I second the reviews below, and then some. Found RB when a cousin invited me to join her for a…read moreproduction, and was instantly smitten. Later became a subscriber, and have enjoyed every play I've seen since, and really appreciate the "Talk Backs", Q&A sessions which allow you to interact with the actors, and learn more about the plays. The subscription prices are unbelievably reasonable, but my favorite thing is the "Flex Pass" - you don't have to commit to specific dates immediately, which is invaluable when coordinating with other subscribers. On my list of "Ten Best Ways to Spend a Sunday Afternoon", a play at Remy Bumppo followed by a beer and a burger at John Barleycorn is very near the top!

I am so surprised there aren't more reviews about this theatre!! But that is its key problem: It…read moredoesn't advertise. No one knows about Remy Bumppo despite its unusual name and history, and despite incredible performances, despite its ability to turn me on to playwrights I knew nothing about, despite that it can get me thinking and despite that it has me craving more theatre -- seriously wishing for the next performance. Despite all this, its ambience beyond the lobby is that of a real warehouse/ experimental theatre which they share with at least one other theatre company (Eclipse). I believe this is because the Remy Bumppo Theatre Company does not have a full understanding of non-traditional marketing or guerrilla tactics for pr and their applications in today's world (and how you can achieve so much by spending so little.) I mean, I have attended one of their openings, and the food spread was opulent -- more opulent than Victory Gardens' who has a seriously beautiful and wholly owned theatre. But I digress. I'll offer marketing advice when they call me, but otherwise, I'll stick to the theatre review. And the theatre is magnificent. I saw a Pinter play almost a year ago here and haven't stopped thinking about it. I've even followed Pinter works up to Evanston to compare (and to make it clear: The Remy Bumppo performance surprised me by being far better -- like professional v. amateur -- than the Piven Theatre's). I've laughed at everything they've done and come out lighter -- even though some of their works were seriously heavy. They just know how to pick 'em: playwrights, directors and actors alike. First-rate, all the way. Remy Bumppo lends something powerful and meaningful and fun and unexpected to your life. That is why you should spend your money here. I know people in Chicago who don't consider themselves serious theatre-goers (and some who do) think that the end-all, be-all of theatre is "Wicked," but this is FAR BETTER than that. FAR more entertaining. And costs a lot less for which you will end up with so much more. I promise.

MANTENO DAN'S THEATRICAL REVIEW…read more Porchlight In Concert: Follies Studebaker Theatre * N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago There are shows you attend... and then there are shows you carry with you for decades. Having worn out my cast albums of Follies to the point where the needle practically filed a complaint and retired, I walked into the historic Studebaker Theatre with high expectations and a heart already tuned to Sondheim's bittersweet symphony. I am delighted to report... Porchlight delivered. And then some. This concert staging, stripped down to its bones, trusted the material, the music, and the performers to do the heavy lifting. And oh, did they lift. The orchestra sat proudly onstage alongside the cast, the setting evoked with just a handful of tables, stand microphones, and a runway that seemed to whisper with the footsteps of ghosts. No grand spectacle, no towering sets... just theater in its purest form. And it worked beautifully. The cast? Simply sensational. Michelle Duffy (Phyllis) commanded the stage with elegance and emotional precision. Angela Ingersoll (Sally) delivered a performance rich with longing and vulnerability. Felicia Fields (Hattie) brought the house to its feet with warmth, power, and presence. And the gentlemen were equally compelling: Anthony Rapp (Benjamin) anchored the story with quiet complexity, Stephen Wallen (Buddy) balanced charm and heartbreak with finesse, John Cardone (Roscoe) added texture and depth, And I must give a personal nod to James Harms (Theodore)--a familiar face and a wonderful presence on that stage. But there was a moment... a deeply personal one... that caught me completely off guard. Honey West (Stella Deems) appeared, and suddenly I wasn't just in the Studebaker Theatre. I was transported back in time. Back to Gentry's on Rush Street... later Halsted... back to nights filled with music, laughter, and memories of someone I once knew and cared for deeply. Honey, you didn't just perform--you unlocked a vault of memories. And for that, I thank you. That is the magic of Follies, isn't it? A crumbling theater. A gathering of ghosts. A collision of past and present. And this production leaned into that magic. It asked the audience to imagine--and in doing so, it gave us something far richer than scenery. It gave us a feeling. Real theater doesn't require excess. It requires truth. Music. Story. Performers who know how to reach into your chest and gently (or not so gently) remind your heart that it still beats. Now... as my readers well know, I do have one standing note--and it echoed again this afternoon. At times, the orchestra swelled just a bit too enthusiastically, occasionally overshadowing the lyrics. Whether it was my perch in the balcony or a touch of acoustic imbalance, there were moments where I strained to catch Sondheim's razor-sharp words. And with Sondheim, every word matters. A slight adjustment in sound balance would elevate an already strong production to near perfection. But make no mistake--this was a triumph. An afternoon of nostalgia, beauty, memory, and music that lingers long after the final note fades into the rafters of that grand old theater on Michigan Avenue. Bravo to the entire cast, crew, and creative team of Porchlight Musical Theatre. You reminded me why I fell in love with theater in the first place. And dear readers... I'm still here.

