We can't say enough about our class last night. To start, our instructor, Nicole, was a gem. She…read moremade us feel right at home, was patient, and took the time to educate us about pottery and what we were making. Her demonstrations and explanations were so helpful as well. We were lucky enough to have a great group in the class which added to the whole experience. Educational and fun. Thank you for a great time!

Nikki was an outstanding instructor with a great balance of knowledge, patience, and humor that…read moremade the whole night a wonderful experience.

I've been taking classes for about a year now and I couldn't be happier with the experience I've…read morehad here. Every instructor is knowledgeable, kind, supportive and dedicated. Not only are there formalized classes but there are extra opportunities to learn with workshops and photo-walks. The community at the school is very open and friendly and I feel very lucky to be a part of it! I would highly suggest taking a class if you are new or even experienced at photography

I took Photo 1 and think the course was good quality. Expensive but you get 7 lectures on photo…read moreinstruction and 5 labs on how to use photo editing software so it's substantial content. The classes are mostly taught by former students who have completed a lot of coursework and are quite experienced.

We had a lovely afternoon experiencing Theater of the Mind, and it turned out to be a great…read moreengaging and thought-provoking immersive experience. This is not traditional theater where you simply sit and watch. Instead, it is a hands-on, sensory experience that invites participants to use sight, sound, touch, memory, and perception to explore how perspective shapes our understanding of the world. It is clever, creative, and exceptionally well executed. One of the highlights was our David - Kelli Simpkins, who was absolutely fantastic. She brought an energy and presence that reminded me very much of David Byrne, one of the creators of the experience, alongside Mala Gaonkar. She managed to be both engaging and thought-provoking while guiding participants through the experience. What made the afternoon especially enjoyable was sharing it with friends. There were three couples in our group, and the conversations did not end when the experience was over. We found ourselves discussing what we had seen, felt, remembered, and interpreted long afterward. To me, that is always the sign of something worthwhile, it continues to live in your mind after you leave. The entire production is imaginative, intelligent, and playful while also encouraging reflection about perception, memory, and the way each of us experiences reality differently. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys immersive experiences, creative storytelling.

Just like life, Theater of the Mind is what you make of it! If you are open-minded, are willing to…read morelearn from others, and willing to fully participate, then I think this 75 immersive journey is quite lovely. I want to leave the experience itself to be carefully unwrapped by you, but I will say everything is brilliantly curated down to the smallest details, fun and educational, and something that I will definitely carry with me for the rest of my life. It is no tech allowed, but they do provide you with small, clean lockers and a lock + key for free to use while you are there. Restrooms, snacks and drink while you wait, merch, etc. I hope the Goodman continues to bring more experiences like this to life! (Masquerade, anyone?!?)

I must say that this review is long overdue, but it must be done…read more I visited Chicago for the first time ever back in May and did all the touristy things like taking my photo in front of the Bean in Millenium Park and going on an architecture boat tour along the Chicago River. One of the best experiences, though, was a local gem lesser known to tourists and quite possibly even Chicagans - the Albany Park Theater Project. I had my taste of APTP on what was their second to the last performance of "Feast," a play about something Yelpsters can appreciate - FOOD! All I can say is that you need to see it for yourself to understand how amazingly talented this youth theater ensemble is as they sing their hearts out and tell delicious stories about one's first memory of food from the perspective of immigrants, working class Americans and urban teens. Loved it! "Feast" was simply captivating. It brings on all sorts of emoticons like :) and :( and :') and :D. I don't know if there's an emoticon for hunger out there, but I probably had a drool-face/nom nom nom look going on for the most part. If you ever get the opportunity to watch, participate and/or sponsor APTP, I'd highly recommend it. It looks like they're performing "Feast" again this October and November. GO SEE IT! APTP is like the best thing since, well, the Chicago-style hot dog!

It took me a while to write this review but I wanted to make sure everyone knew about the…read morebreathtaking theater from APTP. I've seen a few APTP productions and they are awe-inspiring to say the least. The true raw talent, the attention to historical facts, the captivating music, song, and movements. I was lucky because I learned about APTP almost a decade ago when they first started out in Eugene Field School. I happened to see the last performance of "Homeland" at the Goodman Theater and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen (this includes Broadway in NYC). The stories are real... I think that makes it even more captivating. APTP is very accessible to all as it has tickets for a very reasonable price. This is a true hidden gem. Okay enough raving :) Go check it out, you'll know what I'm talking about then.

