My friend surprised me with tickets to see Ruthless! at the Citadel Theatre, and I didn't even know this hidden gem existed! There was ample parking when we arrived, and the entrance to the theatre was clearly marked. We were immediately greeted by a gentleman at the ticket counter who was absolutely wonderful. I wish I had remembered his name--he was so warm and welcoming and made us feel genuinely happy to be there. The seats were very comfortable, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of legroom. I really appreciated not feeling cramped, as I often do in many other theatres. The live music, lighting, sound, acting, and singing were all top-notch. I was incredibly impressed by my experience here and can't wait to return for another show! read more

Citadel Theatre - Ruthless! stage bill - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

We have been patrons of the Citadel Theatre for a couple of years now and their shows never disappoint! As a patron of the arts, I am privileged enough to see a variety of shows in a variety of spaces and the Citadel is one that I can say is consistently great and offers a variety of shows at very reasonable prices. The theatre space is not huge, but for me, that means there is never a bad seat in the house! They have a reasonably priced concession stand and have a wonderful staff in the lobby that is always friendly and helpful. Bonus points for them always have little touches that reflect the current show--for example, today's show revolved around college admissions and there were all of these college pennants adorning the walls. There are clean bathrooms, an accessible bathroom, and there is plenty of parking. The seats are comfortable, well-spaced, and the sound system is great. My grandmother is a little hard of hearing and she can hear most everything the actors have to say! I always look forward to my evenings planned at the Citadel Theatre! read more

Citadel Theatre - Admissions - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

Very good small theater, excellent performance quality for ticket prices. Intimate venue that is a just a tad bit uncomfortable however I can compare before and after losing 50 lbs and it is definitely better for the slimmer (not slim, just slimmer) version of me. Sound is very good, it's a small enough venue that they don't need amplification which is a big plus in my book as larger theaters seem to assume audiences are hard of hearing. read more

I was all in a kerfuffle regarding my three subscription package. The gal on the phone was patient and helped me out so we found a good solution. read more

Nice small theatre. Took my grandkids to see Elenor Very Merry Christmas. It was really good.

Citadel brings an interesting mix of small theater with professional acting, limited staging but clever design, and very close seating all-together-in-one. On my visit to watch Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, I was a bit surprised by the quality of the production I saw given the low price of the tickets. This overall was a small, but well run operation. Tickets were easy to purchase and receive at the will-call. The hallway was full of banners of past and future productions, and the playbill was designed nicely. The show started a bit late, but seating was orderly and the pace of the show was good -- with very quick set changes. The actors were skilled in both dancing and singing. Though the choreography was not extremely challenging, they made very good use of the space available and told the story well through the distinctly different characters they portrayed. The singing was very good here -- where the mix of the voices was done well. Even with minimal amplification, I never felt that the leads were overpowered by the chorus. The small theater allowed me to hear the harmonies very well, which were sung loud and clear by the ensemble. I was pleased at the effort taken to ensure that the different characters also had distinctly different vocal mannerisms and tones. Overall, this was an enjoyable experience. The small setting is used to its maximum potential, allowing for a great view of the entire show instead of limiting the quality of the show. The quality of the actors is good and the price is very reasonable. Worth a visit if you live in the area. read more

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So glad to be back to Citadel! We really enjoyed The Mouse Trap. We love the acting, the sets, the sound, the seats, the short drive and the parking. Very professional. We have seen a lot of plays there and always enjoy them. The theatre is small so you always have a great seat and are close to the action. The plays receive critical praise and are very well done. We will be attending as many as we are available for. read more

This is a fun place to see theatre. The intimate setting really draws you into the performances.

