The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage (COD) in Glen Ellyn, IL, is a vibrant hub for…read morethe performing and visual arts, offering an array of professional theater, music, dance, comedy, and family-friendly performances. While the MAC hosts a wide range of cultural programming year-round, what has drawn us back time and again, now three times, are their exceptional, large-scale art exhibitions, presented every two years. The most recent of these is the 2025 exhibition Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World (on view from May 31 to September 21). This immersive experience transports visitors to the lively and refined world of 17th-century Edo-period Japan. The exhibit vividly captures a time when Edo (present-day Tokyo) thrived as the cultural and economic heart of the nation, defined by its devotion to the arts, nature, and the pleasures of daily life. A highlight of the exhibition is the U.S. debut of the Museum Galleries - Chiossone Collection, featuring a remarkable 70-piece selection of ukiyo-e masterpieces. Among these are 53 original paintings and woodblock prints by renowned artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige, alongside 17 beautifully crafted objects. Together, they offer a captivating window into Japan's "floating world." The MAC consistently excels in delivering these world-class exhibitions. The experience is not only visually stunning but also engaging and educational. The staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and always ready to enhance your visit. Last, but not the least, there is a very nice gift shop there. We bought some cute Japanese noodles and rice bowls with the "floating world" art theme from the gift shop. Attending an art exhibition there is truly a joy, and we look forward to each new one.

We came for the Hokusai exhibit on a Friday. It was a little hard to find, the address on the flyer…read moredidn't direct us to the right area. Saw some signs near campus but not enough. Was finally able to find it by searching McAninch Arts Center (MAC). The exhibit is cool, loved the eki (train station) stamps for the passport you're given. I wasn't expecting much and it lived up to expectations. After experiencing it do I think it was worth the $27/per person admission? Not for me. But it's still cool and definitely worth a visit if you're an art enthusiast.

We love this venue! Smaller than the big stadiums, more intimate, better overall sound…read more We've been to a half dozen shows so far and sat in almost all areas of the theater. I believe there is not a bad seat in the house. Parking is easy, plenty of dining choices in the immediate area and drinks available in the lobby to take to your seats. Totally recommend looking into their calendar and if you see an event you like, jump on it.

Nice clean, open theater for performances. The seats were decent - we at box seats to the right…read more Ticket prices were somewhat high for the type of venue and we had to get tickets through Ticketmaster so there are the extra fees involved. Called the box office and they were of no help in buying tickets for will call. We saw One Night in Memphis on Nov. 23. The performers were good, dedicated to playing their artists. The bad part of the theater? The sound - they cranked up the instruments and we could barely hear the performers sing. I felt bad for the performers trying to be heard over the drums and electric bass. Another downside was the lack of the ushers and staff with seating. It didn't seem to matter much where people sat as long as no one complains. Not sure this is good for honest people who pay for decent seats. When we got to our seats there was a couple already sitting in our seats. They claimed that the box office sent them to our seats because they got kicked out of their balcony seats. Without having an usher nearby, we had to take care of it ourselves. They begrudgingly moved to the next set of free seats in the box grumbling about how they should have stayed in their seats. The people with tickets to their relocated seats showed up and the balcony couple again claimed they were placed there by the box office because they were told to leave their balcony seats. They were finally moved by an usher. I noticed them sitting across the theater in the empty box seats, not balcony. I guess no one checks tickets. They must be pros knowing not to pay $75+ a ticket, but to pay a lot less for balcony and sit in premium seats because no one will check. Other than this irritating situation, the show was okay. Parking was easy and free which was nice. Overall, I think we'd be back only if there was a performer we must see, but we will not be paying for main or box seating prices. It's a small theater.

Went to see the play, Baked. It was delightful. Staging was excellent. Story line was funny and…read morepoigant. The space is nicely set-up. There is a bar for drink purchases. It is a nice evening out. The only problem is that the area is parking challenged. Do come a little earlier to secure pay to park spots. The area has little free street parking. The venue itself is usually air conditioned to be on the cool side. A light jacket or layer is highly recommended for all performances.

Intimate space for some great shows. Bar staff is friendly, as well as other support staff…read more Acoustics are good. I was impressed. Nice job.

