Children's Theatre of Elgin was a wonderful and enjoyable acting experience for our daughter from…read moreage 8-15 I think. They learn the satisfaction and all the elements of putting on a great musical theatre performance. It helps build confidence for all their future endeavors in life. I highly recommend it!

From the owner: Children's Theatre of Elgin (CTE) provides exciting performing arts experiences by and for children…read moreand youth through full-scale musical theatre productions.

I went to watch Les Miserables by Schaumburg On Stage as I'd recently missed the national tour in…read moredowntown Chicago. Realizing that Drury Lane and Paramount had done their version a few years back and Marriott Theatre had done it a bit before that, I wanted to watch a live version in case I can't make the next big stop in Milwaukee. I watch quite a bit of theatre, both professional and amateur. Not sure why, but until this show -- I wasn't aware of Schaumburg on Stage which has been around since 2016. To my surprise, the quality of the production was similar in quality to other highly acclaimed groups like the District 214 all-district group (which recently did The Wedding Singer). Here were my thoughts on various aspects of the show: Staging: It really surprised me how many sets were used in the show and how they were fully functional. They were designed and painted well and items were hardly reused. They also did a very good job of quickly changing sets to make sure the showtime was kept to a reasonable length. Vocals: Two things I like about this. One is how they kept the complex harmonies -- which worked great in group songs. The overall balance lacked baritone and bass voices, but that's expected with younger actors. I also liked how they did not shy away from the challenge of the very high notes for male or female leads. They could have easily changed the key, but it's great to see them embrace the challenge. Orchestra: A bit smaller, not sure if it's due to space limitations or that's the way the school version is written. A bit more reliant on piano and common woodwind/string instruments than the full version. I did like how they played at a level not to overpower the vocals. Lighting and fog: I liked all the varieties of lights used. Not just in general stage lighting from the top, but also from lights on the side and spotlights. There were quite a bit of variations on lighting, which helped to tell the story. I did not like the excessive use of stage fog though, which tended to linger for more than a single scene. Overall, a great group to watch a show from. It's much better than the typical amateur group and prices are very reasonable. It's also great how they incorporate actors and actresses from all different ages and help them to build interest in theatre. Based on the quality of this performance, I can't wait to watch another show when they get a new digital microphone system.

The experienced people at SOS really see the value and potential in each kid. They are like family…read morein that they really connect and care, but they also hold the kids to a high standard and help them achieve it. This is definitely a step up from park district community theater in both production quality and experience.

Very good small venue to see / hear music you love. No hassle of driving into the city. Parking…read moreeasy. Ladies restrooms finally updated. Removed 1 star for making us stand for the national anthem before seeing Rick Wakeman. Felt very MAGA

Incredible theater experience. I also appreciate that they have prioritized original music over…read morecover bands. This is such a gem, everyone around me was excited, not only for the band, but they seem to genuinely enjoy the venue too. I found the seats to be reasonably priced, and the views even from the cheap seats that we purchased were completely fine since the venue is fairly small. I already bought tickets to return. Love this spot.

Let's go over theatre etiquette. Turn your dang phone off. Don't video like you're at a rock…read moreconcert. And don't wear so much perfume that people 5 rows ahead can smell you. Gross I didn't even know that Elgin had a symphony, but someone gave me free tickets and I was game. I really enjoyed it. The symphony has so many very talented musicians and the theatre small enough that there isn't a bad seat in the house. Would I drive all the way to Elgin again for another concert? That's undecided. But I wouldn't discourage anyone from going. It really was a beautiful evening

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra is absolutely phenomenal! A powerful performance, moving, and…read morebeautifully executed. The musicians are incredibly talented!

We saw a ten act horror show. It was fantastic. The actors were really good and engaging in their…read moreroles. The studio was small but cozy. We sat in the front row, so we literally a few feet from the actors. About 20 people in attendance. The cost was pay what you want, so I gave $30 each for my wife and I. Afterward, you could give more for the actors, so I threw in an extra $20. The theater is a little tucked back from the street. It's small, and you have to go up a flight of stairs to enter the studio. All the people who worked there were nice and helpful. You could buy alcohol at a reasonable price, but I passed, as I didn't want to have to use the restroom in the middle of the performance. I plan on looking up more shows as they come out. I like the small setting and with only 7 actors performing, you could really sense their skills for each story. They also have art you can bid on in the studio, although we didn't place a bid. I'm not an artsy person but I like plays, and the theme was right up my alley. To the actors that performed that night; bravo!!!!

Just had a film screening for the cast and crew today. It was our first time here at this location…read more The location is perfect and not too far of a walk from garage parking. When, we arrived to set up early our contact person was more than helpful. He went above and beyond. He was enthusiastic to help us out if we needed equipment. I would recommend this place if you wanted to do an art show or a film screening.