Genesee Theatre
Genesee Theatre
4.5
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
About
The historic Genesee Theatre is a 2,400 seat entertainment venue located in Waukegan, Illinois. Located along the northern shore of Lake Michigan between Chicago and Milwaukee, the Genesee Theatre is a hub of activity for Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Hosting a variety of music, comedy, and dance, the Genesee marks Waukegan as a destination for high-quality entertainment once reserved for major cities. The Genesee was built in 1927 as a vaudeville stage and movie palace before being restored in 2004 to its modern glory as a live entertainment venue boasting one of the largest stages in the Midwest, an acoustically dynamic auditorium, and a beautifully restored grand lobby for intimate and elegant events.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
273 reviews
Excellent
204
Very good
57
Average
9
Poor
2
Terrible
1
LadyJanePottle
Des Plaines IL34 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
The Genessee Theatre is beautiful, and conveniently located in downtown Waukegan, with lots of reasonably priced parking. Not a bad seat in the theater.. I saw the Righteous Brothers in concert, and they put on a great show! I’m sure to come again.
Written October 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the five-star review! We are so glad that you enjoyed your recent visit. We look forward to having you back soon!
Written November 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mary m
Antioch, IL53 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
On Friday night a Whitney Houston tribute show singer Belinda Davis gave a fantastic performance. It was like something you would see in Las Vegas. The theater is absolutely beautiful and has great acoustics. They have great artist there. Check out there shows that are coming. The prices are Fantastic. Very good Shows coming up. Buy your tickets at the box office and save a lot of money.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave an excellent rating. We really appreciate your business!
Written February 20, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Drew H
Madison, WI139 contributions
Oct 2021
A very special old-school theater establishment, in the same vein as the Oriental in Milwaukee, Orpheum in Madison and Coronado in Rockford. It's simply a beautiful place to see a concert or any type of show. A genuine treasure in downtown Waukegan.
Written October 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robert K
Orland Hills, IL83 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
This is a Nice OLD theater. The artwork and inside is a throwback to the theaters of old and that is the biggest issue. There is no bad seat in the whole theater. The seats are designed for people who weigh less than 225lbs. So, if you weigh more, the seats will not be comfortable. The area is nice, but you have to travel to find a family place to eat that isn't fast food.
Written February 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. We are sorry to hear that your experience was less than perfect. We'd like to hear more about your experience so we can improve. Please write to us at Customer.Service@GeneseeTheatre.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Written April 15, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Darnell J
1 contribution
May 2024 • Family
I've been to this theater many times and never been disappointed. Not a bad seat in the house but I always pick to sit up close. The atmosphere is outstanding and the staff is very helpful. Oh and the price is right on time. I love it because it's close to home and I don't have to worry about traveling to far. Two thumbs up!
Regards,
D Jones
Regards,
D Jones
Written May 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so glad to hear that you've enjoyed your experience at The Genesee! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, Darnell! We hope to see you back again very soon.
Written November 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
j x
1 contribution
Sep 2024 • Couples
My wife and I attended the Fleetwood Mac rumors Band 9.6.24..and it was terrible. Mind you we have seen several bands of thus nature, The ones from Nashville (World Turning), and Tusk. They were completley out of tune, and called themselves by the original band menbers names, i.e Lindsey Buckingham..They never introduced themselves.. The audio was terrible..I spoke with the Sound manager told him I was in front,,he laughed..you are in the "dead Zone"
Bathrooms are not adequate, no security measures, and for 2,000 guests 1 bar..This a goverment operated facility..dont wast your money
Bathrooms are not adequate, no security measures, and for 2,000 guests 1 bar..This a goverment operated facility..dont wast your money
Written September 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the quality of the show did not meet your expectations. Your comments regarding the show have been forwarded to our Booking Director, and your concerns about the building have been shared with our General Manager. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this further with you. Please contact us at Customer.Service@GeneseeTheatre.com.
Written November 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
robert K
Orland Hills, IL83 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
This is a nice old Theater that was built when people were skinny. The theater is warm and charming. The location is not close to either a major expressway. The downtown area does not offer many places to eat. My biggest problem is a small lobby and very small seats.
Written May 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We're glad to hear that you appreciate the charm and warmth of the historic Genesee Theatre. We're continuously exploring ways to enhance our guests' comfort while preserving the unique character of the venue. We appreciate your feedback about the location, downtown area, and sizing of the theatre. Your thoughts have been forwarded to our General Manager for review. We encourage you to write us at Customer.Service@GeneseeTheatre.com with any additional suggestions. We hope to welcome you back soon and provide an even better experience!
