The Lakeshore Theater

Never got to see this place in its comedy club incarnation.
I grew up in the neighborhood and remember going to see movies there when it was a full blown movie theater. Saw Young Frankenstein there, the Exorcist, and countless other movies there.

It’s sad to see that Lakeshore Theater is now closed. All the times that I’ve gone here, I never had to pay for a ticket. Get on their list and you’ll get a call and/​or email for 10 tickets free. The catch is everyone has to pick up their own ticket 30 minutes prior to the show or else it’s a $ 5 surcharge (still not bad). I think they do this so they can fill the house and bank on their drinks!
The comedy shows are a hit or miss. DeStefano was pretty good. The best show that I’ve seen here however is the Varietease show (Burlesque with a twist). Come back… would love to see you perform again!

Five shows left before it closes??? Is this true! I just read their newsletter that stated April 10^th 2010 is their last day! W-​T-​F!
Often have I gone to LST to enjoy many shows, mainly comedy and most recently burlesque as well. It was my secret place, that which I didn’t review for fear that more would know and ticket costs would rise. I could, with ease, pick up affordable tickets to great shows week after week. Two of my only botheration’s about this theater were the gross beer costs, $ 6 – 8 for a good beer is sick and I don’t drink PBR so the $ 3 special on that was never a feature for me. Then there was the Men’s room, how freaking long would that urinal be out of service, a year now! Still, minor difficulties when you get to watch awesome budding and veteran comedians strut their stuff. FFFuuuucccckkkkk. Dude. «Open Mic» Wednesday’s, a chance to see new comedians perform for free, now gone. «Comedians you should know show» also gone, from here that is. Shit. Now where will we find affordable comedy?
Only five shows left guys…

How many people have I seen here that in 10 years will be known around the world? And now they’re closing as of April 10^th? So sad… great memories here of good comedians. Seeing John Oliver *sigh*
Then some bad horrid memory of being in a gay game show, but we won’t talk about that, and it wasn’t the theater’s fault! *shudder*
Your bathrooms were small, you bartenders were some of the friendliest in the city, and the comics you brought in were quality.
I’ll miss you Lakeshore Theater… it’s going to be depressing walking by you all the time now!

I like the idea of Lakeshore Theater. The flashy marquee, etc., but it falls short a bit for me.
I’ve been twice to see comedy shows, both were a good time and nothing to complain about. The theater is small so there isn’t a bad seat in the house – thats a bonus. Drinks are potent and the staff is friendly.
I filled out a card and get emails fairly often for free tickets to a weekend show. Not bad for last minute plans on the cheap.

We’ve been to a few comedy shows here and had a good time! For $ 15 or so (more for national acts) there are usually 2 — 3 opening acts plus a headliner. They’ve haven’t all been great but most have been funny. It’s a great way to spend 1 ½ hours (including intermission). My only complaint is there aren’t enough bathrooms.

Recently a set of free tickets to a show here came my way, so I called up a friend and asked him to join me for a fun night of comedy. I figured we couldn’t go wrong! Mostly because Lakeshore Theater is fab. It’s a two minute walk from my apartment, they offer a full cash bar, and they’ve got some great comedy shows. It’s not too big, not too small — just a casual, fun place to catch a show.
Unless, UNLESS!!! … said show involves puppets, of, er, well, …not the sock kind of puppets. Now Beth Stelling — opening act — was amazing. Laugh out loud funny. After her set I had high expectations of what was to come (that’s what you get for not researching the show ahead of time!). But I left unable to look my friends in the eyes. We all just sort of stammered about having to go, and shuffled out as quick as possible. (Perhaps because we were all sober?!) Next day, my friend emailed me to ensure that after that show we were, in fact, still friends, (we are) and to let me know that he was still disturbed (me too).
Maaaybe not the best show ever. But the theater? 4 stars.

