Went to see "Spark: Chapter One of The Prometheus Project" - Was totally not sure what to expect…read moreand took a chance on this event, boy am I glad I did. A fantastic production by all, and we were thrilled to find out that the story was completely organic to the theater. Conceptualized, written, performed, for a first run. Outstanding use of effects in conjunction with the acting performance. Cast and director conducted a Q&A session after the performance and held a meet and greet. They did an excellent job of targeting the slightly older child crowd. So many children activities and shows are geared towards younger and often time inadvertently exclude the aging tweenies and teens. Highly recommend seeing this production, it just does not get any more organic and local than this. The staff at the theater were very friendly and helpful. My 14 and 12 yo's liked it and that is not an easy task to accomplish. Tip - allow yourself extra time to get to the theater, even an afternoon show on a Saturday proved challenging to get to due to traffic not only on the highway but major avenues as well. Parking is limited so be sure to consider the alley beside the theater as well (no cost). Super tip - do yourself a favor and buy tickets from goldstar.com to save money, family of four $30, nuff said.

Totally unknown and we are totally missing out; Adventure Stage Chicago is something to see!!…read more The theater Vittum, is the performing space for Adventure Stage Chicago and located in West Town neighborhood, the theater is part of the Northwestern University Settlement House. It's a 299 seat theater and is named after Harriet Elizabeth Vittum, head resident of the Settlement House from 1907 to 1947. Apparently she was an advocated for the dramatic and musical arts; she believed they empower self-expression and self-worth. Their motto at Vittum is "Redefining Children's Theatre" and they certainly do that. As for the Vittum itself, it is super clean and the seats are more comfortable then most of the theaters I frequent. Also, the staff is friendly and is very laid back. They host a variety of plays, dance, and a vaudevillian type acts, but they also have workshops and camps. Though they are mostly for kids since it's mostly a children's theater but you can check it out for yourself on their website at http://www.adventurestage.org/ As for the play/ act... Vittum hosts a 500 Clown production of "Trapped" 500 Clown is a production company that uses action-based performance, improvisation, and circus arts to tell long-form dramatic stories that catapult the performers into physical and emotional risk. "Trapped" is about three clown-musicians who are unexpectedly ensnared. They ask the question "What does it mean to be trapped" before the show and after, having a discussion on the different ways the actors were trapped. Of course I acted like a little kid when I knew the answers, waving my hand waiting to be picked. The show is non-stop fun and you are exhausted for the actors. They run around the stage and even seating area the entire show. It's hilarious and a treat for the imagination!! Go see it!! Support the arts!!

I second the reviews below, and then some. Found RB when a cousin invited me to join her for a…read moreproduction, and was instantly smitten. Later became a subscriber, and have enjoyed every play I've seen since, and really appreciate the "Talk Backs", Q&A sessions which allow you to interact with the actors, and learn more about the plays. The subscription prices are unbelievably reasonable, but my favorite thing is the "Flex Pass" - you don't have to commit to specific dates immediately, which is invaluable when coordinating with other subscribers. On my list of "Ten Best Ways to Spend a Sunday Afternoon", a play at Remy Bumppo followed by a beer and a burger at John Barleycorn is very near the top!

I am so surprised there aren't more reviews about this theatre!! But that is its key problem: It…read moredoesn't advertise. No one knows about Remy Bumppo despite its unusual name and history, and despite incredible performances, despite its ability to turn me on to playwrights I knew nothing about, despite that it can get me thinking and despite that it has me craving more theatre -- seriously wishing for the next performance. Despite all this, its ambience beyond the lobby is that of a real warehouse/ experimental theatre which they share with at least one other theatre company (Eclipse). I believe this is because the Remy Bumppo Theatre Company does not have a full understanding of non-traditional marketing or guerrilla tactics for pr and their applications in today's world (and how you can achieve so much by spending so little.) I mean, I have attended one of their openings, and the food spread was opulent -- more opulent than Victory Gardens' who has a seriously beautiful and wholly owned theatre. But I digress. I'll offer marketing advice when they call me, but otherwise, I'll stick to the theatre review. And the theatre is magnificent. I saw a Pinter play almost a year ago here and haven't stopped thinking about it. I've even followed Pinter works up to Evanston to compare (and to make it clear: The Remy Bumppo performance surprised me by being far better -- like professional v. amateur -- than the Piven Theatre's). I've laughed at everything they've done and come out lighter -- even though some of their works were seriously heavy. They just know how to pick 'em: playwrights, directors and actors alike. First-rate, all the way. Remy Bumppo lends something powerful and meaningful and fun and unexpected to your life. That is why you should spend your money here. I know people in Chicago who don't consider themselves serious theatre-goers (and some who do) think that the end-all, be-all of theatre is "Wicked," but this is FAR BETTER than that. FAR more entertaining. And costs a lot less for which you will end up with so much more. I promise.

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.

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.

