El Circo Cheapo Cabaret

If you have not been to the El Circo Cheapo Cabaret put on by Aloft you are missing out on one of those «TAKE MY MONEY» moments in Chicago. They host this the first weekend of the month I believe unless there is a holiday. It’s like Cirque du Soleil dressed down into a more casual setting. Absolutely worth every penny and its BYOB! You are welcome to bring snacks and your choice of booze which is great and the layout accommodates those who pay for chairs and space for spreading out a picnic blanket on the mats in front of the stage. Any seat is a great seat in the house and the performances will not disappoint. There is a great variety of performers from trapeze to juggling to silks and each one has perfected their art. Overall a great show for anyone visiting Chicago or even for birthdays for any seeker of fun!

Great place and a good show for the value. The acts are both beautiful and artistic, funny and on the raunchy side (for the later showing, not the earlier family friendly showing), and engaging.
A few tips:
— Do come early. I got there at 9:45 on Saturday, and the place was mostly filled.
— Other reviews are correct: The place is warm. It was about mid-70’s outside and inside the building it felt like 80-​ish. I was wearing skinny jeans, a tank and a cardigan. That cardigan quickly came off, and I had to tie my hair up. And I’m usually the one among my friends to get cold and stay cold pretty quickly in a room.
— Floor mats are decently cushioned. It’s like gym floor mats.
— The late Saturday show started around 10PM and around 11:40PM-ish.
— The 50 bus drops off really close to the venue, but make sure you stay aware of events in the area. I didn’t know there was a festival going on that weekend, so I ended up having to walk a lot more than I originally planned.
— Bring beer, cold drinks, snacks and cups to share among your party or with your date! Makes it for a good time.
And yes, they do pass hats around for additional donations. So bring some extra cash if you feel generous.

There is no doubt that all the performers put their heart and soul into this performance. But overall, the performance is lackluster.
This show reminds me of dropping your kids off to circus camp for the summer, and then coming back at the end of the summer to watch what they’ve learned. Which is great — because they’ve worked hard and it shows in their eyes & the confidence they have on «stage.»
Except I wouldn’t pay for a ticket to go see the show.
It’s a cool concept, you can bring your own booze, it’s in a warehouse, has a «speakeasy vibe» to it (as mentioned in other reviews). And there were 2 very cool performances. But I wouldn’t say it warranted getting a ticket for. Donation? Absolutely. Ticket? No.
And for those of you going this summer, I feel for you. It is hot as a ‘mother in there. Prepare to sweat as much as the performers.

Okay — I’m giving three stars because based on all the other reviews and the description from what I read, I got a boring show on Saturday night.
I’ve been wanting to come here for 2 years. But every time I remember it, it’s either sold out or I have something else to do.
I paid $ 26 for last minute chair tickets to the 10 pm show. BYOB is super cool.
It was nice to see The Puterbaugh Sisters mc’ing. I’ve enjoyed their act at Lincoln Lodge a few times.
But the rest of the show — There were 5 women who did the same routine just with different props — Ribbon, Hoop (2), Anchor and Rope. One girl did hula hooping, one girl did a stand up hoop where she was inside of it (pretty cool), one girl did some sort of bit with her hair (odd), and then there were two guys who did a bit of juggling of sorts.
That’s it. Nothing else.
Maybe I was there on an off-​night, but ??? I’m not saying they weren’t talented but where was the diversity? Where was the circus?
Also, a word to the El Cheapo Circus — Please invest in more garbage cans. The incredibly small one by the door as you’re leaving doesn’t hold very much and is very hard to find. And, bringing my chair with me to the exit as I hold my trash and my coat was pretty insulting… especially since I just paid $ 26 for a ticket and gave $ 5 to your «pass the hat» donation hats.
I’ll be back to give it another try but I was really disappointed in the show. Entertaining — yes.
Diverse and circus-​y? Not really… : — /​
The accordion player was fantastic… I would have liked to see more of him!

Amazing show every time! A variety of acts during the show– worth a visit!
Great ambiance: underground circus! It’s like a circus speakeasy!
Tip: be sure to but tickets ASAP, tickets tend to sell out.

I took my family to the 7 p.m. September show and we had a blast! We brought a small blanket to spread out on the floor and a mini-​cooler for some BYOB drinks and snacks. We weren’t totally sure what to expect or how well my 2 year old niece would tolerate the show, but we weren’t disappointed in any aspect! There were a good mix of ages at the earlier show, so we were very happy to discover it really was family friendly and no one was upset or shushing at the toddler babbling coming from our direction. Plus the performers were really talented and I saw some new things myself! The amateurs all did a great job; even when they made a small mistake they just attempted the trick again and nailed it. In September we saw a tight rope walker, a straps artist, a silks aerialist, a trick bicyclist, a gentleman with 3 sort of yo-​yo/​pickup sticks gadgets (sorry, never seen that act before), and 1 or 2 others. You can’t beat this kind of entertainment at this price! If anything could be better, it would be the emcee-​ing between acts; perhaps it was harder to be family-​friendly and funny, but September’s hosting ladies fell a bit short on comedy for us. Overall I’ll definitely be back and would recommend everyone see it at least once!

