Theater of the Mind

Snuggled on the north side of LaSalle Street, a striking array of bright yellow and pink banners captures the eye and draws your eye to the vibrant display surrounding the 333 North LaSalle Street building. This venue proudly hosts Goodman Theatre's latest immersive production, an intriguing interactive show that promises to engage and intrigue its audiences with an unusual journey of the mind and body. The banners' vibrant colors create a lively aura that calls to passersby to explore the artistic experience within. Theater of the Mind is an extraordinary and immersive experience crafted by the acclaimed artist David Byrne, whose work has garnered prestigious accolades, including Academy, Grammy, and Tony Awards, in partnership with writer Mala Gaonkar. This captivating 75-minute journey invites an intimate group of 16 audience members to embark on a sensory adventure that challenges and expands their perceptions of reality.

As you step into the venue, a friendly staff member directs you to a lockbox stationed, designed to keep your belongings secure. Here, you are encouraged to deposit your devices—phones, purses, and all outerwear—before embarking on the adventure ahead. The creators of this experience want you to engage with the journey without distractions, letting your mind fully enjoy the show. Then you are taken into a holding room to await the tour guide, who will escort you to the main host, whose storytelling draws on Byrne's rich life experiences. Throughout the journey, audiences engage in a series of innovative sensory experiments, each designed to illustrate how our brains interpret and make sense of the world around us. It's not just a performance; it's a deep exploration of consciousness, inviting attendees to reflect on their own mental processes and perceptions.

I wasn't quite prepared for the challenge of walking and standing for a full 75 minutes. However, as I embarked on this journey, I found myself totally engaged by the experience. As each phase unfolded, it drew me into Byrne's world where I could engage with others and interact with the host. Time seemed to slip away as I became fully immersed in the moment, losing track of everything around me as I explored the depths of each interaction. There are parts of the interactive series that will feel a little spooky, shocking, and amazing, challenging your mind, your perception of sight, and your ability to do the simplest things.

Theater of the Mind is a refreshing change of pace to the hectic life we live. It's 75 minutes of reflections that brings to mind the iconic, long-running slogan for the UNCF (United Negro College Fund), created in 1972, that "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." Before leaving downtown and heading home after a long day of work, make sure to take a moment to visit the colorful 333 North LaSalle Street building, where you can unwind and escape into a world of creative, immersive Theater Of The Mind.

⭐⭐⭐

Goodman Theatre

Theater of the Mind

Co-Created by David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar

Directed by Andrew Scoville

Playing at The Reid Murdoch Building

333 North LaSalle Street

Playing Now until July 12, 2026

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