Theater in Chicago - recommendations?

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 6:45pm

I'm going to be in Chicago next week and have tickets to see David Cromer's production of Streetcar and (naturally) Patti LuPone in Annie Get Your Gun at the Ravinia Festival. Anyone know of any other shows that I can't miss while in town?

I was looking at Hot Mikado at Drury Lane and Once on this Island at the Marriott Theater, but I don't know anything about how far they are from where I'm staying (near Grant Park) or whether they're of a high enough quality to head out. Am also considering A Parallelogram just so I can go to the Steppenwolf, but reviews seem mixed. Any opinions on these or anything else, more than welcome!

Thanks!

[lakezurich]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 7:02pm

The Drury Lane and Marriott are nowhere near Grant Park.

[kckobe91]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 7:41pm

i live by the marriott. they are good shows but it is no where near where you will be. where are you coming from?

you could check out victory gardens new play at the biograph theater. its mixed reviews as well but i thought it was pretty good! it's only there until august 16th though

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 7:52pm

I'll be in from New York. Never been to Chicago and figured it was time for a visit at last. Which is why I have zero sense of where things are. Thanks for the recommendation kckobe. I'll check out Victory Gardens. I'm there through the 15th, so the timing is perfect.

[broadwayworldreader]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 7:57pm

yea the marriott is way out of your way, but if you are gonna be traveling to writers' and ravinia then I wouldn't count it out. It's prolly 10-15 mins from Ravinia. Also, I haven't read much in the way of reviews for Parallelogram but i hear the technical aspects are nothing short of amazing.

Posted: 8/3/10 at 8:22pm

Half Price tickets to Chicago theaters. It's supposedly same-day but now some theaters post a whole weeks worth on Monday.
Hot Tix

[heo1128]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 11:12pm

I recently saw A Parallelogram. Really enjoyed it! Definitely worth seeing.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 8/4/10 at 12:05am

Please also be advised that the production of streetcar is not in the city and anywhere near grant park either. It is in a suburb and would require a car to get to from the city. I do hope you are able to see it, its rather stupendous. Otherwise id say The Steppenwolf always does great work.

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/4/10 at 9:16am

Thanks for all the info, everyone. Based on the reviews of Streetcar and the presence of Patti, I'm content to hoof it out of city bounds. Both locations' websites made them seem relatively easily accessible by train. And if I can snag half-price tickets, I'll definitely be trying A Parrallelogram!

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 8/4/10 at 4:01pm

A couple of other links for you:

http://www.theatreinchicago.com/
http://chicago.metromix.com/theater

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 8/4/10 at 4:22pm

Check out chicagoplays.com that is my favorite site for local theatre.

[madophelia]

Posted: 8/7/10 at 10:13am

Both Ravinia and Writers' Theatre are easily accessible by train from downtown. Extra nonschedule trains are put on to pick up Ravinia guests at the station in the park, but I've had to wait for two hours after smaller performances in the Martin Theatre. Be prepared. The Drury Lane in Oakbrook would require a car or a cab from a train station. Same with the Marriott in Lincolnshire. Both Steppenwolf and the Victory Garden Theatres are easily accessible from downtown via public transportation or cab. You can take the Red Line train to North and Clybourn for the Steppenwolf and then return via cab. There are some great restaurants on the same block as the theatre, like Boka and Vinci. The Biograph is on Lincoln near Fullertown and within walking distance of the Fullertown L statioin at which both the Red and Brown Lines stop. Most restaurants along that stretch of Lincoln are aimed at the DePaul college crowd in atmosphere, but you can find something.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/7/10 at 10:37am

Whatever is playing at the Oriental see it. The theater alone is worth the price of admission

It has been over 25 years since I was in it and would love to see it fully restored