This review is specifically about the facility, the Prairie Lakes Theater. It's adjacent to the…read morePrairie Lakes Community Center and I presume there's a connecting interior hallway between the two. The theatre is part of the Des Plaines Park District and what a great asset for the city. There are a handful of organizations that rent space for their productions here I think, amongst them Big Noise Theatre, which I learned about at a Park Ridge summer event and that's how I found out there's a great black-box theatre in the suburbs. They've hosted various arts companies, including dance and opera. They're also available for rent by other parties as well. Prairie Lakes has just under 300 seats and the sight lines are good; I don't think there are any limited view seats in the place. Seats were very comfortable too. Parking is ample, given its location, and free.

We returned to this nice and intimate theatre to see Big Noise Theatre's kids musical 'Elephant &…read morePiggie's "We Are in a Play!"'. It was a most delightful play, and this is when I learned that the Big Noise Theatre company rents space from the Prairie Lakes Community Theatre for their productions. I guess some previous reviews allude to this arrangement, but I never paid attention until today on what "theatre name" was appropriate here. In any event, we're now 2 for 2 on 5 star outings at this venue.

I have been a patron of Metropolis for as long as I can remember, starting with the influence of my…read moregrandpa and grandma taking me to the children's shows. The quaint theater doesn't really have a "bad" seat in the house! They have programming that spans improv, musicals, classic plays, children's theatre, educational concerts, a capella, etc. They also have a performing arts school in which my daughter has taken classes and summer camps at. One star off because I wish they would do more accessible tickets e.g. rush tickets or lotteries. One of shows of the children from the school of the performing arts was, like, $20/person. Also, the Play that Goes Wrong was $50. I can see a Broadway in Chicago show for that price if you go about it utilizing the proper channels. I do not utilize the bar during shows, but they sell snacks, which are not allowed in the theater, and drinks, which are allowed in the theater.

Very disappointed we paid for seats and then was told first come first serve. So nit happy we…read morewaited in lobby thinking we had a say section 3 seat 7-8. So our seats we 3-4 , 5-6, 7-8. For three couples. Instead seat were saved and not together. Every one in this row thought the same. It was awful and birthday party like ours and they had to divide up as some couple sat between them. I see plays on the regular and not sure I would come back here. They cast only performed to the middle section. So it was not worth what we paid. I plan to take my friends to another venue next time.

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.

I was gifted two tickets from a friends to see Charlie Puth's Whatever's Clever World Tour at his…read more5.15.2026 Rosemont stop for my birthday! I haven't been to the Rosemont Theater in forever, but I do recall it always being a positive experience. Parking?: Decently priced and close to the entrance Security?: Present enough to make you feel safe. The process for checking bags and being [metal detector] wanded was smooth. Merch?: Conveniently located in the main lobby, well displayed, and smooth to make a purchase. I had eaten dinner prior to arriving, but the concession stand looked to have decently priced snacks. The theater looks a little um, retro(?), but it was a gift to be in a beautiful theatre over a giant sports stadium. The sound quality was great, the seats were comfortable, and I could see Charlie very well, even if I chose to sit during a slower song due to the staggered, stadium seating. Traffic on the way there was a little slow due to a concert at Allstate Arena, the Chicago Dogs home opener, and Anime Central, but that was on me to be responsible and leave at an appropriate time. I had looked up the set list on SetlistFM so I knew there was no encore. As soon as that last note of "Changes" rang out into the air, I was a cloud of myself as I briskly walked to the car to get out of the parking lot, haha. What a joy to enjoy a concert and be back on my own driveway in 23 minutes!

I haven't been to this theatre in years, but returned for a recent Christmas concert…read more As many others have shared, be sure to try and arrive early, if you are driving your own car. Parking here can be a mess. We left home 2 hours before our show and were so glad we did. The drive from Chicago's West Town area and waiting for parking alone, took us over an hour. Once in the parking lot, we were fortunate to get a spot around the corner from the main entrance. Expect to wait in a long line for concessions, coat check, and the ladies restroom. Prices for drinks and snacks are what you would expect. However, the mixed drinks we purchased were definitely worth the price we paid. Our server at the bar had a "heavy hand" so there was plenty of spirits in the drinks. Definitely appoint a designated driver. Seats are comfy here and the inside of the theatre gets warm. But plan to sit very close to strangers if you don't have an aisle seat. I like the intimate setting of this theatre. Views from row E were fabulous. Being an amateur musician myself, I would say the only critique I have is that at times the instruments sounded louder than vocals, so it made it hard to hear the soloists at times. In all, a December concert here was a beautiful experience and a great way to kick off the holidays!

