House Theatre Of Chicago

The House Theatre rocks! They make diverse, edgy choices and aren't afraid to take chances with unconventional productions. Their main stage space is spectacular. But my favorite performance spaces are the two that lie beneath. There's a quirky little performance place carved out of the back basement. Then there's the parlour....

We fell in love with the fabulous parlour space that lurks under The House Theatre. With the same stage magic that turns waitresses to queens and creates a palace out of plywood and paint splatter, this basement has been transformed. Where there once was duct work and darkness, a wabi sabi drawing room complete with a bar, rich burgundy walls, paintings and even a chandelier, has been created. I can't imagine a more perfect backdrop for an intimate show.

With the wealth of theatre offerings in Chicago it's always hard to pick but we've found you can never go wrong with The House. We've seen three amazing shows here--always with wonderful acting and great production values that draw you in to the story. They are able to transcend their space and budget limitations in surprising ways. We try and take friends and relatives with us whenever we go in order to introduce them to The House. It is a Chicago treasure!

Fresh, dynamic, and riveting...the House Theatre's arrival brought a new vitality to Chicago's live theater scene. Using "old" tools in new ways, with consistently solid delivery in writing, direction, stage design, music, and acting, The House holds audiences in the palms of its hands.

What's more, they share a dedication to serve the community. Not just by key members of the company, but by everyone involved, including those who volunteer. By reaching out to inner city youth and extending cost-free opportunities to experience live theater, some for the first time, they provide kids with a view into new possibilities. These shows are always followed with in-depth discussions to further include the children in gaining deeper understandings of the art of story telling through music, acting, film, and puppetry. Subject matter of these shows and the discussions that ensue are often easily tied to participants' own lives, thus connecting them on the deepest possible level.

It is an honor to be a part of this theater company as a regular attendee of their shows and as a part-time volunteer.

House Theatre consistently offers high quality, innovative productions that are both thought-provoking and entertaining. Their staff provides impressive customer service, which builds community and loyalty to the company, as well as clearly demonstrating a commitment and passion for the work they produce. House shows are in a venue that has both interesting and inviting intimate theatre spaces, as well as welcoming, comfortable public space.

I have seen every House show since the theater’s inception…all the way back to when the performance space was so small, I had to sit on the floor and mind my feet for fear of tripping the actors. The thing that never ceases to amaze me about The House is the consistently high caliber of the shows. The writing, staging and performances are very polished, delightfully creative, and as good as anything I’ve seen in Chicago (or anywhere for that matter.) You can’t help but get immersed in what’s happening on stage, and isn’t that what good theater is all about? Dollar for dollar, I think The House Theatre of Chicago is the best theater value in town. And judging from the size of the audiences attending their shows today, I think a lot of people agree.

Expect the unexpected at the House.

Since their arrival in Chicago 10 years ago, this troop of actors has performed original works of uncanny surprise. From Houdini water tank escapes to trips to the moon on a sailing ship, they have created wonder with their stagecraft.

Production after production reflects a vision of theater without walls, where the audience is as much a player as the actors, where adult memories of a childhood tale morph and mold our perceptions of the everyday world and where you leave feeling challenged and elated.

We have gone to several shows provided by House Theatre. They are always amazing and so creative!!! We absolutely love their version of The Nutcracker. This community is a great asset to Chicago! Please support it. It is one of the treasures of our great city!

My family has been a fan of The House Theater since it's inception. Never have I seen a more passionate, energetic, devoted and talented group of people. From the people at the box office, set designers, lighting technicians, costume designers, choreographers to the actors- these people share a vision and a dream. They are a family. And their family has welcomed my family into their theater for a decade. My children cut their teeth on plays by the House Theater. They, in turn, have brought their friends to every play. We regularly have groups of 20 to 40 people coming to every House show with us and they always ask one question- "when is the next show". This is the best kind of theatre- accessibile and exceptional.

I have been a devoted fan of The House for close to 10 years. I am drawn to return again and again by their exuberance, their uncanny ability to make every single person in the audience feel significant to the performance, and most of all, to their heartfelt connection to their work. I look forward to each new season knowing that my time with The House will nurture my soul and send me happily back out into the not so tidy world with a lighter step, feeling renewed and refreshed.

in the 1970's I owned an art gallery in the DePaul University area and had the pleasure of seeing John Malkovich crackle in an early Steppenwolf Theater production while they still operated from Highland Park. I also had the pleasure of viewing several productions at the now defunct St. Nicholas theater (home of David Mamet) in addition to working with their excellent production staff on a fund raiser for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization. Through those heady early days of the burgeoning and talented off Broadway scene in Chicago, I have remained thoroughly addicted to Chicago Theater. Along with two fine writers who are my long term friends, I catch every new production I can fit into my schedule. Now that I have retired downstate and run a living green nature center to encourage children in experiencing nature, I rely heavily on those friends to lead me to the hot new theater action in town. VIcki Quadi who writes and produces the Nun based interactive plays at the St. George insisted over six years ago that we check out Nathan Allen's new play for The House theater. We went, he conquered. The writing was fun, the production near genius in it's simplicity and originality, the performances shone with an energy I hadn't seen since those early days in the 70's. One play became a trilogy, we saw every one. We sent other people to see what we had so enjoyed, no one was ever disappointed. When my youngest son met a woman he really wanted to impress, I treated them to tickets to see one of Nathan's trilogy. He loved it ("I laughed, I cried, I sang, it was great), she was impressed with the play and the date. Now they are married with a 4 year old son. We all still catch every House play we can get to.
We are still never disappointed with the writing, the originality and the passion. If you are creative and clever enough to enjoy the path less traveled of great off Broadway theater, do yourself a favor and check out any one of their productions. They will not disappoint you.

