The Royal George Theatre

The Royal George Theatre The Royal George Theatre Center The Royal George Theatre is one of Chicago’s largest and most successful traditional mid-sized commercial venues.
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This four-stage entertainment center houses a Broadway-sized main stage, a very comfortable cabaret space, an intimate upstairs Gallery Theatre and studio space. The complex also features two floors of office space and the acclaimed, Italian-inspired restaurant, “Balena”. The Royal George was built in 1984 and opened with “Little Shop of Horrors” as its inaugural engagement. The main stage has bee

n the scene of such major Midwest premieres as Tony Kushner's critically acclaimed, "Angels in America", Neil Simon's "Lost in Yonkers", Ken Ludwig's "Lend Me a Tenor", "Smokey Joe's Cafe", Paul Rudnick's "I Hate Hamlet", and "Forever Tango". Other major productions on the main stage have included the world premiere of Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s "The Grapes of Wrath", "Papa" starring George Peppard; and "Burn This" starring John Malkovich and Joan Allen. The theatre was the broadcast site for the hit television series "Politically Incorrect" with Bill Maher during the Democratic National Convention in 1996. In recent years, the main stage has featured such acclaimed attractions as "George Gershwin Alone", starring Hershey Felder; the world premiere of "Monsieur Chopin", starring Hershey Felder; Whoopi Goldberg's Provocative Rock Musical “White Noise”, Chicago Childrens Theatre's acclaimed production “The Hundred Dresses”, “Don’t Dress for Dinner(JEFF award)", ”Steady Rain”(2009 Season on Broadway with Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig), “The Gin Game”, starring Julie Harris and Charles Durning, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", "Love Letters" starring Robert Wagner and Jill St. John, "Other People’s Money", and "The Cocktail Hour", to name a few. The Royal George Cabaret Theatre has been the home for many long running hits including “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”, which played for over three and a half years and “Forever Plaid” which played for six and a half years making it one of the longest running musicals ever produced in Chicago. Other productions in the Cabaret Theatre have featured “ Forbidden Broadway SVU”, “Leaving Iowa”, “Whoop Dee-Doo!”, ”Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris”, “The Bomb-itty of Errors”, and most recently the hilarious musical, “The Doyle and Debbie Show”. The Royal George Theatre’s Great Room is the current home to the uproariously funny, interactive hit, “Late Night Catecism”, now celebrating its 20th year. The room also houses, “Put the Nuns In Charge!”, the sequel to Chicago's longest running religious comedy. Set in the familiar atmosphere of a Catholic classroom, the one woman show features Mother Superior and her hilarious commentary on modern sin. The Great room previously housed "Flanagan's Wake," an interactive Irish comedy. The spaces are comfortable, with excellent sight lines and acoustics and are available for rental by contacting the General Management office at 312-988-9105

Thanks Ronnie Marmo! We can't wait for "I'm Not A Comedian, I'm Lenny Bruce", to return to the Royal George Cabaret Sta...
04/23/2020

Thanks Ronnie Marmo! We can't wait for "I'm Not A Comedian, I'm Lenny Bruce", to return to the Royal George Cabaret Stage! Please follow us for updates on all of our productions as we navigate these difficult times together! Stay Safe!

Dear Patrons of the Royal George Theatre,

I wanted to take this time to check in with everyone. I know you have all been inundated with messages from every organization you're affiliated with. So, I wanted to wait a few weeks to personally reach out on behalf of I’m Not A Comedian... I’m Lenny Bruce.

Like everyone else, we are trying to stay safe and follow the instructions that are given to us. It's very sad that our stage is dark right now but I'm excited to report that we have every intention of returning to Chicago to continue our run as soon as we get word that it is safe to do so. We’ve done 120 performances in Los Angeles, 100 performances in New York and since we left Chicago at 85 performances … I have some unfinished business to make sure I tend to ;) Don’t tell anyone in Los Angeles, but we plan to blow their number away in Chicago!

Please follow and share our social media to keep updated on what our future Chicago plans look like and beyond:
Instagram:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IAmLennyBruce

On a personal note, I arrived in Chicago in October 2019 to do the show. I fell in love with your beautiful city and what started out as a 6 week run quickly turned into 5 months! (we were still running strong on March 15th when we had to close abruptly due to COVID-19). I want to thank the city of Chicago for welcoming me so warmly. When I came back to Los Angeles to self-quarantine, I left a piece of heart there and am anxious to come back to you all soon.

Joe Mantegna and I miss you all terribly. So with that, from all of us, we hope and pray that all is well with you and your family...

My Very Best,
Ronnie Marmo
Actor and Playwright

Joe Mantegna The Royal George Theatre Theatre 68 68Cent Crew Theatre Company-NY Division

03/13/2020

Dear Royal George Theatre Patrons;

Following Mayor Lightfoot and Governor Pritzker's recommendation that public gatherings of more than 250 people be suspended, performances of the world premiere musical, "Hit Her With The Skates" on our main stage have been postponed.

Preview performances of "Hit Her With The Skates" will resume on Tuesday, April 21st. The official opening is now scheduled for Thursday, April 23rd.

