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.

The Renovo String Orchestra is one of the best that the Chicago area music scene has to offer. You…read morecan tell that everyone who is associated with this place (performers and staff) cares deeply about bringing high quality performances to its audiences. The folks here are friendly and passionate patrons of the arts. I had a chance to see this group perform at Rockefeller Chapel, among other fabulous productions, and they simply brought the house down. The praise showered down, non stop, from the last row in the balcony to the first row of the orchestra. This is the quintessential Chicago ensemble. Go see them live - You will love it!

I have been fortunate enough to see two Seanachai Theatre Company productions: DANCING AT LUGHNASA…read morein the spring, and more recently, THE WEIR. Seanachai's plays are all Irish-centric, from the playwrights to the settings, and fittingly, their home is the Irish American Heritage Center - the perfect venue for them. Not surprisingly, their productions are compelling in subject matter. Don't go expecting a "light" play; they tackle very thought-provoking material. Having said that, both plays I've seen are shot through with humor that the Irish are also known for. Most importantly, the artists of Seanachai are master craftsmen of character and storytelling, and their passion comes through strongly in THE WEIR. Set in modern-day Ireland, about rural barflies and a big-city visitor to their backwater "local," this production is a compact masterpiece of characters drawn and stories told (literally; each character but one tells a gripping tale) that does not end at all like one is led to believe. It's truly an ensemble piece with no weak links; you will find yourself wanting to reach for a beverage next to you, so strongly do you feel a part of this intimate pub evening on a blustery Irish heath. I look forward to attending many more productions in the future.If you enjoy live theater or are into Gaelic storytelling, do yourself a favor and check them out. If you go on a Friday or Saturday night, you can stop for "a small one" after the show in the Fifth Province - the Irish pub on the first floor of the IAHC, and perhaps share your own stories with a cast member or two.

While you guys were all getting wasted at Yelp Summerfest '10, I was lucky enough to meet some of…read morethe cast members of the Seanachai Theater Company. Intrigued by the description of their latest play, The Weir, I decided to go back to the Irish American Heritage Center to see a preview performance. Oh, you didn't know there was a theater in the IAHC? Well, there is! It's very intimate and you feel like you're on the stage with Seanachai's talented ensemble cast. One of my biggest complaints about theater in Chicago is that it's so darn expensive. We don't have "off-broadway", or even "off, off-broadway." We have overpriced Ticketmaster fees and venues so big that you can barely tell if you're watching an actor or a muppet perform. The tickets to see Seanachai are extremely affordable and, on the particular night that I was there, included a Q & A with the director and cast. Since I went to a preview performance, I am interested in going back in a few weeks to see how the play has progressed and also plan on attending future performances.

Innocenti Strings did a really nice job for our ceremony. We gave them custom music, and they…read moreplayed whatever we asked without any hesitation. Isabelle was very nice, and they even had someone at our rehearsal so that we could walk through the ceremony. At one point, email responses were a little slow, but Isabelle was super receptive when I brought up the lack of communication, and she was much quicker to respond in the weeks leading up to the ceremony. I would recommend Innocenti Strings to anyone looking for a nice string quartet to use during their wedding ceremony.

Innocenti Strings was beyond exceptional as the string quartet during our wedding ceremony. They…read moreplayed beautifully and really set the mood for our day. Our guests all raved about their precision and talent. They dressed professionally and handled transitions and cues during our abridged Catholic ceremony very well. They were very communicative and easy to reach even when my husband and I turned in our selected songs a bit later than the deadline. We cannot recommend Innocenti String enough for a wedding or special event!

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!

Marriott Theatre continues to prove why it's one of the best regional theaters around. The theater…read morein the round design makes every seat feel intimate, and with its 360 degree layout, there really isn't a bad seat in the house. The scenic design, lighting, and costumes beautifully transformed the space into a dreamy turn of the century Swedish countryside. A Little Night Music was such an interesting production! It had a little bit of everything including romance, humor, scandal, suspense, and plenty of unexpected plot twists. At times, it was a bit challenging to keep up with all of the intertwining storylines and relationships, but once everything started coming together, it made for a fun and entertaining experience. Even if you're not familiar with A Little Night Music, the witty humor, romance, and tangled relationships keep the story engaging from start to finish. The cast did an incredible job balancing comedy and emotion, delivering plenty of laugh out loud moments alongside heartfelt scenes. As always, Marriott Theatre made for a wonderful night out. Parking is free, the venue is comfortable, and the staff is welcoming, friendly, and organized. If you're looking for a great date night or simply love live theater, this production is absolutely worth the trip to Lincolnshire. A special shoutout to Kesha, our Community Manager, and the incredible Marriott Theatre staff. My husband recently fractured his foot and is currently using a knee scooter. They graciously accommodated us with an aisle seat at the last minute, and the staff went above and beyond by helping transport his scooter to and from our seats. That level of kindness and customer service truly made our evening stress free, and we're so grateful for their thoughtfulness.