3-​part review, comin’ at ya!
Review of Lakeshore Theater:
*Great location-​Boystown/​Lakeview
*Full bar: they card at the door.
*Comedy acts prevelent.
*Clean/​comfortable, old-​school historic feel.
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**** (4 stars)
Review of opening act: Beth Stelling
*Overall consensus: This girl was fucking hilarious. For real.
Fanpage on Facebook:
Maybe she will become a Unilocaler? I hope.
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***** (5 stars)
Puppetry of the Penis: Whoa.
*A lot of peen. A lot, lot. Like, a whole show? WIth just two naked guys.
*Funny, but I was too sober to really get a kick out of it.
*Wow, full frontal male nudity… new twist (s) though. Wow.
*Not to mention my date was in obvious pain as a witness.
*Probably better for a GNO, bachelorette party, hen night, etc.
*My first time seeing a penis on a projector screen. Probably not a good angle for anyone, FYI.
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*** (3 stars)
Average overall: 4 stars!
Sign up for the e-​newsletter for access to FREE shows, too! Yeah, free stuff… even if it involves penises, it’s still… FREE! (and they do a lot of shows where the people are dressed, too)

Reasons why the Lakeshore Theater rocks:
–Best stand-​up bookings in the city, hands down. Your favorite «alt» comedian has either already performed here or will be doing so at some point in the near future. This alone warrants 5 stars.
Also…
–Old timey popcorn machine and popcorn buckets are HUGE
–Performers hang out in the lobby for autographs/​photos after almost every show
–Very easy to get free tickets to many shows
–Like another reviewer noted, no bad seats.
Yes, drinks can be pricey, BUT unlike many other «comedy clubs,» this place doesn’t have any sort of drink minimum which means you’re in charge of how much you spend on booze.

From the creators that brought you such greats as:
— Club Dread
— Beer Fest
— And my personal favorite, Super Troopers
Broken Lizard was in town to promote their newest movie, «The Slammin’ Salmon» and provided everyone in the audience with some live action comedy, which was an hysterical good time for all!
Will Call here was easy to get through. I had no problem finding a seat within the first seven rows and was able to see everyone up close and personal.
After the show there was a meet and greet and I shook hands and mingled with Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske. It was a great night and now I can’t wait to return and see other stellar acts in this funny little theater!

A pretty good place to see a show. I’ve been here for Cinematic Titanic, Jonathan Coulton, various comedy stuff… It’s a nice space.
As you enter, you’re handed a card to fill out with your information, and entered to win tickets to upcoming events. I’ve ‘won’ 10 or so times in the past year and a half, but all to events I didn’t particularly have interest in. A friend told me that if they have trouble selling out a show, that’s when they draw names. Anyway, it’s a great way to get free tickets to comedy shows and the like.
The real reason I marked this place as 3 stars instead of 4 is this… At most concert venues, you buy a ticket, and if it’s General Admission, you expect that the earlier you arrive, the easier a time you’ll have at getting good seats up front. However, at the Lakeshore Theater, I’ll arrive early and have them tell me I can only sit in the first five rows if I’ve paid $ 5 for a VIP ticket.
I admit, I usually do shell out the extra money, because if I’m going to see a show, I want to be able to actually see the show. Be careful though, if they lead you to your seats, you have to be firm with them. They’ve tried to put me on the far sides several times, and I’d really rather sit in the way back center than so far to the side that I can’t see half of what’s going on.
…But, you know, aside from that, it’s good times.

This was my first experience at this place. I was treated to a comedy show last night to see Judy Tenuta.
She was amazing and very funny. I had no idea she used to live in Chicago (Oak Park actually).
I saw a skit of hers from the 80’s and a friend of mine mentioned she might do the same material. Actually, all new stuff with the exception of the Letter, and Marrying the Pope.
Before Judy came out, there were three other comic performers. They were ok. My favorite happened to be the magician. Definitely kept my interest and was clever with his act.
As for the venue, not bad. We were seated on the left side of the stage 4^th row from the front. So, not bad seats. The acoustics were good, lighting was good as well. If there was another show to be seen there, I would definitely go back.
Unfortunately, I did not get anything to drink or eat (popcorn) so no comment on those services.

