The PrivateBank Theatre

What a beautiful, antique looking theatre! I saw Bullets Over Broadway here and loved every second of it. The balcony seats were extremely high up and the downward slope kinda made me uneasy but I quickly got over it. Great staff and wonderful acoustics and sound system.

do not waste your time going to this theater. i went 2 months ago when it was called bank of america theater. why such a bad review?
1 — no elevators
2 — cash bar only — no credit cards
3 — no atm!
i left my 77 year old mother standing at the bar because i had to go down to the 1^st floor to the atm, only to find out there is no atm! i had to leave the building and go around the corner to chase atm — then go all the way back upstairs.
how stupid not to have an atm inside a theater owned by a bank & on top of that, not to let us use a credit card to pay for our drinks!
and as i read reviews, i see the new owners don’t have an atm either.
somebody should have informed us that we needed to bring cash with us — which i think is dangerous — walking both ways from the parking garage. who is the stupid manager that made this decision?
morons!!!

What a beautiful theater. Just saw Cabaret and it was amazing. The staff is friendly the seats are comfortable but the theater is a must see

Saw cabaret in this theater. We were worried our seat will not be close enough, but we were in aisle 2 row j, on the floor seating … what a great seat. Partner and i were so happy to be in these seats and have enjoyed every minute of the show. The theater is relatively small so it’s a good seat anywhere. You can tell the difference I’m sure but we were happy with the seat. Love love this theater. Clean, great production, and professional performance. I have enjoyed this show and can definitely say one of my favorite performance. Will come back and watch another show once I am back in town :)

Not the fanciest of the downtown theater’s and on the smaller side. I have to say compared to the others the place is a little rough around the edges and can use
some upgrading. I usually like to get first row seats at the dress circle level, if you’re going with someone that can’t handle stairs, you will want to avoid this seating area. It isn’t a long flight up, however for anyone that has a problem with stairs, it’s a problem. There is no elevator to this level and no option to go higher and walk down a flight.
In general for me to go to this theater, it has to be a production that I really want to see. I hope they do some upgrading soon.

The play was «Gotta Dance», the talent was overflowing from the stage. I cannot remember the last time I laughed that much. Gloria Engel was precious and the entire cast was fabulous. I highly recommend Gotta Dance!

We got a deal for tickets to Book of Mormon on a Tuesday night. I was definitely excited to see the show and I wasn’t disappointed! However, this review is supposed to be about the actual theater, not the show itself, so I’m going to focus on Bank of America Theater. We arrived 15 minutes before the show was to begin and we waited in a quick line for our tickets at will call, then waited in a less organized line for getting checked in. There was one member of a group in front of us and five people bustled past us later to join that person and get checked in before us. Of course, that wasn’t necessarily the fault of the theater, although I would have preferred it to be a little more organized.
We found our seats and I enjoyed taking in the sights of a new theater. It was ornate and beautiful. I enjoyed discount seating tickets, although it was a little bit hard to see (moreso for my significantly shorter girlfriend). However, you get what you pay for, and I honestly have no real complaints. I really enjoyed seeing Book of Mormon (I highly recommend it!) and will for sure come back to the theater, especially if cheaper tickets are available.

GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE to murder tells the uproarious story of Monty Navarro, an heir to a family fortune who sets out to jump the line of succession by – killing off the eight eccentric relatives who stand in his way. Simultaneously Monty has to juggle his mistress who he he’s in love with, his fiancée who is his cousin and the constant threat of getting caught for multiple murders. Getting away with murder couldn’t be more fun… and there’s no better proof than this hit show that’s earned 4 Tony Awards® including BEST MUSICAL —
The hero tells his story to the audience in a play within a play farce-​style comedy.
The mighty ensemble plays out the trials and tribulations faced by Monte to gain his right into a family lineage that will make him a millionaire. A stellar ensemble through intricate and witty staging that is non-​stop brilliance masterfully presents the show.
The ensemble consists of a versatile11 members cast with powerful voices who sound like a double the size. Big kudos goes to John Rapson who plays every family member in the lineage to the D’Ysquith family fortune and has to endure 8 murders each performance. His comic timing, energy and bold unapologetic transformations are fun to watch. Adrienne Eller’s comic timing (elocution) and voice are gorgeous and she steals the audiences’ heart in every way. It is all played perfectly against Kevin Massey as the hero of the tale, who knows how to balance his underdog character with bold audience asides in a dry British manor that wins you over immediately. This amazing production was brilliantly conceived and crafted by director Darko Tresneiak who does not miss an opportunity, or beat for a strategic, comic emphasis. The production is precise and well paced and every moment is well thought out to deliver a result. Every part of the set is incorporated from a perfectly designed from clever video effects to pop away picture frames.
The energy and pace of this show keeps you riveted and the energy is high. The Chicago opening night audience loved it. Nothing demonstrates more than the hysterical staging and delivery of «I’ve decided to marry you» literally stopped the show with applause and laughter.
This wild Tony-​award-​wining-​musical is in Chicago through October 11^th at the Bank of America theatre in Chicago, The show runs about 2 hours and 20 minutes with an intermission and is suitable for ages 12 and up. It a great family shows, date night show or group outing it’s clever, smart and laugh out loud funny. And if you have a teen ager who wants to direct or perform one day — do them a favor and take them to see this brilliant production.

Love the Bank of America Theatre! When you’re online and see seats that may have an obstruction in front of you, there will most likely be a significantly large pillar in front of you. It’s definitely worth it to spring a little money to ensure you’re able to properly see the stage.
NOTE: there are no ATMs at the Bank of America Theatre (lol).

I thought the front row middle section of the Dress Circle had perfect views (Row A, Seats 201 – 210) without having to look down at the stage. I haven’t seen the view from the Mezzanine or Balcony (which are above DC), but I would think you’d have to look a lot more down. I also read a lot of warnings not to sit much further back than the first 2 rows in the DC. Because of the lack of incline, you might not get much of a view, unless you’re a giraffe. The only downside with the front row seats is that there is very little leg room. Even though I’m petite, I couldn’t fit my feet comfortably in front of me without having to turn them to the side. Beautiful theater, though, and a bit on the smaller, intimate side.

I came to BOA Theatre to see Book of Mormon recently. I coziness of the space and the beautiful architecture of the building. I found the seats surprisingly comfortable and nicely padded. We sat in the way back in the Orchestra and we could see perfectly. There were a lot of pillars, but as long as you can avoid them, the sight line anywhere in the place should be pretty good. The acoustics seemed fine and there were no glitches in the show. Also, the ushers were helpful and I thought everyone flowed in and out easily. It was a good experience. I would recommend the theatre.

Awesome little venue on Monroe, not too far from just about everything.
we saw the Book of Mormon here and were fairly close to the back, altho you couldn’t tell. The seats were great and even from back there I could make out everyone’s faces clearly (and I have horrible eyes).
The one bathroom in the basement is a knock on them. I went before the show and when I got up to stretch my legs at intermission I noticed that the line to get down there was all the way up the stairs and out the front door. That’s never good!

Went and saw The Book of Mormon here on 4÷15÷15. This was the first time I’ve ever been to the theater but I read a lot of reviews about how some seats are really hard to see from. If you do your research, you can pretty much guarantee a good view since it’s a small theater BUT do the research.
I sat in Mezzanine Row D Seat 302 right next to the aisle and had a great view. With these seats, I was required to buy the Suite Service package for an additional $ 35 each. I was a little irritated about that but got the seats and package anyway. I was not disappointed! We got small sandwiches and unlimited alcoholic drinks (not the best selection but basic mixers, wines, and champagne) before the show, coat check, and bathrooms with no lines! Then at intermission we got more drinks and some sweets! Drinking champagne during the show was just a nice touch and not having to battle with the crowd for a bathroom at intermission was amazing!
Parking… It’s downtown Chicago. Take a train if you can otherwise the garages are pretty expensive (think $ 30) and street parking is hard to find.
Key points:
— Do research before picking seats
— Suite service package is worth it
— Parking is expensive
— Good theater to enjoy a play in

The architecture is very nice here. Looks very old and historical which really brings out the place.
I watched the Book of Mormon here. I opted for cheap tickets so I was sitting on the second level. I was able to see the stage clearly and easily. No obstacles were in the way.
Great lighting and great sound. Seats were clean and comfortable (especially if you compare them to the shitty movie theater seats).
Place is clean. Downfall is that the theater is old. Im talking crusty old. Im giving it a 4 because it was my first show and the place was clean with great ventilation and everything. I had a great time here.

