I have been to The Gift Theatre a couple of times over the years, and it is pretty amazing to find such a high quality theater venue in the heart of Jefferson Park. The Gift Theatre can be easy to miss, as its storefront location is a teeny bit north of the intersection of Milwaukee and Lawrence. The box office / lobby area is a quaint little space with a couple of chairs in case you want to wait to enter the theater for seating. The theater space itself seats about 50 or so. The Gift Theatre annually puts on TEN, a compilation of ten vignettes mixing drama and comedy sketches. The dramatic scenes can be very powerful, and the comedy bits can be simultaneously hilarious and thought-provoking. My lovely friend and I really enjoyed TEN earlier this year, and felt that the $10 ticket price (plus minimal service fee) was also an excellent entertainment value. Check out a play here when you can. read more

I got Hot Tix to see a 7:30 Friday show but there was no mention that they start right at 7:30 on the dot. We arrived at 7:34 and they couldn't seat us because the play had started. I get that you don't want to interrupt but who starts at the exact time of the show AND can't let people in late??!! Not a good policy for a small theater. I've been to hundreds of plays throughout Chicago and this was the only one that was poorly set up like this. It's too bad because the play itself was probably good. When I asked about a refund the answer was "I'll let them know you showed up." Aka, you get no refund even though we never told you that you have to show up exactly on time and you're just SOL. read more

Jeff Award-winning, professional theatre is alive and thriving in Jefferson Park. Conveniently located at 4802 N. Milwaukee --two storefronts north of Lawrence, on the west side of Milwaukee--The Gift Theatre is easily accessible by the Kennedy Expressway, the Lawrence and Milwaukee buses, and the CTA Blue Line. The Gift Theatre is dedicated to telling great stories on stage with honesty and simplicity, and is intent on emerging as America's premier ensemble. Since its 2002 debut, The Gift has consistently established itself as an actors' theatre, eschewing directorial cleverness for honest, powerful connections between the actors and the audience. Previous productions include White People, Three Sisters, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Blithe Spirit, 365 Days/365 Plays, The Halloween Show, Long Day's Journey Into Night, The Glass Menagerie (Remount--Theatre on the Lake), The Good Thief, The Clearing, Hurlyburly, The Glass Menagerie, The Pavilion, A Young Man In Pieces, Language of Angels, 6, County Fair, The Countess, Alcatraz (Abbie Hoffman Festival), Orestes 2.0, Boys' Life, and Sexual Perversity in Chicago (giftSYDNEY). The Gift Theatre is the only professional theatre company in the working class neighborhood of Jefferson Park. As one of Chicago's most exciting theatre companies, The Gift is marked by acting of the highest caliber and is Chicago storefront theatre at its truest and best. read more

The Gift Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went to the Wednesday evening improv and it was awesome. $5 and I get entertained like that! The whole crew were brilliant and I could see that they loved it. We were welcomed from the first moment, informed that byob was encouraged! So we popped down to Fischmanns and stocked up for the show. 100% recommended! read more

The Gift Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Just saw a show here last night and it was AWESOME. We saw Streamers - an award winning play about the army in 1965. The story was intense and in your face, but not in a bad way - it was very engrossing. All the actors did phenomenal jobs, the characters were extremely believable, each one could have been somebody you've known. That and the unpredictable plot made it a very enjoyable experience. The Gift Theatre will perform the same show for about 2-3 months, then move on to a different one. The actors and actress are comprised of ensemble members, who are part of the theatre and you will see again and again, as well as outside actors, all of whom are very professional. The theater itself is pretty small - a 35-person black box theater, no frills, but professional stage and sound. It was full but not sold out when we went, which I attribute to the theater being small, relatively new, and a little out of the way (altho its very close to blue line stop). This is good for those looking for quality entertainment at the last minute - just call the theater to reserve tickets. Their website has much more info on the theatre, previous shows, classes, and other things they're doing. Check it out. read more

This is my 2nd theatre review in less than a month, so I guess I have reached some sort of credibility on the topic. ;) We saw the play "Dirty" over the weekend and were very impressed by the whole experience. The woman at the ticket desk was very inviting and they really try to make you feel like your patronage is appreciated. They offer water bottles and candy for guests which was a nice little touch since this was a 2 hour, 40 minute play with 2 intermissions. (Thank goodness for the intermissions though. They were timed perfectly and my ADD never kicked in.) The theatre is pretty small, but you really feel like a part of the play. I can see how it might be a downside if someone like my mother was in attendance. You know the type of person who can't sit for more than 15 minutes without peeing? Yeah, luckily we didn't have any of the frequent pee-ers there or else the whole room would have been distracted. The play itself was awesome and really got us thinking about morality, the consequences of compromise, the sex industry and America in general (or should I say Amerika?) I would highly recommend seeing it to anyone interested in a thought-provoking play (my favorite kind of plays.) Another perk of the Gift Theatre?? This place was super easy to find--right off the highway--and there was ample street parking. These are huge pluses for me as the trouble with going to the city is being plagued by having to find a legal spot to park, all the while trying to spend as little moolah as possible. We were told this is the last play for the season, so I'm not sure when their new season starts up, but we'll definitely try to make it back next season. read more

Absolutely fabulous award winning small theater in the heart of Jefferson Park! This place is a small storefront venue, but that creates so much intimacy. You feel as though you are actually part of the production, since you are so close to the action. Every show is completely amazing -- the quality of programming is off the charts. The prices are very reasonable, too, considering this is Chicago theater. They generally perform 3 major shows a year, with improv nights and other special events. There are extra productions and perks if you are a subscriber, so that is highly recommended! read more

