Tom Williams By Colleen Murphy Directed by Patrick New Produced by Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. At Angel Island, Chicago “It’s not your fault.” -Kathleen Lingering effects of a massacre are vividly depicted With so many school and work place shootings in America (and Canada) over the last twenty or so years, we shake our heads, then put them … Read more
By Steve Martin Directed by Josh Anderson Produced b y Organic Theater Company At the Greenhouse Theatre Smart, funny absurdist play reflects on the nature of genius and creativity. Famed comedian, actor, banjo player and playwright, Steve Martin’s 1993 PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE, now in a spirited ensemble production by Organic Theater Company at … Read more
By Rob Drummond Directed by Max Truax At Strawdog Theatre Company Weird quiz show parody morphs into inner thoughts I ended up with conflicting thoughts about Strawdog Theatre’s production of British playwright Rob Drummond’s Quiz Show. Maybe if the early Quiz Show scenes were more like an authentic quiz show instead of getting those scenes … Read more
By Nancy Harris Directed by Joe Jahraus At Profiles, The Main Stage, Chicago Technical and script problems plague Our New Girl Irish playwright Nancy Harris’ Our New Girl is a troubled work on several levels. For the first 15 minute or so, a loud fan wailed above the stage rendering most of the early dialogue … Read more
By Michele Lowe Directed by Kimberly Senior At TimeLine Theatre, Chicago Pillage of ancient Middle East artifacts becomes a personal mission for a dedicated patron It is 2003 in Iraq, just before the US invasion and Yasin Shalid (Demetrios Troy), the curator of a museum in Mosul, Iraq is obsessed with saving a key ancient … Read more
By John Marans Directed by Timothy Gregory At Provision Theater, Chicago “Art consists of knowing the basic rules and realizing when it is time to deviate from them.” “Life is not clear cut.” “The combination of joy and sadness – this is the core of truly beautiful music. Just as it is the core of … Read more
In Remembrance of the Oklahoma City Bombing By Isaiah Werner Directed by Aaron Hannrickson Produced by adapt theatre productions in association with Redtwist Theatre At Redtwist Theatre, Chicago Haunting remembrance of an American Tragedy mostly works Adapt Theatre Productions and playwright Isaiah Werner’s world premiere: Scissortail: In Remembrance of the Oklahoma City Bombing presents its … Read more
By P J Paparelli & Joshua Jaeger Conceived and directed by P J Paparelli Choreographed and music composition by Jakari Sherman At ATC -American Theatre Company, Chicago Oral history chronicles the Chicago social experiment of stacking large numbers of poor folks into high rise building. P J Paparelli and Joshua Jaeger utilized the Studs Terkel … Read more
By Karen Tarjan Directed by Robert Kauzlaric Produced by Irish Theatre of Chicago At The Den Chicago Amazing adventure of 2oth century explorers highlights endurance, tenacity and the power of the human spirit. If there ever was a ‘director’s show.’ it is director Robert Kauzlaric’s world premiere of Karen Tarjan’s The White Road. This ambitious … Read more
By Steven Simoncic Directed by Ilesa Duncan Produced by Pegasus Theatre Chicago At Chicago Dramatists Improbable premise dulls community drama Set in suburban Detroit, Steven Simoncic’s world premiere drama, Ghost Gardens isn’t ready for the stage. This eerie drama finds Lorelle doing her now-ten year grieving for Hope, her infant who died of cancer. Childless … Read more