Finally got to see Come From Away at the Marriott Theatre, and what a beautiful production. If…read moreyou're looking for a musical that leaves you feeling a little more hopeful about people and the world, this one absolutely delivers. The cast was fantastic, and I especially loved how the production kept the energy moving with the music, choreography, and incredibly creative staging. There's a wonderful balance of funny and emotional moments. I definitely laughed, but there were also moments that gave me chills. The Marriott Theatre itself is such a great venue for a musical. The intimate theater makes you feel much closer to the performers, and there really isn't a bad seat in the house This is one of those productions that reminds you how much kindness and community can matter, especially during the hardest moments. A beautiful show and a wonderful night out.

We love the Marriott Theatre, and were so grateful to receive complimentary tickets from Yelp to…read moresee the musical "Come from Away"! Our huge thanks to Yelp, our Community Manager Kesha, and the Marriott Theatre for this wonderful opportunity. My husband, who is also a fellow Yelp Elite, was my plus-one. We were deeply touched by this powerful yet entertaining musical. "Come from Away" is based on the true story of what happened after the U.S. airspace was closed on September 11, 2001, following the attacks. 38 planes carrying thousands of passengers from around the world were diverted to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland. For 5 days, this close-knit community generously welcomed the stranded passengers with open arms, providing shelter, food, clothing, an open bar, and most importantly, compassion and kindness. We watched "Come from Away" on the evening of September 12, just after the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The timing made the experience especially poignant. I had goosebumps throughout this 100-minute production, brought to life by the incredibly talented cast of the Marriott Theatre. The heartbreaking moments were skillfully interwoven with laugh-out-loud humor, creating an emotional roller coaster that never felt heavy-handed. This award-winning musical beautifully celebrates the triumph of humanity and reminds us that, despite our differences, we are all part of a global family. By the end, what stayed with me was a profound sense of love, resilience, friendship, romance, and gratitude. The Marriott Theatre's theatre-in-the-round setup is perfect for this production that there truly are no bad seats! The rotating stage creates an immersive atmosphere that brings the story to life and makes the audience feel completely connected to the action. I also loved the witty costume design, which helps the actors transform quickly between characters. The same talented cast portrays both the Ganderites and the stranded passengers, and their versatility is remarkable. "Come from Away" runs from August 26 through October 18, 2026. Don't miss the chance to see this phenomenal production, I highly recommend it!

I am an avid theater fan (and sometimes participant), yet somehow I'd never been here. This is a…read moretragic fact, as they've done a lot of shows I really love over the years. But honestly, I think a big deterrent is their ticket prices. It looks like they do student ticket prices now, which is great and makes it much more attainable -- I don't remember seeing that as an option when I was in college or my first round of grad school, but it's been awhile since I was in that situation. (It looks like they have educator discounts, which I'm hoping I may be eligible for, as it doesn't specifically state whether you have to be a K-12 educator or if college faculty are eligible). They also have discounts for theater industry professionals, which is great. Their regular prices for shows are a bit more expensive than a lot of the theaters in the city. (But also it probably balances out when you consider cost to park downtown versus here). It also looks like they have pay-what-you-can options at certain shows, which is also a nice way to make it accessible to more folks. I still haven't seen a show here, but I came to a lecture event they did a few weekends ago that is related to the themes of their current show. It was really interesting to hear both an academic perspective from a professor and the perspective of a social worker and dramaturg. They also do a pay-what-you-can storytelling night, which sounds super fun. The space is also incredible. The lecture took place in the lobby area, and it's a beautiful space. I look forward to coming to see a show here. (And will update my review once I do.)

Saw JOB there. Very intimate and performances were top notch Got to speak with actors after show…read morewhich was great. Love the area and the cozy theater. Will be back soon.

had such a fun experience at The Second City! We started the night with dinner and drinks at 1959…read moreKitchen & Bar, and the food was really good. Then we headed to see Reality Detox: The Improv Experience, which was seriously so funny! I also loved that we could do dinner, drinks, and a comedy show all in one place, it made for such a fun and easy night out. Definitely recommend checking out The Second City if you're looking for something fun to do in Chicago!

I was in town for a work conference and a bunch of us headed to The Second City to enjoy a show in…read moreour downtime! The location is in the middle of a lively neighborhood, with plenty to do before and after the show! There are a few different stages at this location, so pay attention to which show you have tickets for (we were definitely waiting at the wrong door). The show was absolutely hilarious! Definitely not kid friendly or for those easily offended! It's a mix of improv and sketch comedy that keeps you laughing all night long. I honestly wish it was longer! I didn't partake in any drinks or food, but the servers were super friendly and came around often! I'd absolutely return for another show!

