Nice medium sized theater located in Oak Park. I was really close to giving them five stars, it's…read moreclean, the staff is polite, the actors are great, and the seats are comfy. The only problems are that the seats aren't pitched enough and that something is off with their audio. I couldn't hear most of the performance. Lucky enough the actors were good enough for me to follow the story. Also I had the change seats a few times before and during the performance. Get one tall person in front of you and you can't see anything, hence the seating needing to be pitched more or maybe make the stage higher. Even with these major issues I still really enjoyed the show and the theater. I know this sounds sick and or weird but the play was called "Urinetown" -it's a musical about pee only it's so much more then that. About the right to pee. It's a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. Still strange I know, but it's something for you to see for yourself. Enjoy! P.S. The actors are excellent, dancing, singing, and my favorite... they still perform even when they aren't the center of attention. I love that! P.S.S. This is my 50th theater review!! Holy crap there are a lot of play house in Illinois!

Circle Theatre does not equal Broadway. In fact, I get the distinct impression that they are not…read moreTRYING to compete with the Les Miserables and Wicked blockbusters. With that in the forefront of your mind, imagine a local (non-touring) group of professionals who act in these plays because they love it. This is their passion and it shows. Consider Circle Theatre the Hilary Swank of the acting world. They are talented, uber smart, and they choose productions that are somehow meaningful to them (not necessarily with the intention of making money). Are they capable of producing popular, money making productions that would make Andrew Lloyd Webber proud? Absolutely! True to the pervasive value of the Village of Oak Park, Circle Theatre strives for independent excellence. Circle Theatre itself is pretty small. There is an atrium with a ticket counter and a small concession area. The concession area has a few things including wine and beer. There are two theaters so that two shows can occur simultaneously. The theaters are divided into three sections of tiered seats, have open seating, and have great views from everywhere. The seats themselves are padded and have armrests. The floors are clean (not sticky like some movie theaters). Lastly, the employees (actors and staff) are all kind and friendly. They've been nice when it comes to finding tickets for me and have worked quickly at the concession stand when I want to get to a seat before the show begins. The actors have come out after the show and have made pleasant conversation with their fans. In conclusion, Circle Theatre is perfect at what it is. Some of the plays are funny and some are thought-provoking. They have impressive costumes and sets, but without the fireworks of something you would see in Chicago's Theatre District. The actors have theater degrees and lots of experience. You can expect to see an offbeat play performed and produced by professionals who care.

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.

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."

This theater group has been the best experience for my daughter. It is very unique to the area for…read moreseveral reasons: 1. It's a no-audition theater. What does that mean? Your child doesn't have to go through the stress of auditioning. The parts are assigned by the director after a couple of practices. Every child is guaranteed a main part for one show. 2. Although the shows run several weeks, each child only has to attend two shows; one for their lead role and one as an ensemble role, as they believe that children should have experience as a supporting role. 3. The practice schedule is extremely flexible. You only have to attend two weekday or one of the weekend rehearsals. If you can't make your assigned time, no problem! You just go to another practice that week that better fits your schedule. 4. NO FUNDRAISING! It drives me nuts when I pay for an activity and then STILL have to raise money for the organization. It's not even that expensive, compared to other activities my daughter has done. 5. They welcome any child to perform, no matter what their disability or experience. I have seen incredible performances from children who wouldn't otherwise have an opportunity to play a lead role. It warms my heart to watch the shows for this reason. 6. The summer camps are so fun and runs the entire week for the entire day. I don't feel like I have to jump through hoops at work to carve out time to play the taxi driver for a camp that only lasts a few hours during the day. I highly recommend signing up for them as soon as registration opens; they book up quickly and rarely do waiting list kids get in. They're very popular. If I could give them more than five stars I would. I tell all of my friends about this theater. The only downside is that's it's in Naperville, which is not convenient. But my daughter happily hops in the car for the commute, as she loves being there.

