"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D
As for non-musicals, THE INVENTION OF LOVE was definitely mesmerizing. It was absolutely haunting to me. Saw it twice, read it afterwards, read some of Latin poetry used in the play. Quite an evening of theatre.