I’m sure everyone says it, but this place/​show is a hidden gem. I try to go at least 3 to 4 times a year and it always fun to bring someone new. It’s always a blast and the BYOB option is the icing on the cake. The variety of acts is ever changing, so every time I have gone I have seen new people/​acts. The 7pm show is good, especially if you have kids, but if your a single guy or gal like me, the 10pm show is where it’s at.

This place is a hidden gem! I saw one of the late night shows (more adult humor — but there’s a kid-​friendly show earlier in the evening), and it was fabulous. They sell picnic seats (sitting on the ground) and regular seats — either way, you can bring your own snacks and drinks. I felt like I was watching a secret, underground performance. The show changes from month to month, but involves a mix of homegrown and visiting talent. The aerialists in particular were inspiring — they’ll make you want to sign up for classes at Aloft!

I went to the 11÷2÷13 10pm show with a group of friends. This was actually my third year going, and this continues to be one of my favorite shows in Chicago. It is literally an underground circus – talented performers with breaktaking performances.
I always go with the picnic seats, because it’s fun to bring a blanket and spread out with your friends. It’s BYOB, so we always bring some wine and beer and some snacks for the show.
This is a unique event that really shows off the depth of Chicago’s performing arts scene. I highly recommend El Circo Cheapo to anyone looking for something new and different to do during the weekends.

Update: I have been here 3 times this year, and it’s still a great show, but I’ve noticed a few hiccups: 1) The bathroom situation in this building is bad. And when you have a BYOB show, that is something to be considered. They are difficult to find, etc etc. So, plan for that. Also, we always seem to sit on the side right where you walk in, (facing west?) and the speakers are situated in a way that it’s hard to hear what is being said by the 2 «MC-​comediennes» sometimes. This is ok, though, becuase they need to work on their material. Lots of groaners with these ladies, but I love the dry delivery. They have promise! The show itself is still fun, and I find myself really rooting for these performers…

Amazing talent and a fun, relaxed atmosphere — and so affordable! The show is different every month, and you can see a budding 8 year old talent on a trapeze or a seasoned circus performer on silks — and everything in between. Highly recommend… and don’t forget; it’s BYOB!

This place is BAD-​ASS. I will be back for sure. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but based on the previous reviews I had somewhat of an idea, and man I was NOT let down. This place really is a legit «underground circus». The phrase «starving artists» isn’t lost on this group. They are artists either just starting, or perfecting their show, and sharing it with us in hopes of getting found and making it big.
We arrived in the warehouse district, with plenty of parking right out the front door. we made sure to get there early, as I’d read once they closed the doors you couldn’t get in. Doors were locked till 6:30, and after that you were let in, where you climbed up to the 3^rd floor in this magnificent old building with beautiful old wood floors and so much charm!
You finally reach your destination, and inside is a very quaint, understated room, with a small «stage» in front. There are mats on the floor for the people sitting on the floor, or there are folding chairs for the people who went fancy and bought the $ 15 seats.
You can sit on either side of the stage, or in front. We sat in front, but really you can sit anywhere and have a great view, because the show is so small and personal. They started promptly at 7, and the show lasted exactly an hour and a half.
There was a series of about 10 acts, varying in types. Our had several aerial acrobatic types, a wheel lady, a silly juggler, a bike-​trick dude, an awesome hoola-​hoop chick, etc… BUT, from what I understand — the show is different every time. This really makes me want to come back, because I had a great time, but at the same time I felt here were too many aerial acrobatics — I wanted something different — a little more variety. Maybe someone who throws fire or knives, I don’t know.
If you’re all fancy-​schmancy, this may not be the place for you. this is more about artistry, and sitting in folding chairs. The crowd was a lot of artsy hipsters, but also had average folks of different ages and races.
Oh — and it’s BYOB! Lots of people had brought in beer and wine, and even food: ie sushi and rotisserie chicken! We opted to go for dinner after, but loved being able to bring drinks in!
I totally recommend this for everyone! It’s something everyone should do at least once, and it’s also a great place to take out-​of-​towners, instead of having to go back to the Sears tower over and over and over… (yes, that’s right, I said SEARS tower.).
Half of me doesn’t even want to review it, because I don’t want word to get out, as tickets are very limited. But, the other half of me wants to share the magic of this place.

This place is awesome. an underground circus act that is intimate in it’s setting and inventive in it’s routines. The only sad part is they do a show just once a month. I was at their Jan audition show. Every act was great. the ariel acts were phenomenal. I think I fell in love with all the pretty performers. Though the sad little hipster juggler was a treat to watch as well. I’m hooked — and will have to get tickets to as many shows in a year as I can get. Tickets sell fast though. I missed the show twice last year because I snoozed on buying on time.

El circo! El Circo!
I have been a a lot of these shows. And it’s always fantastic. Amazing circus feats of daring-​do!
Stunning, impossible acts that are happening five feet away from you!
This is Cirque du Soleil quality acts, done in a warehouse, for 10 – 15 bucks a ticket, where every seat in a great one. I can not recommend this show highly enough– I go every month, because it’s just that good.

