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- Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn St.
312-443-3800

The reknown theater company has settled into its new home here in the heart of the Loop theater district. Featuring two innovative and intimate performance spaces, the Goodman complex also has an on-site restaurant, Petterino's.
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company
1650 N. Halsted St.
312-335-1650

Founded in 1976, Steppenwolf Theatre is a Chicago institution that epitomizes the city's "rock 'n' roll" theater style. Actor-oriented and design-savvy, its well-mounted Equity productions take full advantage of the group's state-of-the-art complex.
Originally founded by actors from Illinois State University who began the theater in the basement of a north suburban church, the company's star-studded ensemble now numbers some famous film and stage presences--John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Joan Allen, Laurie Metcalf and John Mahoney. Few of them perform regularly with the ensemble anymore, but most return occasionally to perform in a mainstage offering.
The theater is noted for its invigorating productions of American works, including Sam Shepard's "Buried Child" and "True West," Frank Galati's staging of "The Grapes of Wrath," Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and David Mamet's "Glengarry, Glen Ross."
Excellent sight lines (no seat is more than 35 feet from the action and the studio seats are much closer), acoustics and seats.
- Shubert Theatre
22 W. Monroe St.
312-977-1700

Built in 1906, this vintage theater is a showplace from an earlier era that's still one of the country's major touring Broadway houses. The lobby is small, but the auditorium, with its excellent sight lines and fair acoustics, is an ornate palace of the arts, just as the Shubert brothers intended it to be almost a century ago.
- Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier
800 E. Grand Ave.
312-595-5600

Under Barbara Gaines' inspired guidance, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
has staged what are arguably the finest Shakespeare productions
in town. These offerings, buttressed by state-of-the-art technical
design, showcase some of the finest Shakespearean actors in the
Midwest. (There are also outreach performances for 60,000 schoolkids.)
The facilities on Navy Pier are dazzling, but the heart of everything
is the intimate stage. The new setup allows expanded programs
such as great books discussion groups, scholarly forums and guest
speaker appearances. The English Garden just outside the lobby
is a nice addition, too.
- Court Theatre
5535 S. Ellis Ave.
773-753-4472

Court Theatre is one of the few first-class theaters on the South Side. Situated on the campus of the University of Chicago, this comfortable, 251-seat subscription Equity theater has been home to classical drama (by Moliere, Beaumarchais, Shakespeare) and sparkling modern classics (by Stoppard, Feydeau, Molnar, Wilde, Overmyer), as well as an outlet for such products of local talent as Donna Blue Lachman's "Frida: The Last Portrait." Under the artistic directorship of Charles Newell, the theater has continued its tradition of rotating repertory. From the outside the theater resembles a concrete bunker, but inside you'll find excellent sight lines, seats, acoustics and air conditioning.
- Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W. Randolph St.
312-977-1700

With rose-marbled walls, crystal chandeliers, gold plaster ornamentation and huge mirrors, this theater has the look and atmosphere of a French palace. Indeed, the space -- originally opened in 1926 as a vaudevillian showcase and later a live theater -- was modeled after Versailles. Located next door to the Hotel Allegro (formerly the Bismarck Hotel), the venue is part of the development of a revived Randolph Street theater district. The 2,300-seat Palace, with orchestra, dress circle and balcony, was renovated at a cost of $20 million. After the Cadillac division of General Motors purchased naming rights, the Cadillac Palace opened with its inaugural production of "Aida" in November 1999. In 2001, it debuted the smash hit "The Producers."
- Oriental Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts
24 W. Randolph St.
312-902-1400

A jewel in the redevelopment of Chicago's downtown theater district. Originally built in 1926 as a movie palace, the Oriental has been renovated and refurbished into a state-of-the-art space for musical theater productions, beginning with "Ragtime," in October of 1998. Three levels hold 2,200 plush seats under a massive domed ceiling rimmed with larger-than-life seahorses and goddesses. Painted columns and colorful plasterwork add to the look of a gaudy Asian temple.
- Theater on the Lake
2400 N. Lake Shore Drive
312-742-7994

Set in a red brick building beneath the towering trees of Lincoln Park, Theater on the Lake offers a great view of Lake Michigan and low ticket prices. In 1996, the theater was changed from an arena-style theater-in-the-round space to a three-quarters thrust stage in order to accommodate new types of shows and to ensure that no audience member is behind the actors. Since its debut in the summer of 1942, the nearly 400-seat Theater on the Lake has evolved from a showcase of amateur community theater to the summer home of some of the city's most outstanding professional theater companies, such as Steppenwolf, The Second City and Chicago Theatre Company.
- Mercury Theatre
3745 N. Southport Ave.
773-325-1700

A nicely renovated space (opened in early 1996 and converted from a 1912 nickelodeon), this comfortable theater offers excellent sight lines and adequate acoustics. Generally, the Mercury features eclectic selections of musical offerings and late-night productions by smaller local theater troupes. The current production, "Over the Tavern," has gotten rave reviews.
- Victory Gardens Theater
2257 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-871-3000

If Chicago's Off-Loop theater movement had a point of origin in the mid-1970s, it was in this busy building, former home of the Body Politic Theatre and inspirer of countless spin-off theaters. Since 1982 it also has housed the Victory Gardens Theater, which in 1995 took over the building and its four theaters. The complex now consists of two 200-seat theaters and two 60-seat theaters, both comfortable. Under the artistic direction of Dennis Zacek, Victory Gardens has become noted for world premieres by Chicago-based writers, including Rick Cleveland, Charles Smith, Claudia Allen, Steve Carter, Nick Patricca, Jeffrey Sweet, Douglas Post, John Logan, James Sherman and Lonnie Carter. Notable directors have cut their teeth here and audiences have come to expect a high level of dedication and innovation. In the summer of 2001, Victory Gardens received a prestigious regional Tony Award for its exceptional achievements.
- Bailiwick Arts Center
1229 W. Belmont Ave.
773.883.1090

This three-theater complex, located in what was once a post office, then a movie theater for Chicago Filmmakers, is both a rental facility and the non-Equity home for Bailiwick Repertory's enterprising fare. Bailiwick presents an annual gay-themed Pride Series, as well as original musical and dramatic works that arrive quickly and sometimes rough-hewn. Past offerings include Emily Mann's fiery drama "Execution of Justice," the musicals "Pope Joan" and "Animal Farm," the Yeats-inspired song cycle "In the Deep Heart's Core," the World War II think piece "Nagasaki Dust," the holiday musical "The Christmas Schooner," "Dorian Gray," "Dark of the Moon," "Rope," and occasional children's theater. The theaters are still not well insulated and sound easily spills from one show to another. The upstairs theater, accessible only by a narrow stairway, is fortunately seldom used. The lobby often features inventive art displays keyed to the shows.
- Athenaeum Theatre
2936 N. Southport Ave.
773-935-6860

A 949-seat proscenium auditorium attached to a Catholic church, this theater (which now includes a studio space) has long served as an outlet for community and professional theater. The former home of Chicago Opera Theater, it's currently a primary venue for the eclectic fare presented by Performing Arts Chicago and occasionally showcases commercial ventures as well as dance recitals. The studio has been rented to various plucky non-Equity theater companies. The seats are cramped and acoustics poor but sight lines are good.

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Copyright
Chicago Neighborhoods 2002 (312) 318-2000
2735 North Clark Street Chicago, IL
60611
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