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.

Once again I'm reviewing the stage performance and not the restaurant…read more Son and I saw Nunsense last night. What a fun and funny show. The small cast was perfect and great to watch. The stage was wild to see and needed a bit of explaining which was done immediately. The voices all worked perfectly together. It was laugh out loud funny--even though I didn't fully understand some of the Catholic school references (I'm Jewish). It was irreverent, too, with some of the innuendos. Loved it!!

We had not been here for many years…read more The theatre and lobby are gorgeous, you can come early for dinner or drinks. The seats in the theatre are comfy and the leg room is great! At least on the main floor in the first 20 rows. I don't know about the ones in the back or in the balcony. I believe Thai also still have brunch or dinner packages that include tickets to the theatre. We went to see Father of the Bride, a cute comedy about a daughter's wedding and all the chaos that occurs.

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.

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.

Went to see Something Rotten tonight-what a terrific show. The acting, singing and comedy was…read morereally top notch. We came home and subscribed immediately to the 2026-2027 season. It is only our second visit to this theater and they have excelled a second time. Thank you Wheaton Drama for a really enjoyable show!

Nice little quaint theater. We went here as we had a relative who was appearing in the play "the…read moreLittle Mermaid" . She did a very nice job, and seemed to be well received by her coworkers, and the audience. Finding Wheaton Drama was a little hard, and parking was a little tight, I didn't mind the walk. But the employees there were very friendly, and enthusiastic. Nothing there was overly priced or outrageous. I would go again. As I said before, the theater is a little on the smaller side and people in the front row tend to find themselves actually walking on the stage as they enter & exit which almost seems rather discourteous since they have lines painted on the floor. I just think that that's bad luck even though it's concrete and it's painted, I tried to make sure that I was definitely off the designated stage area because I think thats asking for bad karma. But in today's world , people are so full of themselves that there are no boundaries anymore.

My daughter has been taking lessons for a year and a half now. Elizabeth is amazing! They have been…read morevery proactive with COVID-19, and taking the dancers' health and safety seriously. I highly recommend!

Not only is a great place to learn how to dance, sing and act; the owner, Elizabeth Bender, is a…read morenatural born leader and a wonderful person.