The No Exit Cafe

First tip: ARRIVE EARLY!  No Exit is teeny tiny.  We arrived right under the wire and had to sit on separate ends of the "theater".  It's essentially a little coffee shop with a few tables and bar stools around the perimeter, which makes it a great spot to see an intimate play.  The musical I saw, Light in the Piazza, had some strong vocals which seemed to frighten the lady in the front row, so  you may want to hang back a little.

They have a liquor license and actually offer a play-inspired menu (this was spaghetti and meatballs, you know, 'cause it's Italian) prior to the show which is served to you by the actors.  We didn't partake, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it.

Overall, the performance was strong and the space is cute.  I will come back to see more.

Played outside with a brass band and then saw a fun burlesque show here. Support live art!

I saw a performance of Chess this past weekend at No Exit and I was very impressed with the performance.  The singers were fantastic and the staging, choreography and musicians were stellar. I can't get over how their small cast was able to deliver the choral pieces so well. This venue was TINY which actually made the whole thing even more enjoyable. Sure, the tables were squished together and people kept bumping me from behind - but it was all worth it as I was about 5 feet from the performance and could see and hear everything perfectly.

We didn't eat beforehand since I didn't see a possibility of anything very vegan friendly able to occur so I can't comment on the food. However, being waited on by the actors would have been very fun.

I also can't comment on the bathrooms since we were invited to use the ones at The Glenwood next door - and those were very nice.

Overall, being able to experience such talent and entertainment at so small a venue and for so reasonable a price, is one of the many things that makes living in Chicago as worthwhile as it is. I brought my parents to the show and they had their doubts as we were seated. However, they left completely awed and thrilled. I can't wait to return for another show.