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By Bridget O’Shea
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Photo by Brian J. Morowczynski
The Neo Futurists’ "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" manages to fit 60 plays into 60 minutes, all for a very friendly — though unpredictable — price. Admission is determined by the roll of a die. |
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A ticket to the bright lights of Chicago’s downtown theater district can
set you back $60 or more. Here are some affordable options for live entertainment,
from Shakespeare to musical comedies to experimental performance art.
Athenaeum
Although most shows at the Athenaeum cost at least $20, half-price rush tickets
are available one hour before show times. This spring, the theater will present
a number of operas, and in June it will present “La Casa Azul,”
a play by the avant garde Performing Arts Chicago about the life of the artist
Frida Kahlo.
“We have a strong interest and dedication to bringing college students
into our audience,” says Kerry Hayes says, marketing associate for Performing
Arts Chicago. “We tend to run very out-of-the-mainstream.” 2936
N. Southport Ave. (773) 935-6860.
Court Theatre
For more classic, traditional theater, the Court Theatre offers rush tickets
one hour before show times for $10 to anyone with a student ID. This spring,
the Court Theatre will present “The Romance Cycle: Parts 1 and 2,”
an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline and Pericles.”
“We tend to be more classic or classic- inspired theater,” says
Heather Dumdei, box office manager at the Court Theatre. Fortunately, Court’s
renditions of the classics are anything but typical. 5535 S. Ellis Ave. (773) 753-4472.
Noble Fool
Those who miss watching the HBO smash hit “The Sopranos” every Sunday
night can still catch the adventures of this crime family in “The Baritones.”
This parody, which picks up where “The Sopranos” left off, features
quirky characters, including a gangland boss with a fetish for shoes and a not-too-bright
hit man.
This hilarious spoof is preceded by “Sex in the Suburbs,” a 20-minute
show about a group of seductive soccer moms that makes fun of the HBO series
“Sex and the City.” They are performed every Friday night at 10
p.m.
Tickets are $25, but half-price rush tickets are available to students an hour
before the show. “The Baritones” sells out quickly, so call ahead.
The Noble Fool also has cabaret shows on Thursdays and Fridays at 9 p.m. The
cabaret shows combine live comedy with singing. Admission is $5, or free with
a ticket stub from any Loop theater, including the Noble Fool. 16 W. Randolph
St. (312) 726-1156.
Neo-Futurists
The Neo-Futurists have been performing “Too Much Light Makes The Baby
Go Blind” for more than 10 years. The show, which successfully squeezes
30 plays into 60 minutes, costs only $5 plus whatever you roll on a die, so
the most you’ll pay is $11. The show begins at 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and
Saturdays and 7 p.m. on Sundays.
“We are dedicated to truth on stage and being honest with our audience,”
says Greg Allen, artistic director for the Neo-Futurists. 5153 N. Ashland Ave.
(773) 878-4557.
Goodman Theatre
The Goodman Theatre is one of many downtown theaters that welcomes volunteer
ushers. The payback? You get to watch the play for free.
This spring the Goodman Theatre will present “Dinner With Friends,”
a comedy about two couples whose long-standing friendship is challenged when
one couple gets a divorce. 170 N. Dearborn St. (312) 443-3811 ext. 340 
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