I saw Titanique in its recent long run at the Porchlight Theatre, and while it was the only time I…read morehad been there, the theatre is overall pretty solid. It was easy to access and simple to navigate, didn't have long lines, and was a venue that didn't appear to have a bad seat. I could see this being a good place for a wide variety of shows, musicals, etc.

Very fun spot for some comedy or a show!! Everything that I've seen here has been great!…read more It's a very intimate theater with open seating (at least the show that I saw). If you're seeing something similar, I'd definitely recommend getting there early to grab enough seats for your group because it fills up fast.

I'm not sure how to review the Young People's Theater of Chicago, but it is housed inside of the…read moreGreenhouse Theater, so here we go. What a great theater for kids around Chicagoland. We've loved every single show we've seen here. They also seem to love performing for the kids. HIghly recommend!

Such a pretty theatre tucked away! I had never been to this theatre before but my partner and I…read morecame to see Goosebumps: The Musical. You can tell it's an old and much-loved theatre, but it has an old charm to it The staff was super nice and helpful, scanning our tickets and letting us know that we could sit wherever we wanted. The sound was great, and it was a small enough crowd that we had great floor seats. After the show, they did a discussion about the play after that we stuck around for, which was a nice touch.

Nice theater with a beautiful interior. Tiny lobby, but we weren't there too long. Friendly staff…read morethat quickly scanned our tickets and directed us to our seats. We sat in the 3rd row middle for a family friendly Junie B. Jones play performed by DePaul University theater students. Comfy seats, perfect view, great sound, and wonderful show. There is a self parking lot right next door and a decent amount of other lots and street parking just a short walk away.

I am new to town and when researching theatre companies I wanted to check out, this theater was one…read moreof the ones at the top of my list. I saw their immersive play Masque Macabre today and I have tickets to see The Revolutionists next month. The MM production quality and acting were top notch, with richly layered lighting to set the tones of the various areas and highly detailed sets and props. The costumers did a great job of using various masqusrade masks to highlight the inner workings of each character and I really enjoyed the way in which we were brought into the world MM inhabits. Being an immersive theatre artist myself, I saw a lot of potential in the script, yet found the plot lacking any real driving force or conflict. Because of this it quickly deflated for me, which is something that happens a lot with newcomers to immersive theatre. I was still able to enjoy myself by viewing the piece as more of an art installation and character study than a theatrical narrative. I do hope Strawdog continues to develop other immersive pieces because they really are onto something. With some tweaks they could have the next big hit on their hands. I would even love the opportunity to point out the show's flaws and help them strengthen their immersive aspects. I was still very impressed by what they put together and look forward to seeing The Revolutionists next month.

We went in with an open mind but it sucked. Sorry but they force you to not participate yet walk…read morearound. I couldnt get into it so I tried to make the best of it. After I reviewed them on their page one of their actresses responded to my critique with a full blown lie claiming I was throwing up in their bathroom. This is medically impossible since I cant drink. IC sufferer here. The strawdog fb page then blocked me from responding. So just bc I didnt like their show they lied about me. Boring and unethical. Do not waste your time here. These dorks are on a power trip.