It had probably been a decade since I last caught a show here. When I saw actor Gary Cole was…read morecoming to town, I grabbed a friend and said let's catch his show! Tickets are easy to purchase from the Steppenwolf website. As this is a smaller, intimate theater, really not a bad seat in the house. Pricing is affordable. They allow drinks purchased there to be brought into the theater. They have 2 bars and a small snack area for treats. Bathrooms are gender neutral stalls. Parking is either street parking (if you feel like driving around to snag a spot), their paid lot, or I recommend using park whiz app to find a garage a couple of blocks away. It is also near CTA. I find the history of Steppenwolf to be interesting. (A great ensemble cast) Check them out!

I recently lost my Mom and after seeing The Movement You Need, a part of me felt healed. Brendan…read moretook all the bad shit that could have weighed him down and reframed it as lampposts in his story of how his love for the Beatles was fueled by his love for his parents. It all connects. I laughed. I cried. I snorted from laughing. What a gorgeous interpretation! The Steppenwolf theater had wide aisles (so really you don't even have to get up when others are passing by to get to their seats). There's lots of restaurants around there to dine before the show or grab a drink after!

was disappointed in your production of the nutcracker. I have seen it multiple years now and this…read moreyear was disappointed. there was very little dancing for Clara and godfather drosselmeyer. And they are the main characters. Clara just sat mostly the second act which is my favorite part. And did no dancing. She is supposed to dance with the nutcracker but she did not. It felt like more like a play than a ballet. My mom was even falling alsleep cause it could not keep her attention. Please do better next year. we pay for the dancing not the acting.

This is a review for the Ballet Legere's the Nutcracker…read more I advise you: do not waste your money! This should be a free performance, or a "donations encouraged" performance. Heck, they should have paid ME to attend the performance! This performance of the Nutcracker is advertised as the "longest performing Nutcracker in Chicago." With "acclaimed guest artists" and "special effects". At less than half the cost of a ticket to the Joffrey, I knew it wasn't going to be as spectacular. I knew they wouldn't have an orchestra, but man, I could have never predicted it being so terrible. The play was supposed to start at 7:00, but then started at 7:30. I was suspicious right from the start with the announcer, who made it sound like a circus performance with a loud, "Welllllllcome ladies and gentlemen to Ballet Legere's performance... of... the... Nutcracker!!!" The audience hooped and hollered. Like who cheers like this is a stadium game at a ballet?! I later realized, most of the audience was just parents and relatives. The first act was only a half an hour, with appended versions of the songs. Almost all performers were young kids or teens, who didn't have much talent. It was a kid's play. There were literally two adult dancers, who were decent, but couldn't make up for everything else. Costumes were to be desired: the dresses were really long, and you couldn't see the dancer's legs. Call it modest or call it what you want, I think they didn't wear the traditional tutus because they wanted to hide the mistakes in the dancing. About the only good thing was the auditorium, which was in decent shape. Parking was also good, and free! But that's beside the point to this review. The performance totally ruined my boyfriend and I's Saturday night. He agreed, it was awful. After the performance, I tried calling Ballet Legere to request a refund. The lady on the phone seemed confused, and said, "Uhhh I don't know if we can do that." I explained my disappointment and asked again, at which point I got more floundering, and then was hung up on. I called right back, thinking this was a mistake, then no one picked up. I left a voicemail. No one returned my call. I am working it out with the credit card company to get my money back. I wish there had been a review out there so that I could have known before purchasing tickets. I hope this provides that for you, my fellow yelper!

Fantastic! If you're a foodie, I guarantee you'll enjoy this play…read more It covers Julia Child's life from arrival in Paris to departure ten years later as a chef and author. Lots of French food references, so much that I don't guarantee you'll like it if not a foodie. But I think you still will. Excellent period references and context. But most of all, outstanding acting, great direction, perfect casting (I mean perfect, other than some poor imitations of French). We went opening night (opening night for this run - it originated at TimeLIne Theatre in Lakeview East a few years ago). Only four of the ten cast members are Actors Equity members, but they all did great jobs. We have seen a good number of plays in New York, on Broadway, off Broadway, and off-off Broadway. The writing and the pacing in this play were world class. I don't expect this play will end up in New York, with the food focus, but I hope I'm wrong. One warning: The play we saw started at 7:30pm and ended at 9:50. You must have something to eat before you go. If not, you'll be so famished by the end that you won't be able to focus on the play. When we got home, the first thing my wife did was pull out her "Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume One" and start looking up recipes referenced in the play.

Very fun spot for some comedy or a show!! Everything that I've seen here has been great!…read more It's a very intimate theater with open seating (at least the show that I saw). If you're seeing something similar, I'd definitely recommend getting there early to grab enough seats for your group because it fills up fast.

I'm not sure how to review the Young People's Theater of Chicago, but it is housed inside of the…read moreGreenhouse Theater, so here we go. What a great theater for kids around Chicagoland. We've loved every single show we've seen here. They also seem to love performing for the kids. HIghly recommend!