American Theater Company

I’ve now seen two productions — «The Humans» and «The Royale» — both were excellent; The Royale was fantastic. I highly recommend this theater, which as of 2015 is in its 30^th year. They change the seating layout depending on the production — I have had no issues with a blocked view and I’m 4’11″, so I’m sensitive to such things.
The theater specializes in plays that portray what it means to be an American, from many different angles — and from what I’ve seen they’re doing it admirably and accurately. As others have said, it is extremely small (current production of The Royale only seats 105) and yes, they do have $ 2 snacks.

I managed to catch a performance at the American Theater Company and have to admit that it was a great experience. The theater is small, very small, and the stage is actually right in the middle of the seating. Seating is about 3 – 4 rows deep, on both sides of the stage which made for a really intimate experience. The crew was really good too, they put on an amazing performance. I highly recommend a show at the American Theater Company, you will not regret it.

I’m not a huge theater person but I listen to NPR every morning and listened to an interview with the writer of the play Columbinus. After listening to the interview, I knew I had to go see the play.
The venue: Great. I would recommend taking the brown line there because there is only street parking in the surrounding neighborhood and there’s no guarantee that there will be an open spot. It’s a small theater with $ 2 candy bars and drinks for cash only. You can buy any seat in the audience and have a good view of the stage — I bought tickets for seats in row B and it was perfect. The staff was very friendly.
The play: Probably the best show I’ve ever seen. I would definitely agree with the reviews: if it’s a topic you can handle, go see it. The actors played the characters very well and I really like the idea of a play being a documentary. The show will give you chills and have you sitting on the edge of your seat. It will definitely bring out your emotions and have you looking back on your high school days and make you wonder if you ever missed any signs or did anything that could have triggered something. Overall, a must-​see.
The show has been extended until April !

5 Stars for a black box style theater where you view is blocked by poles? Well yes. I came for the performance of Rent. While not knowing the subject of the play I was very much in for a surprise. It was staged in the 80’s and early 90’s when Aids was really an epidemic and AZT was coming on the market to help people stricken with the virus. This is a musical opera. There are few spoken words all sung. The cast was tight and really top notch. The dancing and singing was very good. My hearing not so good. So I was kind of at a loss as to what was being sung. But I was able to follow the plot to the point I was able to understand the play.

I heard about their original production of Grease and it sounded like something I really needed to check out. I am all about anything that claims to be truly a «Chicago thing.» And this was it — the way Grease was meant to be, a gritty story about first-​generation Americans with parents working in factories on the Northwest side, trying to find their identity and their loyalties. The theater is welcoming, cozy, and puts on a great show. I am looking forward to seeing Rent here next spring.

Having heard so much about «The Big Meal» play, I went online and searched by day until I found two front row seats available. Booked them. Looked forward to the play. When we arrived at the theater, we found our seats were actually in the second row. In order to squeeze more people into the play — and make more money — the theater had placed a row of chairs in front of the actual front row. Thus, we were in the second row with blocked sight lines. I spoke with management about this, but they said there was nothing they could do. Well, let’s see. If you’re going to add a temporary row of chairs in front of the first row, put the people who bought first row tickets in the front row! — in the temporary row of chairs. Do not sell people front row tickets and then seat them elsewhere.

My bf and I took my mom to this venue to see the new production of the original musical «Grease.» This is most definitely not your grandmother’s «Grease.»
The theater consists of a very small and intimate set and seats about 120. You’re up close and personal with all of the actors during the show, which I really like.
The seats are all pretty decent, as are the acoustics, and the staff was all friendly.
Parking was fairly easy and the theater is accessible to public transportation.
It’s also right around the corner from Martyrs’, so grab a drink before and/​or after the show.