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.

If you're looking for something a little different, this is a fantastic magic/comedy show not too…read morefar from Wrigley Field. Great for date nights and if you're lucky, you might end up on stage. It's also BYOB and there's a 7/11 a block away.

Move the Beat is a fantastic, welcoming, an energetic and friendly dance studio that is worth a…read moretrip even if you're in the city. We worked with Natalie and Krystal to learn a choreographed tango for our first dance at our wedding and they were so full of enthusiasm and warmth all throughout that we knew we were at the best place to create something special and memorable. We were looking for a location primarily in Chicago to learn a choreographed wedding dance just a month out from the special day. Due to the time constraint, most places were skeptical or only wanted to teach the basics. We were referred to Natalie and from the first introduction, you can tell she would not only be fun but also invested in your success and confidence when it comes to the performance. At times, it also felt like a collaboration as Natalie was always open to incorporating our ideas and also didn't shy from challenging us to go bigger with moves we might not have considered but she believed we could accomplish. We switched to working with Krystal midway as Natalie recovered from a broken ankle (but who still showed up!) and it was a seamless transition. We also got extra practice time thanks to Natalie's husband, who also helped capture video, opening the studio while there was a winter storm. There are not enough compliments to give the Move the Beat family for how personable and genuine they all are. Come wedding day, we felt prepared, comfortable and excited to dance thanks to the creativity and instruction from Move the Beat. Their ability to break down, encourage, fine-tune and guide you through everything was natural and great. Well worth the visit from the city!

I have been dancing with Natalie since 2014, and I highly recommend her and her staff. They are…read morevery patient and welcome dancers of all levels! Natalie is an incredible teacher. She is extremely knowledgeable and keeps lessons fun and upbeat. I love Move the Beat's group classes and private lessons.

This is a pretty decent-sized festival for the burbs. It has the typical carnival rides on the side…read moreand food tents setup that you usually see in suburban festival. I decided to check it out after a Northbrookian (or is it "Northbrook-ite"?) kept saying how awesome it was and that he so far went on the previous two days. Most be good, I though, eh? I have to agree that it was pretty good. The weather was perfect on Sunday and its right next to the Metra stop so there was parking that was really close by. So unlike other suburban festivals that are held in residential parks (think Arlington Heights Frontier Days) you don't have to take a tour of the neighborhood and drive around in circles looking for somewhere to park. The food there was decent and "festival priced" -- the currency there is tickets, tickets, tickets and they were selling 1-ticket for 50cents. I got the beef brisket sammich at some BBQ place called TK's which was awesome, and I shall "bookmark". This place showcased a lot of Northbrook restaurants that I shall try out in the near future. My forgetful memory entails that I'll need to lookup the names again :-/ Overall, a decent-sized festival that is worth checking out if you're in the burbs.

Rides, games, music, food, people That IS NB days fest. Located in downtown Northbrook, the village…read moregreen turns into a huge carnival area with food/game/ride vendors plus a large stage area with live music. The kids love it, big enough to have fun, small enough to still be some what contained. Rides can get expensive, they used to have a band deal but not sure what the current status of that is. This event fires up on a Wednesday in late July and soldiers on through until Sunday evening.

A great program run by experienced music, dance and drama teachers. Mrs. Amanda is wonderful to…read morework with! My daughters have been attending Stage School for 4 years and they continue to WOW! us!!

Stage Coach has had a wonderful impact on my daughter Ella! She started when she was 7 yrs old and…read morenow she is just about 9 yrs old! A great place to learn discipline and create beautiful music , drama and dance all in one day! Wow we love it! Sally and Ella Osborne