Tom Williams Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman Book by Harvey Fierstein Based on the play by Jean Poiret Directed by Joe Leonardo Choreographed by Melissa Zaremba Musical Direction by Ryan T. Nelson At Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire Stunningly visual and romantically heartfelt with loads of laughs make La Cage Aux Folles a hit Jerry Herman is one … Read more
By Aaron Holland Directed by Lilli-Anne Brown Produced by Bailiwick Chicago Theater At Victory Gardens Theatre, Chicago Strange campy comedy comes with loads of disco, drag performances I’m not sure what to make of Aaron Holland’s Princess Mary Demands Your Attention. Director Lili-Anne Brown uses much theatricality including a muse-like drag queen, Princess Mary (Baron … Read more
Choreographers: Tristan Bruns & Zada Cheeks Produced by Tapman producrions At the Athenaeum Theatre, Chicago Tepid tap triumphs as Tapman trumps tap Tristan Bruns is the artistic director and top tap man for Tapman Productions, a traveling itinerant tap dance show designed for birthday parties, outdoor festivals, and private events. Their show comes with a … Read more
By Anna Deavere Smith Directed by Jason Gerace Produced by The Other Theatre Company At Chopin Theatre, Chicago Tedious enactment of personal interviews comes off as propaganda It is difficult enough to recreate personal verbatim interviews when they are not recorded from the original and it seldom works if a woman “plays” a man or … Read more
By Gina Gionfriddo Directed by Kimberly Senior At the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Feminist debate clouds relationship drama The characters and situations in Gina Gionfriddo’s Rapture, Blister, Burn ring hollow and the characters come off as caricatures of 21st Century women. We meet Gwen Harper (Karen Janes Woditsch), a housewife and former grad student with her … Read more
The Apple Family Plays by Richard Nelson Part I: That Hopey Changey Thing Directed by Louis Contey At TimeLine Theatre. Chicago The Apply plays are a unique entrance into the voices of the people about our political landscape. Play 1 That Hopey Changey Thing “Summary: That Hopey Changey Thing is set on November 2, 2010. … Read more
New Production Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica Conductor: Dmitri Jurowski Stage director: John Caird At the Lyric Opera of Chicago Stunning, lush and so romantic new production of the popular Tosca delights the opening night audience. “Living for Art, Dying for Love? –Tosca Anchored by the amazing vocals of … Read more
By Ross Dungan Directed by Jonathan Berry At Steep Theatre, Chicago “Story Theatre is the dramatic presentation of one or more stories told by a group of actors play who multiple roles and provide narration. It is characterized by the use of simple “scenery” like chairs and tables arranged to suggest various settings, simple props … Read more
A World Premiere Musical Book by Will Cavedo & Andrew Hobgood Lyrics by Andrew Hobgood Music by Julie Nichols Directed by Evan Linder Music Direction by Charlotte Rivard-Hoster Produced by The New Colony Sound issues and weak voices hindered an ambitious new musical. The New Colony loves to collaboratively create new theatre pieces. In the … Read more
By Grant James Varjas Directed by Shade Murray At A Red Orchid Theatre, Chicago Slice-of-life gay dark comic-drama examines grief, loss and loneliness The atmosphere is immediate as we enter a dive-y gay bar on Manhattan’s Lower East Aide (terrific set design by John Holt depicting a functioning wet bar). This slice-of-life dark comic-drama features … Read more