For years I wouldn’t give ATC the time of day, not due to any particular play (because I had never been to one). It was back in the day when I lived in the area. The actors/​actresses and the staff would frequent the same local bar/​restaurant that I would. I, knowing most of the staff at the time, heard stories of the shitty antics of ATC. Then also experiencing the elitist and «pamper me» attitude that was ATC, I cursed them vowing never to go…
Current day, I broke my vow. Maybe they grew up a little or maybe it was I who was older. Then again, it’s probably because of the new performers. Funny though, the older staff seemed to be having some problems, they were just taking tickets and handing out programs. At least the box office had their stuff together. ATC is having some major roof problems, it was leaking on people all over which probably caused all of the confusion. This theater needs some major help and donations go a long way! They could use some new seats as well, they weren’t the worst but they weren’t all that great either.
Why the 5 stars?! When you have a set only consisting of a table, a few chairs, 8 actors paying 3 different characters each, and a plate of food, you deserve 5 stars. «The Big Meal» a story about life and death. A story that is so moving to make a grown man almost cry (a few times)… this is a pretty talented company of actors and a well written play. I was floored by this story and demand that YOU go see it! Doesn’t matter your age, doesn’t matter even if you think you don’t like the theater, this will make you think twice.
«The Big Meal» –Extended to March 27^th due to popular demand. Chicago Magazine and Time Out Chicago both gave 4 stars (highest rating). Please, while you’re there donate a few bucks.
Support the arts!

saw big meal there last night. show was very good, acting was excellent. seemed like most seats in the house had good vantage points. for neighborhood theater i thought kind of expensive (~$ 35 – 40 per ticket) but i would go back.

I saw It’s a Wonderful Life, Radio Play there last night. It was great.
The set is fantastic, the actors are fantastic. It’s all good.

Just a note for future followers of ATC/​ABT — any of the reviews prior to 2008 are about the group now re-​known as American Blues Theatre. the Ensemble left to reform under their original name, leaving the building under new management.

Their house improv ensemble, Pudding-​Thank-​You, did a special show last weekend — they invited Erica Daniels (Steppenwolf Casting Director) to come and tell stories, and then they, along with some others from various improv groups and theaters around town, improvised off of her stories.
The show itself was great. I loved the format, it was great improv, and really fun stories. It’s a great space — small and every seat is a good one.
Those are all great things, but what really put the show over the top? it was only $ 8 AND there was free beer. FREE BEER! $ 8 for well over an hour of entertainment AND FREE BEER!
There is a lot of great improv happening outside the specifically improv theaters, and I think this is proof. And if I’m not mistaken, their regular Friday night improv set at ATC also includes FREE BEER! Brilliant.

I just saw Hedwig and the Angry Inch at American Theater Co today and it was amazing. The theater is so cozy and the seating is really cute. Hedwig itself was a great production. I was thoroughly impressed. I recommend both the theater and the show!

This is a great space about 2 block from Irving Park. It’s in a lovely neighborhood and every show I’ve seen there has been quality. I guess if I had to make a suggestion on how to improve their whole box office system was a little awkward and caused a very long line that blocked the front entrance to the theatre, but make it past that and an excellent show awaits you.

I haven’t had the chance to enjoy good theater in some time and coming to ATC was just the thing! My date and I attended the revival of I Do! I Do! starring Stef Tovar and Heidi Kettenring (of the Wicked’s Nessarose fame).
These two are just incredible and Heidi can belt out some serious tunes! It makes me sad that I missed out on her in Wicked. The venue was small and intimate making any seat a prime seat. Ticket prices were very reasonable and the staff was un-​Chicago-​like friendly.
It’s a pleasant change to munch on some *Homer voice* mmmmmm $ 1 Kit Kats… aaarrrrrrrrgh … during intermission without feeling like The Man robbed you blind charging $ 5 for a candy bar and another $ 5 for a drink. For a great Broadway time without the Broadway prices, ATC is a venue that can’t be beat.

I always enjoy their shows. We ended up subscribing, which is a good way to do it — you don’t miss a show and it ends up being less money per play. They do new plays as well as classics, so it’s a nice mix.