The Top 10 Reasons to «Run, Don’t Walk!» to the Next El Circo Cheapo:
10. Finding the time to go is easy! The show is conveniently scheduled for the first Saturday of each month at 7pm and 10pm.
9. It’s located in funky Fulton River District (aka Chicago’s Warehouse District), which is not only easy to locate, it’s also easy to find parking.
8. The audience is made up of folks from all walks of life. Sure, you’ll mostly find hipsters and hipster-​offspring at the 7pm show, but look around, most ages and ethnicities are represented in this crowd.
7. You’ll feel cooler than you really are. The smiling faces, Bohemian locale and the socially diverse crowd foster a feeling of «Yeah, I belong here … with all these hip, talented and intelligent people.»
6. The 7pm show is family-​friendly. That translates to KID-​FRIENDLY! Go ahead and bring your toddler. Don’t worry about him «acting up.» My three-​year-​old was so enthralled with the entertainment the whole time – about an hour and a half – I almost forgot he was sitting next to me.
5. For those kid-​averse folks (hey, it’s understandable!), the 10pm show is 18+.
4. It’s BYOB! You read that right. It’s bring-​your-​own-​freaking-​booze. Food too. And bring enough in case you make friends. My husband was smart enough to think of this ahead of time, so we had plenty of wine and cups to share with the folks sitting by us.
3. It’s cheap! $ 15 gets you a chair; $ 10 gets you a seat on the floor (right in front!) on some mats. «El cheapo» ain’t no exaggeration.
2. The CAST! The people are talented, happy and having the time of their lives. Thanks to the venue set-​up (a big warehouse/​loft), they’re all just standing around when the show is over and happy to chat. I became BFFs with several of them before making it out the door – even snagged a few hugs!
And the No. 1 reason to «Run, Don’t Walk!» to the next El Circo Cheapo:
The PERFORMANCE! Sure, some of the acts may be a little rusty (just a little). But all the performers (including the 2-​person band that played before the Aug. 4 show) put their hearts into what they do, and you feel that.
It’s great energy … all around you … the whole time!

Awesome. The unglamorous surroundings and minimalist production make you really appreciate the amazing things these people are doing with their bodies. Why spend $ 100 on Cirque to Sole when you can see Chicago’s own El Circo Cheapo.
The building is not ADA accessible, but if you can get up to the loading dock there is a freight elevator.
* Usually I give public accommodations that are not accessible a one star rating, but these guys were really trying to be accommodating and it is the city that owns the building, so I can’t fault them.

A blast and a half. It was totally worth the $ 15 tickets and the performances were amazing. The MC was hilarious, and the BYOB is always a thumbs up in my book! I haven’t stopped talking about it, I’m going to go to the next one!

Seriously, AMAZING.
$ 10 a ticket? Why wouldn’t you go?!
This place was amazing. Underground circus. What more can I say? Don’t let the name «cheapo» fool you. This was an amazing show. I went to the 10pm show and it went until 12am. The performers were AMAZING. There’s this guy that spins on this huge wheel and a guy that does awesome tricks with this bicycle that I’ve never seen before. These performers don’t make the most money, but it’s obvious that they LOVE what they do. I recommend this place to you!
Also while the show was almost over, I said to myself, screw teaching, I want to do something more exciting with my life. like joining a circus and leading a more exciting and fabulous lifestyle. So anyways, it’s inspiring, funny, sad, all the emotions into one big show!
It’s also BYOB and bring your own food if you’d like so there will be some drunk people. But it’s all good.

Went here with some of my wife’s co-​workers, and was amazed. $ 10 each for tickets to this amazing human feats show– and it’s BYO? I thought it was lies at first, horrible lies, but then when it all came true I was nearly speechless.
Loved it so much I donated extra cash, went home, told friends about it and bought tickets for the next show (which sold out 16 hours later).

This is a monthly variety show put on by the folks at Aloft Aerial Dance. Tickets are $ 10, and if you do 5 pull-​ups on the night, you get $ 5 back. The ticket ordering website said you’d get $ 1 back per pull-​up, up to five, which ended up not being the case, which I gripe about clearly because I am a cheap woman who discovered in public that she could not even kinda do five pull-​ups. Something else happens if you can do 10 of them, but I am certainly the wrong person to ask about that magic…
So, $ 10 it is. And $ 10 well spent! We were treated to two hours of aerial stunts! Pretty ladies swingin’ by their necks! Singin’ and dancin’! Baton twirlin’! Jumpin’ barefoot on glass! Non-​creepy (I’d go so far as to say cute) clowns! All emceed by from the lovely and hilarious ringmistress.
It’s an intimate show in Aloft’s loft, with the audience cozied up on folding chairs, couches, and floor mats. I missed the BYOB memo myself, but portions of the crowd brought in some refreshment. There are two shows: 7pm and 10pm, and they sell out online early. Go! Pay your money, lose your self-​esteem on the pull-​up bar, then sit and watch with a renewed sense of wonderment the people who can actually do this stuff.