I have been a patron of Metropolis for as long as I can remember, starting with the influence of my…read moregrandpa and grandma taking me to the children's shows. The quaint theater doesn't really have a "bad" seat in the house! They have programming that spans improv, musicals, classic plays, children's theatre, educational concerts, a capella, etc. They also have a performing arts school in which my daughter has taken classes and summer camps at. One star off because I wish they would do more accessible tickets e.g. rush tickets or lotteries. One of shows of the children from the school of the performing arts was, like, $20/person. Also, the Play that Goes Wrong was $50. I can see a Broadway in Chicago show for that price if you go about it utilizing the proper channels. I do not utilize the bar during shows, but they sell snacks, which are not allowed in the theater, and drinks, which are allowed in the theater.

Very disappointed we paid for seats and then was told first come first serve. So nit happy we…read morewaited in lobby thinking we had a say section 3 seat 7-8. So our seats we 3-4 , 5-6, 7-8. For three couples. Instead seat were saved and not together. Every one in this row thought the same. It was awful and birthday party like ours and they had to divide up as some couple sat between them. I see plays on the regular and not sure I would come back here. They cast only performed to the middle section. So it was not worth what we paid. I plan to take my friends to another venue next time.

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.

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!

Really enjoyed this venue for Sweet Baby James concert. It's his third year for a James Taylor…read moretribute. Seats were comfortable and enough left room for this 6'4" guy. Good sound quality. I'm already looking forward to seeing him again next year. He announced he'll try something new and offer a matinee show vs just a late show. He performed a 45 minute set with a fifteen minute intermission followed by another 45 minute set. I did notice a number of people left at the break. At 66 I felt like a youngster as the crowd was definitely older.

My husband and I went to Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center to see a production of Newsies. This…read moreis a large theater space for community theater. We love sitting in the front row of the balcony. There's just enough leg room for me, and it has an unobstructed view of the stage. This is a nice space for the park district to showcase, but it is beginning to show its age. The line at the bathroom was pretty long during intermission. The seats look like they were updated recently. The acoustics were pretty good. The parking lot is not big enough to accommodate all of the cars. Try parking on the street or in the lot behind the village hall/park district building. Overall, I enjoyed the show at Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center and would come back for future performances.

Madcats is an unassuming lively music venue in Downtown Palatine. Every weekend, various types of…read morebands play with drinks served. If you want a table while watching your favorite band, come early and grab a seat! It fills up quickly. Good is served and service is fast! Delicious options and great drinks at a decent cost. You won't be paying high prices for drinks. It's a lively place, sound quality is also great, and the staff is friendly! We like coming here when we want to hear great music. Madcats is a great addition to Palatine!

Madcats opened in 2021 and has had many live events…read more We recently went to see a Fleetwood Mac cover band that did really well. The place is small and was full. I could tell that people truly enjoyed. There's even a small dancing area up front. The food and drink are decent. The servers work hard when it's busy - yet manage to keep friendly. The only downside is that there is a section where you can't really see the stage (about 1/4 of the inside area).

Attended a production of Fiddler on the Roof here and I was pleasantly surprised. The setup of the…read moretheatre makes it so that no seat is really super far away from the stage and even the the left and right sections don't really skew your view too much although at times staging on the extreme edges might not be visible. The seats were a good size with better legroom than what I've seen as some other local community theatres. The building itself is setup nicely for hosting shows, with fairly wide hallways, furniture, and a good amount of restroom facilities. The production here that I watched was done better than average, with a good amount of costume and set changes that were designed fairly well. The sound was a good volume and in general the microphone volume management was pretty good, with only a few lines that were inaudible. The singing and dancing by the cast were also done quite well, with leads that performed their parts impressively. Overall, nice place to enjoy a show with reasonable prices and a nice community feel.

I went to the Northbrook Theater to watch their production of Fiddler on the Roof. This was a great…read moreproduction. The sound and stage, and scenery were all very high quality. The actors were tremendous. I think they will be ready for Broadway soon. I highly recommend Northbrook Theater. I can't wait to go back and see another show!

Cool place for music listening…read more Cool place for music listening ! Great entertainment!

Went here to catch my brother-n-laws band Yellow Pills. Band killed it! Had to grab drinks from…read morethe bar up front which was no big deal. Bartenders were friendly. Hope there new concept takes off.

My friend surprised me with tickets to see Ruthless! at the Citadel Theatre, and I didn't even know…read morethis hidden gem existed! There was ample parking when we arrived, and the entrance to the theatre was clearly marked. We were immediately greeted by a gentleman at the ticket counter who was absolutely wonderful. I wish I had remembered his name--he was so warm and welcoming and made us feel genuinely happy to be there. The seats were very comfortable, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of legroom. I really appreciated not feeling cramped, as I often do in many other theatres. The live music, lighting, sound, acting, and singing were all top-notch. I was incredibly impressed by my experience here and can't wait to return for another show!

We have been patrons of the Citadel Theatre for a couple of years now and their shows never…read moredisappoint! As a patron of the arts, I am privileged enough to see a variety of shows in a variety of spaces and the Citadel is one that I can say is consistently great and offers a variety of shows at very reasonable prices. The theatre space is not huge, but for me, that means there is never a bad seat in the house! They have a reasonably priced concession stand and have a wonderful staff in the lobby that is always friendly and helpful. Bonus points for them always have little touches that reflect the current show--for example, today's show revolved around college admissions and there were all of these college pennants adorning the walls. There are clean bathrooms, an accessible bathroom, and there is plenty of parking. The seats are comfortable, well-spaced, and the sound system is great. My grandmother is a little hard of hearing and she can hear most everything the actors have to say! I always look forward to my evenings planned at the Citadel Theatre!

Never did anything like this before but it wasn't what I had expected. I was expecting more of a…read moretheatrical atmosphere rather than 2 people in plain street clothes in a plain banquet room. No props, scenery, etc. The skit was good though but there was a lot of improv that was hit or miss. Seemed like something you would find at Second City. A few audience participation scenes too. Though I wouldn't do it again, they had some good plot twists and tricky scenarios to figure out.

Update: I received an email from the organizer regarding my experience (I had reached out via their…read morewebsite after the show) with an apology for the food experience and an offer to refund the tickets, which was accepted and appreciated. The star rating was updated due to the fact that they made it right and because of the two main performers, who are what made the show enjoyable. They were fun to watch.

I had a ton of fun watching a cover band here. Don't expect a mosh pit, the crowd runs a bit…read moreolder - ha. But everyone was in to it and having fun. The staff there were nice and knew what they were doing. I heard there was a speakeasy there but I didn't go upstairs to see it

This is a pretty nice venue! They've put in lots of work to restore this old theater and it shows…read more Seats are comfortable, decent leg room. Plenty of food and beverages to choose from. The service is fast and friendly too. Prices are not too bad either. About on par with other similar venues. There's a speakeasy two floors up, but we didn't check it out yet. I feel the sound could be better, but I know that's subjective and could be due to many variables. Anyway, check this place out! I think you'll like it.