My friend had free tickets for Judy Tenuta here and was pleasantly suprised, with the theater, and that Judy’s still got it two decades after her heyday! The theater seems to give away a lot of free tix for every show. But be forewarned, you have to be in the theater doors by the deadline or pay $ 5 for the show. Still, not a bad deal for what you get.
What we got last night was a few opening comics, and oddly enough, this short Rick Moranis-​looking magician guy proved to be the funniest of them all! There’s a bar in the front of house and also one near the stage. Waiters and waitresses do walk up and down the aisles for easy ordering, but we skipped the drinks. The bathrooms filled up quickly during break, so don’t be shy about sprinting out of your seat like an M.D. on-​call at break!
Judy Tenuta was hilarious! Seriously, I didn’t believe it myself, but she’s still got it. And she barely played accordian, only doing a few songs. She built well on her old material and mined new material like Chastity Bono’s sex change. She played to the audience and really kept things moving.
I wouldn’t hesitate to come here again. Their cheap comedy shows are a great fun Recession-​friendly activity.

Solid venue, great location and good shows.
Went here to see Todd Berry recently and was impressed. The seating is general admin, but there are no bad seats and it is very quaint.
My only gripe would be the prices on the drinks. Cocktails for $ 9 and a bottle of Newcastle for $ 7! ouch on the wallet but awesome for the laughter. Every performer from the MC to the opener and especially Todd Barry were hi-​lar-​i-​ous.
I noticed too that Bob and David from Mr. Show are going to be here soon so I will have to go back and write a follow up review to see if they have lowered their ridiculous drink prices.
Great place and makes for a fun evening in Lakeview. Check it out!

My first trip to the Lakeshore Theatre was about 2 years ago when I came to see Margaret Cho. It was then that I signed-​up for their mailing list, and I’m glad that I did! Every few weeks they send out an email with FREE offerings. All you have to do is RSVP, show-​up, and enjoy the show! They don’t make you buy any drinks (although they are pretty pricey at $ 5 for a bottle of beer and $ 7 for a mixed drink), and there’s really not a bad seat in the house!
I went on Saturday to go see Paul F. Thompkins (past and future performers include Margaret Cho, Paul Sheer, Doug Benson, Janine Gerafolo, etc) and just like others have commented on here, he was supposed to come on at 8pm, but didn’t actually get on until around 9pm. They did a drawing for prizes, then 2 local performers did about 10min sets each followed by an intermission. However, unlike some other people, I really enjoyed the «opening» acts. They were funny, and great warm-​ups for the main show.
My suggestion: purchase a ticket to see a show, sign-​up for their mailing list, and take advantage of their free offers! It would also be wise to either arrive drunk, or drink while you’re there. The crowds can be a little rowdy and may be a little overwhelming if you’re sober. Plus, everything is funnier when you’re drunk.

I was part of group that got VIP tickets for a very cheap price so that makes me happy already. It’s a definitely a neighborhood theater that caters towards the Lakeview area. We saw Amy and Freddy perform late night at the midnight showing, and Amy was freaking hilarious and has a sensational voice. I totally hope she gets to be a contestant on the reality tv show she was talking about. I did get volunteered for the first time to get on a stage, and it was to hand out prizes for a drawing. I was first given the once over though as the host spoke about my chest and hot shoes. That was kind of uncomfortable but the complimentary beer helped smooth that over. I love that they offer Hoegarden here, and that you can get popcorn and beer in a bucket. If you ever get a chance to see Amy perform, I would highly recommend going to see her!