Thank the Sultans of Groupon, and the Board of the Chicago Phiharmonic Orchestra, who allowed me to…read morepurchase a ticket for Sunday's concert at Pick-Staiger Hall. Called "Going for Baroque", it featured (no surprise here, from the title) mostly music of the Baroque period. The concert consisted of Baroque masters J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handl, and the almost-classical but mostly baroque Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach. The orchestra, according to the website, draws many of its members from the Lyric Opera Orchestra, as well as other career musicians from the Chicago area. If you are a true Baroque purist, you should be aware that this concert was performed on modern instruments. Some people apparently think that period pieces should be performed on period instruments, so that the modern audience can get closer to hearing what Antonio Vivaldi heard. For example, an absolutely wonderful piccolo player named Alyce Johnson performed pieces that were originally written for the sopranino recorder. It ain't what Vivaldi heard, not exactly, but who cares? I like hearing original instruments, but this was really good, too. I enjoyed this group, and the musical selections, very much. While some compositions from this group of Baroque composers are familiar, the Chicago Philharmonic dug a little deeper into the repertoire for Sunday's concert. The guest conductor and harpsichorist was David Schrader. Along with his musical duties, he also offered a brief history and background of the selected compositions, and I liked that, too. While I really enjoy Baroque and classical music, I am most definitely not a scholar. Getting a little more information broadened my knowledge and enriched the musical experience. And for you Groupon-aholics, I had absolutely no problem redeeming my Groupon. It was a delightful evening. I highly recommend the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra. Even if you have to pay full price.

Breathtaking and Spectacular performance. The audience was enthralled with the orchestra for their…read moreinnovation!

We have become a part of Elite's Academy of Dance family last year. My daughter loves to dance and…read morewe found this new program to better fit her needs. I have seen the studio perform at a Dance Competition and was impressed with the quality of dance, the choreography, music and costume choices. What impressed me the most, however, was the team's camaraderie. These kids are so supportive of each other that I wished for my daughter to experience something this awesome. They looked so "happy" to be there and doing what they love. The studio has many dancers and parents so it's definitely not possible to know everyone but there is a special inclusiveness that I feel. The staff is phenomenal. The studio Director, Jennie Newman-Scheiwe is an amazing leader that I can't praise enough. What impressed me about her professionalism is how extremely organized she is and how she provides the parents patiently with detailed information about everything and always seems to go the extra mile. Her students are thought to be kind and welcoming towards new dancers and because there are so many kids, it seems like friendships form easily. There is room for any dancer, of any level and commitment. It was a tough choice for my daughter to switch studios and she did not transition easily. It was hard for me as well to watch her struggle and to put herself in this new environment. It was a big challenge for her, but Elite's studio culture and welcoming attitude of the staff, teachers and dancers made it so much easier each time she stepped inside. I consider us still being new to the studio but I am impressed so far and can't wait to find out what the future brings. When people ask me, "how is Elite?" I say "it's truly great", but you would need to see it for yourself to believe it, because it's not something one can explain. Change is good sometimes. I highly recommend Elite Academy of Dance as the best studio around!

I'm both confused and surprised to see the reviews posted but aside from them being posted about 5…read moreto 6 years ago and from men, that could explain a lot. Our daughter started with Trilogy a year ago and we plan to stay a part of the Trilogy family for as long as my daughters little legs can dance! Not only is the owner a sweetheart, but they encourage children to dance their little hearts out and do it with incredible technique, strong will, and passion. The shows and competitions are magnificent honestly. Music is well thought out and the children look so happy dancing. The time put in by the entire crew (dancers,teachers, extra help and parents ) shows in the quality of performance. There is a difference between this dance school and your basic park district dance class. Nothing wrong with either but Trilogy definitely takes their quality of dance seriously. They teach the children responsibility that the children can take with them outside of dance and into their everyday lives as they grow. Not to mention how ADORABLE these dancers are!

My daughter was allowed to sign up for Ballet / Tap class via Zoom throughout the year, but was not…read moreallowed to be a part of the Recital because "she did not learn the dance properly via zoom/ Choreography wouldn't be fair over Zoom/ no one of Zoom is part of the Recital" and the outfit for her class was "sold out". I spent $540 (full price) on her classes for the September to May class and was never informed that she cannot participate in the Recital and subsequently was not learning the dance "properly" on Zoom; however my card was eagerly charged on the first day of each month. I was also never contacted and asked if my Zoom student wants to participate in the recital. I reached out and informed Trilogy 3 weeks in advance that she will be participating (could have used any basic yellow outfit since hers was sold out), but was told "No" since it would not "match" the other kids ( I mean who really cares! - these are 4-7 year olds!). During some classes she was not let in due to technical difficulties on their end (!) and I was never credited or refunded any fees. Had to call multiple times for any issues to be addressed. Will not be returning and subjecting my kid to this program ever again and would not recommend this dance school. They do not care for their dancers at all.