Theater in Chicago

[jbm2]

Posted: 5/21/22 at 9:33pm

Heading to Chicago the middle of June. Want to check out some theater. Any recommendations? Shows/Theaters? 

[forfivemoreminutes]

Posted: 5/21/22 at 10:06pm

jbm2 said: "Heading to Chicago the middle of June. Want to check out some theater. Any recommendations? Shows/Theaters?"

SIX will be playing there for the entire month of June - highly recommend it! They have $25 lottery seats and $49 rush seats as well if you're looking for cheaper tickets - rush seats are basically all their unsold seats that day and are usually very good seats (my friend got sixth row right in the centre with rush one time, seventh row centre another time, third row two seats from the aisle on the right another time). Broadway in Chicago also has a special deal where you can purchase $25 tickets for any of their shows on the 25th of the month.

If you're going before June 5, Ain't Too Proud will be playing in Chicago (until June 5), and if you're going at the end of June, My Fair Lady starts playing on June 28.

[Ravenclaw]

Posted: 5/22/22 at 12:06am

My current recommendations would be Lookingglass Alice (Lookingglass Theatre) and The Luckiest (Raven Theatre). As for shows that haven't opened yet, I'm keeping my eye on Godspell (Theo Ubique), cullud wattah (Victory Gardens), Life After (Goodman), Choir Boy (Steppenwolf), and Paris (Steep Theatre). As they haven't opened yet, I can't speak to the quality of these individual productions, but these are all great companies that consistently do excellent work and will give you a real "Chicago Theatre" experience.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/22/22 at 12:42am

Ravenclaw said: "My current recommendations would beLookingglass Alice (Lookingglass Theatre) andThe Luckiest (Raven Theatre). As for shows that haven't opened yet, I'm keeping my eye on Godspell (Theo Ubique), cullud wattah (Victory Gardens), Life After (Goodman), Choir Boy (Steppenwolf), and Paris (Steep Theatre). As they haven't opened yet, I can't speak to the quality of these individual productions, but these are all great companies that consistently do excellent work and will give you a real "Chicago Theatre" experience."

^^As a supplement to this comment, I would add that Choir Boy is an exquisite play, and I thought Paris was a pretty good play too. Wasn't a fan of Cullud Wattah. Haven't seen the rest (well, except Godspell, which is...Godspell).

 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 5/22/22 at 5:27am

Goldstar regularly has half-price tickets well in advance for many Chicago shows as does HotTix.  I just picked up discounted tix for Choir Boy and Life After, the new musical at the Goodman, for June 22 and 23.  Chicago Shakespeare Theater also has a new musical beginning June 22 called It Came From Outer Space.

Updated On: 5/22/22 at 05:27 AM

[jbm2]

Posted: 5/30/22 at 12:23pm

What about Spring Awakening at the Porchlight? 
mom not familiar which the Porchlight theater. 
mare they using good? 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/30/22 at 12:43pm

Porchlight is a good theatre, and I’ve worked with the Spring Awakening director and she is wonderful. I would also say that seeing a show at Steppenwolf is almost “required viewing” if checking out the Chicago theater scene for the first time. The Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Victory Gardens, and Court are some of the other major ones if you don’t include some of suburban Equity theatres. They don’t always have shows during the summer though.

I wouldn’t see a Broadway tour in Chicago. Kind of defeats the purpose, no?

[jbm2]

Posted: 5/30/22 at 12:54pm

Thank you.

Are there any suburban Equity theaters that you would recommend? 
 

Also- any theaters  that do matinees ? 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/30/22 at 3:43pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "I wouldn’t see a Broadway tour in Chicago. Kind of defeats the purpose, no?"

Defeats the purpose of what? Tours are still part of Chicago tourism, especially since they often have longer runs than in other locations. 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 5/30/22 at 4:13pm

Fosse76 said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "I wouldn’t see a Broadway tour in Chicago. Kind of defeats the purpose, no?"

Defeats the purpose of what? Tours are still part of Chicago tourism, especially since they often have longer runs than in other locations."

I took it to mean when in Chicago, see something unique to Chicago, not a touring show that may find its way to another city near you.

[Ravenclaw]

Posted: 5/30/22 at 4:41pm

jbm2 said: "What about Spring Awakening at the Porchlight?
mom not familiar which the Porchlight theater.
mare they using good?"

Porchlight is a well-respected company that usually does fantastic work, but I've been told by many friends that this Spring Awakening is below their usual standard. Also, it closes this week, and you mentioned your trip will be in the middle of June, so that'd be a moot point anyway.

I'll reiterate my recommendation of Lookingglass Alice, though. And I agree with others, best to avoid touring productions--not because they're not good, but because you can see those same tours anywhere else in the country.

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 5/30/22 at 6:01pm

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is located at Navy Pier so you can do some touristy activities at Navy Pier too. Looks like next production is "It Came From Outer Space" scheduled to start June 22.

I saw the SIX pre-Broadway run at this theater and it's a lovely theater and great location. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/30/22 at 6:05pm

jbm2 said: "Thank you.

Are there any suburban Equity theaters that you would recommend?

Marriott and Drury Lane.

 

[Pashacar]

Posted: 5/31/22 at 4:52pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "jbm2 said: "Thank you.

Are there any suburban Equity theaters that you would recommend?

Marriott and Drury Lane."

Would add the Writers Theatre to that list.

[jbm2]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 12:55pm

What is Jeff Recommends? Is this similar to a NY Times critics choice? 
Are these normally the shows to see? 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 6/1/22 at 1:45pm

"The Joseph Jefferson Awards (The Jeff Awards) are given annually by a volunteer non-profit committee to acknowledge excellence in theatre in the Chicago area."

https://www.jeffawards.org/

I tend to look at the aggregated critical reviews more than the Jeff Awards, but they also can be a worthwhile indicator of a show's quality.

[jbm2]

Posted: 6/7/22 at 1:10pm

Has anyone seen The Chinese Lady at TimeLine? Or k ow anything about TimeLine? Are they Equity? 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 6/7/22 at 1:17pm

Yes, they are Equity.

[jbm2]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 6:09pm

Is Drury Lane  theater equity? 
Are they located in the city? Has anyone seen their production of steel magnolias?

[JasonC3]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 7:36pm

Here's a link to a list of Equity theaters in the greater Chicagoland area.  I am unsure how current it is.

Updated On: 6/14/22 at 07:36 PM

[jbm2]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 7:39pm

JasonC3 said: "I haven't seen Steel Magnolias there, but I imagine you can find the answer to your first two questions searching online."

Haha 

thanks 🙄

[JasonC3]

Posted: 6/14/22 at 7:40pm

I did a search to answer your Equity question. See my revised reply above.

[jbm2]

Posted: 4/29/23 at 12:39pm

Heading to Chicago the middle of May. Any must sees? 
Looking at 

Morherhouse at Rivendell

The Porch on Windy Hill Northlight

The October Storm Raven

 

Open to any and all options 

 

 

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/29/23 at 12:41pm

We have one night - Friday May 12 - in Chicago.

Deciding between Galileo's Daughter and Aztec Human Sacrifice. 

 

[Hey, Zelda!]

Posted: 4/29/23 at 12:42pm

The musical London Road is making its stateside debut through Shattered Globe.

Updated On: 4/29/23 at 12:42 PM