We travel to Chicago once or twice a year, primarily to see theater. There are two theater companies where we will simply buy tickets for whatever production is playing, the Steppenwolf Theatre Companyf and the Gift. We have never been disappointed by the Gift Ensemble. It amazes us how it can even exist. The theater is small, the ticket prices are low, and the productions are amazing. We hike it out on the Blue Line and it is a simple walk from the station. read more

One Flew Over the Cukoos' Nest 04/18/2010 The Gift Theater is doing things right, for the most part. The actors were marvelous, the acting was intense and believable and all the actors and actresses were completely committed (no pun intended) to their roles. The set looked great like the actual drab interior of a hospital. The lighting and audio was surprisingly good and played and integral part of several scenes. With this in mind there were a couple things that could have made the show better. First the stage is too small for 6-8 characters to be moving and posturing individually all trying not to get in each others way while still focusing on the performance. This was most apparent when they would have to clear the room of the chairs or adorn the room with them. The collapsing and opening of the chairs became a ritual at the beginning and end of almost every scene. I know it was made to look like it was part of the inmates group therapy routine but it got very aggravating after about the 5th or 6th time, and would really break the continuity from scene to scene. A bigger stage may not have been an option but a little creative fabrication could have produced a bench that folded up into an adjacent wall or descended down into the floor when not in use. Secondly the seating for the audience is cramped as well. Although i remained fixed in my little corner seat pinned by neighboring elbows the entire time, I witnessed several people attempting to get up for various reasons during the show, making everyone in between them and the aisle get up and jostle around to make room for their overactive bladders. This became a distraction to the performance. Lastly-- In an attempt to be generous the theater provided snacks to the patrons. Water bottles fine, tootsie rolls fine, but little CRINKLEY pretzel bags that go CRINKLE CRINKLE while your trying to hear one of Chief's soliloqueys--BAD IDEA. " I hear the thunder Papa, I see the waterfalls Papa and the CRINKLE CRINKLE Papa." I understand that the guy next to me is the one I should actually be blaming but the theater enabled him. The sound of his dentures clamping with their polypropylene grip struggling to find traction was unbearable. His teeth trying desparately to hold the elusive pretzel in place for just long enough to exert some downward pressure, shattering the baked prize like all the secrets of the universe were held within---more agonizing than MacMurphys electro-shock therapy. And what the hell is with all those old people smoking outside during intermission. It was like some surreal timewarp nightmare set at my high school bus stop where all the kewl kids smoked--only everyone had aged like 40 years overnight. Anyway for anyone under the age of 60 dont go see a play on a Sunday afternoon--opt instead for the saturday evening ones- when Mr. Gerry Attricks and co. are safe at home in bed with their pretzels (unsalted the salted ones make him choke). In Summation: They are a talented bunch of thespians that put on the shows here. They are able to overcome the limitations of such a small cramped space, but some of the audience members may not be be able to do the same. read more

I just saw Cloud 9 here last weekend and had a wonderful time! It's a small intimate theatre space with maybe no more than 30 or so seats. Looks as if it was a converted store front. The production values were superb, the work they do is edgy and thought-provoking and they did a great job using this small space to work as a theatre. Depending on the shows they do I'll definitely be back. read more

I've been to the gift about 10 times now. The wednesday night comedy for 5 bucks is always hilarious. Best improv for the buck in chicago as its actually funny. The new irish show, lonesome west is intense and in your face. Can't wait to see the new Backup Santa show this wknd! read more

Attended the Gift Theatre's production of 'Natural Gas Jug Band Christmas' in early December. I'm assuming this was a production by the Natural Gas ensemble, who may or may not be in residence at the Gift. First, a little about the theater space itself. This is a storefront theater in the great tradition of Chicago storefront theaters. The lobby can probably hold 10 people, so my suggestion in winter is to get your ticket when the box office opens, and then head to a neighboring restaurant or bar for 15 min., and head back for show time. Or you can wait in your seat and check Facebook for 20 min. Up to you! Speaking of the seats, there are two long rows along the left side of the house. Every seat is a good one in this intimate space. There is a small bathroom at the back (or side, depending on how you look at it) of the theatre. The stage takes up the long right side of the space. The Gift Theatre is known for comedy rather than drama. The show we saw was funny, though possibly a bit juvenile. I say that not in a disparaging way. If I were still in my 20s like those in the ensemble, I probably would have loved it. Like, if Girls and Lena Dunham were still relevant to my life. Having said that, I still hope to attend one of their weekly improv gigs. Perhaps I'll see you there! read more

Wonderful local theatre. Consistently talented cast, and some powerful productions in an intimate space.

I saw One Flew Over the Cukcoo's Nest and it was great! The show was sold out and the actors were great. It kept my attention for the whole two and a half hours. I will be back. read more

Fantastic production! Great direction. Great acting! An emotional rollercoaster that leaves you more human than before. Thank you Gift Theatre for a beautiful experience! Please continue to grace our neighborhood with your wonderful talents! Thank You! read more

WOW!! We saw One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on Friday night here, and it was incredible! One of the best plays I've ever seen. Amazing acting! The space is really small, but the quality was fantastic! We're so excited to have found this place, and we're looking forward to going back! read more