The Neo-Futurists

When they started this show, I was only 1-​year-​old (I’m 28). And it’s still running. Unbelievable.
This was one of the most interesting shows I’ve ever seen. It’s just SO different.
It’s an artistic experience.
First of all, they make you wait outside like a chump and make you think it’s super worth it to wait in line for this. And it is pretty worth it. Then, if you bought online, you roll a die to get a refund of $ 1 – 6 back from the original $ 20 you paid. If you buy in person, you roll two die and pay the sum of the two.
I met people in line who refused to buy online and wanted the FULL experience by waiting in line to see the show. You might not get in if you don’t show up early enough! I met two girls who came 2 weeks ago, didn’t come early enough and were turned away, went home, and came back today to wait in line for the FULL experience instead of buying online. I love the hardcore spirit of my fellow audience members!
After that, you walk through a labyrinth of hallways and wait in a parlor to get your partial refund, and then you are led into the theater.
The show consists of a motley crew of very artistic, driven, colorful performers.
They write all their own plays, and they run through as many as 30 within 1 hour.
The plays are SO varied in experience. Some are funny, some are serious, some are experiential.
SPOILERS DO NOT READ IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED
One play involved tons of audience participation. They gave me a plastic tube to beat on the floor, and they gave tubes to the 3 people next to me. And we basically had a floor xylophone going of sorts. The left side of the audience was rattling newspaper in unison. The middle audience was blowing up balloons in unison to make sounds too.
They used an overhead projector to tell a graphic comic book style story! They used clear transparencies! Their backdrop was a white bed sheet! I haven’t seen an overhead projector since high school! This brought back memories for me.
They threw a bucket of chalk on the floor and had anyone who wanted to get out their «political junk» off their chest and people scrawled on the chalk board and the floor.
They had a tablet playing a weird monologue, with a speaker being passed around through the audience, giving the feeling that voice was moving throughout the room.
They had a play where two people were cracking eggs and making a huge mess everywhere.
They squeezed an orange and tomato in front of everyone, splashing the front row.
END OF SPOILERS
You should attend for a very interesting artistic experience! And I also love the theater itself; it makes me nostalgic for the 1990’s. Or modern day Portland.

Too Much Light is like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s so real and the performers give it their all every single night. It’s almost too hard to explain. Go with an open mind and leave appreciating performance art and the wonder that it is. I’m from St. Louis and I drive to Chicago at least once a year to see the show. More than worth the drive.

Great fun! I would suggest to anyone who likes quirky humour.

Review for Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind only.
Is TMLMTBGB fun? Is TMLMTBGB funny? Is TMLMTBGB worth a see?
Those are different questions.
In Chicago’s longest-​running show, The Neo-​Futurists attempt to perform 30 plays, all autobiographical by members of the company, in 60 minutes. Before the show begins, the audience is given a printed menu of the day’s plays; for a fast-​paced hour, the audience shouts their requests, the actors scrambling to set the scene without wasting a second. Instead of stepping into character, the actors – clad in street clothes and sharing personal stories – remain unapologetically themselves.
With audience interaction and emotional purges by the performers, TMLMTBGB forces the audience to engage in the world around them, around us. For an hour straight, we’re made to address, to question, the things that make us uncomfortable. And if the show sells out, we’ll all be rewarded with pizza.
Fun, sometimes. Funny, occasionally. Worth a see, for sure!

Too Much Light is chaotic and wonderful. The performance is raw, the audience is allowed a kind of intimate look at what is going on.
The lack of actual stage and curtain, as one might find in a common theater setting, as well as the hurried format of the 30 plays or clips of performance in 60 minutes come together to create more of an experience than just a show. The variety of types of plays or sketches can be vast and the moods can change from laugh out loud comedy to a sobering political display that makes you really think all in one minute.
The small size of the space as well as the energy and effort from the performers makes the audience feel involved and at times the audience can be picked out or asked to participate.
The way that ticketing works is a little confusing, and even when you are there it is clear that they want the ticketing and entry to be part of the theater going experience. Half of the tickets are available for purchase online and the other half on first come first serve basis. The day I went was a special weekend of performances focused on and celebrating Pride weekend, so the line was very long and the show full. I am not sure that this is how it always is. If you do plan on purchasing at the time of the show, know that it is cash only, though they were kind in holding your place in line for you to run to an ATM for cash.
If you are looking for some entertainment on your weekend, check this out! Why not? It’s relatively competitively priced entertainment and in support of a non-​profit.

