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I love the theatre. Two years ago, I saw Hamilton twice and had to pass up every other play that came through because I spent my theatre allotment for the year on those two performances. #Worthit. When I was finally able to get back to the theatre scene, I expanded my theatre going beyond Chicago. I saw Steven King in Idaho and George Bernard Shaw an hour outside of Madison, Wisconsin. It turns out, I didn’t need to travel so far outside of Chicago to find excellent theatre. On one snowy night, I discovered how truly excellent DuPage theatre can be, with a performance at McAninch Arts Center.
Did someone say
High Tea in the Chicago Suburbs?
Discounts Galore with the MAC Dining Partners!
When I received the tickets to Die Fledermaus, I immediately recognized that the McAninch Arts Center included coupons for various nearby restaurants. It was a no-brainer to try out Glen Prairie, a nearby locally sourced and gluten-free, if needed, restaurant. At only eight minutes away from the theatre, I finally had an excuse to stop by for a meal.
Our meals at Glen Prairie were out of this world. The space is trendy and inviting, with a great wine list and standard cocktails. As it was a blizzard outside, we both stick to water, but I did salivate over the drink menu. The lighting was dim, the mood was elevated comfort, and the staff were on point. We received a $10 discount for any appetizer, which brought our meals down to just about $30 per person before tax and tip.
Big City Performance, Suburban Town Price
Approaching the McAninch Arts Center was like approaching Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Colorful lights, crowds of people, and a very well marked entrance made it easy to spot. Once we stepped inside, the ticket counter was just on the left, and next to that was a coat check as well.
The best part of McAninch Arts Center is that there is not a bad seat in the house. I repeat: every seat at the MAC offers superb views of the stage. Staggered so as to avoid having anyone in your line of vision, the McAninch Arts Center provides a theatre going experience that is pleasant for every single attendee. That is not always the case at big city theatres, and my mom and I were thrilled when we realized how nicely we could see the stage. The attendees were diverse, with young college aged groups and elderly alike attending the event. The actors were incredibly talented, and I was taken by the intricacy of a set. Perhaps I’ve seen one too many “black box” theatres, but this set was jaw-dropping. My favorite aspect was the seemingly floating chandeliers, high above the stage.
Before the show, there were plenty of options to keep you busy. An art gallery displayed work by current College of DuPage faculty and students. Photography, 3D art, and multimedia works were most prominently displayed. By the way, this is also where you’ll find the largest Frida Kahlo exhibit in Chicagoland in 2020. You could also visit one of two bars at the venue, featuring specialty cocktails like the apple cinnamon Old Fashioned. As a courtesy and to save patrons time, they offered pre-payment and pre-orders for drinks at intermission. This extra touch was something I’ve never seen before, and really put the hospitality of the staff above what I normally expect.
Enjoy the Diversity of Shows at McAninch Arts Center
The calendar of events at Mcaninch Arts Center truly offers something for everyone. There are children’s’ theatre performances, political satires, global movie viewings, ballets, and so much more. I enjoyed the opera so much more than I expected to, and look forward to my next visit at McAninch Arts Center. Find out more about DuPage theatre in this post.
This visit was made as part of my role as DuPage County Tourism Ambassador. All opinions are my own.
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