I found out about this little local treasure from a neighbor just in time to catch their last…read moreperformance of "Hairspray." Glad I did! The theater itself is intimate, with seating on three sides of the stage (reminded me of the one at the Watertower in Chicago); actors often enter/exit through the audience, which gives an "up-close-and-personal" feel, and they were very creative with the moveable sets and lighting. The acting was great! Even secondary characters were standouts (particularly Corny Collins, Mrs. Von Tussle and Motormouth Maybelle), but Tracy, her parents and the rest of the gang were all endearing and enjoyable to watch. Overall, for a quality performance without going far from home, BrightSide is a solid choice for a musical matinee!

I took my little one here to see Beauty and the Beast and was thoroughly impressed with what a…read morequality production it was for such a tiny venue. The costumes, set, talent and choreography were much better than I anticipated for a community theatre. A nice surprise because previous to the show, I was thinking the $27 tickets were outrageous. But when the lights went out and the show began, it didn't take long to see the I had misjudged this little theatre. While it is a very small venue, you can't discount the fact that if it's a production for a young one, they are getting a great taste of the theatre, while sitting closer than they will likely ever sit in a larger scale production. Brightside Theatre is a great addition to the Naperville community.

The joy of participating in live theatre has been sucked out. Politics has taken over and only the…read more"chosen" can survive. After years of diligent volunteerism being snubbed for the last time has taken its toll. Don't go here to be seen, heard or developed. If you're not "golden" you're "gone."

Theater of Western Springs is a wonderful night out where you can see a play that is as good as and…read moresometimes better than seeing a play on Broadway - and I have been to NYC. The actors are really good. Set's are professional, acting is stellar. Price of tickets is very very reasonable. If you want a fun night out, subscribe to TWS - please support this local theater.

This is a great way to celebrate a birthday! Lucille's for dinner and Get on Your Feet play…read moreafterwards!! The play is full of energy and dancing since it's the story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Awesome music!! Dinner was a prix fixe menu, and it was delicious. At the end, the waiter came out with a piece of chocolate cake with a crazy candle that was more fireworks than a single candle. It was really cool!! The servers came and sang "happy birthday " to me and then to another table. I'll definitely do this again. Dinner and a show!!

We recently attended a funeral luncheon here. I was kind of horrified and I felt so bad for our…read morehosts. The music next door was BUMPIN, they were partying like no one ever has partied before. And good for them! But maybe Drury should have accounted for that and not placed a funeral luncheon next door if there is almost no soundproofing. We couldn't even hear the speeches over the music next door. The food wasn't great at all. I get that banquet food is banquet food but it was so bland. One plus: the staff were all great. Plus ample parking. Seems like a good place for parties, proms, weddings and such. It was not a good venue for a funeral luncheon due to the lack of sound proofing.

I had an amazing experience at the Paramount Theater! I went to see The Full Monty, and it exceeded…read moreall my expectations. The venue itself is beautiful, with great acoustics and a classic atmosphere that really adds to the overall experience. The performance was fantastic, funny, energetic, and surprisingly heartfelt. The cast did an incredible job, and the production quality was top-notch. You could tell a lot of effort went into every detail. Staff were friendly and helpful, and everything from entry to seating was smooth and well-organized. I can't wait to come back for another show!

I was here for the first time in a looong time--I think the last time I was here, my daughter was…read morein kindergarten, I believe, and now she is a Sophomore in high school. The venue and the surrounding area was much nicer than I recall! The building is beautiful and reminiscent of the same Neo-Baroque French Revival style as the theatre district in Chicago proper. We ate dinner before our long drive so we didn't purchase anything from the bar, but the prices looked reasonable and the people who were purchasing items were commenting out loud that the snacks were delicious! The merch was very reasonable and I was happy they allowed me to pay in cash for a $5 Dear Evan Hansen magnet. We were in the double letter rows through a Chicago League of Theatre purchase, but the seats were still wonderful, especially at that price point! They do have the stadium seating where the rows are not flat, but I wish with the renovation that they would have configured the seats to be in between one another as well. We happened to have an extra seat because my daughter's Speech tournament was waaay over time due to judge difficulties, so we were able to scootch over when a tall man sat in front of my mom at the last second before the show started. The seats were comfortable (Dear Evan Hansen is not a short musical!), and I appreciated how they have cup holders, even if I did not purchase a drink this visit. I never know where to stick my soda cup, lid or not, if there is no cupholder. The set was very technologically advanced, but not so much that it took away from the show. The sound and lighting quality was good as well! Affordable parking not too far away was also a giant plus. $2 for the first hour, $1 for every subsequent hour, with a cap of paying no more than $5 for your visit. I was afraid to offer my 79 year old grandmother the extra ticket because the parking garage is a couple of blocks away from the theater and I didn't see immediate handicapped parking near the theater. They do offer valet for, like, $35?, but I don't see why because my grandmother has a handicapped placard that I would need to pay 7x more for parking. The area around the theater is also very "artsy"--we saw a cake decorating class, numerous small theaters, and a performing arts school on our short jaunt. I definitely would make the trip again, especially if they are offering shows that are not in the regular rotation! I think I saw "Sunday in the Park with George" for their next season?

this is one of my favorite theatres in the western suburbs. It's deceptively small (it actually…read moreholds 75 seats) and they have a fun mix of shows. I've both performed and directed there, and I regularly work box office. They are a fun group of people dedicated to bringing local theatre to the community - and with Paramount literally around the corner, they have good company in that endeavor. Tickets are inexpensive, there's not a bad seat in the house, and it's easy to get involved as a volunteer or an actor with 5-6 shows running throughout the year.