Written November 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sally B
Fox Lake, illinois, USA21 contributions
shows might be good but this is in a very unsafe area. Sorry about this review but I worked in Waukegan for many years and it is not a safe place to be after dark.
Written March 4, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mpaine1985
Chicago, IL229 contributions
This 2400 seat renovated theatre is a great place to see a show! You'll see such national acts as Los Lobos, Ted Nugent, Wayne Newton, Peter Frampton, children's shows, stand up comedy and plays. I saw Joel McHale do stand up and it was a great show as well as a pleasant experience. Very easy to get to close to US-41, IL-120 and I-94 (Tri-State Tollway) and also is walking distance to the Metra train station. there's lots of parking at the parking structure located at 225 N County St. as well as plenty of street parking and valet parking for most events. the theatre itself is very clean and easy to navigate. Most of the the seats are simply amazing...very wide and super comfy! The seats in the "pit" (1st 2 rows) are typical fold down seats and a very tight squeeze but are literally a couple of feet from the stage! I highly recommend driving a few extra miles from Milwaukee or Chicago to see a show here!
Written October 20, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zygomycota
Madison, WI23 contributions
Jun 2012 • Friends
Yup, Waukegan is a funny town with malls, fast food restaurants, and hotels...and our driver only indicated the county jail and courthouse as the only other attractions. I went to a wedding in the Genesee Theatre, and boy was it gorgeous! The chandeliers and decor added more romance to the wedding ceremony, and the reception was even better! The food was great with cheese and veggie trays, shrimp with bacon, and mushrooms with garlic. The salad was typical, but the prime rib dish was similar to that from chophouses and steakhouses. That dish was perhaps the best wedding food I have ever eaten (and probably will) in a wedding in the US. The stage also provided a great view, and the servers/bartenders were attentive and patient with people--especially a rowdy crowd near the end of the night.
Written June 4, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I read the rules about oversized bags, Does this apply to purses, too?
Written June 13, 2023
Megan H
Ladd, Illinois
we are going to the melissa etheridge concert on October 3, 2021.. I'm in a wheelchair and my spouse got ticket seating in the 1st or second row of the orchestra area fir seating.. will I have a problem seeing if I need to sit for the majority of the concert?.. Also, is there still valet parking and what time should we come for a 7p show, so we can get situated in our seats and locate restrooms and exits before the show starts?? I'm a huge worry wart and like to know where all is located.. lol
Written April 5, 2021
How do I get to this parking lot west of the theatre that people mention - if I'm going east on Grand Ave., would I take a right at N County Street?
Leaving the parking lot - is there a stoplight at N. County and Grand Avenue? Or, what is the best way to get back on Grand Ave. to go west at a stoplighted intersection from this parking lot?
Written November 17, 2018
You can valet right in front for $20 The lot is jus about 100 yards away
Written November 17, 2018
Is there a decent place to eat near Genesse? All the places we previously went to are either gone or not available any more for dinner.
Written October 27, 2018
No really good place near the theater. Need to eat in Gurnee or Livertyville.
Written March 8, 2019
Is there bar service in the lobby and can you take drinks into the theater?
Written March 5, 2018
I have been to the GT often. It is a great venue. There typically is a wine/beer bar set up just past the entrance where you scan your ticket and a full bar in a room on the right after you scan your tickets. You can take snacks purchased there and drinks to your seat to enjoy during the show.
Written March 6, 2018
What is the best place to go for dinner before a concert...hopefully walking distance from the theater?
Written September 26, 2017
Elizabeth Amos
Waukegan, Illinois
Appreciate you writing in! We do offer this easy to read document with some nearby restaurant suggestions. If you go to the Genesee Theatre website, click Plan Your Visit then Area Restaurants, you'll be able to get some ideas!
Written October 3, 2017
We will be staying at a hotel in downtown Chicago. How would we get to the theatre using public transportation?
Written June 1, 2017
Catch a Metra Union Pacific North Line commuter train at the Ogilvie Transportation Center at Madison and Canal Streets. The train ride will take about 1 hr. 20 minutes. Buy your ticket in advance to avoid the penalty fee assessed by conductors on the train! The theater is less than 1/2 mile from the Waukegan stop. Please check the schedule for the Metra trains, that will be the trickiest part.
Written June 2, 2017
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