Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Forrest.
Mark, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Tommy Gun’s Garage is an audience interactive 1920s dinner-theatre speakeasy. We have been entertaining audiences in Chicago for 30 years, which makes us the longest running show in Chicago.
I am an actor/singer and have been working in Chicago for 25 years. I spent several years in Los Angeles and moved here in 1993. Prior to Tommy Gun’s I performed in over 100 plays and musicals around the country. I have also appeared on several television shows, most notably the NBC show Chicago PD.
I started performing at Tommy Gun’s in 2002 and two years ago I took over as director of the show. The cast and crew are second to none. It is a joy to work with these people every day. I am in the process trying to buy the business from the current owners since they want to retire and we want to keep the place open. I’m hoping this will happen in the next few months.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any business, we have had our ups and downs. In the 1990’s business was booming, thanks to the Kevin Costner movie “The Untouchables” and the television series that followed. In fact, one of our cast members was a regular character on the series.
The owners have managed to keep us running steadily through two or three recessions in the economy, but we have always bounced back. Two years ago our “group salesperson” retired which cause a serious drop in revenue but we’ve got it running smoothly again.
After 30 years, I think we have most of the kinks worked out.
Tommy Gun’s Garage – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
First of all, we’re a dinner theatre. There are very few of those left in the country. You get a wonderful three course dinner and a show. But on top of that we’re an “audience interactive” dinner theatre. From the minute the customer walks in the door, they’re transported back to 1929. You can’t even get in the door without giving the password. We involve the audience in a great deal of the show, which is always challenging and fun, and creates a different show every night. I think that is our most unique aspect; the fact that the audience doesn’t just sit and watch a show. They’re part of it.
The actors that perform in the show are also the ones who serve the dinner and drinks “in character”, which the customers love. When “Muscles” gives you a hard time because you ask for ketchup on a steak, or when “Bubbles” asks you what that device in your hand is, because she’s never seen a cell phone before, it all adds to the experience.
We are a family friendly show. Half of our business is tour groups, school groups and senior citizens. Tour operators from around the country bring their clients here.
We also cater to businesses and corporations no matter how large or small. If a company want to have a private party or event, we customize the show just for them.
We are known for being the one place you must attend if you want a quintessential Chicago experience.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I’m very proud of being the director, and performing every night in our amazing show. Our cast is extremely talented and works very hard, not everyone can do what they do. It takes a very special and talented person to wait tables in character, ad-lib with customers, perform in a show, and continually return to your tables to see if they need coffee or another drink and then make it back on-stage to do the Charleston.
My proudest moment was probably when my entire hometown church came to the show and cheered me on. 75 people from a small Illinois farm-town church. And they had a great time.
I’m expecting my next proudest moment will be when I assume ownership of the business.
Pricing:
- $67 Thursday and Sunday
- $72 Friday
- $77 Saturday
- All prices include: three course dinner, show, coffee, tea, soda, tax and gratuity
- Discounted rate for groups of 20 or more
Contact Info:
- Address: 2114 South Wabash, Chicago, IL 60616
- Website: www.tommygunsgarage.com
- Phone: 312-225-0273 or 773 RAT A TAT
- Email: tommygun2@sbcglobal.net
- Facebook: tommygun’sgarage
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