I may be a bit biased given I'm Asian American, but this has to be my favorite Theater…read moreestablishment in Chicago. Located on Washington Street in a church, it's easy to miss. The Venue itself is small which creates an intimate atmosphere. Seats are very close to the stage making you feel like a cast member yourself. Their shows tend to be simple in terms of set design but the subjects of most their productions are deep and emotional and very intellectually stimulating. The last two productions were amazing and very relatable. Relatively cheap, they offer discounts for students and have industry nights. Get to know the permanent staff. Nice, caring and passionate about both theater and racial reconciliation issues, with them there is never a dull conversation :)

I recently saw their adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. What a wonderful…read moreproduction! It's a long show but in watching it time just flew. The entire cast did an amazing job and the sets, lights and sound were beautiful. Please help support this fantastic theater company and their innovative productions!

Beautiful building that holds a massive amount of people. They do a wonderful job on up keep…read more We saw to Operas this past weekend and the staging was amazing. I did think the sound could have been a bit better though.

TL; DR: Beautiful building and great performance…read more Went to see Cosí Fan Tutte and it was an amazing experience. The staff who work there are a delight and the performance itself was a knockout. The building is stunning, so if you have never been, I would suggest seeing it at least once in your life!

The Renovo String Orchestra is one of the best that the Chicago area music scene has to offer. You…read morecan tell that everyone who is associated with this place (performers and staff) cares deeply about bringing high quality performances to its audiences. The folks here are friendly and passionate patrons of the arts. I had a chance to see this group perform at Rockefeller Chapel, among other fabulous productions, and they simply brought the house down. The praise showered down, non stop, from the last row in the balcony to the first row of the orchestra. This is the quintessential Chicago ensemble. Go see them live - You will love it!

This show is about so much more than wrestling. The incredible storytelling sucked me in from the…read morefirst moment and had me spellbound. The actors were fabulous--and one of them, not sure who, was recovering from the flu that had caused the Saturday performance to be canceled. So glad we were able to get replacement tickets. The house was packed and the standing O was well deserved. I'm not a season ticket holder and I know nothing about wrestling but I would see this play again in a heartbeat.

Kristoffer Diaz was a Pulitzer Finalist! How sweet is that? I hope you guys got a chance to check…read morethis show out while it was here in Chicago. Otherwise you should give it a gander if you plan to be anywhere near NYC this summer. It's totally worth it!

Bruised Orange Theater Company, I fell in love with you. You…read moremade me laugh like a little girl in a ball pit. I enjoyed you so much I payed to see the newest ads acted out the following week. Brought my girlfriend, bought us some beers, talked about my excitement all week. Then you broke my heart. I dropped $20 on the show and drinks to see 2 new ads and the exact same acts as last week. Didn't you tell me that you did "I Saw You" as a rotating cast and that you had new material each week? Did you... Did you lie to me :(? It was the same cast plus one new girl, and I can ONLY hear the ad "my resignation to a dating website" ONCE (And love it. Its great. ONCE.). The second time, I just feel slighted. Its ten minutes long. Same for the yeast bit. There's only so many times I can hear I woman shriek "YEEEEAST!" before I want to hang myself from the Town Pub Hall Bathroom. I'm also now questioning whether these ads were real at all. You lied to me once, what's keeping you from lying more? My girlfriend is looking at me right now with a "wtf" disappointed face and I'm feeling the exact same way. We're going to get food and bitch. Thanks BOTC. I won't be coming back. Your hurt me and I'm not masochistic, unlike some of the people in your ads.

Yesterday I had the chance to see the Bruised Orange Theatre Company. The latest Bruised Orange…read moreProduction is called "I Saw You" based on the weekly Chicago Reader personal ads. From "Missed Connections" to sad "Seekings" to the risque "X-Matches," it's hard to believe that these are for real! However, the ensemble does an excellent job of convincing you with their superb character work, whether it's a kilt-wearing cello player on the el or a big black moose who wants your foot in his crotch. I hope this creative and innovative production sets the tone for Bruised Orange shows to come! Catch them at the Spot on Thursdays in September.

