This is such a unique theatre space. You have to appreciate the creativity and willingness to design shows outside of the usual theatre space. If you want something different and good theatre, go inside and see a show. The staff is friendly and the bar serves beverages. The comfy seats in the lobby include couches and chairs. Visit this Playhouse soon! read more

Windy City Playhouse - The lobby during intermission...I'm relaxing. - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Ever since seeing Sleep No More in NYC, I've been looking for another immersive theatre experience. After doing some research, I found that Windy City Playhouse had a few offerings. We opted to go for the new play The Reservation instead of the long standing Southern Gothic mainly because the former's plot seemed more interesting to me. It was a bit of risk, but boy am I glad we went with it. Without giving too much away, The Reservation has a wonderful mix of current events, humor, and depth. The three actors amongst a 25 member audience gave it an incredible intimate feel that really pulled you in to the acts. Beautifully, beautifully done. I can not recommend this experience enough. read more

I've been talking about this playhouse to alot of my friends, but I have yet to put in my yelp review until now. Windy City Playhouse is phenomenal. We came here on a whim to check out this local theater. Walking past this place, there seems to be a party going on inside. Fancy chandelier, LED lights, a bar, fireplace, you just want to be in than out. Tickets for shows are plentiful and there is not a bad seat in the house. The venue is intimate, but spacious with theater type seats along the wall or VIP leather chairs for the front. Cocktails are specifically concocted and specially themed. Production and show value was amazing. The performers were outstanding. I went to see the Explorers Club, while the summary alone was a bit weird, everything came together in the best way. The set, costumes, everything's really cool. You can't go wrong. Show was about 2 hours with a 30 min intermission. I came in tired and walked out here feeling ecstatic, cheering "To Science!" Overall a very fun spot to hit up in the city! read more

See all

Fantastic theater served here in an intimate and engaging venue. Had the absolute best time immersing myself in Southern Gothic. Great play and set. The setting is 1961, for an aging debutants 40th Birthday party. The audience gets to sit at and mingle around the party watching the drama unfold. Eight fabulous characters gave an amazing performance. Sitting on and in the set as they told their stories was such a treat. Superb drinks available at the lobby bar. Their engagement just got extended, this one is a must see! read more

Windy City Playhouse - 1961 here I come via immersive theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Windy City combines the best of larger Loop theatre and storefront theatre. Like a larger theatre, there is a well appointed lobby, with a bar, multiple seating options, and cozy fireplace. The mixed drinks are superb - I recommend a rye Manhattan, as I am wont to do - and the wine selections are not your run-of-the-mill varieties. There is a Burgundy by the bottle if you are afire with money, and wine specials on Wednesday if you are not. Like a storefront theater, admission is affordable and the seating is always intimate. It tends to be part of the performance space, and so the exact configuration varies from play to play. My favorite part of WCP is that the main floor seating consists of individual leather club chairs. They aren't the most extravagant club chairs but they are comfortable and let you relax with your drink without unnecessarily rubbing elbows with other patrons. We saw our first play at the end of 2015 and have been subscribers since 2016. The choices vary but tend toward comedy with an emotional core - Bootycandy, earlier this year, was both riotously funny but also quite poignant. Locals are lucky to have Windy City and theatre lovers from other neighborhoods should make the trip. read more

Went to watch King Liz at Windy City Playhouse this past week, and wow. The acting and set directing were spectacular. This place definitely doesn't give the feeling of cheap or dusty black box theatre and everything feels new and modern (props, costumes, lighting). The seats have been mentioned, but I thought the placement of the chairs and the space itself was much better than other theartres I've been to - you can see and hear from any seat in the audience! A relatively new theatre, don't give this place a pass because instead of showing Shakespeare, it's got more modern portrayals of society. You'll laugh, you'll learn, and you'll always be on the edge of your seat during any of the plays here. Keep at it, Windy City Playhouse! read more

