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Oriental Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts: Traveler Reviews


TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #42 of 514 attractions in Chicago
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Attraction type: Theater
Address: 24 West Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
Tel: 312 977 1700

Reviews you can trust

[ Date ] [ Rating ]
Overall great experience

Oriental Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts

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5 of 5 stars
Luckyone2002   10 contributions
Rantoul, Illinois
Apr 2, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

My daughter and I saw "Wicked" on March 26th during the Matinee. Our 4th row from the stage center seats (Row D - 103 and 104) were superb and this is where I would prefer to sit for ALL performances at this wonderful theatre. I had read some reviews online that stated the seats were cramped. I don't understand what people were referring to as my daughter and I found the seats to be very comfortable and we had more than ample leg room. Our view was excellent - couldn't have asked for better and we were awestruck by the grand beauty of this old, historic theater. Loved everything about the performance and the location, with the exception of the one, grouchy, elderly usher who basically pushed my daughter back into the theater when she was attempting to purchase a shirt during a delay. A little kindness and courtesy on the part of the users is not too much to ask. The younger ushers who directed us to our seats were fine.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Saw Wicked last night. Very enjoyable. Nice theater.

Oriental Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts

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5 of 5 stars
illinoisdad   16 contributions
illinois
Mar 28, 2008
2/2 found this review helpful

We just drove up last night to see Wicked at the Oriental Ford Theater. Despite freezing rain, the trip in wasn't too bad. In Chicago we took Lake Shore Drive to Monroe, wove over to Michigan Ave. and took a left on Randolph, and we were there. We parked in a parking garage about a half a block east of the theater. Parking for the night with my validated ticket cost us $17.20.
The theater was buzzing with anticipation, literally, as we got there. We got there in time to go downstairs to use the restrooms which were clean. Then, up to aisle four and down to our seats. We were a little too close to the speakers, but that would only apply to about 2% of the seats in the whole theater.
The theater is rather nice inside.. ornate. The big dragon's head (part of Wicked) and map of Oz outlined the stage.
The play itself was great, but I'm here to review the theater itself. Getting out was much quicker than I'd expected. We had to funnel through the lobby for about 5 minutes, but using a credit card, we were out of the parking garage in just minutes, and the traffic at 10:30 on a Thursday night was a piece of cake.
I went to treat my wife, but enjoyed the experience quite thorougly myself.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Food near the Oriental Theatre

Oriental Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts

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5 of 5 stars
RdTripMom   14 contributions
Alexandria, VA
Aug 15, 2007
4/5 found this review helpful

For a quick cheap bite, there's a 24 hour McDonald's on the corner, an upscale Harvest Bakery (closes at 8) and an Au Bon Pain (closes at 7) one block west, as well as an Arby's around the corner and down Dearborn one long block.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Oriental Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts Address

24 West Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 Tel: 312 977 1700