Beautiful building, been here for several performances. Friendly staff. Usually use SpotHero to…read morefind a decent priced parking nearby. Holds about 3,500 people I believe, so the lines for drinks etc can get very crowded. The trick for entry is to use the side entrance which has 3 security lines and moves fairly quickly.

The Chicago Theater is a beautiful landmark to see a show. The inside is inspired by French…read morearchitecture with crystal chandelier, several murals and a grand staircase. 5/5 stars for the entry process! Security and bag check moved incredibly fast and were very well-organized. We had seats on the main floor and they were surprisingly roomy, and even from the side, the view of the stage was great. This is a great venue to see a show.

We attended Trickery on Saturday 04/18/26. Aaron was adept at working with a diverse audience to…read moreinclude them and maintain control of his performance in a very intimate setting. Because it's BYOB you'll get the 20-somethings that feel they have to get loaded beforehand and then act the fool while attending (do you hear that "Neil"? No one wants the focus on you acting like it was your first experience with alcohol) but Aaron was skilled at bypassing them without causing tension or escalating bad behavior. Aaron's attitude is one of someone who has worked hard to make this little venture work, and he deserves respect and recognition for his obvious commitment and work ethic. His act included variations of tricks performed by other magicians, with his own twists. He is an expert at sleight of hand and distraction, which is considerably more difficult in a room about the size of an average residential living-room. He had an appropriate sense of humor aligned with an audience coming to Boystown, an overtly gay neighborhood in Chicago (if you're not familiar). However he wasn't garish, flaming, flamboyant, or offensive; he managed a perfect balance of innuendo humor and audience engagement without being cheap or ingenuine. The snarky one-liners will likely go over your young kids' heads (although bring them to an early show, your 9 year old doesn't belong in Boystown at 10 pm on a weekend), and he carries himself with class avoiding the use of profanity or graphic terms. Again, I can't overstate that his tricks were amazing, impressive, and captivating - as magic should be. You leave the show shaking your head and wondering how it's done - which truly makes it "magic". You would be hard-pressed to spend $36.36/person for an hour of live entertainment that can match Aaron's performance. Pro-tip: If you're driving there you will need to use an app to reserve parking, as there aren't garages like downtown Chicago and every street is filled with so many signs there's no way you will return and find your car not-towed or not-ticketed. Chicago does this on purpose to generate revenue; you'll see "street cleaning" on Tuesday from xx hour to xx hour, no parking when snow is over 2 inches OR any time from Dec 1 through April 1, loading zone, 15 minute stopping/standing with flashers, no parking, residential permit zone only, bike lanes, bus stop restrictions, etc. If you find street parking and think you've beaten the system, think again. Nobel Prize Laureates, Rhodes Scholars, Ivy League PhDs, Mensa members - you can meet them all at Chicago Central Auto Pound retrieving their vehicles. Stephen Hawking couldn't drive, but if he could and he parked in that neighborhood all the quantum mechanics in the world wouldn't make his towed car reappear from the Chicago Parking space-time continuum. The nice thing is if you do reserve parking and give yourself enough time you can walk to many, many restaurants and bars in the area that are open even after the 10 pm show ends. Thank you Aaron for a wonderful experience, you made my wife's birthday memorable for both of us.

I've attended this show twice now and really enjoyed it both times. It's always a great experience…read more He takes time to thank everyone for coming and even asks how you heard about the show, which makes it feel very personal and welcoming. He's genuinely nice and engaging. I plan to come at least once a year. I also love having a local, neighborhood option instead of having to go downtown to see similar acts.

I've lived in the area for a bit and FINALLY made my way to the Laugh Factory. My friends and I…read morecame for a late night stand-up show. Tickets were free!! Honestly a great show, I've been to some really bad stand up before and I was impressed by each of the comedians. There is a two drink minimum per person - alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Not a big deal to us since we were in the mood for a drink and didn't pay for tickets, but something to note if you're coming to a paid show. There's a lot of open seating as well, and all were in great view of the stage. The venue is fairly large while still feeling pretty intimate. If you're a fan of comedy I'd definitely recommend a stand-up show, and I'll probably be back to check out one of the paid ones!

First time visiting the Laugh Factory so I decided to purchase tickets to the show while visiting…read moreChicago. Tickets were easy to purchase online. There is a 2 drink minimum. The waiter was friendly. The comedians listed on the website were not the comedians that were at the show nevertheless, the show had some funny moments and some comedians were funnier than others. We got some guest comedians that happened to be in town and was somewhat familiar with from social media skits. We check out the Laugh Factory again preferably in another location.

Second City Chicago never fails to deliver. Every show I've seen has been genuinely funny on an…read moreintelligent, sharp, and expertly crafted level. The cast is consistently brilliant, and the comedy feels effortless while clearly being the result of immense talent, timing, and skill. The food and drinks are also something to note - some places just do the basics, but I like that Second City takes pride in what they serve. I also had the incredible opportunity to take classes here back in 2017 with my husband, which gave me an even deeper appreciation for what happens on stage. The entire concept - how the sketches are written, how they flow seamlessly from one to the next, and how improv is woven throughout - is truly genius. What's especially impressive is how expertly the performers handle audience members who may be a bit too enthusiastic or disruptive. They manage these moments with wit, grace, and humor, turning potential interruptions into laugh-out-loud highlights without ever derailing the show. Second City isn't just a comedy show, it's an institution. Whether you're there as an audience member or fortunate enough to study there, the experience is consistently memorable, inspiring, and endlessly entertaining. A must-see in Chicago, every single time.