Windy City Playhouse - dynamic set of King Liz! - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So much fun! We went to the Windy City Playhouse to see Noises Off. The show was excellent- the cast was Fantastic. I really enjoyed myself. In the lobby there is a bar with desserts and signature drinks. I had one called "Irish Sheets" that was incredible. So incredible that I had to have a second one. The theater itself is cozy. Comfortable chairs which is unusual for a theater. Additionally they have railings with shelves in front of each row for your drinks. There is encouragement to eat and drink during the show and enjoy yourself. This was a great, really well run venue. The prices were on point. It's also near the blue line. Great job to the Windy City Playhouse! I'll definitely be back. read more

Southern Gothic is terrific. First, you're on the stage, with the actors. How that's accomplished is actually pretty simple. You're warned to sit around the edges, not interact with the players, and for God's sake, stay out of their way if you want to snatch a snack, all of which are available to the audience and laid out in the midst of the action. It's a party after all. Second, the play unfolds in several rooms simultaneously but it's not difficult at all to keep track of the multiple plots: infidelity, an inconvenient pregnancy, wife abuse, theft, political corruption and interracial dating. All within ninety minutes! Third, the actors (even the understudies) all ring true to their characters. Though the writing is a bit overwrought at times, it's honest, and the characters make their stories believable. read more

The latest production Recipe for Disaster is not up to the standard of things we have seen Windy City Playhouse in the past. The plot is not creative, the performances are forced into slapstick most of the time and the food (some as part of the loose, poorly written storyline and others just in itself such as cold pasta and gummy potatoes and missing apps. ) is all terrible. If Rick Bayless actually has anything to do with this effort he should run over and do some quality control asap. The space at Petterinos does not allow for good viewing in the lobby area so all of the story's set up is missed, if you are trapped in the crowded bar area. The only positive is that the special cocktail choice was good. Very disappointed, especially after enjoying Southern Gothic so much. read more

Visiting from NY and my cousin who lives nearby told me about this playhouse that we could catch a play after dinner. We saw Apt 3A and thought the story build up a great finale (albeit a bit cliche). I did find the 2nd act to be more funnier. I've been to Broadway shows back in NY like The Book of Mormon and coming to a playhouse like this feels wonderful. We sat in the first row and I've never been this close to the actors. They made me feel like I was part of the play. I'd definitely come back to catch another play next time I'm in town. read more

Windy City Playhouse - The "stage" for Apt 3A. I was sitting really close to the actors - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was a fun even to attend and watch this performing arts. I hope this venue does really well. It's a non for profit theater. I think it's a great start for actors who are trying to get into the business. read more

What a gem! We traveled a long distance to see The Recommendation. The playhouse was amazing. It's large. The staff is quite friendly. The actors are spot on! We had a fantastic evening. It was worth a trip. We plan to return. read more

I saw Booty Candy here (a must see!). Very chic in the lobby/bar are. Full bar and snacks for purchase. The stage is smaller yet intimate, really drew you into the performance. Seating is very comfortable. This theatre is a not-for-profit, which is very neat. It's a little far west off Irving park, however lots of parking on side streets on meter spots (not sure about public transit) If you're looking to get some good live entertainment, check out which shows they have coming up and go support this great theatre venue. read more

This place is great! My husband and I saw "The explorers club" and it was brilliant. The setting is different than most theaters we've been to, in a cool way. The seats are set around the performance area so you feel inside the play and can really look into the actors' eyes. The performance itself was excellent! The actors were hilarious and the set was impressive. Overall, great experience. I'd be happy to go again. read more

This is a lovely, new venue. What stands out the most are the comfy chairs in the audience so you can relax and have a drink while you get your culcha. If you buy a less pricey seat you are seated in the back row of perfectly adequate cushy office chairs with a shelf in front for your beverage which also acts as a fence to keep you away from the comfy chairs. It screams 'cheap seats!' but don't know how else they could arrange that, and I was quite happy in the back row. The lobby is laid out like a bar so you could just go there for a drink. I think their aim was to make people stay after the show and discuss. We saw Stick Fly. Other offerings this season include Neil Simon and something that has a pair of underpants in the photo, so I'm guessing it's not a serious drama. It's easy to get to and feels welcoming inside. read more

I was here for The Explorers Club. I fell in love with the bar/lounge area. A lot of thought was put into decor and design to give the patron a great experience. The talent of the actors was a pleasant surprise as all of them were a class act. I laughed the whole time, and felt the writing was truly spectacular. The set was beautifully designed. I recommend this theater to everyone and will be buying season tickets! read more

Windy City Playhouse - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is my favorite place to see plays in the city. I have loved every single one I have seen there. My two favorites are Becky Shaw and Southern Gothic. Southern Gothic is a must see! Amazing!!! I liked it so much, I would see it again and again! read more

What an amazing show, it's so original and fun you must check it out. It's a good date night show.

