Immerse Yourself in Theater

Continuing at least through the end of September, Southern Gothic at the Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, is something that simply must be experienced.

A complete house, including a bathroom, has been constructed as the set of Southern Gothic inside the theater. Guests are transported back to 1961 and are invited to enjoy the action by being a fly on the wall. The audience is encouraged to sit on the furniture, wander around, and see the performance on different angles.

The party begins and so does the drama as friends have conflicts and interactions with each other in a new 90 minute show. One can virtually follow one actor around the house to just experience their individual scenes. The action is continually moving from room to room.

It was a little alarming to see some of audience walk right up and grab finger foods off the trays, but there were many that did just that in the show I attended helping themselves to appetizers. I preferred to stay back and peep in the windows, although at the end I had to dodge the actors as they came out for the curtain call.

Cocktails are passed around and for non drinkers there are armbands to alert the staff so alcohol is not pushed.

For those of us that don't like to sit still through a long show or have ADHD this is the perfect way to distract yourselves. The actors are well focused into their own little world and makes Southern Gothic fun to watch.

Visit WindyCityPlayhouse.com for ticket information. Audiences are limited to 30 people so as not to overcrowd the house!

On August 13, spectators in Millennium Park got a little sample of Broadway once again this year. The Broadway in Chicago Summer Concert featured segments from upcoming shows set to run in theaters.

Some standouts for LGBT audiences included Falsettos and the musical Tootsie. Star Santino Fontana was on hand to host between numbers.

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory looked visually stunning and if you missed The Book of Mormon before now this is your chance to catch it.

While not the big showstopper at the end with Cyndi Lauper or Deborah Cox as in years past, Dear Evan Hansen left many intrigued with winners of Broadway in Chicago's Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards singing along with Ben Levi Ross to close out the night.

Dance over to BroadwayInChicago.com for ticket information today.