The Pottery Loop is one of those rare places that's both incredibly creative and deeply relaxing…read more Whether you're new to pottery or have some experience, this studio makes you feel completely supported and encouraged to explore your own style. I've taken both wheel and handbuilding classes and truly loved them. I ended up making three pieces--two on the wheel and one from handbuilding--and the entire process, from shaping to glazing, was so rewarding. The staff, especially Mike, are amazing--patient, knowledgeable, and fun to learn from. They create a space that's relaxed but still focused, which is exactly what you want in a creative setting. They also offer 6-week classes if you're looking to go deeper into the craft. I haven't had time to commit to one yet, but based on my experience, I'd 100% recommend it to anyone who wants a consistent, immersive creative outlet. They do have a 24-hour cancellation policy, which is fair, though it can be a little tough if something last-minute (like getting sick) comes up. But overall, this place is such a joyful, hands-on, and well-run experience. I can't wait to go back again!

I can't say enough wonderful things about this pottery studio and the classes! From the moment you…read morewalk in, the space feels warm, creative, and welcoming. It's the kind of place where you instantly feel inspired to try something new. Mike, the owner and instructor, is truly incredible. He's patient, knowledgeable, and has a natural way of teaching that makes everyone feel comfortable. He takes the time to explain techniques, offers helpful guidance, and encourages creativity without ever making you feel rushed or intimidated. If you're thinking about trying pottery, this is absolutely the place to go. Mike has created a studio that feels like a little creative community, and every class is something to look forward to. Highly recommend to anyone looking to learn pottery, unwind, and make something special!

I graduated from Players Workshop in Summer 2001…read more As a stage and film actor, I find the training provided at PW extremely useful and inspiring. Thank you, instructors Steve Roath and Jeff!

If making choices in life are a challenge in any aspect of life or career, this program is for you!…read morePlayers Workshop will help to fine tune your ability to access your internal creative core. Once you have started unlocking and breaking down your fears and barriers, your ability to give presentations, engage in conversation and perform in life are at a renewed and heightened level. This program is great for developing teamwork skills and being able to trust your inner self.

Completed a tufting (rug making) class here with a friend. The class begins with a 45 minute…read moretutorial given verbally by the instructor. That part was a little hard to grasp. It wasn't until the actual class started - which is about 3 hours long - that I started to grasp what was taught. I can say it was such a fun experience. I loved the way my rug came out at the end. I do wish during the class the instructor was a little more hands on - but I had a really good time.

My boyfriend and I took this class about 6 months ago and never received our finished rugs that we…read morepaid over $300 for. We went by the shop to pick them up at an agreed upon time and there was no one there (the owner gave the excuse that there was a power outage.) He offered to ship them to us, never did, and then ghosted all of our emails trying to follow-up. I know we will not receive the rugs at this point and want to warn others that this place is a scam. If you look at their google reviews, this has happened to many other people as well.

I am new to town and when researching theatre companies I wanted to check out, this theater was one…read moreof the ones at the top of my list. I saw their immersive play Masque Macabre today and I have tickets to see The Revolutionists next month. The MM production quality and acting were top notch, with richly layered lighting to set the tones of the various areas and highly detailed sets and props. The costumers did a great job of using various masqusrade masks to highlight the inner workings of each character and I really enjoyed the way in which we were brought into the world MM inhabits. Being an immersive theatre artist myself, I saw a lot of potential in the script, yet found the plot lacking any real driving force or conflict. Because of this it quickly deflated for me, which is something that happens a lot with newcomers to immersive theatre. I was still able to enjoy myself by viewing the piece as more of an art installation and character study than a theatrical narrative. I do hope Strawdog continues to develop other immersive pieces because they really are onto something. With some tweaks they could have the next big hit on their hands. I would even love the opportunity to point out the show's flaws and help them strengthen their immersive aspects. I was still very impressed by what they put together and look forward to seeing The Revolutionists next month.

We went in with an open mind but it sucked. Sorry but they force you to not participate yet walk…read morearound. I couldnt get into it so I tried to make the best of it. After I reviewed them on their page one of their actresses responded to my critique with a full blown lie claiming I was throwing up in their bathroom. This is medically impossible since I cant drink. IC sufferer here. The strawdog fb page then blocked me from responding. So just bc I didnt like their show they lied about me. Boring and unethical. Do not waste your time here. These dorks are on a power trip.