First time at an improv show, Second City was a recommendation from a friend…read more The place is really big & well decorated. We got reasonably priced tickets and headed up to the 3rd floor. The space was small and intimate but it was great being so close to the stage. Very cute little spot and fun activity with friends or a date.

This theatre is a welcome alternative to its larger-scale counterparts in the Loop. It is smaller…read moreand newer, so it has modern amenities, for whatever it lacks in old-school grandeur. Location is excellent, right next to/under Water Tower Place. Please be aware that parking underneath this building is feasible, but only a few doors are open at Water Tower Place after hours, and there are no signs or pieces of helpful info to alert you to this. It gets a bit crowded, nothing serious, but I think I went to a show on a night when few people had any spatial awareness...you say "excuse me" and nobody sees fit to move...weird! The bar lines seemed pretty long, but the bathroom lines were quick. There are multiple entrances to the women's bathroom, so it was a bit of an awkward "zipper merge" that we all laughed about, but this could've been planned better. None of that is enough to take stars away, because the overall experience is amazing. While watching Titanique (a hilarious, unhinged, brilliant parody-style musical), my friend and I found our seats comfortable and with easy sight lines. We are both very short, but our view was not blocked one bit! The stadium seating here is very intentionally done, so it's hard have a bad view. When you're short, it is rare to have this, so I really appreciated it. Also, the theatre is small enough, so even from "far away," you still feel close to the action!

Fabulous theatre we discovered quite by accident. We had a few hours to spare and discovered this…read moretheatre had a few seats for its showing of Titanique. This is not a huge theatre, but we found it the perfect size with all seats accessible and modern. The full bar up front and the welcoming staff here were also much appreciated. Highly recommend this theater for all.

We came here as something to do while in town for the evening with no plans and we didn't have a…read morelot of hope for the event, but thought it would be fun... We didn't know it would be GREAT!!! We decided to buy stage-side seats and we were seated right next to the area where the king & queen would sit and watch. This play is absolutely incredible! The actors and staff were all great and hilarious! I don't want to give too much of it away, but we did it all and had a great experience. Definitely worth visiting!

I'm going to be the dissenter and call in Fentanyl Shakespeare. My wife are fun people, dance to…read morethe music in public when no one else is and love comedy not dependent upon shock and gutter talk but on hilarity and well executed timing. I think if you are 21 ish you will love it and all of the jokes that require you are up to date on the latest pop stars back stories. We endured. We smiled. We looked at our watches, smiled and sighed with the others in the room who had that why am I here look. People who had the most fun arrived hammered in my humble opinion. I while I am on the topic of pain, and those pew benches. Omg folks what's the cost of a long ? $300? Wow. That was equally painful. Some of have firm booties Staff was nice. Bar set up worked like a charm.

Just saw the magic parkour in Jupiter FL Amazing up close…read moremagic! Dennis is an outstanding entertainer and mesmerizing magician His mentalist performance will leave you awestruck. if you are a magic sceptic, take chance with Dennis, you will be a believer

Been a couple of times, the magician is a great entertainer and makes you believe in real magic…read more I tore a dollar bill into 8 pieces 2 separate times without letting go of bill and as you can see I still have it. Great mentalist as well.

I saw "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" at the Trap Door earlier this year and it was one of the…read morefinest pieces of ensemble acting I've seen in Chicago. Trap Door is a hidden treasure of which you should not deprive yourself. Like all good storefront theater, the stage is tiny, the seating limited, the experience intense. Plus, there can (will?) be wine.

Treefall! small and elegant theater! On Thursday night!…read moreActors try their best to show how struggle the life should be without mom! They are yelling more but it's how they should perform. Very nice place. I like it!

I recently lost my Mom and after seeing The Movement You Need, a part of me felt healed. Brendan…read moretook all the bad shit that could have weighed him down and reframed it as lampposts in his story of how his love for the Beatles was fueled by his love for his parents. It all connects. I laughed. I cried. I snorted from laughing. What a gorgeous interpretation! The Steppenwolf theater had wide aisles (so really you don't even have to get up when others are passing by to get to their seats). There's lots of restaurants around there to dine before the show or grab a drink after!

Great experiences here. Smaller theater and have great amenities on both floors. Bar on each floor,…read morecoffee and snacks right past the bar on the main floor. Bathrooms available on both floors. Cheaper parking across from the Apple store down the street if you plan ahead :-)

The Chicago Architecture Biennial exhibit is at the Chicago Cultural Center through Feb 28, 2026,…read morejust across from Millenium Park. Interesting works were throughout. We saw a color and geometric wall, resembling a Franc Macon work that I saw online. We saw a terrific 200-ft-wide 1897 mosaic Tiffany Dome, which of course is permanent. The center of the dome shows the signs of the zodiac. In a large marble-walled rotunda hall, there is another elaborate 40-ft dome, with references to Union veterans of the civil war. For reasons we didnt discover, there was what looked like an MRI (or similar) machine under the dome. The domes are apparently quite popular for wedding photos. We had merely stumbled in (Nov 2025), and we didnt look for a brochure, so the mysteries remain. But the domes alone are worth a visit.

We dropped in here since the wife said our local musician friend played in their domed hall. We…read moreexplored the dome where an earth friendly event was ongoing. There was a free art exhibit as well. You could see the history throughout.