Genesee Theatre: A Historic Entertainment Venue in Waukegan, Illinois

Genesee Theatre is a historic theater located about 30 miles north of the City of Chicago. The theater is a gem in the Waukegan downtown area, bringing National entertainment to Lake County, Illinois. For people who do not want to travel to Chicago, which is known for its historic theatres, Genesee offers entertainment in the northern suburbs.

Genesee Theatre presents the finest entertainment in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Nationally known acts bring the excitement of live entertainment to Waukegan. As of this writing, the upcoming acts include Sheryl Crow, Second City, Weird Al Yankovic, The Monkees and The Happy Together Tour with popular acts from the 60s.

I have been to the Genesee Theatre twice, to see shows by National entertainers from the 1960s, or 'Oldies,' including The Buckinghams, Ronnie Rice, The Grass Roots and The Ides of March. The seating was comfortable and the acoustics were terrific. My seat was close enough to the stage to feel that the venue was intimate, I could see the performers well and felt involved in the show.

A naysayer, sitting near me, pointed out that these acts could sometimes be seen for free at the summer festivals in the Chicago area. That may be true, but the festival venues are an entirely different experience. When I saw the Ides of March at the Genesee Theatre, I was blown away by the dynamic performance. When I caught them at a summer festival in Schaumburg, Illinois, there were no seats and I could not get close to the stage, The sound was not great and the experience was disappointing. In fact, I did not even stay for the entire act. Therefore, for a high-quality experience, I would recommend seeing them at the theatre, if given the chance.

The theatre is a historic gem, that built in 1927 and originally opened during the prosperous Jazz Age, in 1928. The Genesee Theatre showed the first talking picture, or talkie, in Waukegan in 1928. The theatre, built for one million dollars, was more than a movie theater. The building also had shops and apartments. The Genesee served as a community center and live entertainment. The theatre featured movies, local entertainment and community events until 1989, when it was closed.

In 2004, the theatre was reopened, with much fanfare, after a $23 million renovation. Entertainer Bill Cosby gave two sold out shows at the Genesee for its Grand reopening in 2004.

Much of the renovation was done by 120 volunteers, who took great care to ensure that the integrity of the theatre was preserved, as they restored the building to its original grandeur. Many of the original wood railings, molding and light fixtures have been kept intact from the early days of the theatre. The marquee is a replica of the original marquee, from 1928.

The theater boasts 2,400 plush red velvet seats, which are extremely comfortable. The ceilings feature gold gilt and crystal chandeliers. In the lobby hangs a Baccarat crystal chandelier, originally from the Orpheum Theatre in Seattle, which is valued at $350,000.

The Genesee Theatre offers current entertainment in a plush, historic atmosphere. The theatre sells drinks during intermission. The entertainers often sell CDs in the lobby during intermission and after the show, so you might get to meet them in person. I recommend this venue for high quality entertainment in Lake County, Illinois.

Genesee Theatre is located at 203 North Genesee Street in Waukegan, Illinois 60085.

Waukegan is the the County seat of Lake County, Illinois. Gurnee, Illinois, best known for Six Flags Great America, is west of Waukegan.