This studio is where my acting journey began, and I'm so glad I found it. From the very first…read moreclass, I felt a warm and supportive atmosphere where it's easy to step outside your comfort zone, learn, and grow. Every class is engaging, inspiring, and gives me something new to think about and work on. I really enjoy working with Ed. It's clear that he has a lot of experience, a strong acting background, and a deep understanding of the industry. I'm grateful for every piece of feedback because it's always thoughtful, honest, and gives me something to improve. I leave every class feeling inspired, more confident, and excited to keep learning. I highly recommend this studio to anyone who wants to grow as an actor.

I am writing this to share my experience as a former student to help future actors, particularly…read moreyoung women, make informed decisions about their training environment at the Chicago Actors Studio. The experience I had here nearly 13 years ago has haunted me, and nearly traumatized me out of the industry altogether. Thankfully, I went on to other schools and continued forging my acting career and have done well for myself. None of that was cultivated through the tutelage of Chicago Actors Studio. On the very first day of class, Ed Fogel, the owner of this school, announced to the room that I reminded him of his ex-wife simply because I was blonde, and stated that he was going to hate me because of that fact. Strange icebreaker, right? It was an uncomfortable beginning filled with copious amounts of seething hostility and too much personal information about this instructor. I laughed it off nervously, understandably thinking this was some kind of joke--albeit a very strange and humorless one. It was not. Throughout the course, his behavior was deeply unprofessional. He utilized targeted public humiliation, such as forcing me to repeat single lines mechanically without artistic guidance and yelling expletives or hurling insults my way in front of the class. It was clear to me: Ed wanted, not an actor making unique, intuitive choices, but a puppet that he could control. He talked to me like I was dense and laughed derisively as I "struggled" to parrot his exact inflections on words in my monologue. This did not feel like it was building my vocabulary or range of acting, nor did it do anything but erode my self-confidence. During partnered work, he openly bypassed me to apologize to my scene partners for being 'saddled' with me, claiming I would hold others back. "I'm sorry you've been stuck with her, but someone has to be. I know you can handle more difficult scenes, but we can't stretch her too far." This was said, almost verbatim, as if I were not there, standing right beside my scene partner. Even if I were truly a hopeless actor, this is not appropriate behavior to exhibit as a teacher in any industry. And the tired excuse of, "Well, this is a tough industry," is just that: tired. The acting industry, whether film or theater, has changed and progressed, and I've never experienced such flagrant bullying, abuse or unprofessionalism in the last six years as a professional working actor. Acting is a vulnerable art form that requires sensitivity and patience; and yes, grounding, too. But never does it require "tough love" that is really just abuse in disguise. While Ed may possess industry knowledge--which felt as dated and worn as the disgusting dilapidation of the building the school is set in--his classroom environment was not a safe or constructive space for artistic growth. Prospective students should be aware of this pattern of behavior before enrolling.

Probably one of the coolest unknown theatres in the city. Well it must known by some since it's…read morestayed in business since 1981, they mainly focus on adaptations from literature giants like Burroughs, Salinger, Bradbury, Dick, Twain, and Algren to name a couple. I had the pleasure of seeing a German interpretive play Seven Doors based on the seven deadly sins. At this times it was quite disturbing but overall the actors were phenomenal. The theatre is small and it might be easily overlooked from the street because it's a store front theatre but inside the place has depth. Only having two stages it's really set up for smaller crowds but you're not packed in. The walls are filled with colorful photo's and old posters from Chicago performances, these are really cool to look at. In my opinion it gives the theatre a historical presence. If you get a chance check it out, I'll be added it to my list of favorite theatres!! Support the arts!!

Very homey, cool vibes at this little hole in the wall theater…read more Performers from The Uploose Odditorium killed it last Friday! The monologues and interactive games were equally enjoyable. Performances were all impressive & don't forget to check the art on the walls in the hallway. Unique, all the way around!

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!