“Ready for a show?” The Skokie Theatre awaits. It stands as a cultural beacon in the heart of downtown Skokie. This theater is on its way to becoming the premier destination in the North Shore. It hosts concerts, plays, dance performances and film screenings.
Originally, the Skokie Theatre opened in 1915. Back then it was known as the Niles Center Theatre. Samuel Meyer built it in the village of Niles Center. The theater had 425 seats. In 1940, the village changed its name to Skokie. The theater was remodeled in 1942. The front steps and balcony disappeared. The theater got bigger and a new Art Moderne facade appeared. It was renamed the Skokie Theatre.
For decades, the Skokie Theatre showed first-run movies. Later it screened art films, foreign films and Bollywood movies. It closed in the fall of 2004. In 2005, the Skokie Theatre Music Foundation bought the theater. The foundation transformed the Skokie Theatre into a 148-seat concert venue. Renovations included new lighting and sound systems. The exterior got repairs and the building became handicap accessible. The marquee was restored and relit. The Skokie Theatre closed again on December 31, 2011.
In April 2012, it reopened as Gorilla Tango Skokie Theatre. It featured sketch, improv comedy and burlesque shows. MadKap Productions took over in April 2015. It was renamed Skokie Theatre again.
Since February 2014, MadKap Productions has managed the Skokie Theatre. They aim to be the top spot for live entertainment. They book singers, musicians, dancers and comedians. MadKap produces an annual five-play subscription series. They also host special events. These include the Skokie Idol competition and the Short Play Festival.
Wendy Kaplan and Wayne Mell started MadKap Productions in 2010. They wanted quality regional theater in the suburbs. In 2012, they produced their first play at the Greenhouse Theatre in Chicago. It was Mark Saltzman’s “Clutter”. They became a resident company at the Greenhouse Theatre. When the Skokie Theatre became available, they found their suburban home. The Skokie Theatre has been doing very well with a combination of cabaret, Madkap theatre productions and music events.