The theater and lobby are small. The ushers are very gruff, borderline rude and really loud. It seems as if they gave more clear directions, they would have to repeat themselves less often. We were seated have way down the aisle on the main floor and we heard the same 3 ushers barking commands at the patrons for a full 20 minutes. The show that we saw was great, the acoustics seemed good and our line of sight seemed fine.

I have mixed feelings about the Bank of America Theater. I came here to see Book of Mormon last night and I had some critiques about my experience. While the process of picking up our tickets at will call went seamlessly, we did have some issues with our seats. We bought discounted tickets from Goldstar for about $ 50 apiece, which meant that we had some of the worst seats in the venue (the back of the balcony). I was fully expecting our view to be pretty far away, so I even came prepared with binoculars. I was disappointed because not only was the stage far away, but parts of it weren’t even visible. All of the balcony tickets should be considered obstructed view seats because you can’t even see the front part of the stage. Throughout the musical, we often had to crane our heads to see while hunching forward in our seats. I noticed that everyone seated in front of us in the whole balcony section did the same!
When people pay a lot of money to enjoy an evening of a Broadway show, there is a certain expectation of luxury and customer service. I didn’t feel particularly well taken-​care of as a patron here. The paint on the ceiling was visibly peeling, something that shouldn’t be too difficult to fix. I wondered if they didn’t bother because if was all the way back where the cheaper tickets are in the «nosebleeds.» It did seen unclean and unclassy to me. Additionally, the line for the women’s restroom was obscene. One usher opened up the handicap bathroom for half of the line, which was a temporary relief until another usher angrily shooed everyone away, stating the bathroom was for handicap only. The first usher was just trying to be helpful, but the situation ended up making many guests here feel unwelcome, like we had done something wrong.
My review stands at two stars because I have certainly experienced better. All that being said, the venue is not going to hold me back from seeing a musical or other show I really want to see. I’m sure I’ll be back in the future.

Watched Book of Mormon (funny awesome show!) here and I really enjoyed my time at the Bank of America Theatre. The location is fairly easy to find. The ushers were attentive. The interior was immaculate and very detailed. We got the lesser priced tickets so we were about 10 rows from the back, but any seat in the theatre is not bad. the sound system was great and we could hear everything clealy

I’ve only lived in Chicago for just over a year, and it’s been for school (so I’m pretty much flat-​out broke. More than broke, but that’s a different story). Anyway, I’ve only been to a couple theatre shows, and both of them have been at the Oriental… until about a week ago, when my friend scored some tickets to The Book of Mormon. We’ve both been obsessed with the soundtrack, and were super stoked to see the show.
Don’t get me wrong, it was SUPER enjoyable. The musical numbers lived up and some surpassed my expectations, the cast is clearly talented in a way that I am not, and the writing is hilarious. But the venue could have been better. The stage seemed too small, and for the numbers that they did go full out on felt super cramped.
Another point, we were sitting in the second balcony (right above the floor) on the right side, in, like, the third row back. Really good seats, BUT it was a little hard to see anything that would happen on stage left (or is it stage right? I get it confused. It’s side two in drum corps-​speak, if anyone gets that).
All in all, it was a spectacular Sunday night and the perfect relaxing thing I needed going into midterms week, but if I can help it, I’m not sure I’d spend the big bucks to go back. I loved the show, but the venue could use some revamping. Honestly, if Book of Mormon was at the Oriental, and if I could afford it, I’d be there at least twice more this tour.

Very cramped seating, literally the back of my seat has been kicked at least thirty times. The show is great, but I can’t see all of the stage. It’s even worse if there’s a tall person in front of you. For how much I spent on tickets I shouldn’t have to deal with this. My expectations were too high for this theater. It’s casual attire and it seems to be one big social fest, most are just worried about drinking.

