mayslake peabody mansion

Mayslake has the best theatre at a reasonable price. The acting is superior. Love the homey atmosphere.

I've toured this a couple of times, the first time as part of a brilliant ghost tour put on by First Folio and a second time during their wonderful "traveling" production about Edgar Allen Poe. The building itself is beautiful, but in need of massive renovation. I hope they put the money into restore it because it is truly a treasure worth saving.

The mansion is a place to visit all on it's own! Add some first rate actors and plays and what else would you want?Attire is casual, intermission is great as you can stroll the mansion and the grounds.Try it once and you'll be hooked

We attended the First Folio Theater's presentation of The Merry Wives of Windsor. The production was done under the stars in the outdoor theater on the property. The production was very good, the acting was excellent and the price was quite reasonable. I highly recommend it .

The buildings and grounds at the Mayslake Peabody Mansion are a something to behold. The mansion itself is large and majestic and the surrounding grounds are breathtaking! We saw the Chicago Gay Mens Chorus perform there this evening and were VERY impressed with all the stone, wood, and stained glass of the mansion itself. The historical building and grounds are a fascinating and beautiful "step back in time". We will definitely go back for one of their scheduled tours.

Glad that the Forest Preserve is keeping this up: a good use of tax dollars. When people had the ability to design and build these places it was a long time ago. But if we can appreciate those times we will understand better where we have come from.

Inventive and well produced theater, mostly classic, never boring. Summer productions outdoors in a lovely woodsy setting; the rest of the year inside the Peabody mansion, also lovely; go early enough to check out the changing art exhibits

I've lived in the Chicago area all my life, have seen many sites in and around the city, but was never aware of this bit of history in almost my own backyard.Mayslake Peabody Mansion is located in Oak Brook, on 31st street, a short drive from RT.83. Now owned by the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County this lovely former estate of wealthy business man Francis Stuyvesant Peadoy, who was founder and owner of the Peabody Coal Company. He built this beautiful 39 room mansion in 1921 , on 848 acres of land, intending it to be his summer home. Unfortunately he was only able to enjoy it for 9 months before suffering a heart attack while riding his horse on the property.After his death the family sold the estate to the Franciscan religious order of Catholic priests. They utilized it for seminary training and housing retired and aging friars. They kept the property until it was no longer needed. The acreage was sold bit by bit until the remaining 87 acres with the mansion was sold in 1993 to the DuPage Forest Preserve. The Forest Preserve is now slowly restoring the house back to its former glory and offers tours for as little as $5 per person on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You will be shown most of the 39 rooms in various stages of repair.There is a beautiful smaller building adjacent to the mansion, called the Portiuncula Chapel that you can also see. It is a replica of the Portiuncula Chapel in Assisi, Italy. The Peabody family commissioned the Fransicans to build it as a memorial to Mr Peabody. This Chapel is often rented out, along with the mansion, for weddings, etc.The surrounding grounds are open to the public for picnicking and fishing on the small lake behind the Mansion. Thanks to the help of a volunteer docent we were able to take a interesting look back into what once was America's Gilded Age here in Chicago.**Please understand that only about 3 rooms have been completely restored and that the Mansion is a "on going work in progress". Some of the rooms are used as office space or for theatre personnel. But you will still see how beautiful this building was (and someday will be again) in its hay day.**

For a fun evening catch one if First Folios productions. $35 for 1 performance $105 for a series of 4 performances. Varied productions at Peabody's Mansion. Check it out as we did last year and you will keep coming back

What a great little spot. Mayslake holds concerts, tours and classes! Staff couldn't be more accommodating! Thanks!

I want to throw a party in this incredible mansion! WOW! The grounds, structure, windows fabulous! A SMALL THEATRE HOLDING ABOUT 100 IS NESTLED IN THIS MANSION AS WELL! Jeeves Takes A Bow was playing there Friday evening! Incredible 6 actor play! Peek out the window to view the beautiful small chapel on the grounds in walking distance from the mansion. A MUST visit! It was my first time and it will not be the last!

I attend for the jazz series. Many friends attend for the theatre. Theatre is indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer. I have also attended a wedding in the beautiful chapel on the grounds. There are art exhibits and tours of the mansion.

The atmosphere fabulous, great parking, but most of all, the sincere dedication of the Rice family for pulling it all together and keeping it going. A lovely setting and a huge gem of a find in the Western suburbs. Will always go back. Looking forward to the 2013 season.