This place isn’t bad at all. The seats are comfy enough, the drinks, while expensive, aren’t outrageous, and the comic we saw was funny. We went with 10 free tickets we won (like everyone else, apparently) but wouldn’t have felt ripped off if we’d paid full price.
The one thing that really pissed me off was the folk who JUST HAD to check their emails or texts or whatever on their iPhones and Blackberries during the show. HELLO? Do you not realize how bright your freakin’ phone is in a dark theatre? Seriously. If they kick the ushers into gear to get rid of these annoying folk, I’d go back a lot more often.

After a second time here (this time for Doug Benson), I have decided that this place intentionally tries to piss off patrons since the staff thinks it’s funny. It’s like the insult comic of venues.
In the summer, being packed inside the theater lobby because we got there on time was bad enough. This time I was the one who won the 10 free tickets (I’m really wondering if anyone actually pays for the show) and I warned my entire group to get there no earlier than 10:00 or risk getting crammed in the boiling lobby for 45 minutes. So what reward did this brilliant piece of planning get?
We all got stuck out in the sub-​zero temperatures until 10:30. There seriously has to be a better way of crowd management than letting everyone into the theater at once.
The inside experience was almost as fulfilling as the first time. There were two hilarious openers and Doug Benson killed it. Though sitting in the back we realized there were quite a few broken seats. And they dropped the trivia. Though this may have just been for this show.
Sure the economy sucks and all, but the little freebies like fun trivia was one of the perks of the Lakeshore. There’s only so long patrons are going to put up with the insults this theater hurls before they all realize the joke’s on them if those perks don’t come back. And that’s totally serious.

This theater is managed atrociously.
I went to a stand-​up comedy show here on a cold December night. Tons of free tickets had been given away, probably to help fill an otherwise sparse theater, and everyone was warned to come early, so I arrived at 9:30p when the doors were suppose to open. Although was only the fourth person in the will-​call line, it took me at least 10 minutes to get to the ticket counter. Meanwhile, the line behind me was quickly growing, forcing nearly everyone to wait outside in 15 degree weather.
Once I had my tickets, I went to the back of the hallway-​lobby-​barish area, only to find that the doors still weren’t opened. Time slowly ticked by, and the area grew more crowded an uncomfortable as the doors remained closed. I felt like I was at a college house party, being pushed and squeezed, except the beer wasn’t free. Still, I was lucky — many people continued waiting outside in the bitter cold.
55 minutes after the doors were suppose to open, seating finally began (mind-​you, 5 minutes before the show was suppose to begin). The show began at least 30 minutes late, and to top it all off, the theater was freezing. It had to be in the 50s. I kept my full winter regalia on the entire time. The temperature so ridiculous that each comedian even mentioned it.
The only saving grace of the night was that the show was actually funny. Typically, places give away free tickets to get you in the door, hoping that you enjoy the experience so much that you will want to return soon. But instead, I now know to avoid this place. I don’t think even «free» will entice me again.

I feel like Lakeshore Theater is a mixed bag. A mixed bag filled with both fabulous prizes, and old bloody teeth.
The lobby is small and cramped, but at least we didn’t have to stand outside in the cold. The layout is strange and the seats are pretty close together so I don’t know how I’d feel about this place for a band, but for a comedy show, I thought it worked.
I had a great time seeing Jon Lajoie here last night. He is my current crush, as anyone can see on my profile. However, I like to drink while enjoying the antics of my boyfriend, and by boyfriend I mean Jon Lajoie. This is impossible when you are broke and all the beers other than Miller Light are $ 7. I don’t even want to know the prices for a Jack & Coke in a plastic cup. Seriously, 2 bottles of Goose Island should not be the same cost as my ticket. My other gripe is that the management really should have had a talking to with some people who obviously did have enough money for the pricey beers because they were drunk and out of control to the point of me wanting to pummel them into the ground. Someone should have.
Edit– I forgot to mention that it was freeeeezing cold in there and I had to keep my ski jacket on the whole time. My nose was ice cold by the end.
PS–