Sun. April 5, 2026
By Jerry Nunn
Theater of the Mind is a new immersive experience inside the Reid Murdock Building, 333 N. LaSalle St.
This theater endeavor was built from the creative energies of award-winning artist David Byrne and writer Mala Gaonkar. What could have been a mindless adventure, this project is backed by the talented team at the Goodman Theatre and a skilled troupe of actors.
First-time visitors will need to study up on several ground rules ahead of time.
Late arrivals are not allowed and there is no intermission. The total running time is around 75 minutes and patrons are expected to check in 15 minutes prior to their scheduled timeslot. This allows ticket holders to settle in and use the lockers to secure any light-up items before the tour.
There's a gift shop and large spaces to relax in while waiting for the guide to call each party at the proper time to enter the first room. Random name tags are handed out as the group is briefed on behaviour.
Individuals will face challenges of the mind's eye as they move through a maze designed to make people think. The five senses are toyed with to make a person question reality.
One room focuses on persistent flashes of light and another room plays sound tones over speakers, leaving it up to the listener to decide on interpretation.
A number of the setups will resonate long after the person leaves the premises, while some tinkering is needed to make the weaker scenes have staying power. The public can sometimes be timid and not know when to respond to open-ended questions. While this makes every trip through the maze unique, depending on the group, being comfortable in these unknown settings is crucial. A person's mindset is the key to success.
Placing himself front and center in the piece is self-indulgent of Byrne and this personal choice blocks Theater of the Mind from being universal. To keep the storyline ubiquitous and all-inclusive, the protagonist should be nonbinary and abstract.
There are queer-identifying performers who have valuable stories to tell and this is where Mind misses the boat. Chicago is a city known for improvisation and capitalizing on this asset can create unpredictability to encourage return visits.
The way it is portrayed as of now forces the storyteller to be Byrne instead of allowing them to make their portrayals their own. This betrays what the experience is trying to accomplish and is distracting at times.
What elevates this production from other pop-ups in the city is the sheer talent of these professionals conveying each message. Many of them have outstanding careers and it's a rarity to see them up close in these intimate settings.
Theater of the Mind could benefit from further development and some minor tweaking before it burns down the house on July 12, 2026.
To plan your own mindful journey, please visit theaterofthemindchicago.com.
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