What a gem! I pass the Oil Lamp Theater all the time, but never went. Purchased tickets for The…read moreOutsider during Chicago Theater Week and so glad I did! We are excited to attend more shows. When you first walk in, you're greeted by a hostess. There's a full service bar and various seating spots you can enjoy before and after the show and during intermission. The theater is cozy with 60 seats. They are moving across the street to a larger space, former Country Cobbler. Fun fact, I used to get my shoes there when I was a child. They are currently fundraising for the transformation. Check out their website to learn more. The Outsider was hilarious. The actors really brought this play to life. During this divisive political climate we are currently in, it was a refreshing perspective of politics and government. Everyone laughed throughout the entire show. I highly recommend checking The Outsiders out!!

I have never been to the Oil Lamp Theater before, but my parents treated the entire family to a…read moreshowing of It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play to cross it off of my bucket list. The parking was a little crowded for a Sunday night so my father dropped us off at the door and parked the car while we ventured inside. We got the warmest greeting from the person behind the desk who gave us instructions on how we could write our own shout outs to be read by the cast. (Probably more relevant to the patrons of the theater than the building itself, but they were a range of hilarious, heartwarming, and professionally personal!) There were free cookies available as well as a full bar menu. I don't drink so I always scope out the non-alcoholic options and I could have gotten a can of Diet Coke for $2--not bad! I did see that they did offer a curated drink that matched the show as well. I appreciate when small details like that are accounted for! I personally did not use the bathroom, but multiple members of our party did and I did not hear any complaints. The theater itself was very small, but it made sense for the show that we were attending? I am deathly curious (Pun not intended) to see how they will pull off Dial M for Murder in that space. I saw it in Oakbrook on a sprawling stage so my brain couldn't fathom how that would work. Anyhoo! Back to what I actually DID see. Again, the set worked for the show that we did see. It had a cool foley studio like I imagine radio stations did back in the day. My favorite contraption was the one that spun with a handle to sound like wind! So cool! The seats were black, plastic, chairs which I did not mind because I have proper posture. I didn't feel uncomfortable at any point during the 2 hour show. My grandma is shorty and had a hard time seeing at times, but luckily a radio play is more about what you hear over what you see. For your reference when picking seats, the the first row of every pair is the front row of another level. So Row A and Row B share a platform if that makes sense. Overall, I had a wonderful time (Again, pun not intended) and I signed up for the mailing list in the hopes that I can support again soon!

Curtain Call Community Theatre provides a vehicle for local performing arts development,…read moreproduction, education and encourages & fosters community involvement. Curtain Call Community theater provides a space for the arts community to experience live theater in the Mokena area. I had an amazing experience here from the time I spoke with June over the phone, upon entering the theater and experiencing phenomenal service from each and every person involved. This place provides amazing productions as well as service to the community no matter who you are. They took very good care of me and my friends when we attended a production here and I was very impressed with their attentiveness. This is a great community theater and I highly recommend attending a production here!

I love their improve nights. The theatre is small and intimate and their shows are very well…read moredone. Love going to their performances!

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.

You can see from anywhere. The seats were comfortable! The acoustics were great! We were here for a…read moreconcert. There is campus parking for the events. If there is another event that I like in the future I will attend

Cahn is located on Northwestern University's campus, but it is available for use by outside…read moreorganizations as well. I have visited here for a performance by Music Theatre Works (at the time known as Light Opera Works), and was pleasantly surprised by my visit. Parking can be a big pain in the ass in a city like Chicago, where I've most often been a patron of various theatrical events, so let's get this out of the way early: Parking is a dream at Cahn! On the weekends, I think it is, it's free and abundant. When I was here the lot directly across the street was already filled, but then again I'm not what one would call overly early (though I'm never late for a performance!), so perhaps it would have been an option if I'd been on the earlier side. Luckily there was parking within a block or two that was easy. The theater is surprisingly large; it's about 1,000 seats and is a proscenium stage. Seats are good throughout the theatre. I think Music Theatre Works now plays out of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, but if I have the opportunity to attend an event at Cahn Auditorium again I won't hesitate because I know that the space will allow for a great experience.