I absolutely loved this place! The play (stick fly) was great and the venue itself was amazing. There are two types of seats available, for $20 dollars you can sit in standard movie theater seats in the back, and for $38 you can sit in nice leather swiveling chairs in the front. We sat in the second row and felt like we were basically on the stage with the actors. On the small tables between the seats there are food and beverage menus and a small sign indicating that you can text in your order and have it ready for you at intermission. The cocktails we ordered were great but the hummus I could have went without. I love the option to text your order in but unless you pay beforehand (which isn't an option with texting in your order) you will be waiting in line with everyone else who texted in their order. So it doesn't speed up the process if you have limited staff handling payments (thus the one star deduction). The theatre has a cozy feeling to it and with its location it is easy to access and has some pretty good food options nearby as well. Definitely will be returning here as long as their plays are as good as the one I've seen last night. read more

Windy City Playhouse - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The venue is nice! Small, but clean, and it looks new. We had "top shelf" searing, which were single leather arm chairs that were soft. The other seats were movie theater style....didn't look as comfortable. I like that you can order small bites and drinks prior to the show. However, we encountered some issues when we went to order. "Can we get a Jamison and coke?" "We don't have it." "Ok, how about a Jim beam?" "Ok".....(comes back 2 min later) "we only have the Jim beam 100 proof, so you may want to get something else" They did have wild turkey, so we got that. Then it was time to order wine for my mom, and chose a selection from the wine by the glass list. "Wait we have that? That's news to me!" And proceeds to check the menu herself. If she didn't know, that's perfectly fine. I think it was the tone of her voice that made it kinda sketchy....it was on the snippy side. Other than that, Stickfly was great and it was an affordable experience! They included a 10$ off coupon for the next show.....I'd come back. read more

I saw Noises Off tonight. It was absolutely hilarious and ALL the actors were so amazing. The timing of their actions and the characters they played were spot on. I laughed the entire play where my cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing. During the 1st and 3rd acts we were in our seats, but for the 2nd act you actually sit back stage and see all "the drama" the actors go through during a play. I would give it more than five stars if I could. read more

I love this place!!! This is a playhouse where representation matters. The shows never disappoint and the bar is great for hanging out pre- or post-show. Also the red velvet cake is GREAT. read more

I've seen two performances here and they have both been very good. The place itself is comfortable and cool -- and there are no bad seats. I will probably be a regular attendee here but one thing I will may not do much of in the future is order from the bar. The bartender made a point of the show-inspired cocktails and directed me to that section of the menu. I looked them over and decided on what was basically a Maker's Mark stone sour. He then proceeded to make the drink from a well-liquor. I pointed out that the menu specifically called for Maker's Mark and he says "yeah, they need to change that". For a $12 cocktail it is more likely that he just needs to learn what is supposed to go in them. read more

Thoroughly enjoyed Southern Gothic last night; imaginative set, amazing cast! Intimate theater setting draws you in and puts you in the story. Enjoy getting to meet cast members occasionally as they leave and share our appreciation of their craft. Looking forward to the next show! read more

Intimate and upscale Theater that produces quality shows you can watch in leather swivel seats and have a specialty cocktail. read more

See all

It is good to know I have a good theater option in my neighborhood. The playhouse is cozy, but their chairs are really comfortable and swivel so that everything on the stage is directly within your view. The bar also has a pretty good beer and cocktail selection to choose from. The ticket prices are also so reasonable that it could become a recurring post brunch ritual for me. read more