This is such a cute venue located in downtown Aurora. There could not have been more than fifty…read moreseats and every seat was filled. We attended Fat Bill's Roadside Cafe - The Reboot, which we all seemed to enjoy the corny jokes and crude humor. The audience was laughing through the majority of the show. A great value at $17 although the show does a run a bit longer than I would have thought. If you're looking for something to do and like corny jokes come to the Riverfront Playhouse and enjoy some live entertainment.

Really great theater at an affordable price! Great performances in a lovely, intimate space.read more

For an inexpensive, fun night out try this community theater group! They perform at the Lincoln…read moreCenter in Downers Grove and present one musical and two plays a year. I enjoyed their last couple of shows, and I'm definitely going to see "Oliver!" in November.

The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage (COD) in Glen Ellyn, IL, is a vibrant hub for…read morethe performing and visual arts, offering an array of professional theater, music, dance, comedy, and family-friendly performances. While the MAC hosts a wide range of cultural programming year-round, what has drawn us back time and again, now three times, are their exceptional, large-scale art exhibitions, presented every two years. The most recent of these is the 2025 exhibition Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World (on view from May 31 to September 21). This immersive experience transports visitors to the lively and refined world of 17th-century Edo-period Japan. The exhibit vividly captures a time when Edo (present-day Tokyo) thrived as the cultural and economic heart of the nation, defined by its devotion to the arts, nature, and the pleasures of daily life. A highlight of the exhibition is the U.S. debut of the Museum Galleries - Chiossone Collection, featuring a remarkable 70-piece selection of ukiyo-e masterpieces. Among these are 53 original paintings and woodblock prints by renowned artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige, alongside 17 beautifully crafted objects. Together, they offer a captivating window into Japan's "floating world." The MAC consistently excels in delivering these world-class exhibitions. The experience is not only visually stunning but also engaging and educational. The staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and always ready to enhance your visit. Last, but not the least, there is a very nice gift shop there. We bought some cute Japanese noodles and rice bowls with the "floating world" art theme from the gift shop. Attending an art exhibition there is truly a joy, and we look forward to each new one.

We came for the Hokusai exhibit on a Friday. It was a little hard to find, the address on the flyer…read moredidn't direct us to the right area. Saw some signs near campus but not enough. Was finally able to find it by searching McAninch Arts Center (MAC). The exhibit is cool, loved the eki (train station) stamps for the passport you're given. I wasn't expecting much and it lived up to expectations. After experiencing it do I think it was worth the $27/per person admission? Not for me. But it's still cool and definitely worth a visit if you're an art enthusiast.

Friendly staff and a variety of show options! Forget the high cost of going to a downtown Chicago…read moreshow, check out a locally owned comedy spot! Friends invited me to my first Improv show here and it was laughs the whole time! They have a full bar and fresh popcorn and snacks too. Lots of good restaurants nearby too. Already have plans for our next visit so hope to see you there!

The Improve was so good! Cute theater, cast was amazing…read more The way they feed off each other Never skipped a beat! My friends volunteered at the audience participation portion. Definitely a must see and volunteer!!! They do have a small bar in the theater but also partner with the next door restaurant and you can order from your seat and have it brought to you. We were able to meet the cast afterwards They are so friendly and appreciative of the support. This place does offer lessons for adults and kids.

Nice little quaint theater. We went here as we had a relative who was appearing in the play "the…read moreLittle Mermaid" . She did a very nice job, and seemed to be well received by her coworkers, and the audience. Finding Wheaton Drama was a little hard, and parking was a little tight, I didn't mind the walk. But the employees there were very friendly, and enthusiastic. Nothing there was overly priced or outrageous. I would go again. As I said before, the theater is a little on the smaller side and people in the front row tend to find themselves actually walking on the stage as they enter & exit which almost seems rather discourteous since they have lines painted on the floor. I just think that that's bad luck even though it's concrete and it's painted, I tried to make sure that I was definitely off the designated stage area because I think thats asking for bad karma. But in today's world , people are so full of themselves that there are no boundaries anymore.

Well, well, well. If I didn't know better, I could have been on Broadway in New York tonight,…read moreinstead of Wheaton Illinois. The cast and crew of Birthday Candles just presented a truly excellent theater experience. The acting was absolutely top notch, the set was perfect and the entire production was seamless. Well done to all concerned-congratulations!

Came here to see a concert of the band Kashmir. The venue is very cool. But keep in mind that the…read morefloor is not slanted towards the stage at all. The views are good, but you may have a tall person sitting in front of you. The staff here are all volunteers, but they are even more friendly and helpful than any paid staff I've dealt with at a venue like this. And major props for their sound and lighting staff. They do have good beers and other drinks, but only snack foods. Be prepared.

Went here for the first time a few weeks ago to see Terrapin Flyer and I fell in love with this…read moreplace! Sound is fantastic and not a bad seat in there. Drinks are VERY reasonable priced! People who volunteer there are all friendly and helpful. Can't wait to go see another show here!