The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage (COD) in Glen Ellyn, IL, is a vibrant hub for the 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. read more

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We came for the Hokusai exhibit on a Friday. It was a little hard to find, the address on the flyer didn'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. read more

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We really like this place! We've been to shows here several times over the years but first time with toddlers so that's the perspective this review has. First, bathrooms have changing tables so A+ for that! Secondly, easy in person purchasing for tickets is another A+. C- for crazy extra online costs when a ticket price for COD orchestra concert is $7 per person and then online fee is as much as tickets. Understandable when a different level of performance (main show or celebrity), but for the local community shows not ideal. A+ for lovely ushers who were kind and understood toddler existence which meant several up and down bathroom breaks which is why we sat in the back and as close to the door as possible. All around, we'll be back and greatly appreciated the truly family friendly experience of the recent St Patrick's day performance! read more

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I have only been to this facility for "special occasions", most recently the Andy Warhol exhibit, but they always put together a wonderful presentation. The "show" starts when you walk up to the building. They had an information booth and personalized Campbell's soup cans for the exhibit. Once inside the staff are helpful and pleasant, everyone was happy to be there or at least acted like they were. The presentation was spread over 2 levels and included reading materials, visual art and an interactive "cloud" area. Even the gift shop was done in Andy Warhol items. I had no intention of purchasing anything in the GS, yet found some adorable postcards created by Mike Venezia that I just HAD to have. Wonderful visit! read more

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Went through the amazing Andy Warhol exhibit. Spent time in studio 54 looking at clothes and film. Wandered through both floors of the exhibit and then three visits to the gift store. It's only here for a short time, so I'm glad dude and I went. Got to also buy tickets to see Mandy Patinkin in October. Great day! read more

McAninch Arts Center - In studio 54. - Performing Arts Near Me - Glen Ellyn, Illinois

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Frida Kahlo Timeless was is a Fantastic exhibit. I called and purchased tickets in 2019. They hadn't even loaded the info to their computer system for ticket sales. Then the exhibit was put on hold for Covid19. Today upon walking in I was told I couldn't take any photos with my DSLR camera but I could use my cell phone. According to the last email I received "Photography throughout the exhibit is allowed. Flash photography and video recording of the original Frida Kahlo works is not allowed." Email made no mention of the type of camera. After talking to someone else. I was told I could use my DSLR through out the exhibit except for where the original art was, but I could still use my cell phone there with no flash. So I got cell phone photos and DSLR. I wish people would teach their kids not to touch walls and art in places like this. Lady let her child put his feet on the walls. A few times I saw him trying to pick letters and photos off the wall. And running his fingers across photos. So me taking pictures with my Nikon was the least of their worries. Also the alarm kept going off in the original art gallery because people kept getting over the line. Exhibit was very nicely laid out and easy to walk thru. The first area with the history was fascinating. I watched the movie Frida and I recognized several items the replicated for the movie. I was surprised her bed was so small. There were beautiful pieces from The Museo Dolores Olmedo (or the Dolores Olmedo Museum) an art museum in the capital of Mexico. The gallery with Tres Fridas Project was a beautiful interpretation of classic art reimagined with disabled persons. Kids area was very cute. We had fun with the Diego and Frida cut outs. I guess the Garden was the least impressive. I was expecting the garden from her courtyard. What they had was cute and colorful. If you are able to get tickets get them. https://www.atthemac.org/events/cleve-carney-frida-kahlo/ read more

McAninch Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Glen Ellyn, Illinois

This is a building for the Arts program at the College of DuPage. It's clean, signage to navigate the streets and the building could be more prominent. I was there for a live jazz presentation featuring the band, Soul Message. Excellent performance! The college presents live music every Friday at noon. Large self parking lot. read more

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They have performances that range from very good to incredible. I just saw David Sedaris and he was interesting, hilarious, and brilliant. The lobby was a bit cramped because they are setting up for a 100 piece Andy Warhol exhibit. Very ambitious selection of art and artistic performance here. Parking is more than adequate, the venue is attractive with good acoustics and sightlines, reasonably comfortable seats, and mostly volunteer event staff (which is good, bad, and other). Box office services are good, this is one of my favorite venues for medium sized events and art shows. The main negative is the lack of vertical (to the stage) access aisles. Although the median age of the audiences is around 40, that's because there are always some college age patrons. The modal age must be 68, meaning it's hard to keep getting up and down for people further down the row, and those getting into deeper in the row move slowly, awkwardly, like me. There is a spirit of helpfulness but still, when it comes time for renovation I hope they redesign for easier access. read more

