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    Lookingglass Theatre

    4.6 (130 reviews)
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 6:00 PM

    Lookingglass Theatre Photos

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    Jim C.

    We've seen Treasure Island, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and Alice. Phenomenal productions, incredible casts, not a bad seat in the house.

    Lookingglass Alice
    LeShonne S.

    I organized a group outing to The Lookingglass Theater to see Lookinglass Alice with 40 guests including children. The staff were so easy to work with and made the logistical planning super easy. The show was incredible! It included singing, dancing and acrobatic stunts. It was funny and some parts made me jump out of my seat. The theater is intimate and it makes the whole experience really interactive. It is in the original water tower which has an incredible history. I recommend this show to all ages!

    Upcoming Performance Pamphlets 2019
    Christina S.

    Did you know that there are over 250 Theaters in Chicago? Location- The lobby at the Lookingglass Theater is located adjacent to the Chicago Public Libary at 821 N. Michigan Avenue inside the Water Tower Water Works Building with access on Pearson Street. The lobby area offers theater lovers to obtain information on current plays in Chicago as well as a kiosk with the current plays for the Lookingglass Theater. There are plenty of free pamplets for individuals to obtain and many offer coupons. In addition, you may purchase tickets at the main desk for performances at the Lookingglass Theater. Upcoming performances include (2019): Acts of God=February 13-April 7, 2019 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein=May 8-August 4, 2019 FYI-If you "check-in" using YELP you are offered $5.00 off your ticket at the Lookingglass Theater!

    The stage for "Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting"
    Ken O.

    I was invited to the play, "Mr. Rickey Calls A Meeting," at the Lookingglass Theatre. This was the first time, I've ever been at this theater and I've always wanted to attend a play here. Because the theater is in the historical water tower building, expansion is not an option. The entry way is a little tight but nothing to complain about. The waiting area is larger with benches against the wall. You were able to move about and mingle or grab a cocktail at the bar. The auditorium was actually deceit size room. You walk past the stage to your seating. The seating is stadium style so there isn't a bad seat in the house. The chairs were very comfortable and plenty of leg room. The play and actors were great. Looking forward seeing more plays at this theater. Check it out.

    Nick M.

    There aren't enough words to express how phenomenal Alice was!! It feels like the actors poor their heart and souls into each performance; they're able to bring you into every emotions the character is feeling, the ups and the downs. The way they utilize everyday items as props to incorporate into the performance is just adds to the uniqueness of the play. What a magical play, I cannot thank the Lookingglass troupe enough. The feeling you have after one of these plays is a once in a lifetime experience and only leaves you wanting more and more. They have me sold on buying a season just from the performance of Alice.

    Great location for a theater and historical building = Lookingglass Theatre.
    Kathleen M.

    Haven't you always wanted to fly? That has always been one of the reasons I love the story Peter Pan and I feel that was aptly captured at last night's performance. We decided to subscribe to the Lookingglass after being stunned by their production of Our Town. We switched from subscribing to Steppenwolf as their plays became so dark and dysfunctional - as the sets got better and better there, the plays got worse. Which brings me to another part I love about this theatre - the minimalist sets. The art is the ability of the actors to create theater without all the trappings and transcend the physical space. This is live theater at its finest and what we have experienced here. Can't wait for Ethan Frome!

    La Tonya G.

    First I have to say thank you to Yelp for providing the tickets for me and my daughter to see "In the Garden" To be honest I didn't know what this play was about when I stepped into the Lookingglass, I was just ecstatic to be there because I love plays. What I also didn't know is that this theatre is right across the street from Water Tower Place. I had no expectations when I went and if I had it would have broken each one of them. I like small theatre they make you feel like you are truly apart of the play. There were only 6 cast members but boy did they dive into each roll they played. I have to admit my momma bear kicked in when I saw the two young cast members who did great by the way and they were up passed 8pm working...lol In my head I was thinking don't they have to go to school in the morning are they going to be able to get up. Don't mind me I'm a mother of four young adults now and sometimes I revert back to the old days...lmao Those kids acted their butts off and I was so engaged in the story that at first I didn't realize this was a play about Charles Darwin. I'm not going to lie it took me a minute but it was like the cherry on the top of a Sundae when they started speaking of the "Origin of Species" My daughter and I both was like duh! I swear when it first started and from the title "In the Garden" I thought were going to be talking about Adam and Eve. The play was about two and a half hours long and it didn't even feel like it at all. When intermission was over it seemed as if the second part flew by as quickly as it took me to sit down in my seat. I would come back too the Lookingglass and see other plays and if you haven't heard of them like I hadn't you should really check them out you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!

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    7 months ago

    We saw a production of Moby Dick here that we will never forget. Amazing production design- so impactful and nuanced. Just great.

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    Ask the Community - Lookingglass Theatre

    Review Highlights - Lookingglass Theatre

    “The next season I saw "Lookingglass Alice" and was totally impressed with the variety of theater they offer here.”

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    Chicago Theatre - One of the concession stands area

    Chicago Theatre

    4.2(570 reviews)
    0.8 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)
    1.0 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)
    0.9 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!

    Photos
    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)
    0.8 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!)

    Photos
    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

    Lookingglass Theatre - theater - Updated October 2026

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