Do not sit in the dress circle beyond row 1 if you have any desire to actually see the show. The rows are set up in such a way that nearly every view is obscured. It also appears that they only have one bar area that the entire theater funnels to at opening at intermission and the bathroom setup is also poorly planned with the women’s line curling around several turns, up the stairs, and into the lobby. Book of Mormon was beyond amazing though..

Yay! I’m a fan!
I’ve been to the Bank of America Theatre a couple times over the last few years. The first time was to see the Book of Mormon (amazing show) and my family and I sat in the balcony. The second time I came to the theater was this season to see the I Love Lucy Show (also amazing). My best friend (aka Lucy) and I (aka Ethel) sat on the right side of the main floor towards the middle/​back.
I could see the stage just great in both seats, but I think going forward I’d actually prefer the balcony! Unless of course I was super close on the main floor. Because it is a smaller theater, you really can see just fine from about anywhere. I wouldn’t break the bank to get super close seats, because you’ll be just fine.
The best part of this theatre for me is their location! I love that it’s right in the loop. Since I was coming from the burbs, I was able to take a quick 5 minute cab ride over from Union Station. I love whenever I can take public transportation, especially when wanting to enjoy a beverage before/​during the show! Speaking of beverages, another plus is all of the places to grab dinner or drinks nearby, such as Vapiano and Miller’s Pub.
I usually see only like one musical a year, but if another great show comes to Bank of America, you best believe I’ll be buying tix!

I have been here a number of times for different shows. While the venue is decorated beautifully that’s about where the good theater going aspects end. I generally prefer a small intimate theater over a large and impersonal one but the Bank of America Theater needs many improvements to make it that inviting place that you really want to see a show at.
Most importantly and actually fixable is the seat placement. Instead of being staggered they are one in front of the other. It makes it difficult to see over anyone with any sort of height seated in front of you. Also, on my most recent visit, I was in the mezzanine and I found it very difficult to see the front of the stage from my seat. I had to crane forward to see what was going on down there. I think that made it even more difficult for the person behind me to see.
Also, If you aren’t seated on the orchestra level, the stairs to the mezzanine and higher are very long, narrow and steep. The elevator isn’t really recommended either.
I do like that we can purchase a flute of champagne at intermission when we come here.

My dad and I went to The Last Ship together and had an excellent time! If you love Sting’s music then you’ll love this, too! Not only is the score great, but the play itself is easy to follow and interesting.
We heard them talking about it on WBEZ and they said you could get tickets for $ 30 for select showings. My dad called and was able to score $ 35 seats on the balcony in Row C between Aisles 18 and 19. After fees, it came out to about $ 46pp but I still think it was worth it. The only thing I’d have changed would be trying to get another row or two down. This stage extends out a bit more than usual, so we sometimes couldn’t see the actors. Luckily, they didn’t go out on the «dock» that often, so we had an otherwise unobstructed view of the set.
I loved the musical. All of the music smacks of Sting. You could easily imaging swapping the characters out and putting him in. A few of the songs are recycled from his previous work, but it was mostly new numbers. The actors they picked play their parts to perfection. I especially appreciated that it wasn’t entirely predictable.

My 8 ounce bottle of water for $ 3 was delicious once I finallly opened it at home with VICE GRIPS, and I’m not even joking. Thanks BofA Theater for that wonderful souvenir, on top of letting me dehydrate through the second act when I was already sick on my birthday weekend. If you think we were going to miss any of the Book of Mormon at these prices, and after having fought our way through the crowds of concessions, barely making it back to our seats before intermission ended, you are sadly mistaken. So I endured.
As theaters go, it’s gorgeous. I simply loved my surroundings, despite the fact I was in a seat smaller than the smallest airplane seat ever. Granted, I’m not a small girl, but even petite and average sized people were clearly uncomfortable with the overly snug seats with no leg room. I sat in my seat contorted like a pretzel, purse in lap, just to avoid infringing on anyone else’s space. It was even worse for my poor husband since he is taller and larger. I will say our view in the mezzanine was perfect, no obstructions, so thank goodness for that, or I might have been livid.
The show was outstanding! The theater was beautiful. But at these prices, call me crazy, but I’d like to be slightly comfortable as well.