McAninch Arts Center - Here to see David Sedaris - Performing Arts Near Me - Glen Ellyn, Illinois

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What a nice facility! I never knew this was here until I was given comp tickets. I wish I was given tickets sooner because I've been missing out. Nice facility, beautiful grounds, wonderful staff and ample parking. Cash bar service before the show and during intermissions. Lots of free outdoor events in summer. read more

McAninch Arts Center - Wine in a to go cup to enjoy during the show! - Performing Arts Near Me - Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Wonderful New Years Eve concert with the New philharmonic. The conductor did a great job and very entertaining. There was a duet with the orchestra and a baritone and Soprano singing 'All I ask of you' from Phantom of the Opera. Amazing voices. Although a matinee- there was a countdown to midnight - we sang Olde Lang Syne along with the Orchestra and had streamers drop from above. Many beautiful pieces were played. This is a must do again next year. So glad we attended. read more

Husband has to wait about ten minutes for someone to return his ID at the box office after the show. I am not sure why they took our ID if they plan not to unlock the box office after the show. Other than that, the area is nice. read more

I've been to some diverse shows here: a Celtic Christmas music program, a lecture by PBS travel guru Rick Steves, and a concert from parody king Weird Al! So as you might infer they get a bit of everything! As to the space itself: Lots of leg room but the seats themselves are a bit old-fashioned and a little tight; not as big as at most movie theaters. (I liked the purple velvet, though.) The staff was very friendly, and there's a bar in the lobby for your snacking and imbibing pleasure. A surprising and reasonably priced entertainment option in the 'burbs! Check out the Mac! read more

The MAC is a very beautiful space with fantastic acoustics. The entrance is really beautiful, and the rows are incredibly spacious with even enough legroom for my 6'4" boyfriend to be comfortable. My only gripe with the MAC is that the rows extend from one end of the theater to the other, which means that if you are seated toward the end like I was, you will have to stand up for people getting to their seat about a dozen times. I thought it was modern and clean, but at the performance of the New Philharmonic this past weekend, they announced plans for a complete interior remodel for even better acoustics and comfier seats set to be completed sometime next school year. I am not from the area, but it's easy to take a trip out to the burbs for dinner and a show and make a night out of it. If you go to see a show by the New Philharmonic, you get to spend an evening with the conductor, Kirk Muspratt. With long, curly blonde hair and an "Ask Kirk" segment during intermission, this guy is a total character who spices up the show and makes it a fun, unique experience. For those who are huge Disney fans like myself, you will be pleased to know that the MAC will be doing a Disney in Concert, which was thankfully advertised for people of all ages. With Kirk leading the way, it might be enough for me to make the drive out again. Also, the College of Dupage sometimes posts cheaper tickets to events at the MAC on Goldstar.com, so check them out before you buy! read more

McAninch Arts Center - Kirk + Disney hits = What more can a girl ask for? - Performing Arts Near Me - Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Great place to see a show! All seats have good views and plenty of easy parking. Good variety of quality entertainment in the Western suburbs. read more

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble opened their latest performance, "Defiance", last night. What a stunning performance! If you enjoy legitimate theatre, don't' miss this production. The BTE is a professional theatre troupe in residence at College of DuPage. We've been enjoying their productions for about 20 years. "Defiance" is set in Camp Lejeune, NC, in 1971. It depicts the struggle involved in doing the right thing. read more

I had the opportunity to attend my first event which debuted the famed american english Beatles cover band. They were amazing. The customs were great too. This venue reminds me of ravinia but in the form of the butler field in downtown Chicago. There were food and drink vendors for the free seats while vip had its own front stage seating, food and drinks tent. By the looks of it, many who attended were well prepared from blankets for the grass, foldup chairs and tables, and picnic baskets full of homemade goodies. Given the size of the venue, parking was a non-issue enabling easy in and out. Looked like there were buses for the public transit minded folks, but surely must less than those at ravina (metra, and dedicated buses). read more

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I had the opportunity to perform here in the touring show from New York City. I really like the venue, stage hands, the dressing rooms, and the stage. read more

