All the shows I've seen at Newport boasted such a sultry, exhilarating atmosphere!…read moreThe creativity and the caliber of performances is absolutely incredible, and while you should definitely be prepared to step outside your comfort zone for some of the acts, rest assured that you'll be mesmerized by what you'll see. Definitely recommend this theater for a playful date or a night out with your (not too prudish) friends! Also, they have really creative non alcoholic options at the bar which is really thoughtful and awesome.

Intimate location. Great staff Good location to walk to…read moreneighborhood establishments I was there to see a burlesque show. warning You have a flight of stairs to get into the theater. Bar restrooms round tables stage That's it that's all.

I was lucky enough to see an amazing show last night at pride arts Center. It was a touching story…read morethat was intense and deep set in Australia in the 60s. It was about two boys who come together and found love and their ins and outs of the relationships and their family. It has a deep plot twist with one of them dying from AIDS- in the 90's and rooted in deep emotional realities of the time. The entire production was spoken with Australian accents and the entire cast was fantastic. While this is a review of the show- the 5 stars is for the venue and the population that it reaches. Pride Arts runs series or shows for marginalized groups who need a sense of community and support. Regardless of who you are - we all need that. Thank you Pride Arts for making a difference in the world.

Recently, I had pleasure of seeing my first musical (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) at this…read moreneighborhood theater. I was not aware this theater was here. It's clearly a hidden gem in Uptown. Just a little warning.... street parking only. The entrance is very well lit up on Broadway Avenue. The lobby area is on the smaller side with very few chairs and benches. One noticeable area is missing.... is the concession area. The two restrooms were clean. Overall, the public areas are good. Inside of the actual theater, there's two seating sections (about 90 seats total). The chair are very comfortable. Not a bad seat in the house. The sound was excellent. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant and would return to another production.

Imagine you're at a party. Quirky theme. Fun vibe. All of a sudden, a woman kills the music and…read moretells everyone at the party that she miscarried a week ago. Before you have time to understand what just happened, the music clicks back on. Someone yells "let's do a line dance!" No one misses a beat. Everyone starts dancing. You are bewildered and vaguely upset. You consider joining the dance, but you can't because the music clicks off again. A guy grabs a mic talks about how his uncle assaulted him when he was 14. You begin to think that maybe this party isn't intended to be fun. But then, suddenly, the party music clicks back on and someone shouts "let's play musical chairs!" It goes on like this. If you ever begin to enjoy yourself, you know that at any second a partygoer will cut the electricity and monologue about gun violence or Palestine or climate change. You try to wrap your head around it. Maybe it's supposed to be a critique of parties in general? Before you can figure it out, the party is over. Everyone says they loved it. Anyway, that's what the Infinite Wrench feels like. $25 bucks. 5 stars I guess I don't know anymore.

This review is for the theater itself, not the performing group…read more The entrance to the Neo-Futurarium Theater is on Ashland Thrift the red doors in the middle of the building. Then you climb three flights of stairs (I did not see an elevator), down a long corridor to head into the waiting area. This has been the permanent performance space since 1992 of the Neo-Futurist Theater company. The theater is a comfortable size and seats from 140-154. We saw a performance of That's Weird Grandma's 25th Birthday. It's not the worst, and it's not the nicest theater that we've ever been in, but, it looks like the whole building is in sore need of refurbishment. It does seem to be the perfect venue for experimental theater.

Zanies has been around for a long time; I've been only once, though, and had a good time. Mostly…read morethat's due to location and my aversion to the CTA. It's an intimate club, and of course if you arrive on the early side there will be more seats open for them to seat you. There is a two-drink minimum, which is standard in this industry and is made quite clear when you purchase your ticket, yet I heard someone complaining about being required to purchase a drink--don't be that person. I haven't been here for one of their regular performers but would like to come back for that sometime. There are quite a few restaurants in this area of Old Town, so you'll have plenty from which to choose. No parking, so you'll rely on the CTA/taxi/rideshare or drive and find a SpotHero space or something.

I mean Zanies kind of just speaks for itself at this point. I've attended several shows here with…read morethe latest one being Maddie Mays. They always have the best of the best lineups. A real dimly lit intimate setting with all the comedy legends post on the wall. I've never had bad service. The drinks will get you right. Definitely check out a show here if you haven't already.

