Tom Williams By Conor McPherson Adapted from the short story by Daphne du Maurier Directed by Kevin Kingston Produced by Griffin Theatre Company At Theater Wit, Chicago Lack of tension and low expectation dulls apocalyptic story McPherson’s adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s short story, “The Birds”, isn’t like Hitchcock’s film nor is it the recent campy Hell … Read more
By Bixby Elliot Directed by Andrew Volkoff Produced by About Face Theatre At the Greenhouse Theatre Over reaching comic fable self destructs as it tries to cover too many stories and styles Playwright Bixby Elliot’s Abraham Lincoln Was A F*GG*T is part campy comedy. part gay coming of age fable and part wishful history. This … Read more
The 42nd Annual Jeff Awards honoring non-Equity theatre in Chicago turned out to be a big night Monday for both Bailiwick Theatre’s “The Wild Party” and Griffin Theatre’s “Men Should Weep.” Michael LaChiusa’s “The Wild Party” led the pack in the musical categories with eight awards, including production-musical; ensemble; Brenda Didier, who won both for directing … Read more
Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones Music by Harvey Schmidt Stage Director & Choreographer by Rudy Hogenmiller Conductor Roger L. Bingaman Produced by Light Opera Works At Cahn Auditorium, Evanston Full orchestra and new tune and large staging fuel Jones & Schmidt’s The Fantasticks Rudy Hogenmiller and Jim Harms have a long association with … Read more
Conceived by Courtney Crouse and Aaron Benham, Directed by Courtney Crouse Musical arrangements by Aaron Benham Choreography by Christopher Logan Produced by Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre At No Exit Cafe, Chicago They’re playing his songs – darn well, too! This original revue is slick, smart and engaging You … Read more
A World Premiere Musical Book & Lyrics by L.C. Bernadine Music & Additional Lyrics by Erik Olsen Directed by Alex Higgin-Houser Music Direction by TJ Anderson Choreographed by Jon Martinez Produced by Underscore Theatre Company At Jackalope Frontier Stage, Chicago Refreshingly original new musical captures the foibles of the shadowy alternative country musicals and songwriters … Read more
By Lydia R. Diamond Directed by Chuck Smith At the Windy City Playhouse, Chicago Smart, riveting family drama of an old money New England Black Family Director Chuck Smith (one of the finest craftsman directing in Chicago) has revised Lydia R. Diamond’s 2006 drama Stick Fly. This revival is a well acted and tightly directed … Read more
Book and Lyrics by Marsha Norman Music by Lucy Simon Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett Directed by Charles Newell Music Director Doug Peck Choreographer Katie Spelman At Court Theatre, Chicago Stunningly staged and sung, Newell and Peck’s production of The Secret Garden a major triumph! When director Charles Newell and music director … Read more
By Walt McGough Directed by Megan A. Smith Produced by Sideshow Theatre Company At Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater End of the world sci-fi fable features two determined woman struggling to reconnect Playwright Walt McGough’s Chalk arrives in Chicago after a two -city (Boston) rolling world premiere. Set in a barn at the end of … Read more
from the novel by Choderlos de Laclos adapted by Christopher Hampton Directed by Charlie Marie McGrath Produced by AstonRep Theatre Company At Raven Theatre’s West Stage Curious timeline confuses French 18th Century novel adaptation Why director Charlie Marie McGrath chose to put de Laclos’ 1782 epistolary novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, in 20th Century Russia in … Read more