The Drury Lane Theatres were a group of six theatres in the Chicago area founded by
Tony DeSantisAnthony DeSantis, KStJ was an American entrepreneur and theater owner in Chicago, Illinois and its suburbs. He is most well-known for the foundation of the area's Drury Lane theaters...
. The playhouses were named after the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane, built in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
in the 1600’s. His five suburban locations all provided quality, affordable dinner theatre that was appropriate for families.
DeSantis opened the
Martinique Restaurant in
Evergreen ParkEvergreen Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 20,821 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Evergreen Park is located at . The suburb is surrounded by the city of Chicago on three of its sides, while Oak Lawn and Hometown border it on the west...
and began producing plays in 1949 in a tent adjacent to the restauant to attract customers.
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The Drury Lane Theatres were a group of six theatres in the Chicago area founded by
Tony DeSantisAnthony DeSantis, KStJ was an American entrepreneur and theater owner in Chicago, Illinois and its suburbs. He is most well-known for the foundation of the area's Drury Lane theaters...
. The playhouses were named after the historic Theatre Royal Drury Lane, built in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
in the 1600’s. His five suburban locations all provided quality, affordable dinner theatre that was appropriate for families.
DeSantis opened the
Martinique Restaurant in
Evergreen ParkEvergreen Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 20,821 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Evergreen Park is located at . The suburb is surrounded by the city of Chicago on three of its sides, while Oak Lawn and Hometown border it on the west...
and began producing plays in 1949 in a tent adjacent to the restauant to attract customers. The enterprise was successful, prompting him to build his first theatre.
- Drury Lane Evergreen Park was DeSantis’ first theatre in the Chicago area. It opened in 1958 and was a local entertainment landmark for 45 years before closing in 2003.
- Drury Lane Oak Brook Terrace opened in 1984, and is located at the intersection of Kingery Highway
Illinois Route 83 is a major north-south state road in northeast Illinois. It stretches from U.S. Highway 30 by Lynwood and Dyer, Indiana north to the Wisconsin border by Antioch at Highway 83. Incidentally, this alignment is concentric with Interstate 294...
, Butterfield RoadIllinois Route 56 is an east-west state road in northern and northeastern Illinois. It runs from the interchange of Illinois Route 47 at U.S. Route 30 in Sugar Grove east to US 12/US 20/US 45 by Bellwood...
, and Illinois Route 38Illinois Route 38 is an east-west state road that runs across northern Illinois. It runs from U.S. Route 52 in downtown Dixon to U.S. Highways 12, 20, and 45 in Westchester. This is a distance of . As Roosevelt Road it continues through Forest Park and into Cicero and Chicago before terminating at...
(Roosevelt RoadRoosevelt Road is a major east-west thoroughfare in the city of Chicago, Illinois, and its western suburbs. It is 1200 South in the city's street numbering system, but only one mile south of Madison Street...
). The venue benefited from what DeSantis had learned over the years. The facility uses local performers to keep costs down; the theatre is surrounded by bars, restaurants and banquet rooms; shows are limited to musicals; and there is no charge for parking.
- The original Drury Lane Water Tower Place
Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place is a live theater in Chicago associated with the Drury Lane Theatre of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.The original Drury Lane Water Tower Place, which opened in 1976, was closed in 1983....
opened in 1976, but closed in 1983. A new, $7 million version opened on May 18, 2004.
- Drury Lane North began operations in 1976, but was soon sold to the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort and became the Marriott Theatre
The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois, USA is a respected Chicago area regional theatre.-History:Founded in December 1975, The Marriott Theatre has presented more than 170 musicals and is currently led by Executive Producer Terry James, Artistic Director Aaron Thielen, and Artistic...
.
- Drury Lane East (at McCormick Place) also opened in the 1970's, but failed within a year of its' opening.
As of 2007, the theatres at Oak Brook Terrace and Water Tower Place were still owned by the DeSantis family.
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