I’ve only been to see Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, and it’s one of my favorite things. My friends and loved ones dig it, but my boyfriend (more of a conservative and opinionated type) wasn’t really a fan (though I’m not sure that plays are his thing in general).
I’m not going to give you the same run down as everyone else, I’m going to try and give you unique info. Parking can be a b-​otch, but if you’re willing to walk a bit, then it’s not as big of an issue. There’s tons of restaurants and bars, and there are some awesome options! They only take cash, and you should really listen to them in terms of arrival times — they know what they’re talking about!
Out of the dozen or so times I’ve been able to go, they’ve only finished 4 or so. That can totally depend on the audience, so I don’t necessarily blame them. I will admit that when I go, and we’re getting down to 10 minutes, I stare at the clock and try to figure out if we’ll finish, ha. I have been to their special New Year’s show — a flat $ 40 per person, covering the cost of the show, and you have catered appetizers from Whole Foods, and a champagne/​grape juice toast at midnight. All in all, I found it a perfectly reasonable price for the experience. They do their normal TML show 50 weeks of the year (with the last two off), and so I was super surprised to learn about the New Year’s show, and I can’t wait to go again!
If you love theater, or absurd, things that are real (they never play characters), things that will spark conversation and thought, things that you can talk about for years (for good or bad), than try Too Much Light! Keep in mind that the bathrooms only have two stalls, and I’ve found it’s best to go after the doors open to the theater — if you get in early, claim your seat and go pee, or if your friends are at the end, go pee and meet them back in line! Otherwise, there can be a a bit of a line.
I can’t recommend TML enough, I’m just sad I’ve never been able to go see any of their other shows!

Purely amazing experience. Already tons said about the show, but here’s some details I didn’t see that I think are useful.
Logistics: I had no problem getting there on public transit and walking a mile in the neighborhood to the theater as a very-​not-​intimidating 17-​year-​old (no problem breaking curfew either). Plan out your route going back though — not many transit options at 1 AM so you might end up using Über (great availability).
Got there at 11:15 on a Friday and got in fine, and they actually sold out that day (so I also got my 2-​inch square of pizza).
The whole situation is very uncertain, but there’s beauty in that.

This is definitely a sight to see.
Is this show for your mid-​western aunts and uncles? No. Is this show great for open minded people? Absolutely.
The show constantly changes. New plays are put in and old plays taken out. Always going to be a fresh experience.
My particular experience did involve seeing two cast member’s dongs. Yes, they hung dong. Once you get past the hanging dong, you realize that this is not raunchy, but rather a critique of man and their masculinity.
Most of the plays have an absurdist value to them. If you can get past that, you really see the value in a lot of these plays. Some of them are just ridiculous but most have a very pointed critique about something in our society.
It’s very unique and it’s a must see show. Even if you hated it, or don’t get it, or just plain didn’t like it, go see it. I rather see a show that made me FEEL something, whether it be distaste, or anger, or disappointment, then see something I would forget the second I left the venue.
It’s a must see show.

Have an open mind.
Yes, some things are shocking. But it also provided the catalyst for some amazing discussions after the show. Yes, some things may be considered gratuitous, but I feel that is done in a way to make a point. But there were also plenty of unique, funny, sad, or smart little plays.
I was highly entertained by this show and absolutely loved it. It may not be for everyone but I just hope that if you go, just try and be open to the experience.

This show is increasingly raunchy and requires a disclaimer. There were two completely naked men and a pornographic but clothes scene with a woman pleasuring herself with lubricant. In the previous show I saw there was a woman putting lolipops into her mouth and handing them in a very sexual way to audience members. She also later made very crude comments about being ‘inside of a person’. I’m old enough to see this, but I wouldn’t have chosen to if I had known that this raunchy content was going to be in the show. There should be a disclaimer. Please note not to take children.

TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND.
GO SEE IT. THIS WEEKEND… OR NEXT. OR BOTH!
because the show changes every week. I’ll definitely be back. too damn funny!
I can’t believe it took us as long as it did to go see this when we only live two blocks away. Dumb on our part, but happy we finally we went!

Had high hopes for TMLMTBGB as I’ve seen other Neo-​Futurist productions and loved them. But last night’s show left me and my party… unamused. It seemed like they were trying way too hard for art-​house social (self-​indulgent) commentary and not enough for cleverness. Or basic entertainment value. Know your audience friends! A member of my party, having seen 8 previous productions of TMLMTBGB remarked, «It used to be funny.» On the positive side: a lot of great performers were on stage last night. Love the concept and theater. Just need better material.

Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind was AWESOME. Very engaging and would appeal to anyone, even people who don’t go to live theater at all. Definitely won’t forget that one.