If you have purchased tickets through our box office, a member of our staff will be reaching out to you within the next 3 days to arrange for a refund or an exchange into a later performance. If you have purchased tickets through Ticketmaster or any other third-party ticketing resource, exchanges may be made by contacting them directly.

Performances of "I'm Not A Comedian...I'm Lenny Bruce", in our Cabaret, and "Late Nite Catechism / Easter Bunny Bingo" will continue on schedule this weekend with the following procedures in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
• We have increased the frequency and extent of cleaning and sanitation practices throughout our theatre to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Ticket sales and seat occupancy will be limited to 60 patrons per performance.
• All seating will become General Admission, to allow our theatre patrons to sit wherever they desire as many health organizations have encouraged social distancing.
• We are encouraging our patrons to use credit cards only at our bar.
• We have instructed our theatre team to stay at home if they are not feeling well.
• And if you are not feeling well we ask you to stay at home and reschedule.
If you have any questions, please call the box office at (312) 988-9000 Tuesday through Sunday from Noon to 6 p.m., or email [email protected].

We appreciate your patronage. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate this evolving situation. We will do all we can to ensure the health and well-being of our patrons, your family and our community.

The Royal George Theatre

02/14/2020

PERFORMANCES BEGIN MARCH 10th! Tickets on Sale Now!
Contact our Box Office at 312-988-9000 or visit hitherwiththeskates.com

01/27/2020

Chicago—“I’m Not a Comedian…I’m Lenny Bruce” is the somewhat quizzical title of a comic/dramatic one man show at the Royal George Cabaret Theatre that explores the life and career of Lenny Bruce. Back in the 1950’s and early 1960’s Bruce was one of the most famous comics on the Ameri...

"I'm Not A Comedian... I'm Lenny Bruce" – Audience Reactions in Chicago!
11/05/2019

"I'm Not A Comedian... I'm Lenny Bruce" – Audience Reactions in Chicago!

For tickets and info, visit lennybruceonstage.com Audiences and critics are raving about I'M NOT A COMEDIAN...I'M LENNY BRUCE! "3.5 out of 4 S...

"Ronnie Marmo as Lenny Bruce is a powerful force to be reckoned with and his deliciously vivid script couldn’t be perfor...
10/31/2019

"Ronnie Marmo as Lenny Bruce is a powerful force to be reckoned with and his deliciously vivid script couldn’t be performed any better. "

“Lenny Bruce was the defender of all people. Notorious from his belief that people give words power. It’s not the words itself, but the intention,” sa...

The reviews are in! Chicago Tribune calls I'm Not a Comedian .... I'm Lenny Bruce an "unconventionally adoring solo show...
10/29/2019

The reviews are in! Chicago Tribune calls I'm Not a Comedian .... I'm Lenny Bruce an "unconventionally adoring solo show". 3.5/5 stars. Get your tickets today!

REVIEW: “I Am Not a Comedian … I’m Lenny Bruce" at Royal George Theatre is by Ronnie Marmo, directed by Joe Mantegna.

"Marmo’s loving, respectful portrait of this controversial standup comic, famous for his obscenity-laced routines during...
10/29/2019

"Marmo’s loving, respectful portrait of this controversial standup comic, famous for his obscenity-laced routines during the 1950’s and 1960’s, both provokes laughter while it stirs the emotions."

I’m Not a Comedian…I’m Lenny Bruce – Theatre 68 Talented playwright and actor Ronnie Marmo brings to Chicago his heartfelt tribute to the man he calls The Godfather of Comedy. The 90-minute one-act…

Critic Teme Ring from Chicago Now praises the new HOLY GHOST BINGO, calling it "an afternoon of comedy, stories, and cam...
10/16/2019

Critic Teme Ring from Chicago Now praises the new HOLY GHOST BINGO, calling it "an afternoon of comedy, stories, and camaraderie, and an inspiring reminder of the fun to be had when you focus on life’s treats!" Get your tickets now by calling the box office at 312-988-9000 or visit Ticketmaster.com

I went to Holy Ghost Bingo and I’m a convert! Not to Catholicism. My full name is Teme Weinstein Feldman Ring and I barely observe Yiddishkeit. But as one of the few Jews in the audience, I felt instantly connected sitting in the mock-up Catholic school classroom at the Royal George Theater last S...

Check out the great article in the Chicago Sun-Times about Ronnie Marmo and his acclaimed performance in I'M NOT A COMED...
10/16/2019

Check out the great article in the Chicago Sun-Times about Ronnie Marmo and his acclaimed performance in I'M NOT A COMEDIAN...I'M LENNY BRUCE. Performances begin at Royal George October 23. Call the box office at 312-988-9000 or visit Ticketmaster.com.

Ronnie Marmo stars in the 90-minute solo piece directed by Chicago native Joe Mantegna and produced in partnership with Lenny’s daughter Kitty Bruce.

Address

1641 N Halsted Street
Chicago, IL
60614

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 6pm
Wednesday 12pm - 6pm
Thursday 12pm - 6pm
Friday 12pm - 8pm
Saturday 12pm - 8pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+13129889000

Website

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