A sweet burb setup close to home that I just stumbled on. A laid back theater space situated in a school. Seats can be tight in a full house. Attended a production of Elemeno Pea recently. The cast did a good job with the production. Getting there is easy and the prices are affordable. Treat yourself and support the arts at the same time. read more

Citadel Theatre - Elemeno Pea - Performing Arts Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

I just attended my second show of the 2016-2017 season-"A Christmas Story." The production was really great and the talent was top notch. The show lasted just over 2 hours, but you never would have known because the musical was just that entertaining. The set was incredible, too. It's amazing what the designers can do with such a small space. The Citadel is a small theater, holding approximately 130 people, so you really get a cozy & intimate feeling when you're inside. The theater is always very clean and staff are super friendly. Again, not a bad seat in the house. I highly recommend checking out the Citadel Theatre when you're in the Lake Forest area. read more

Great theater experience. This is an immersive experience. The seating is essentially 120 degrees around the stage. It's almost like having them act in your living room. It's small enough that none of the actors used microphones for our performance. In fact, if you don't want to have the occasional inadvertent contact with an actor, you might not want the first row. For me, it was an incredibly unique experience that I've never had in theater. Because of its small size, I can see them outgrowing their space, but I hope that it never moves. Truly a local treasure that doesn't get the word-of-mouth publicity it deserves. They make great use of the stage. For our Christmas performance, the stage is on a turntable, so the scene changes were quick and the props were creative and convincing. They also appear to incorporate actors of various ages and experience, which gives the performance an organic feel and charm. Tickets are affordable, available on their website, and range from $20-40/seat. Candy and snacks are available for purchase at intermission. This is the perfect venue for a family outing and to get your fix of live theater on a regular basis. read more

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OMGoodness! We just saw a Little Shop of Horrors at the Citadel Theater in Lake Forest, IL and it was amazing! The talent, the sets and the design of the quaint theater was top-notch! Lights camera and atmosphere were perfect! What a gem! So good that I purchased season tickets and can't wait till the next production. read more

I really like this small theater. They have a fantastic repertoire. Every play I've ever seen is filled with emotions and makes you think. All of the performers are very good, and the location is convenient, if you live in the North Shore. read more

This company is amazing! I was as an employee at Citadel as well as audience member, and they never cease to amazing me. As well as all the people that work there really care about their employees and customers and giving them a good product! They are known as the "hidden gem" of Lake Forest. I always had customers tell me how happy they were to find Citadel. The company started out in a basement of a community center and have now grown to be the lovely theatre they are today. If you would like to see a video please click on the link below http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OjymrZZnes. read more

Last night my friend and I saw play called A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. Such talented performers had us laughing and singing along. I had a wonderful time. Lots of fun songs and dancing! read more

Our son started with Citadel a few years ago and it is one of the best decisions we have ever made. Their youth program is absolutely fantastic and is welcoming to all ability levels. He loves it so much that we never have to push him to attend a rehearsal and on top he has made great friends from all the local communities. The shows are very well done and the staff is super talented. If you are looking for a youth theater program, you cannot miss with Citadel. read more

Last Sunday, I ushered for a terrific, thought-provoking play entitled Other People's Money at the Citadel Theater in Lake Forest. Although the auditorium, itself, is a bit windy -- and you should definitely bring a sweater, your brain will be smoking as you examine your own morals and ethics on a Big Business vs. Little Guy backdrop. Ed Kuffert (Garfinkle), the big business executive, and Denise Mahler (Kate) as the self-assured, street-savvy lawyer for the small business nderdog, are a delight to watch in action. Pat Murphy (Jorgensen) as the small business owner who refuses to grow with the timesand Nancy Seller "Bea), his long-time honey and secretary, exemplify a time when life moved at a slower, more humanistic pace and relationships were paramount. Rob Frankel (Coles) plays the accountant who tries to get his boss to see the light. When he doesn't, it's up to Coles to look out for himself. Coles is "every man," and he plays his part convincingly. Other People's Money, by Jerry Sterner and directed by Robert D. Estrin and produced by Jennifer L. Davids, is a gem you won't want to miss. Ends October 28, 2012. read more

Citadel serves up a very intimate theatre experience. I've seen several shows and each one has delivered. The professional productions are well rounded with strong acting, directing and very creative sets fully utilizing the small space. I have really enjoyed their addition of musicals - Oliver and Forum were really good! Citadel also offers a wonderful variety of youth theatre classes. My kids have participated in several and have loved all of them. The instructors are highly skilled and make learning the craft of theatre so much fun! My kids particularly enjoy the summer theatre programs. I feel very fortunate to have this gem in my home town. read more

Our children have been involved in Citadel's Education program since 2011. Their experience has been nothing but positive! The improvement we have seen is immense. We know we made the right decision by sending them to the program. We live a half an hour away and it is well worth the drive! read more