We came here to the 9:30 show to see James Austin Johnson. I can't believe I haven't been to this…read moretheater before. I've walked by so many times through the years. It's so much nicer than I imagined. The lounge is beautiful. Lots of seating. 2 bars for drinks. We were in the main stage & all of seats are fantastic. We had middle back & it was perfect. You can order online & the attentive staff delivers. There were 3 opening comedians. All were so funny. James was so great. I love that we were at the last show of his Chicago gig. I felt like he was so relaxed & hilarious. I can't wait to come back here.

The Den Theatre hosted what could have been the worst performance I have ever seen, The Peep Show…read more I left at intermission and only want to warn others. The best entertainer was the magician but yet the burlesque dancers made me and others disappear. They were unapologetically lethargic and not enthusiastic. Nothing sexy or entertaining... The Den is a staple of Milwaukee Avenue but this show was a complete miss. Go see a movie instead of seeing this show. It will be better entertainment for your hard earned dollars.

I visited for the NPR Planet Money book launch event. Pretty cozy venue and not too crowded, and…read morelimited street parking is available nearby. Inside is a small-medium sized auditorium with side space that can be used as for gallery, hors d'oeuvres, general mingling, book signing, etc.

This is an older venue and the seating in the balcony is showing its age. The fabric is worn on…read moremany seats, some being held together with tape. If you need to use the bathroom, be patient. The ladies room has 2 tiny stalls and the line after the show took about 15 minutes to get through. The sound and lighting were adequate. However, there were some moments when the sound became difficult to hear. It was quickly restored and we were able to enjoy the show. The Pretzels being sold at the upstairs concession stand were expired. I notified the attendant and she pulled them from the display.

A hidden gem in Chicago for experiencing avant garde music, from jazz to experimental noise…read more Bar with excellent cocktails in front, music hall with high school gym vibes in back. Wheelchair accessible.

Even though we got there around 11 PM, the place was still filling up and the band was getting set…read moreup. This is for night owls. The bartender was very polite and calm. My Pimm's cup was excellent and I was happy to have a Pilsner Urquell for my second drink. The place is very casual yet hipster - esque.

I cannot stop saying great things about this company and their show, "That's Weird, Grandma". It's…read moretruly a hidden gem in the theater world. To sum it up - That's Weird is a bunch of short skits written by Chicago kids then adapted and performed by incredibly talented actors. The shows are a mix of humor, out-there story lines and occasionally talks of current events, that even for a kid to write about, is very spot on. Mind you, the BFF and I don't have kids (not fans), and yet we still come back every couple of months to see their ever changing show. So yes, adults - this show is still hilarious and worth seeing, even for us "grown-ups". Do yourself a favor, go see a show, and bring your friends. You're going to be addicted. PS: "The Long Day" will forever be the best sketch of them all. If you're ever lucky to see it, you'll probably tear up laughing as well.

Where else can you see plays about grannies who lean like cholos (performed as a rap), a Whopper…read moreJr. who attempts to save the life of John F. Kennedy (classic tragedy), and a bunny who ninja-fights bears (very Matrix-y) all in one night AND support creative writing programs in Chicago public schools at the same time? Barrel of Monkeys! This is the real have fun, do good deal - BofM runs creative writing programs in Chicago schools and turns the kids' stories, poems, and plays into performance pieces. The show, called That's Weird, Grandma, is held at the Neo Futurarium Monday nights at 8 and is a total steal at $10. I was first tuned in to That's Weird, Grandma after seeing one of the Barrel of Monkeys actors in The Neofuturist's Daredevils' Hamlet (Brennan Buhl, who, mark my words, will be famous). I managed to snag tickets through Free Night of Theater. My expectations were low - I tend to find Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind shows uneven - some are fantastic and some are meh. I sort of saw That's Weird, Grandma as the little brother of TMLMTBGB. The first few skits seemed to confirm my bias, but after that, I was blown away. I've seen several shows recently (including one at Steppenwolf) and That's Weird, Grandma has been far and away the best. I laughed so hard I cried. Literally. And the best part? You get to vote for your favorite and least favorite plays, so the duds are quickly jettisoned from the show. Go see this. See it next Monday. Bring your friends. Buy a t-shirt. Do it for the kids. Won't somebody please think of the children?!?!