For the last couple years my mom and I went to Grassroots for our annual night out. The food there is great and it’s right by the Mercury Theater, where we saw a few shows. This year we went back downtown and ate at Beatrix. The food and drinks were really great and the service was really good too. Beatrix, I think, is really underrated. It’s always a solid bet at any of the several locations they have around town.
I’ve always had a curiosity about the musical Cats, so when I saw it was coming to Chicago, I got really interested. Nothing like waiting 30 years to see what the fuss all about. I enjoyed the show, though I can understand why some people would not like 2 hours of singing and dancing CATS!
Also, it’d been quite a while since I’d been to the Oriental Theater (now called James M. Nederlander Theatre). What a gorgeous venue!
2019: Beatrix + Cats
2018: Grassroots + Avenue Q
2017: Grassroots + Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical
2016: Daniel Tiger Live with Makai (does this even count!?)
2015: First Wives Club
2013: Shrek the Musical with Dad and Jess (Does this count!?)
2012: Buona Terra + Showboat at the Lyric Opera
2011: Gosu + Beauty and the Beast
2010: El Nandu + Hubbard Street Dance
2009: Rhapsody + Jersey Boys
2008: Landmark + Dead Man’s Cell Phone at the Steppenwolf Theater
2007: Costello’s + Blue Man Group
2005: Hillary’s Urban Eatery (HUE) + Wicked
2004: Petterino’s + Mamma Mia
Ze Olde Days (1999?): Riverdance in Milwaukee
Ancient Times (1997?): Lorie Line