I have visited this Theater on three occasions, first to see The Nutcracker, attend the Magic Show and Odradek. Each experience has been enjoyable and entertaining. The theater is deceptive in appearance from the outside but inside it is intimate warm and the staff friendly and professional. There is a small bar both on the main floor and on the basement level and you can actually enjoy your drink of choice while watching the action. Parking is readily available in the area and close to many bus stops. I am fortunate to live a few blocks from the Theater and can actually walk, but when I drove due to the weather, there was no problems in parking on the street. You are made to feel welcome and like an individual by both the staff and actors. I really enjoy this Theater

In a city brimming with excellent and original theater, The House Theatre stands apart. The playful exuberance each member (actor and stagehand) brings to each performance is so palpable and infectious it overwhelms; the limitless ambition and creativity of their work, while not always perfectly executed, is perfectly childish and functions as an irrefusable invitation to join their spectacularly imaginative collective for as long they will let you stay and play. They are a special crew.

I discovered The House as a student, seeing "Curse of the Crying Heart" as part of a Theater in Chicago course which brought us to productions at Steppenwolf, Goodman, The Court, Chicago Shakespeare as well as many off-loop companies. What made me an instant fan was the unique audience experience that demanded my energy and imagination. With each return trip, I became even more excited by their powerful, creative, storytelling that fuses myth, pop-culture, rock 'n' roll, precision and heart.
As a young theater professional, this was the company I wanted to work for... and when I had that opportunity, I took it! I have worked as a stage manager on multiple productions over the past few years, and you can't ask for a better culture and environment to work in. The expertise, creativity, and work ethic from the design team and artists is inspiring and encourages great work from everyone in the room.
And while I treasure the time I have spent working with The House, I am still a fan first.
If you go see a House show, you'll be back - and you'll bring your friends.

The House is the place to be for Chicago theatre lovers. I see every show! Odradek is spooky, terrifying and beautiful. Seeing it again next weekend.

The House puts on amazing and interactive shows. I have been going to the shows since they began and have laughed, cried, yelled, clapped, sang along, and talked for hours about it all with friends and family. I have walked away from every show learning something new about theater and how the audience can be such a big part of a performance. It has inspired my children to think outside the box and dream bigger. The House shows that success comes when passion and dedication to a vision serve as a guide. Check out a show for a memorable and new experience to theater.

My first experience with The House was at the Viaduct Theater, and the show, Boy Detective Fails, has a whimsical story, with a live band and an intro video with voice over work by Carl Kassel. I was hooked! Since that time, I've seen flying cheerleaders, time traveling scientists, rock stars and epic tales, all on a small stage for about a hundred folks a night. No matter what the show is, you'll have a great time. Keep up the good work, House!

The House Theater is my favorite Chicago secret. I was introduced to it by a drama teacher who wanted his students to explore theater options outside of class, but after my first visit to the House, I never wanted to go anywhere else. The intimate space puts you right in the middle of every scene, making you feel as if you could reach out and touch the actors regardless of where you're sitting. The clever, mind-bending productions that characterize the House's style are a refreshing break from mainstream shows; the House is theater for a hip, thinking generation. Good storytelling, like good art, makes you see something you never saw before, question something you never thought to question -- it leaves you thinking about the story long after the story ends. The stories told at the House do that and more. They pull you in, engage you, make you think... and leave you wondering. It's a magical experience.

The House Theatre of Chicago is amazing, I have been going to their shows now for 10 years. I was introduced to them by my high school art teacher. They came out to our school and worked with us to create masks which they then used in a show. They have always been very friendly to students with discounts and after show discussions. I have always loved the way they include the audience. Sometimes its having an audience member hold a prop or introduce the show at the beginning or get up and dance with the cast at the end. The House Theatre of Chicago also creates DVDs of their performances, this allows me to share them with friends and family.

The House theatre of Chicago was introduced to me by an actress friend of mine. I am a MFA graduate at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and this theatre company has surpassed my knowledge and conception of art. Not only are they fantastic, emotive writers--but their stories move you, literally. Their synchronized dances, songs and engagement with their audience is unlike any other theater or art performance I have ever bore witness to--in my life. Did I also mention that I am from the tri-state area? The House theatre of Chicago surpasses any theater in any other entertainment district. This is because what they do deeply entrenches them within art and the humanities.