I took 35 friends to Opera in Focus's puppet productions of Little Shop of Horrors and Phantom of…read morethe Opera, and everyone was captivated. The beautifully articulated 16-inch puppets, brought to life through expressive movement, precise gestures, detailed sets, and original soundtrack recording, created an experience nearly as immersive as live theater. The behind-the-scenes tour offered a fascinating look at the puppets, sets, and craftsmanship. From a 3-year-old and 10-year-old to adults up to age 90, our entire group enjoyed this affordable, high-impact outing. The kind, professional staff went above and beyond, with Justin helping to arrange a lunch location and welcoming us personally. For a unique, engaging experience suitable for all ages, Opera in Focus is an easy recommendation.

This amazing troupe has been in existence for over sixty years, over thirty in their present…read morelocation in Rolling Meadows. A labor of love that is felt in every seat of the comfortable, cozy theater. The performances are a short combination of classical opera arias and a collection of popular musical selections. The backstage tour after the performance is the icing on the cake. Thank you Justin and crew for a fabulous experience. One I hope to repeat soon and often.

I've just about seen all of Urban Theater's productions. Which have been known to be a bit gritty…read moreand raw on the stage, but I believe this seasons premier, BROKEN THREAD, is different and worth going to see. Plus the prices aren't expensive either....I paid $15 with my student ID on the day I went and was told they have $10 shows on Thursdays. Apart from the rude couple in front me talking, I not only enjoyed the show but was also touched and moved with the story line. It makes you think twice about the time you have to be with the ones you love and enjoying those moments to the fullest. Thank you Urban Theater for always keeping it real.

Incredible!!! Me and my mother went to see a play here. We will definitely frequent this place…read more They are beyond amazing, super friendly, and family oriented. They are an organic refreshing unapologetic representation/ dramatization of real urban history! Thanks to everyone at The Urban Theater Company!!!! Please support this amazing production

First Date was so great we saw it twice in one night. What an amazing cast. My roommate and I love…read morethe arts and have a soft spot in our hearts that appreciates the heart of the entertainer just as much as the entertainment. The actors were so talented, personable and so sweet. We sat in the first row. In my best choir voice: drink service!!!! The acting waiter also waited on us before the show began. What a great way to connect with the audience. We definitely recommend the show and will visit the venue again.

My wife and I went and saw First Date on our anniversary. It was a really great night out. In the…read moreday and age of Broadway in Chicago, it's good to see a show in an intimate space. The songs were good and the story was fun. The real reason for the fifth star was the cast, they were all really talented.

BYOB Theatre! ...in…read morecase you missed that... BYOB THEATRE! There is a liquor store across the street with a lovely selection of beers. Go there, come here. Theatre lovers, read on: I am blessed with many talented friends. Last night I went to see one of them in a play at this theatre. The theatre itself is smaller - lending itself more to independent productions. Stadium seating alleviates the concern of who sits in front of you. Seats are wide and comfy and there is plenty of legroom. My only small gripe would be the bathroom situation. As a BYOB establishment (beer makes some urges more... urgent...), the bathrooms really aren't up to par. There is one on the main floor, but it is behind the set itself, so you basically have to walk through the side of the scene. This will likely have you crossing your legs until intermission. However, the main bathroom is a one-stall unisex set up, so you will be waiting in line with half of the audience.

Stage Left Theatre is a grassroots theater that brings a lot of political, thought provoking plays…read more My younger cousins visiting from VA and I went to see Skin in Flames, and it was very intense, graphic play. The set was simple, just a scene of a hotel room, but the acting and story line made up for it. There was a disclaimer on sexual situations/scenes, but damn I wasn't expecting it to be that graphic! The actors were exposing their nether regions and simulating fellatio. I think my aunt would never trust me to take care of my cousin if she found out. So there was a bit of shock value to it, but it was a whole new experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Stage Left and will be heading back again sometime. Also another tip, you can get great discounts on dining before or after the show with your ticket stub at several restaurants in the area. I believe with Sheffield's restaurant, the offer is buy one entree get one free.