Scott Bonn, Ph.D. is a criminology professor, TV news commentator, public speaker and author. He is…read morean expert on the behavior and the motivations of criminals. I often hear his name of the Serial Killers podcast I listen to on Spotify and just recently finished reading his book "Why We Love Serial Killers: The Curious Appeal of the World's Most Savage Murderers". When I saw him on the news giving an interview and they mentioned he would be 'in Chicago", I jumped at the chance to get a ticket to see him live. Welp, much to my dismay, he was not going to be in Chicago but Joliet. Well, I bit the bullet, got a ticket, and decided to go anyway. The Rialto is located in what I assume is the downtown area...the reason I say assume is that this is the first time I have been to Joliet. Since I arrived at 7:30 pm, it was dark and not much foot traffic beyond people parking to go to the theater. There was a parking lot about a two blocks from the theater at the cross street and it was free. The theatre was designed by Marshall & Fox, who also designed the Blackstone Theatre (now the Merle Reskin), the Blackstone Hotel and the Drake Hotel. Walking inside, you can definitely tell that these guys did the work as there was a familiarity to the Chicago buildings mentioned. The interior is very ornate and pretty. There were several vendors in the main lobby serving drinks (no bubbles, just still wines), cocktails and beer. You could take the drinks in with you to the theater. There was this huge Duchess chandelier in the rotunda and a lot of cream-colored marble walls in the lobby. The theater itself was so lovely. The seats looks wide enough where you could be comfortable. The reason I say this is that a lot of entertainment venues built back in the day had very narrow and uncomfortable seats. Because I had tickets in the front row of the orchestra pit, they had stand alone seats there, but they were padded and comfortable. I loved seeing the red velvet curtains and looking up to the ceiling, there was this ornate plateau of what appeared to be The Birth of Venus, based on the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli. The presentation itself was nice and insightful. I am fascinated with serial killers from the perspective of the psychology of why they do what they do, and Dr. Scott Bonn did not disappoint. Although a lot of the basics he spoke on I was already aware of, it was great to here about his person insights into his dealings with BKT (Dennis Rader)and Son of Sam. The irony was not lost on me that quite a few of these killers associate with Christianity in terms of being involved in churches. Bonn mentioned that Son of Sam (David Berkowitz )was now Son of Hope and a self-proclaimed minister who was being embraced by quite a few people. Couldn't wrap my mind around that at all. Bonn also spoke about Bryan Christopher Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. Bonn mentioned that he felt that Kohberger had the potential to become a serial killer had he not been caught. Bonn also mentioned that the number of serial killers has been on the declined over the years, with the numbers as high as over 800 in the 80s. The advances in DNA testing as well as technology/knowledge had stopped potential serial killers in their tracks before they got started. The staff were all very cordial and helpful. Overall experience was a good one as I liked the feel of the theater. There would have to be someone performing here that I absolutely would want to see before coming back here due to the distance but would absolutely do so.

I saw Buddy Guy at Rialto Square Theatre the other week and really liked this venue! I'd always…read morebeen curious about this theater the few times I had driven by it so I was excited to check it out. Upon entering the lobby you can see how elegant and beautiful the building is. My wife and I decided to look up at the theater ceiling before the show just to admire the architecture. The acoustics were great and we heard everything perfectly. I'll definitely be back!

This is the kind of theatre we need feeding the outskirts of America's major, metropolitan cities…read more While Chicagoans don't often refer to Berwyn as "The Outskirts," I simply point to it's more sedate, suburban surroundings, as opposed to some of the more cosmopolitan stuff you'd experience downtown. This past Saturday, I caught the second to last performance of OUR DAD IS IN ATLANTIS. The production, directed by Artistic Director Ann Filmer, was a tight, ethereal afternoon of theatre. She drew from the actors an emotional honesty and intensity that I haven't seen in a long time. And I see a ton of plays. Ms. Filmer has done an amazing job crafting out a space for unique, daring, dialogue-inducing theatre. She should be very proud of her accomplishments here. I can only hope and pray that this place stays alive for a very long time. BOTTOM LINE: Do yourself a favor, folks, and check it out. A new Rebecca Gilman play is going up this Summer.

Went to see Living Large in a Mini Kind of Way The acting…read moreperformances by the ensemble was fine. Particularly funny was actress Miranda Gonzalez (Big Maria) Rose Guccione is truly talented in both languanges and has excellent timing of dialogue use. The theatre is also impressive for it's location. Confortable and clean. We will surely return and recommend. Well done director Anne Filmer.

We came for the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in May 2015. I'd wanted tp see it for years,…read moresince it was playing in New York (in the plaza across from Wicked). So I can't compare the Oak Park production to any other, but it was, uncompared very good. There were certainly some notable differences -- for instance, they asked for 4 volunteers from the audience to join the cast to fill up some seats. They picked really well, and the volunteers when I saw it hammed it up, and stuck around for a few rounds of the Bee. As for the paid performers, the singing and acting was good, the set was minimalistic, but didn't feel like it needed anything more, and the lighting and sound were overall good. There was one microphone issue. The lights also seemed like they were a little bit low, and didn't quite hit the actors' faces, although maybe that was deliberate so they could see. It was fun that the theater was so small, every seat was a good one, and we could actually see everything, down to the facial expressions. The cast had a sense of humor when things came up (like the microphone issue, or the audience volunteers indicating a willingness to jump in for a number). Overall it was a very well put together production. The show was a fun one, although it got wayyyy darker than I expected. The ending was cheesy, but hey, it's a musical. I had no idea Oak Park had such a theater scene! There was plenty of street parking. There's a small concession area with basic offerings. The bathroom is small, only a couple per sex, but the intermission was long enough for everyone who needed the break. I think there were at least 2 venues in the playhouse because there seemed to be another show going at the same time as ours.

