sell merchandise from the theater and the band. We use a Chase credit card and there was a discount when we got drinks - a surprise. It was a very good experience.

Won lottery tickets to Hamilton. Once we picked up the tickets at will call, we saw our seat…read moreassignments. Unfortunately it came with an obstructed view. If the speakers were smaller or floating, we would have seen more. Outside of the fabulous performance, I would say I was just meh on the theater itself.

Of all the great things about living in Chicago, this definitely on my top ten list. What? A…read moregorgeous stage designed by world-class architect, Frank Gehry with world class musicians playing music on beautiful summer evenings for . . . FREE?! Yes, and you can BYO wine. It does not get better than this. Farewell, Ravinia - you are too complicated and expensive. My urban culture haven is free, stylish and easy to get to. I went to see Penderecki himself conducting his Concerto Grosso No. 1 for 3 Cellos and Orchestra. Three cellists, one super sexy Israeli cellist. Gorgeous music and gorgeous eye candy. Penderecki was one of the 20th century composers that was NOT torturous to listen to wayy back when I was studying all that. And to see the man himself conducting his work. Surely the Ultimate Penderecki Experience. Me sittin' in the audience drinkin' my cheap bottle o' Pinot Grigio out of a super stylish paper cup and basking in an aura of utter civility. The other selection was Beethoven's Eroica, Symphony No. 3, another favorite.

The Pritzker Pavillion in Millennium Park is used for a lot of music events. My favorite is the…read moreGrant Park Orchestra. Where else can you hear an orchestra of this caliber for free? Many of the seats are paid, but there are also plenty of free ones. if the program is classical, free seats usually aren't a problem... if it's contemporary, the free seats fill up fast. When this happens, your alternative is to sit on the lawn. There are dozens of inexpensive restaurants in the area, and many have take-out. So lots of people have a picnic on the lawn while they're listening to the music. You can bring any outside food and drink, including wine and beer. I stopped going to the movies in the park because so many people talk and use their smartphones (difficult to concentrate on a movie when there are dozens of phone screens lit up in front of you). Until lately, this wasn't a problem with classical concerts, but not any more. (Check out the three women sitting directly in front of us.) So when the phones start lighting up, I close my eyes and just listen.

This is a small, intimate theater and honestly a really unique experience. The space itself is…read moresuper interesting, I think it used to be some sort of old water or industrial facility, though I'm not totally sure. It adds a lot to the atmosphere. We saw White Rooster and thought it was really good. Because of how the space is set up, you feel like you're part of the show instead of just watching it, which made it way more engaging than a typical theater.

Incredible theatre right in the middle of downtown. They do unique and inspiring work here…read more Everyone I have met here has been overwhelmingly kind and passionate for the community. I recommend visiting some of their free outdoor events throughout the year. Top class.

WOW!!! I cannot say enough good things! The theater was stunning, the performance was amazing! I…read morewould honestly love to experience it again! Highly recommend! The entire cast was phenomenal and amazingly talented. This was my first time seeing Hamilton and it may have been the best musical I have seen to date! Our seats were in the top section and we still had an amazing view! Seriously worth every penny (and some). The theater is also in a great area that is walkable to many other attractions and restaurants which is really nice!

I was not sure what to expect but I will say that this musical blew my mind! The CIBC theatre is…read morebeautiful and there is no bad seat in the house. There were lots of people to guide you to your seat and even the guy selling drinks/snacks was very friendly. If you have not been to see this play, you must go! The dancing, singing, hip hop genre, the comedy by the King and the costumes were outstanding. One tip, they offer seat cushions for more seating comfort (just ask)! The play is very long (2hrs/45 minutes), so if you are the kind of person that needs a break, it may be best to go on a weekend or a day that you are not working. Besides that, it is a must see!

Such a lovely exhibit…read more The location is perfect for this rich, immersive experience. A small vintage building, tucked away on a side street, feels quaint yet grand. The newly renovated lounge is beautiful, with large windows and original hardwood floors. The gift shop offers a ton of lovely items. The staff that I encountered were wonderful. Everyone was very professional, friendly and helpful. Once inside the grand room, excitement is in the air. Spacious and dim, we anxiously await what we know will be special. There is a balcony and small seating areas. The music starts and the images roll across the walls. The sound and visual systems are perfect. It was moving and, detailed yet grand. I wished it would go on forever. Even if you are not a classical music aficionado, you will thoroughly enjoy your experience. This exhibit is perfect to attend as a group or alone.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a private showing before the public tickets went on sale. I…read morehave seen several of the immersive exhibit at the space as well as one in Paris. This was by far one of the best.

Such a pretty theatre tucked away! I had never been to this theatre before but my partner and I…read morecame to see Goosebumps: The Musical. You can tell it's an old and much-loved theatre, but it has an old charm to it The staff was super nice and helpful, scanning our tickets and letting us know that we could sit wherever we wanted. The sound was great, and it was a small enough crowd that we had great floor seats. After the show, they did a discussion about the play after that we stuck around for, which was a nice touch.