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I've been to at least a dozen shows at MAC and they have all been well done. At least every other year I go to see the Nutcracker with my brother and sister-in-law, they are fairly particular about their seating and have a pretty easy time finding seats that will work for us. The staff are nice, the food offered at intermission is a pretty wide range to choose from. They offer a wide range of performances, from concerts to comics. No, it's not the Joffrey ballet or the Lyric Opera, but they are well worth the cost of admission. read more

This is a 2 part review, the first being the event which was "The Best of Broadway" which was fabulous. The orchestra was wonderful and the chorus and the individuals signers was great. That's the good part. The second is: I think that the main theater is a disaster waiting to happen. The seating is too long rows in the event everyone needs to get out. Without a center aisle, it is only a matter of time before something will happen and cause injuries with everyone trying to get out of the 2 ends of the main floor seating. I cannot believe the Fire Department felt that this is safe. Any future performances we might attend will only be in seats close to the outside of the rows. read more

I admit it - I'm biased on this one. I work with the MAC. Take it or leave it. That being said, I think the MAC is one of the best arts centers in Chicagoland. Their slogan is "all the arts under one roof" and they mean it. There really is something for everyone here... theater, music, dance, comedy, opera, visual art... their schedule is always packed with top-caliber performances. In addition to presenting touring groups, the MAC also houses five very talented professional resident companies: New Philharmonic Orchestra, DuPage Opera Theatre, Arts Center Jazz Ensemble, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble and New Classic Singers. The theater spaces (there's three) are all great - nice sightlines, good sound - and the staff is always warm and inviting. If you live in the western suburbs, there's no excuse - you need to check out the MAC. And even if you don't live in the 'burbs - you should at least sign up for their newsletter or brochure. They host a lot of artists that you won't find anywhere else and the performances are always worth the trip. (Trust me, I even brave the Eisenhower during rush hour for their shows... if that isn't worth it, I don't know what it is!) read more

Love the convient location and some great shows in a brand new theater. Club Mac is great too.

This is worth the trip out to the burbs for me. It's a great venue - never a bad seat, and such a range of performances. read more

McAninch Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Glen Ellyn, Illinois

The students staged an incredible show: "the foreigner". Hysterical! Very professional. Highly recommended!

The MAC is located and the College of Dupage campus in Glen Ellyn. The facility is modern and comfortable and has the energy found on college campuses. The MAC draws some pretty big names from the entertainment world, as well as the political arena. I've had the pleasure to see Joan Baez, the Tibetan monks, world music performances, dance companies, comedians, etc. Parking is easy. Prices are very reasonable. Often times, you can actually meet the performers after the show. The Mac is a gem. read more

It would be hard to say enough nice things about this venue. The parking is easy, the theater is intimate, they have a full bar in the lobby with sweets and it's not ridiculously overpriced. I would attend a show here anytime. read more

NOTa BAD seat in the house! Great variety of live performances for every taste each season. Great parking, I have seen oldies and fresh new stuff there and it's a great night (or afternoon) for the money. I have taken my kids, my parents, and my friends there, it is USER friendly and very accessible as well. Maybe they could make yp some dinner/show packages, that would be great! read more

First I have to say that the theater itself is nice. The lobby is clean and the staff friendly. Went to see the Nutcracker Ballet on 12/17. Could be one of the worst I've ever seen. The choreography was so basic and lacking, it was almost laughable. All but two of the dancers were pretty bad. All I can say, is that they must have paid the two main, wonderful, professional dancers and all the rest were volunteers. I finally walked out and left because it was so bad. The musicians were wonderful. I guess I could have just stayed and kept my eyes closed. Don't cheap out like me, spend the extra money and go downtown to a real ballet. read more

This is my first time attending an event at "The MAC" and it won't be the last. Although we enjoy theater nights in the city it is such a pleasant surprise to find a nice, modern venue in the burbs. We had the pleasure of attending the Black Violin performance when the tour made a stop in March. We sat in the front row so not an issue with long rows as mentioned in other reviews. Truly there was not a bad seat in the house. Definitely don't hesitate to see a show at this venue. read more