I have always enjoyed this event. It reminds me of the old time dinner and entertainment scene that…read moreyou see in old movies. On stage is Elysabeth Alfano - Creator, Executive Producer, Producer & Host, and four guests, each with a specialty, usually related to the arts, and one of the guests is always a chef from a local establishment. My very first one, March 26, 2012, was with the Green Mill Poetry Slam founder Mark Smith ( who gave a wonderful performance), Chicago blues legend Billy Branch performing "Hoochie Coochie Man" on his harmonica, Naomi Beckwith Curator at the MCA, and Matt Troost from the restaurant Three Aces, making gnocchi and ribollita, and Guest artist Nicholas Barron performed that night as well! Elizabeth starts out interviewing each person, but also encourages conversation between the guests. In this case (March 2012) the guests got up and performed, and it was so wonderful. Then the chef gives a cooking lesson on the video monitor of the meal that he is preparing for the guests and then the meal is brought out with a tasting of wine to go with each and Voges Chocolates are served for dessert. It was a night to remember! So much fun, and interesting! PS - I posted the Fear No Art presents The Dinner Party's May event here on Yelp, not because I have anything to do with it, because I don't, but because they don't seem to have a presence on Yelp, and I was doing a review of it, so thought that I should give them a presence here.

Wow, not at all what we expected. City Winery is a great venue but the Fear No Art dinner party is…read morenot the best way to appreciate the space. The tickets were $40/pp (plus service charge) and promised wine tastings, dinner, dessert and great panelists. First of all there was 1 wine tasting (about an ounce of wine) other drinks need to be purchased. The food was tasty but very small & we had to wait and wait some more for it to be served. The panelists were entertaining but seemed much more interested in talking among themselves than to the audience. Tried to tweet in questions but they were not addressed. Not a great evening overall.

Looking for a fabulous venue to have a wedding, a grand party, or perhaps a music recital? This…read moreawe-inspiring room in this imposing building is owned by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). You've probably walked past it to or from Michigan Avenue shopping (it's just a block and a half west of the "Mag Mile." If like me, you first thought it was some family's mausoleum, you wouldn't be too far off the mark. The building was originally erected in 1926 to honor one of the founders of the ACS by its members. A concise history of the structure and its recent (1987 & 2003) renovations can be read here: http://www.murphyauditorium.com/history.htm. While the most recent restoration is chronicled in the ACS' official bulletin at http://www.facs.org/fellows_info/bulletin/2006/regnier1106.pdf It was following this 2006 restoring that the Fellows of the ACS decided to offer the auditorium for public events. A recent concert of Beethoven's newly discovered piano trio was premiered here in 2009 as covered by the Tribune: http://tinyurl.com/yjeqzdm John Von Rhein sums up his review with a plea for further concerts in this hall. This concert was also broadcast live over WFMT-FM. Even if your event is less groundbreaking than that one, you owe it to yourself to have a look inside. You can do this virtually by viewing their photos at the above site. The rental rate is also at their Web site. The auditorium's event coordinator is Catherine Carey and their phone number is above. Ms Carey's email is ccarey@facs.org

If you are looking for a grand, aesthetically pleasing venue for a party or an event, then you…read moreshould consider this place.if you are looking for someplace that has a good location that is lose to the Loop, Streeterville, and River North area. I was kind of thrown off for a moment when I walked in the front door. The company whose party I was attending has a history of choosing outstanding venues for their parties. When you actually walk in the front door of an elegant looking building from the exterior, you are greeting by a rather out of date, worn down entrance to the auditorium. Don't let this fool you because when you have entered the auditorium yourself, expect to to get blown away with how grand it really is!

Thursday Night Out has always been a blast. My kids love to go because it's safe for them to move…read morearound and find their own food. The event sells food tickets. There are 4 tix in a book. Each book costs 25$ . You get a menu of all the places participating in the event. Mostly places on Lake st and Marion st. There is a different band each week. Great live music. I usually get there early. The event starts at 5pm. I get there early to grab a table for my family. If you get there later bring your own chairs. It does get super crowded and people won't stop asking "are you using this chair? Can I take this chair?". Good luck with that. It's the only part I don't enjoy. My family gets up to go find their dinner and at least 5 people will come to ask about the chair. Other than that. It's a fun Summer fest. It goes on from the first week of June to the end of August, only on Thursday nights.

