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.

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.

I love the history of Arcada Theatre. It opened in 1926 on Labor Day weekend (their 100th birthday…read moreis coming up!). I remember when I was a kid we went on a tour here and the tour guide talked about a few ghost stories and myths about Al Capone using this place as one of his hiding spots. He took us backstage and in the basement. It was one of the most memorable tours I've ever been on, and probably what triggered my love for historical tours. I used to come here as a kid to see movies too. I have a fond memory of seeing the Wizard of Oz here (which I remember being projected onto a screen), and their old concession stand. Back then, Arcada Theatre was pretty simple and they hadn't yet updated it to be what it is today. Seeing the changes done to it have been a little heartbreaking for me, but I do appreciate that the owner has tried his best to turn it into something fun and still on theme with 1920s vibe. Now, there is a huge focus on live shows and entertainment. It feels like over the past 5 years, the live entertainment here has exploded and become so much more popular than it's ever been. The theater now mostly looks like a concert venue with big stage lights, speakers, and screens. There are also multiple different restaurants on site. It's a little disappointing whenever I see slot machines at a business, especially one with so much history, but oh well. I came here recently because I saw on their website they do a Silent Film series every month and I thought it would be fun to see at a theatre that started out showing silent movies! They were playing The Kid starring Charlie Chaplin. Before the movie, I purchased a box of their popcorn for $6. There was a live organ player called The Phantom that played during the entire movie, which I enjoyed. Overall, the experience was good but during the movie, it started buffering for a couple minutes and when it started up again, you could see the bar at the bottom of the screen to press play lol--it definitely took away from the experience.

The Arcada Theatre is a really cool place to go. It is old and historic in a good way. We were at…read morethe St. Charles History Museum when the docent told my husband and I that you can go in the theatre and ask for a tour. So that's what we did. It was a Tuesday afternoon when we went, so there were no shows going on. We were able to see the performance area, the balcony, and backstage areas. We also got to see the restaurants and bars on the upper levels of the theatre. Around every corner is another historic artifact or interesting thing to see. I can't wait to go back to see a show or eat at one of their restaurants. I highly recommend the Arcada Theatre!

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.

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.

Riverfront, it has been too long!…read more When you first enter the lobby you're in for a healthy helping of kitsch. Arrive early if you can and get ready for a feast for the eyes. Ask questions, there's a great story behind everything. As for the performances, colorful, unique and fun. The actors and actresses here are talented. And since any seat is close to the stage, each performance is intimate. Don't miss this gem!

I had been here a few years ago to see The Producers with my husband, since I knew he'd love it…read more(and he did). This theatre consistently provides excellent experiences with top-tier quality shows, often drawing from local and Broadway talent alike. However crowded theatres get in downtown Chicago, and however surly their employees can be at times, the Paramount is the opposite on both counts. What a breath of fresh air! Better yet, the sightlines are terrific. Even in the very back, you have a great view of the stage, and the seats' heights are staggered enough where short people's views aren't easily blocked. Although the Paramount is quite far from where I live, so it's not a super frequent visit for me, that is not due to any lack of quality in terms of the experience or shows!

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 went to watch Les Miserables by Schaumburg On Stage as I'd recently missed the national tour in…read moredowntown Chicago. Realizing that Drury Lane and Paramount had done their version a few years back and Marriott Theatre had done it a bit before that, I wanted to watch a live version in case I can't make the next big stop in Milwaukee. I watch quite a bit of theatre, both professional and amateur. Not sure why, but until this show -- I wasn't aware of Schaumburg on Stage which has been around since 2016. To my surprise, the quality of the production was similar in quality to other highly acclaimed groups like the District 214 all-district group (which recently did The Wedding Singer). Here were my thoughts on various aspects of the show: Staging: It really surprised me how many sets were used in the show and how they were fully functional. They were designed and painted well and items were hardly reused. They also did a very good job of quickly changing sets to make sure the showtime was kept to a reasonable length. Vocals: Two things I like about this. One is how they kept the complex harmonies -- which worked great in group songs. The overall balance lacked baritone and bass voices, but that's expected with younger actors. I also liked how they did not shy away from the challenge of the very high notes for male or female leads. They could have easily changed the key, but it's great to see them embrace the challenge. Orchestra: A bit smaller, not sure if it's due to space limitations or that's the way the school version is written. A bit more reliant on piano and common woodwind/string instruments than the full version. I did like how they played at a level not to overpower the vocals. Lighting and fog: I liked all the varieties of lights used. Not just in general stage lighting from the top, but also from lights on the side and spotlights. There were quite a bit of variations on lighting, which helped to tell the story. I did not like the excessive use of stage fog though, which tended to linger for more than a single scene. Overall, a great group to watch a show from. It's much better than the typical amateur group and prices are very reasonable. It's also great how they incorporate actors and actresses from all different ages and help them to build interest in theatre. Based on the quality of this performance, I can't wait to watch another show when they get a new digital microphone system.

The experienced people at SOS really see the value and potential in each kid. They are like family…read morein that they really connect and care, but they also hold the kids to a high standard and help them achieve it. This is definitely a step up from park district community theater in both production quality and experience.