I can recall when the MAC was opened and was impressed from the start. There are no bad seats in the house. The acoustics are so solid it's unreal (some places WISH they had acoustics like the MAC does). This is a wonderful place to see an event. I've seen several events over the years. Good views all over and very intimate setting. If you get the chance to see an event here, go. PLENTY of parking as well. The MAC is the Swan Swan for former COD Presiden Hal McAninch, which opened just before he retired. Job well done. read more

I have subscribed to tickets at the arts center on and off for years and have enjoyed many productions and musicians. Today was the first time that I could have skipped what I saw, the opera Mikado. Before I go into that, I want to touch on some positives. The large lobby with two bars that offer a themed drink of the night and full bar. There are snacks like popcorn, cookies, chips and candy to snack on as well. The bars offer to preorder and prepay for your intermission drink which is a nice touch and means you can skip the long lines. The facility is clean. We prefer the box seats but today sat on the main floor. The only drawback to the main floor is there is no center aisle which means very long rows with lots of seats. Not laid out well at all. The staff is always friendly from the bartenders to the hosts showing you to your seat. Now for this production of Mikado. I guess I've been spoiled by the Paramount in Aurora whose productions rivals those in downtown Chicago with amazing actors, costumes and set designs. Mikado fell so short on this. The sets were elementary and I felt I was witnessing a high school performance. The girl playing YumYum was amazing and I enjoyed KoKo, Katisha and Mikado as well. Although there were pluses, the $100 I paid for this show was way too much for the meh experience. I pay just over double that for 4 shows with amazing productions that blow this one out of the water. Ending on a positive note, I enjoyed Winona Judd last month and probably will just stick to comedy and musicians instead of operas or plays. I was so sad by the decline in opera from Le Boheme to Mikado. read more

The largest theater is 793 seats, just 16 rows, and perfect for plays and the concerts they put on. There's a smaller theater with about 200 seats. We saw Spalding Gray read around 1998, and later saw Richard Thompson perform. The sound is good. It's so easy to get there and park the car. Check the schedule, there's something for everyone. read more

the art center in on the college of dupage campus went here to see a play. requirement for a class. noises off. great play. great theater. read more

Saw Jim Peterick (Ides of March & survivor) and the world stage. This is the kind of venue that you would want to go see live music. One of the best music nights for me in many years due to the place and the quality of the entertainment. read more

I have attended a handful of events at the MAC. All have been noteworthy. Last night I attended These Shining Lives. The play is fabulous! Informative! I had very limited knowledge of the subject matter (radon poisoning in young female factory workers in the 1930's.) It was a pleasure to see a group of young talented actors tackle a difficult subject. I highly recommend These Shining Lives. read more

Can't think of any negatives about this place...excellent parking, not a bad seat in the place, tons of great performers, very good acoustics, accomodating staff...for those who hat the trek into the Chicago, this place brings tons of great stuff to DuPage County! read more

What a great venue and such good and varied performances. Plenty of parking. Not a bad seat in the place. Plenty of restaurants nearby. Good food from Tru Cuisine in the lobby during intermissions of many performances. Reasonable prices for tickets. Friendly staff. Much easier than going into the city. read more

In my opinion, this is one of the finest venues in the Chicago area. It seats under 800, the sound system is fantastic and room acoustics are superb. There's always a great mix of music every season. Even if there's someone your remotely interested in, seeing them at the Mac will make you a fan. Always a pleasant and positive experience. We're lucky to have such a place. read more

I've now completed my second season of 6 events at the MAC. The last one was Garrison Kiellor. I sat in different seats in every event and all of them were great. Excellent acoustic venue and great performers for every taste. I'm almost afraid to post this review because we'd like to keep the MAC for ourselves! read more

The worse thing about the Mac is that the season is not longer. Kirk Muspratt has built a marvelous orchestra. What I would like is five more concerts and two more operas. The non-classic program is diverse and attracts first-rate performers. Garrison Keillor was great but is whets the appetite for more of the same. I wish more of the audience were under forty. Unfortunately, manners are sometimes not glued too firmly to those who think whispering and gum/candy wrappers are okay. These minor annoyances aside, the arts would suffer mightily without the Mac. read more

Our favorite venue for a variety of entertainment from classical music to popular performers. Their senior discount and MacPak discount packages make for a real value. Their most recent attraction was Garrison Kieller and he gave us two straight hours of homespun stories and wisdom that had everyone laughing and thinking. read more