Viaduct Theatre

Total dive but a fun space for live music.

Not a bad spot to see a show. Beer and drinks are a little on the pricey side but the bar tender Kelly was super fun.
The entrance is can be kind of hard to notice but trust in your directions and keep your eyes peeled. The sign is small and flat and the door is very inconspicuous.
A pretty cool space overall and I’ll gladly return for more shows.

This is a small non-​profit theater dedicated to the arts: theater, music. I’ve only seen one show here, «Rollin’ Outa Here Naked: A Big Lebowski Burlesque». It was a really funny show with a bit a burlesque mixed in. The shows are really affordable plus you are supporting the local arts.
The bar area can get crowded before the show and the beer selection is a bit weak.
The place is a bit difficult to find. It’s really easy to drive past it. They do have a parking lot on the corner of Belmont & Western.

I saw CROSSED last night and loved it! The Viaduct Theatre is definitely intimate and hole-​in-​the-​wall-​ish, as it literally is located in a viaduct off Western. It’s a bit hard to find and I got lost while driving and looking for this place. The space is small but it was nice to sit up close to the actresses during the performance. Like another reviewer said, the Viaduct feels grungy but it is very clean and feels a bit industrial as well. It’s really a space where the performances speak for themselves and transform the area it’s confined in. If you see a show in the winter time make sure to keep your coat and scarves on because it is chilly inside.

Go see Memory for sure. Also very nice lounge/​bar. Surprising for such a small theater. All well worth a visit.

This is one of those other hidden gems of the theater scene in Chicago and its literally hidden under a viaduct off Western avenue. Its a very intimate theater with two spaces for shows with a small bar in between. The main theater is located toward the back and its surprisingly big. Both can feature either movies, stage places, and I have even seen a band or two here. We had the film festival there several years ago and they were very accommodating and because of the small spaces we had a full house for a lot of our screenings. If your into the off the path theater scene this is definitely a place to check out.

Went here for the Niel Hamburger show on 9÷17÷10, which happened to be great. The space is hard to find if you don’t know what you are looking for. I recommend coming up Western and getting off just before the overpass, the theatre is just on the right (our cab got lost).
On to the actual venue. Nice little bar with a couple decent beer choices (Harpoon IPA and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale) and ok prices for a venue ($ 9 for two micros). The main room is just the right size to be intimate but not cramped. The crowd is friendly and decidedly among the young and hipster-​ish set, so be warned if that bugs you.
The only real downside I’ve got is that it is at the corner of Belmont and Western, which is pretty much isolated so plan accordingly.

I saw the Dirty Show here. Let me tell you, never did I think I would be walking an exhibit featuring hoo-ha’s bigger than my head and fling flang’s that could easily double as Greek columns, but there you go.
I took notes.
And pictures.
But, through it all (pearls clutched and camera phone at the ready), I really enjoyed the space. Viaduct is located under an overpass and by a viaduct. Never really one for a punk rawk scene, I didn’t know how comfortable I would feel here, but I did. Everyone was accommodating to welcoming, and that’s a big deal. There are two main galleries/​performance spaces and in between the two is a small bar. Everything (the rooms, the walls, the risers) is painted black. Mick Jagger got his wish. I recall feeling a bit stuffy while I was there. I don’t know if the A/​C was working (or, if there even is A/​C). The theatre would make a fun event space for a smaller get together. I love that it’s out-​of-​the-​way. Meaning, if you come here, you either do it deliberately or by accident. In either case, you’re doing the right thing by checking it out. I don’t think there’s a high lemming quality for the theatre and that’s always cool.
One caveat: I wouldn’t come here on Halloween. Not for nothing, but there *has* to be some scary horror-​movie serial killer just waiting to pick folks off here when it gets dark. The Viaduct is for daytime enjoyment only.

I saw Jens Lekman here in January. This is a no-​frills concert venue. The room was fairly large. I was in the front so I have no idea how things sounded in the back. I suspect the sound quality was good but not great. The venue is in a fairly empty part of town. It was quite an adventure to find this place. I enjoyed it but some may not. Overall I had a really great show, and the venue didn’t really add or subtract from my experience.

This is a small, old, semi comfortable theater located in no-​mans land on Western near the overpass. Last night i saw a burlesque performance set to the Pink Floyd’s the wall. Frankly, it was the perfect place to see it. Weird begets weird and the theater really worked for the sort of intimate show. The sound system is nothing special though and the place looks like it would burn to the ground if someone struck a match in the wrong place. But it does have a little charm and is worth going to if there is a performance. I would probably avoid it if there was a concert, but theater or dance would be perfectly acceptable there.
Parking is terrible in the area if you are unable to park in their lot. Might be worth it to take a cab.

I really like this venue! The art out front is great and having a cute little bar area to hang out in before, during intermission and after a play is really great!
I look forward to seeing something here again!