Came here to watch Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. As other reviews have detailed its 30 skits fit into 60 minutes, with the order decided by the audience. Its definitely an entertaining time if you’re into alternative theater. Come with an open mind, and try to take in as much content as you can. I really enjoyed the audience participation aspect of it, and letting the audience create the flow of the night.
I think anytime when 30 skits hit a person in rapid succession, there will be a few that do not resonate with a viewer, so dont expect 30 jaw-​dropping, tear inducing, laughter-​filled skits. This was definitely the case for me, but I had a great time trying to understand and keep up with all the skits anyways. They really do cover a wide range genres, although my batch of skits were mostly humor-​based. Most experiences here will be unique to the respective audience member and the skit order/“menu”, especially as they create new skits weekly.
I would definitely return to see a fresh rotation of skits!

The Neo Futurists is a Chicago based theater company that puts on a number of shows a year: but they tent pole production is «Too Much Light makes The Baby Go Blind»… and it have been running to packed houses for decades.
Started by Greg Allen in the late 1980s, «Too Much Light makes The Baby Go Blind» is a semi improvised show that offers 30 plays in 60 minutes. And each week they add new plays, so the show is always different. And the cast members are all pretty skinny and fit, because the show they do takes a lot of energy: energy that is blasted into the audience at every performance.
The performance takes place in the upstairs area of a converted Funeral Home in Andersonville. You go upstairs and wait in a large, hot room filled with other eager audience members, for quite some time. But it is all part of the process. And the process is fun. After getting to know your neighbor, whose body is most likely pressed up to yours; thus softening your isolation and opening you up to new experiences: then suddenly the Neo Futurists begin the process of selling you tickets, which is all part of the show.
There is no set price for tickets. Instead, you roll two dice and pay that. And it’s all cash. So theoretically you can see the show for anything between 2 and 12 bucks.

This is a unique experience that is great to bring out of town guests to, especially guests that like theater, as this is something you cannot find just anywhere. I have been twice now, and I appreciate all of the little quirky parts of the process from ticketing, to the dice, to the name tags, to the constantly rotating great mix of plays. I am impressed with the mix of funny, thought provoking, deep, strange, and interact with the audience performances. I have enjoyed each of the performers and am inspired by the bits of their lives they seem to share in creative ways. I suggest going with no expectations so that you just embrace the experience as it unfolds.

What an awesome event to attend. Recommended by a friend of ours after bringing up our longing for some good comedy, we headed over to get in line.
From the standing in line experience through the entire show, we were having fun and laughing hard. A must attend show if you’ve got an hour for 30 mini plays.
Be prepared for a little out of the ordinary jam packed with some weird and awesome!

I really enjoyed this event! It was nothing like I have experienced before and I definitely had to keep an open mind but it was so worth it. Very animated characters and not everything is funny which can be refreshing but also fall a little flat, which is why I am only awarded 4 stars.
I am looking forward to going again because it changes and see what new plays they have added.
It’s a breath of fresh air if you are looking for something new to try, and I say you should!
FYI… not BYOB… but you can do that whilst waiting in line… from a water bottle.

Zany, interactive, and fun, Too Much Light is a one-​of-​a-​kind experience. I had no idea what to expect when we arrived for a Sunday night show. When we arrived, we hung out in a waiting area in which there was a person in a cage handing out notes. Then we rolled a dice to determine our admission (if you check in or do something via social media, you roll a 5-​sided dice instead of a 6-​sided dice). We were then each given a name tag and made our way to our seats.
If the show is sold out, they will buy pizza for everyone. It wasn’t sold out, but that didn’t matter– Too Much Light is all about audience participation. There are 30 plays, and the entire audience yells out which play number they want to see. My favorite was «You Can’t Pizza Without Party,» as the cast members invited everyone on stage to dance (which we did!). Some of the plays are serious, crazy, or introspective. Each Too Much Light is different, so you’ll never see the same performance again. Bring an open mind and a friend (or a lot of friends so you can get pizza!!)

Visited to watch Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. Really didn’t know what to expect upon going in, and I have to say I was super impressed by the cast. The content of the plays weren’t really my thing but the concept is really one-​of-​a-​kind, and I don’t know how the cast does it. Up to 30 plays? In one hour? And they don’t even really know what order they’re going to be in? Not something i can expect to be able to do in my lifetime.
Followed everyone else’s tips and got there early (a little too early in fact, but since it’s close to the heart of Andersonville we just walked around there for a little bit). After waiting in line we walked in grabbed a token, went up the stairs, down the hall of presidents, past the concessions, and into a room where we waited again. After a little while, they got the ticket lines going $ 9 + the roll of one die. I rolled a 6! $ 15 show for me. Picked up a nametag before heading into the theater. The plays were wildly variating. From the serious, to the questionable, to the downright silly. It was a little crazy, but not too out there. I’d be up for visiting again if not just to see what new things they’ve cooked up.