Came to see los monologos de la vagina" I Like it great…read moreshow Nice theatre ,great place

We drove a long distance for my daughter to audition for Winnie-the-Pooh after she spent…read moreconsiderable time preparing. We participate in auditions regularly and have never encountered anything like this. When we arrived, a staff member dismissively said, "We don't take little kids," in a condescending tone, as though the situation was amusing. There was nothing in the casting notice indicating that the audition was limited to adults or that there were any age restrictions whatsoever. It is incredibly unprofessional to omit such an important detail and then treat families with disrespect after they have invested their time and effort. My daughter was excited and prepared, only to be turned away in a humiliating manner. I would strongly recommend avoiding this organization. There are many other theater companies and casting organizations that communicate clearly and treat children and families with the professionalism and courtesy they deserve.

Amazing Theatre for Young Audiences! Great prices and kid-friendly shows that are engaging for all!read more

Teatro Vista advocates and encourages individuals to "explore the wealth and variety of the human…read moreexperience from a Latino perspective for all Chicagoans to enjoy." They work with over 3,000 students through educational outreach programs annually! Founded in 1990 by Edward Torres and Henry Godinez they made Teatro Vista "one of the nation's leading Lation Equity theater companies that has produced over 60 productions including 16 world premieres and commissioned numerous plays." Teatro Vista collaborated with the Goodman Theater recently to provide another amazing production..... "La Havana Madrid" a play that is based on a now extinct Chicago Night Club once located in the Lakeview area of Chicago. The play focuses on real life stories......of Latino/a experience in 1960s Chicago...read on... I went yesterday to see the play "La Havana Madrid"at the Goodman Theater and it was truly phenomenal!!! Complete with audience giving the actors and musicians a "Standing Ovation" and loud whistles and yell outs at the end!!!!! The floor level seats consisted of tables with chairs where viewers could eat and drink during the production-and feel first hand as if they were at the Havana Madrid Night Club in the Chicago Lakeview Neighborhood during the 1960s. The tables faced a stage with three steps, a live band that played latin based music and at the end of the play viewers were encouraged to dance as the band played on under the authority of the Bandleader and Bass Roberto "Carpacho" Marin! The play "La Havana Madrid" was written by Chicago native Sandra Delgado who is an award-winning actor, writer and producer who was born and raised in Chicago. Ms. Delgado played the lead role in the play as the night club singer who introduces (between songs) vignettes of half a dozen individuals from the 1960s who tell their story of arrival in Chicago from different Latin American Countries (Colombia for example) and Caribbean Islands including Cuba and Puerto Rico. Each story is a narrative about the struggles of leaving their homeland under a variety of circumstances and deals with the harsh environment of Chicago in which they experience the sadness of missing family, food, and culture of their homeland, while enduring discrimination and other economic problems ranging from housing to being taken advantage of due to their background during this time period as well as police brutality and violence. It is heavy on the heart (but provides some comic relief); however, it is a much needed set of stories that aim to inform and educate people about the diverse history of the Latino/a Experience in Chicago. All of the individuals and their vignettes come together at the La Havana Madrid Night Club in the Lakeview Neighborhood where the individuals sought sanctuary and a sense of belonging through music and cultural connections. The play was partially "inspired" by the 2006 Book by Tony Quintana (a well known Spanish-TV host and music-promoter). The book is De Naguabo a Chicago: The Tony Quintana Story, Memorias De Un Boric Ausente. (I tried to find it on-line to buy as I wanted to read it-but it does not appear to be available :( ?). Audience participation and involvement was fun and was encouraged through dancing, clapping, and verbal participation through learning and speaking some Spanish phrases. There were also two television sets on either side of the stage providing authentic photographs during each vignette relating to that era (1960s). Amazingly written, performed and executed by Ms. Delgado in association with the Goodman Theater and Teatro Vista which produces, develops and commissions plays that explore the variety of experience from a Latino/a perspective ad historically has 14 Chicago premiers and 60 productions according to the La Havana Madrid playbill. I am looking forward to Ms. Delgado's next play!!!! Unfortunately due to the restrictions of the Goodman Theater, recording or pictures were not allowed which I understand, but was "a bummer" because the music and acting and unique way that the play was executed as if you were in a night club would have been fun to share. You can see if you look carefully at my pictures a set of Congas (drums) behind the screen at the beginning before the announcement was made!

I'd been dying to see Our Lady of the Underpass, so when I saw free tickets pop up on goldstar.com,…read more I snagged them immediately! They show was really good - well acted and very well written. The play covers a lot of ground in its 80 minutes. It touches on issues of gentrification, racism, faith, loss, betrayal and more. The show is about far more than religion, which I hadn't expected - by the end I was in tears (the last vignette was my favorite). I had only two minor complaints - one character speaks extensively in Spanish, so I felt a little lost during her segment and I thought some of the attempts at humor seemed a bit off taken in the context of what is, overall, a fairly serious play. These are small issues, though - I highly recommend seeing this play before it ends its run on March 29th!