I visited this theater for the first time in May 2009. It wasn’t too hard to see driving by, but it can be easily passed up. Parking was a bit awkward to get to, and there weren’t many spaces. It was $ 3 at that time for parking, which was paid for at the door of the theater. As you enter, the box office is to your right. As you make your way ahead, the bathrooms are to your right around the corner (only 2 stalls in the women’s). To the left of the bathrooms on the right side is the bar. Only one bartender, so it can take awhile to get a drink. Service was not bad, but nothing special. Drink prices were a little high. There are some stools and stables in near the bar which you can wait by before the doors open to the theater, but it can get crowded — probably not good for the claustrophobic. It was a bit chilly inside until more people filtered in.
The theater space is small and intimate. Reminds me of something slightly more spaceous than a black box theater, like the one Harper college had back in 2002. I remember at least a few risers with attached seats, but the rest of the rows in front were not chairs attached to the floor. There are 3 seating «areas» surrounding the stage. The lighting wasn’t too bad but not great either.
Overall, the theater was not as «professional» as I had thought it would be. I was told it was large for the type of theater it is, and I guess I can agree with that. However, I can’t see how a band performing here would be that enjoyable, especially anything other than a low-​key acoustic performance. I agree with some reviewers that it’s probably best not to come here for a concert, but more so, a small performing arts show. Still, I’m not sure if paying $ 20 for a show here is really worth it…

I’m a little gay for the Bitter Tears, and can’t pass up a show of theirs. This is what led me to the Viaduct.
The staff was friendly and the space was interesting enough, but I can’t see myself coming back for a concert unless there’s a Zombie Nirvana reunion and this is the only place they play. There isn’t really any place to stand, and sitting at rock shows, especially small ones, just seems like a waste of time. The acoustic weren’t very good either, but I don’t know that I should have expected otherwise. I’m a fan of venues that try offer a variety of events, but maybe Viaduct needs to stick to the preforming arts.
The bar area isn’t bad, but for what it is the prices aren’t really that great. With a couple tolerable bars down the street, I don’t know why you wouldn’t just pregame for a show elsewhere.
I wanted to like this place, and when I look back at the night I remember it fondly, but I feel like that has more to do with the performers than the space.

So my friend suggested we go to the Viaduct Theater to see a burlesque show. This theater is WAY hard to find and parking was even harder due to the crude cardboard sign on the lot. Inside is your typical artist hangout which had a laid back vibe. Alas… the show was not what it was made out to be. This was NOT traditional burlesque, unless your idea of burlesque is skinny addicts (assumed) dressed in leather nun outfits ripping the heads of baby dolls and drenching themselves in blood. On the plus side, the drinks were cheap which was a necessity to keep an open mind about this show (and i’m pretty open minded when it comes to performances!). The actual theater area is HOT. I couldn’t wait to go outside in the Chicago winter weather to cool off.

I was just here over the weekend to see Breakbone Dance Co. The theatre is definitely very intimate. The front rows were closer to the front of the stage than I’ve ever seen before. There was a runway that extended from the front of the stage that ended behind the front 3 rows, we couldn’t see a very important part of the show since it was behind us and everyone else was practically standing to see behind them. Only other downfall was the line for the bathroom and bar. During a 15 minute intermission we had to time to use the bathroom and stand in line at the bar before they started yelling to get back in.
PROS: Cheap drinks, intimate experience, great sound, awesome staff
CONS: Long bathroom/​bar lines, difficult parking, very limited seating
TIPS: Take public transportation and buy tickets prior to going. Also, look at the stage when you get there. If any part of the stage is extended, sit past the end of it or to it’s side. Do not sit in front rows.

4 stars for heart… I went to see a coworker in a play here last nigh and it was EFFIN hot! (meaning, it felt like the temp inside was about 100 degrees) Even though it was 70 degrees outside, this lovely locale has no a/​c. Charming if you want to support some struggling actors, some of whom have talent (my friend of course has lots of it!), but $ 15 is a little much for a venue with no a/​c in the summer… But, the drinks were cheap. And it does have a certain charm… On the plus side, it’s INTIMATE, meaning if you’re sitting in the front row of the small theater, you’re brushing against the actors while in scene. That’s kinda cool, can be scary when they’re jumping about…

I was here tonight to see Gorey Stories.
They had a lovely set-​up & the staff was friendly.
There is ample street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.
Tickets are cash only; no credit cards.

Never ever ever have a New Year’s Eve show here again!
Longest lines for the bathroom I have ever witnessed (mens and womens).
312 was a sponsor but bottles of the stuff were still FIVE BUCKS.
Sound was shitty.
You ruined Wolf Parade for me. Thanks a lot.
But I’m sure its great as a theatre and the space was pretty cool. But I will never again bother seeing a big show here.