Click here to subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania's Columns
Live theater in suburbs offers alternatives to Chicago’s risky visits
As gun violence increases in Chicago, more and more suburbanites are reconsidering visits to the crime plagued city and turning to alternative options for business, school and entertainment in the surrounding suburbs. Although the Chicago Theater offers some great performances, the exposure before and after the performances poses risks for many law abiding citizens who are disgusted by the failure of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County State’s Attorney emphasis on protecting criminal rights. There are better and safer places to go in the suburbs. Here’s a list
By Ray Hanania
It is no longer worth the risk to drive to Chicago to enjoy some of the city’s great restaurants or its fabulous entertainment nightlife.
With gun violence on the rise in Chicago, and criminals being encouraged by Chicago politicians like Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, suburbanites are turning inward to find alternatives that are safer and do not put their families are grave risk.
The passage of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Safe-T Act in January 2021 has raised the awareness and concerns of law abiding citizens. The Pritzker Safe-T Act was quietly shoved through the Illinois General Assembly in January 2021 in the middle of the night during a quick vote. Although the legislation is 800-pages long, Pritzker distributed a summary that downplayed the safety concerns of the legislation.
But to ensure it didn’t impact his re-election bid on November 8, 2022, he made sure to have the most controversial provisions of theSafe-T Act delayed start until after the election in January 2023.
The dangers of the Safe-T Act have been exposed, despite Pritzker’s efforts to disguise the information and he has been attacking legislators, including in his own party, who have questioned his lobbying to force the flawed law’s adoption nearly two years ago.
Lightfoot and other law enforcement officials in Chicago have been manipulating data asserting that the crime is “lower” than it was in certain past periods.
And yet, every day, we hear of a new threat where criminals who should be in jail are out on the street committing more murders. Pritzker is dumping millions into news media advertising basically discouraging the news media from critically reporting on the crimes and tying the violence to Pritzker’s policies and the pro-crime policies of both Lightfoot and Foxx, Pritzker allies.
When anyone tries to bring these issues, up, they are slammed as “fake news” by Pritzker’s news media lackeys, like his Capitol scribe pal and his lobbyists cronies.
Many suburbanites are exploring alternative and safer options that exist outside of Chicago for businesses, restaurants and entertainment. We continue to receive dozens of emails from readers asking us to please share those alternatives.
Obviously, crime is a problem everywhere. Many of Chicago’s crimes spill over into the suburbs. But the level of crime in Chicago and the trend of undermining punishments for criminals has created a crime magnet attracting more and more criminals to the city.
Here is a list of suburban theaters that offer live performances and plays that suburbanites should patronize not only for the high quality of the performances but being mindful of the need for caring for themselves and their own safety.
The West Suburban Theater Connection is a great place to start when looking for suburban theater and entertainment options.
Visit them online at www.westsuburbantheatre.com
Albright Community Theatre – Batavia
Echo Theater Collective – Oak Park
Elgin Theatre Company – Elgin
Fremont Street Theater Company – Palatine
Fox Country Players – Yorkville
Galaxy Theater Company, La Grange
Gallery Theater – West Chicago
Golden Ticket Productions – Palatine
Greenman Theatre – Elmhurst
Grove Players – Downers Grove
Kirkwood Players – Oakbrook Terrace
Little Mountain Community Theatre – Lemont
Natural Talent Productions – St. Charles
North Riverside Players – North Riverside
Overshadowed Theatrical Productions – Medinah
The Rising Stars Theatre Company -Franklin Park
Stage Coach Players -DeKalb
Summer Place Theatre – Naperville
The Tower Chorale – LaGrange
Theatre-On-The-Hill – Bolingbrook
Up and Coming Theatre Company – Elgin
Village Theatre Guild (VTG) – Glen Ellyn
Westchester Civic Theatre – Westchester
Westmont Performing Arts – Westmont (previously PVPN)
Wheaton Drama – Wheaton
WT Productions at Vero Voce Theater – St. Charles
Click here to subscribe FREE to Ray Hanania's Columns
His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].
Follow RayHanania at Twitter
- Moderate Jewish Lobby J Street denounces Trump war on Iran - February 28, 2026
- Sean Casten Statement on US Military Action in Iran - February 28, 2026
- Phil Andrew: Attack on Iran Without Congressional Approval Risks American Lives - February 28, 2026
Comment on “Live theater in suburbs offers alternatives to Chicago’s risky visits”