Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture — Attraction in Lake View Township

Worst (theater or otherwise) experience of my life. Buying tickets, picking them up at will-call 40 minutes early under your own name, and having them in hand means nothing here. Neither does being a human being.

My girlfriend and I love theater and we see many shows. She has been talking about how much she wanted to see “The Elder Son” for a while. However, due to our busy schedules the only night we could go was the last date the show would be put on.

I bought tickets two weeks before and we both took time off work. We also had to get a babysitter for the kids. It’s so hard to find sitters around the holidays. Anyway, on the day of the show we arrived 40 minutes early to pick up our tickets at will call. They were under my name they were given to us without issue. Were given no special instructions or parameters regarding the possible forfeiture of our seats.

We took our tickets and left to get a quick bite to eat. On the way back we got held up with an emergency call from the sitter, but we hurried and were only running about 7 minutes late. Upon entering the theater we were pleased to see that the play had not started yet and we tried to move past the actors and actresses waiting in the back, who greeted us with smiles and hellos. We didn’t get too far until walking we were abruptly blocked from entering and told “Sorry, we’re sold out.” I tried to explain that we already had our tickets and I showed them to her. She blamed us saying show had started and it was sold out. The show had not started, the cast was lined up at the back and the house lights were on.

Of course this was irrelevant, since we had tickets.

We were again rudely addressed and told to to “Go outside and we’ll discuss it there. Out of respect for the actors and the other patrons, we decided to wait outside of the theater.

To add insult to injury she didn’t follow us out come to check on us for several minutes out and I had to request that she come talk to us.

Her rudeness and condescending attitude continued. She also kept blaming us trying to push us out the door.

She dismissed any claim we had to our seats our tickets saying they were no longer valid. “I had to make an executive decision.”

She never apologized until I expressed some choice words and she said to speak to Gold Star to get our money back.

I told her we didn’t care about the money and that it’s about my girlfriend wanting to see this show and it’s the last night. She’ll never be able to see it.

She continued to be rude and condescending.

I gave her a piece of my mind and although they knew they were in the wrong, they didn’t care.

We walked out, but didn’t want to.

I will never go here again and you will share this experience whenever...

Horrible customer service. Their website makes it seem like finding somewhere to park is easy. I arrived 25 minutes before the show I was seeing was supposed to start and after finding somewhere to park and walking 10 minutes back to this place I was 5 minutes late. Then when I went to get my tickets they go hmmm it looks like your tickets have already been printed and one of them has already been scanned? Really that sucks fix it. I asked if they checked Id before they give people the tickets they claim are there's and the girl assured me they do (even though she never once asked for mine all I had was my email print out). So I only need one ticket so the usher shows me to the door to the room and opens the door looks in then looks back out and goes there's someone in your seats. I tell him okay we know one of my tickets was scanned I'll take the other seat. He tells me there is someone in both seats. I ask him if he can tell them to move and he says no the show has already started and he can't cause a commotion. There was a seat in row N on the end I could have instead. My tickets were for row D.....that or they could refund my money. The website also said the show was 90 minutes. And the only parking in the area was 2 hour parking which I thought would be fine. The show was not 90 minutes. I had to leave early so my car wouldn't get towed/booted. I will never go to this place again. I enjoyed the show itself but this venue...

This theatre is lovely with its vintage wrinkles and charm. The acoustics are great, and all seats are good, but what makes this theatre particularly wonderful, is it's staff. My son and I saw Coyote Peterson's Brave Wilderness here. I could not afford the VIP tickets for the Meet and Greet, so after the show we had to leave. Several times before the show I explained to my son who is autistic, that we would not be able to get Coyote's autograph and meet him. Nevertheless, he was upset. After speaking with my son, I went to the rest room before our long trip home. While I was there my son asked a staff member if could just go in and give Coyote some drawings he made for him. Understandably, the staff member told my son that he wouldn't be able to let him in, but then offered to give the pictures to Coyote for him. On our way home, my son explained to me what had happened in my absence and said that it made him very happy. These days it seems like judgment of others is passed on far too easily. But this staff member offered a little extra kindness to my son which helped to turn his disappointment around. In addition, I had made a call to the box office before heading out for the show, and was helped by the most cheerful and friendly staff member as well. I am grateful to the staff of this theatre for making this a happy experience for my son and I. I would recommend this...