Nice theater with a beautiful interior. Tiny lobby, but we weren't there too long. Friendly staff…read morethat quickly scanned our tickets and directed us to our seats. We sat in the 3rd row middle for a family friendly Junie B. Jones play performed by DePaul University theater students. Comfy seats, perfect view, great sound, and wonderful show. There is a self parking lot right next door and a decent amount of other lots and street parking just a short walk away.

MANTENO DAN'S THEATRICAL REVIEW…read more Porchlight In Concert: Follies Studebaker Theatre * N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago There are shows you attend... and then there are shows you carry with you for decades. Having worn out my cast albums of Follies to the point where the needle practically filed a complaint and retired, I walked into the historic Studebaker Theatre with high expectations and a heart already tuned to Sondheim's bittersweet symphony. I am delighted to report... Porchlight delivered. And then some. This concert staging, stripped down to its bones, trusted the material, the music, and the performers to do the heavy lifting. And oh, did they lift. The orchestra sat proudly onstage alongside the cast, the setting evoked with just a handful of tables, stand microphones, and a runway that seemed to whisper with the footsteps of ghosts. No grand spectacle, no towering sets... just theater in its purest form. And it worked beautifully. The cast? Simply sensational. Michelle Duffy (Phyllis) commanded the stage with elegance and emotional precision. Angela Ingersoll (Sally) delivered a performance rich with longing and vulnerability. Felicia Fields (Hattie) brought the house to its feet with warmth, power, and presence. And the gentlemen were equally compelling: Anthony Rapp (Benjamin) anchored the story with quiet complexity, Stephen Wallen (Buddy) balanced charm and heartbreak with finesse, John Cardone (Roscoe) added texture and depth, And I must give a personal nod to James Harms (Theodore)--a familiar face and a wonderful presence on that stage. But there was a moment... a deeply personal one... that caught me completely off guard. Honey West (Stella Deems) appeared, and suddenly I wasn't just in the Studebaker Theatre. I was transported back in time. Back to Gentry's on Rush Street... later Halsted... back to nights filled with music, laughter, and memories of someone I once knew and cared for deeply. Honey, you didn't just perform--you unlocked a vault of memories. And for that, I thank you. That is the magic of Follies, isn't it? A crumbling theater. A gathering of ghosts. A collision of past and present. And this production leaned into that magic. It asked the audience to imagine--and in doing so, it gave us something far richer than scenery. It gave us a feeling. Real theater doesn't require excess. It requires truth. Music. Story. Performers who know how to reach into your chest and gently (or not so gently) remind your heart that it still beats. Now... as my readers well know, I do have one standing note--and it echoed again this afternoon. At times, the orchestra swelled just a bit too enthusiastically, occasionally overshadowing the lyrics. Whether it was my perch in the balcony or a touch of acoustic imbalance, there were moments where I strained to catch Sondheim's razor-sharp words. And with Sondheim, every word matters. A slight adjustment in sound balance would elevate an already strong production to near perfection. But make no mistake--this was a triumph. An afternoon of nostalgia, beauty, memory, and music that lingers long after the final note fades into the rafters of that grand old theater on Michigan Avenue. Bravo to the entire cast, crew, and creative team of Porchlight Musical Theatre. You reminded me why I fell in love with theater in the first place. And dear readers... I'm still here.

I saw Titanique in its recent long run at the Porchlight Theatre, and while it was the only time I…read morehad been there, the theatre is overall pretty solid. It was easy to access and simple to navigate, didn't have long lines, and was a venue that didn't appear to have a bad seat. I could see this being a good place for a wide variety of shows, musicals, etc.

Great production at this beautiful theater! Everything seemed organized and there were concessions…read moreavailable and a decent amount of intermission time- much needed to use the women's restroom. We decided to go with the last minute as we were in town and even though the seats were in the balcony section, we still very much enjoyed the production. Sound and lighting were great. Seats were comfortable. I saw a wide range of clothing attire but it was nice to dress up since the theater is so classy. Security was seamless.

Sharing a letter that I wrote to Broadway in Chicago and the Cadillac Theatre for which I never…read morereceived a response: I am writing to share a concern regarding audience management during performances at your theatre (Cadillac). I attended The Phantom of the Opera last night and unfortunately, the experience was significantly disrupted by a visibly intoxicated family seated nearby. They spoke throughout the performance and, most notably, sang very loudly during the final song--directly over the performer during what is meant to be a pinnacle and emotionally powerful moment of the production. This behavior was disruptive and diminished the experience for many audience members in the surrounding area. This was not an isolated incident. Last year, while attending Moulin Rouge at your theatre, I experienced a similar situation involving two belligerent and intoxicated audience members who talked, sang, danced, and cried audibly through much of Act I and part of Act II before finally being escorted out. I paid $250 for my ticket last night to see one of my favorite musicals, and it is deeply disappointing to have that experience compromised by behavior that should be unacceptable in a professional theatre setting. Audience etiquette is essential to preserving the integrity of live performance, and more proactive intervention would go a long way in protecting both patrons and performers. I want to emphasize that the theatre itself is beautiful, and the productions you host are outstanding. It is precisely because of the quality of your programming that I feel compelled to raise this concern. I strongly encourage you to consider stronger audience management practices to ensure that future performances can be enjoyed as intended.