Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Northlight?
DRIVING
Northlight Theatre, found inside the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, is easily accessible from Chicago (only 15 miles from the Loop), and the North and Northwest suburbs. We are just east of the I-94 Edens Expressway: less than 1 mile from I-94's Old Orchard Road Exit 35, across the street from the Westfield Old Orchard shopping center. For specific directions from your location, visit our Directions page.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The Yellow Line ‘L' (Skokie Swift) stops 1 mile from the Theatre, where you can transfer to CTA bus #97 which stops in front of our building. Please note: The last #97 departs at 10:30pm Monday-Friday, and earlier in the evening on Saturday-Sundays, so this route is not recommended for weekend evening performances. For more information on specific schedules and routes, visit the CTA web page at www.transitchicago.com.
Where do I park?
Our location at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie features complimentary parking. Parking for theatre patrons is available in the surface lot directly east of the Theatre at all times. Additional garage parking is available after 6pm on weeknights and all day on the weekends in the garage just east of the surface lot. A second garage entrance is accessible off of Gross Point Road. Click for parking map>
The parking lot in front of the NSCPAS belongs to the DoubleTree Hotel and is reserved for guests of the hotel and restaurant.
How big is the Theatre?
Our performance space is an intimate 342-seat theatre with a three-quarter thrust stage (audience seated around three sides). The furthest seat is a mere ten rows from the stage! See a Seating Chart.
How much do tickets cost?
Single Tickets range from $25 - $65 depending upon seat location and day of performance. Opening Night tickets are $75 and include a post-show reception. For more information about a specific production or performance date, contact the Box Office at 847.673.6300, or explore individual performances online.
We offer a variety of discount opportunities - visit our Groups and Discounts page for more information. Subscription packages are available for 3, 4, and 5 plays and start at only $89 (4-play) - see our Subscription page for more information.
What if I can't come on the date that I'm scheduled?
SUBSCRIBER BENEFIT: If a conflict arises for a Northlight subscriber, we are happy to exchange your tickets to another performance at no charge, provided we receive your request 24 hours prior to the performance by phone, fax or mail. Each subscriber is entitled to five exchanges per year (one per show) - additional exchanges will be subject to a $3 fee per ticket. Upgrade charges may apply if you exchange into a higher priced performance or seating area.
TICKET BUYERS: Ticket buyers for an individual show may exchange their tickets for a $10 fee (per ticket) by coming to the Box Office in person or by faxing a copy of their torn tickets to the Box Office 847.679.3704. Upgrade charges may also apply if you exchange into a higher priced performance or seating area.
Can I return my tickets?
All tickets and subscriptions are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend your originally scheduled date but can attend at different time, see our Exchange policies. If you are unable to use your tickets at all, you may give your tickets back to the Theatre as a tax-deductible donation. Please contact the Box Office at 847.673.6300 to arrange for your ticket return, and Northlight will provide a letter acknowledging a tax-deductible gift for the face value of your tickets.
What happens if I'm late to a show?
For best service, please plan to arrive at the Theatre at least 15 minutes prior to the schedule start of the show. As part of our commitment not to disturb other audience members or performers, late arrivals may be held outside the Theatre until a suitable break in the performance, or seated in the back at the discretion of the House Manager. You will be able to move to your assigned seats until intermission (if applicable). Depending on the nature of the show, late seating is not guaranteed.
What happens if I lose my tickets?
If you are unable to locate your tickets, call the Box Office at 847.673.6300 and report your tickets as missing. The Box Office will reprint your tickets and hold them at Will Call for you to pick up on the evening of your performance.
Are there restaurants near the Theatre?
Northlight is proud to have a wide variety of local dining options to serve our patrons. Visit our Dining Partners page to see restaurants that support Northlight and offer discounts to our patrons, and our Area Dining page for additional nearby options.
Is Northlight Theatre accessible to those with disabilities?
Yes, Northlight is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. If you require wheelchair-accessible seating, or have other specific seating needs, please contact our Box Office at 847.673.6300.
Does the Theatre have listening devices?
Headsets for hearing-impaired patrons are available for every performance and can be checked out from the House Manager prior to the performance. You may be asked for a Credit Card, Drivers License or other form of ID as a deposit.
What's your policy on cell phones, cameras, etc in the Theatre?
Photographic and/or recording equipment is not allowed in the Theatre. In consideration of both other patrons and the performers on stage, we ask that all cell phones, watch alarms, and any other electronics that emit sound or light be turned off before the show. Texting is not permitted.
Can I bring my kids?
Children under 7 are not admitted to mainstage productions. Please note that some Northlight productions may include content that could also be considered inappropriate for children over 7. If you have questions or concerns about a particular production, please contact the Box Office at 847.673.6300.
Northilght also offers extensive Education programming through many nearby schools, and a popular Summer Performing Arts Camp for students grades 3 through 10. For more information, visit the Education section of our website.
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What is the difference between Northlight Theatre and the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts?
Northlight Theatre is a non-profit theatre company founded in 1974 - a history that pre-dates our residency at the North Shore Center. Originally called the Evanston Theatre Company (and with previous homes including Evanston's Kingsley School and Coronet Theatre), Northlight is among the largest and most respected theatre companies in the Chicago area. As a producing organization, Northlight is responsible for every aspect of the shows on our stage - from the selection of plays, to set design and construction, to the casting of actors, etc. Northlight moved to the NSCPAS when it originally opened in 1996, and has been a resident company ever since.
The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (NSCPAS), built in 1996, is a performance venue: a two-theater complex that is home to two distinct resident companies, Northlight Theatre and Skokie Valley Symphony, and that also presents a diverse calendar of entertainment events - including concerts, comedians, dance companies and more. In addition to the events the NSCPAS presents, the building is a popular rental facility, and hosts numerous other cultural organizations and special rental events each year.
I have a question that has not been addressed here. To whom should I speak?
Please direct all ticket and price related questions to the Box Office at 847.673.6300. Individual contact information can be found on our Staff page. Any additional questions may be directed to northlighttheatre@northlight.org
847.673.6300 