100 DAYS OF SUMMER…read more From late May through August, Oak Park's 'Thursday Night Out' is a lovely street festival. I've lived in the area for nearly 5 years now, but it wasn't until Nichole C moved in that I bothered going to this summertime event. It takes place on Marion St between Lake & the train tracks, beginning around Memorial Day and going until just before Labor Day. Tickets come in panels of 4 for $20 (which equates to $5/ticket), something that apparently has gotten more expensive in the last few years. Not all items are worth your time, but a few are a decent value like the calamari from Mancini's and California roll from Sushi House. Although there's a tent selling alcohol, I'd recommend buying a six pack from Target or bottle of wine from Trader Joe's. Thursday Night Out is a widely-accepted BYOB event, and that's a very good thing. Some folks even bring candles! There's plastic chairs and tables set up but arrive super early to stake those spots out. You'll likely need to bring a few folding chairs unless you don't mind eating food on a curb. Crowd is mostly families but lots of younger couples, too. Live music plays from 5-8pm; we've heard everything from hippy dippy folk rock to rasta man reggae, even some soft jazz (which lulled me into an inebriated 6pm nap). Typically two different bands play each week, and it's always good stuff. Unfortunately, it really bothers me that for as big of a turnout as TNO generates, there's no port-o-potties in sight. Couple this with a strict "no public restrooms" policy for the participating businesses, so break the seal and you could be outta luck. * TL;DR * Live music, generous BYOB policy, excellent people watching.....and nowhere to relieve yourself. You have to use a food voucher to buy something at one of the participating restaurants and then use the restroom, this is your only "legal" option. Personally, I suggest finding a nice alley or secluded corner of a nearby parking garage to pee in/on (important note: this only applies to men. Ladies, I have no idea how y'all do your thing). Seriously though, ANY outdoor event of this size should have portable shitters. Thursday Night Out is still lots of fun, just watch your beverage consumption and tell your bladder to plan accordingly.

While visiting Chicago for a professional training, I discovered the best little spot. Let me get…read morethis name right: Parkway Bank Park Entertainment District. Wow, that's a mouthful. I can't help wonder if locals have a nickname for it? It is right across from O'Hare airport, so maybe locals mostly stay away. But whether you happen to live near by or just in town for the weekend, this entertainment district is a one-stop-shop for all your unwinding needs. My training was at Crowne Plaza hotel where I was always lodging, so this oasis of entertainment was delightfully within easy walking distance. Once here, you'll find a plethora of restaurants and other activities ("Would you say I have a plethora of piñatas?"). A quick rundown of some of the current restaurants located around the district's circle: Fat Rosie's Taco and Tequila Bar The Sugar factory (milkshakes, sundaes and food items) Bub City BBQ Adobe Gilas Tex Mex Saltwater Coastal Grill Crust Brewing Fogo de Chao Brazilian Strakhouse As for entertainment: Joe's Live for live music and concerts King's Dining & Entertainment (bowling, pool tables and food) An AMC Dine-in theatre Pete's Dueling Piano Bar iFLY indoor skydiving And a nice little dispensary for all of your out-of-state needs when you hail from Indiana! (That little disposable pen "wrote" some great stories for both me and a friend! Sometimes, you just need to lie there, listen to music and loose track of the time!) One of the coolest things about this entertainment district is this faux-grass field right in the middle that makes the circle. People were just hanging out and talking and listening to music and (I think) drinking. (I'm not sure if public drinking is allowed there, so don't hold me to it. But I am pretty sure that was the vibe.) Kids were running and playing on the artificial turf and having a great time. I feel like this field is used for organized sports and activities, but it was open for the public to use on that particular evening. If you find yourself in the Rosemont area of Chicago or staying near O'Hare, swing by the (hold on, and let me get this straight) Parkway Bank Park Entertainment District. There is something for everyone at all price points!

Parkway Bank Park, while it sounds like a sport stadium, is actually a retail/dining/entertainment…read morecomplex in the Rosemont area of the city, just a few miles from ORD. It's conveniently located in this area and is surrounded by countless hotels, additional shopping complexes, movie theater and other restaurants. There is a large activity green area in the center an it surrounded by spots like Kings Bowl, Zanies Comedy Club, Sugar Factory, Harley Davidson and a few other spots. As noted in other reviews, I can't tell the target demographic for this "park". And honestly there may not be one, but on the surface, not sure who they created it for. We sat at the benches for a while after having lunch at Fat Rosie's and then popping into the dispensary. There is a large multi-level parking garage dedicated to the park. It's a pay lot, but super convenient. Overall, solid complex offering a few options and the ability to be outside. 3.5 stars for me, but since we don't have half stars, 4 it is.