A true New York City institution, CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping-song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you've ever seen. No wonder CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards®, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations. It's also no surprise that CHICAGO has wowed audiences all around the world, including Mexico City, Moscow, Sao Paulo and South Africa. Whether you're looking for your first Broadway musical, whether you've seen the Academy Award®- winning film and want to experience the show live on stage or whether you've seen it before and want to recapture the magic, CHICAGO always delivers.

  Blue Man Group cannot be explained; it can only be experienced. Blue Man Group is the interactive show that is continuously mesmerizing audiences. It’s a full sensory experience of performance art, music, comedy and multimedia theatrics. The men in blue are making a splash, literally. Best known for its award-winning theatrical productions which critics have described as "ground-breaking," "hilarious," "visually stunning" and "musically powerful." These performances feature three enigmatic bald and blue characters who take the audience through a multi-sensory experience that combines theatre, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville into a form of entertainment that is like nothing else. Blue Man Group is a unique performance piece incorporating many different ideas, such as science, technology, noise, liquid, innocence and plumbing. The poncho section is the first four or five rows closest to the stage. Patrons in this area are given ponchos to wear, because sometimes materials splash the audience. These substances are washable, but we suggest that you do not wear anything that needs dry cleaning. Now Playing at the Briar Street Theatre Located at 3133 North Halsted Chicago. Blue Man Group appeals to all ages, but children under five (5) years of age are not permitted. Click here for more information.

Just as the name implies, Roscoe Village’s Viaduct Theater is tucked away under an overpass on Western. This hidden playhouse’s stage is small, but the productions have a big storylines that take over more than just the stage. From traditional three-act plays to burlesque to live music shows, Viaduct offers a bit of every kind of intimate theater. Currently, the Viaduct is hosting The Voodoo Chalk Circle by The State Theater, among a variety of local bands. Between acts, grab a brewski and then sit back and enjoy the show--or dance, depending on what night it is.

Chicago's Second City alumni list reads like a who's who of today's Hollywood comedic hard-hitters: Bill Murray, Jim Belushi, Stephen Colbert, Jeff Garlin, Mike Meyers, Bonnie Hunt, Chris Farley, Tina Fey and oh-so-many more are among those to have once graced the stage (and still do on special occasions). That said, who knows who tomorrow's stars are, but you're sure to find at least one of them on the stage at Second City at any given time. This is after all, the best improv-based comedy school and theater in the world. Always pushing the envelope with witty humor that plays on everything from American politics to the flu, the Second City packs in audiences every day of the week, so buying tickets in advance is always recommended. On top of the stand up gigs, shows with a modern twist, a la Taming of the Flu, are performed on the main stage. Aside from the main stage, shows take place at the Skybox Theater and Chicago E.T.C. For those who don't want to stop the experience as a spectator only, classes are available. Who knows, maybe the next star is you?

Chicagoans take theater seriously. Not that they're obsessed with dramas, no, but the art of theater-going, yes. Here theaters range from the classics like the Goodman, Ford Center (Oriental Theater), and (of course) Chicago Theater to the king of comedy, Second City. In the middle of these two genres is the Harris Theater, which masterfully presents options worthy of the classics and funny enough for the kids at Second City. The reason the Harris Theater's so successful in diversity is that it partners with some of the best performing arts companies, allowing the theater to be on the forefront of all things dance, musical, comedy and drama. Just take a look at some 2010 highlights to come:

Mikhail Baryshnikov in a solo dance performance, an evening of insight with the "Master of the Musical," Stephen Sondheim, the Harris Theater debut of Lang Lang under the baton of his mentor Christoph Eschenbach, the Chicago premiere of Orquestra de Sao Paulo with virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.

The theater's calendar is jam packed with performances making its repertoire new and fresh, especially compared to the big-boy theaters whose stage productions last for months at a time. And for those who still can't enough of Harris Theater, there are plenty of classes and volunteering opportunities to keep everyone entertained.