I saw The Boys in the Band this weekend. It was an incredible performance with an incredible stage. You sit on the stage and the play happens around you. It is such an immersive experience. The place is beautiful, they were so incredibly kind, and it was a show experience that I have never had. I can't wait to go back. read more

We just saw Things You Don't Say After Midnight and it is amazing! Plus the bar and sitting area in the front of the theater has a great urban vibe. Wonderful to have a place like this in the neighborhood. Go see this play! And go to the theater for their next production. You will love it. read more

Saw another show at WCP last night - a drama called "This." This was our third show, and we're looking forward to the next! Clever staging, wonderful actors, and an interesting story. Fantastic as usual! read more

Windy City Playhouse is a new addition to Chicago's amazing theater scene - now you might be asking whether Chicago really needs another storefront theater. The answer is a resounding yes. First, it is a really cool and comfortable performance space. When you arrive, there is a nice lounge area with sofas, fireplace and a bar. The performance space is intimate - there are several rows of comfortable leather lounge chairs with arms and small cocktail tables for your drinks and refreshments (the "top shelf" seating.) A single row of more traditional theater-style seats is directly behind with a rail for drinks and refreshments. The effect is very similar to the upscale movie theaters where patrons can enjoy comfortable seating and great refreshments. My husband and I saw "Stick Fly," a thought-provoking piece about race, class, entitlement and abandonment. Beautifully acted and directed - we'll be talking about this play for the rest of the week. Windy City may be a storefront, but their production values are very high - impressive scenery and professional presentation and their play selection is on target. So check out Windy City Playhouse read more

This is such a good local play house. The shows are of high quality and the bar is very nice. This place is a perfect hidden gem for date nights!! read more

My wife and I have enjoyed theatre worldwide. But one of the more enjoyable nights was one we spent in the intimacy of this fine theatre. We were enthralled by the play and we left asking questions about the world that we hadn't asked before of ourselves. This tidy theatre had ample parking, plenty of drinks to go around and a comfortable chair to get mesmerized in the plot. Definitely a Chicago Treasure! read more

My husband and I went to see Southern Gothic and had an amazing evening date night. Highly recommend! The drinks at the bar is great too!

In town from Miami, Fl and this play was highly recommended and it did NOT disappoint! From beginning to end you are completely engaged in the storyline and sub storylines. As the show progresses you literally won't want to miss a line! So innovative and truly an immersive experience. A must see when in Chicago! read more

Awesome new theater! Great space, great talent, & thoroughly entertaining! Perfect for a date night. You can even stay after for drinks. I loved the current production of Stickfly. I strongly recommend going. read more

After a slew of high ticket venues we decided to change things up a bit and see a smaller production. What a great place to choose as the first of such outings! The Windy City Playhouse is a great little place, with a mix of contemporary and classic theater decor. We saw Chapter Two last night and were very impressed with the performance of the actors, the stage setup, sound and lighting. Much more intimate setting that we were accustomed to, interesting seating setup, super friendly staff, plenty of free parking outside for a Friday night in the city. We will certainly go back and visit again! read more

We loved it! Showed up early, had drinks from the bar and sat on the couch, saw "This"

I went to see stick fly, and had such a great time! The venue is very classy and cozy, the ambiance is great! Actors are doing really good job, they are very talented, amazing people. Drinks at the bar are also really good. The cocktails look like masterpieces. I will deffinitely be back, going to a show at Windy City playhouse is an amazing way to spend an evening. read more

Place is great. Just moved here from Boston and this was perfect to spend a Sunday rainy afternoon. Explorers Club was excellent, cast fabulous. Can't say enough except GO SEE IT !! read more

My husband and I had a great night being immersed in Southern Gothic. The experience itself was so fun and unlike any other theater experience. We went to a 6 PM show on a Sunday and enjoyed the cocktails at the bar, (especially the house sangria). Watching the actors up close and witnessing the story unfold was remarkable- the time flew by. If you feel like you're missing a lot of the storyline or plot because of the different rooms, don't worry, it all comes together at the end. This is a great venue and I highly recommend seeing Southern Gothic before it closes. read more