I have been fortunate enough to see two Seanachai Theatre Company productions: DANCING AT LUGHNASA…read morein the spring, and more recently, THE WEIR. Seanachai's plays are all Irish-centric, from the playwrights to the settings, and fittingly, their home is the Irish American Heritage Center - the perfect venue for them. Not surprisingly, their productions are compelling in subject matter. Don't go expecting a "light" play; they tackle very thought-provoking material. Having said that, both plays I've seen are shot through with humor that the Irish are also known for. Most importantly, the artists of Seanachai are master craftsmen of character and storytelling, and their passion comes through strongly in THE WEIR. Set in modern-day Ireland, about rural barflies and a big-city visitor to their backwater "local," this production is a compact masterpiece of characters drawn and stories told (literally; each character but one tells a gripping tale) that does not end at all like one is led to believe. It's truly an ensemble piece with no weak links; you will find yourself wanting to reach for a beverage next to you, so strongly do you feel a part of this intimate pub evening on a blustery Irish heath. I look forward to attending many more productions in the future.If you enjoy live theater or are into Gaelic storytelling, do yourself a favor and check them out. If you go on a Friday or Saturday night, you can stop for "a small one" after the show in the Fifth Province - the Irish pub on the first floor of the IAHC, and perhaps share your own stories with a cast member or two.

While you guys were all getting wasted at Yelp Summerfest '10, I was lucky enough to meet some of…read morethe cast members of the Seanachai Theater Company. Intrigued by the description of their latest play, The Weir, I decided to go back to the Irish American Heritage Center to see a preview performance. Oh, you didn't know there was a theater in the IAHC? Well, there is! It's very intimate and you feel like you're on the stage with Seanachai's talented ensemble cast. One of my biggest complaints about theater in Chicago is that it's so darn expensive. We don't have "off-broadway", or even "off, off-broadway." We have overpriced Ticketmaster fees and venues so big that you can barely tell if you're watching an actor or a muppet perform. The tickets to see Seanachai are extremely affordable and, on the particular night that I was there, included a Q & A with the director and cast. Since I went to a preview performance, I am interested in going back in a few weeks to see how the play has progressed and also plan on attending future performances.

Best documentary-based theatre group in Chicago!…read more I've attended the show "El Stories" for over 4 years! They change the cast and crew every couple of months, so I've seen the show over 10x! I love the silly stories about people on the el, based on the theme of the month. My favorite part is the end, when an audience member retells their tale about a crazy story on the el, who gets to choose which members of the cast play each part! I'm normally crying at that point

This organization and the events held at Lincoln Way North High School (at their Performing Arts…read moreCenter) is just an absolute hidden gem, especially if you live in the Southwest suburbs and enjoy the performing arts. Maestro Carmen DeLeone who conducts the IPO, has also been Music Director of the Cincinnati Ballet since 1969, and just last season he also marked his twentieth year as Music Director of the Middletown Symphony in Ohio. At New York's Carnegie Hall, he has served as Conductor and Host of the "Family Concert" Series, and in Europe, he has conducted frequent performances with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also an accomplished composer and really has a passion for music. His energy and love really come through as does the enthusiasm and passion of all the members of the IPO. This is really an outstanding experience and a great well kept secret. This past Saturday's event featured John Adams - The Chairman Dances, W.A. Mozart - Symphony No. 35 in D Major ("Haffner"), and Sergei Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3. We also were able to enjoy an incredible appearance by Anthony Molinaro who is a world renowned Piano Soloist and his performance was excellent.

I saw them perform yesterday at Trinity Christian College and they were fabulous! They had a youth…read moreprogram and played Beethoven's 5th symphony. It was an interactive performance where the conductor was great at explaining the music, Beethoven's intentions, and sample pieces so that kids could follow along. After, we got to meet a bassist and learn a bit about his instrument. Wonderful experience.