Jacob Davis By Nicky Silver Directed by Derek Bertelsen Produced by Aston Rep, Chicago Playwright Nicky Silver has a certain style of family-based humor he’s used since his career took off in the early 90s. He writes exaggeratedly vicious people, has them fight, and expects it to be heart-warming and funny. His 2011 play The Lyons is … Read more
By Rob Smith Directed by Tara Branham Produced by lower case theatre, Chicago A Strong Drama from a Highly Motivated Team If you can’t get your script produced, do it yourself. That’s the advice most commonly given to young, aspiring playwrights, but it’s no small feat. While there are a number of fringe festivals around … Read more
By Arthur Miller Directed by Louis Contey Produced by Timeline Theatre Company, Chicago A Lifetime of Self-Deception Unravels In The Wild Duck, Ibsen called it the “life-lie.” In The Iceman Cometh, O’Neill called it a “pipe-dream.” In The Price, Arthur Miller doesn’t have a specific term for the self-deception people practice to convince themselves they’re … Read more
Book by Aaron Thielen Music and Lyrics by Michael Mahler Directed by Rachel Rockwell Music Direction by Ryan T. Nelson Produced by The Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire In Association with Universal Stage Productions A Heart-Warming Story about Intellectual Pursuits Even had Rachel Rockwell not recently directed Billy Elliot at Drury Lane, it would be impossible not … Read more
By Patrick Marber Adapted from August Strindberg Directed by Elly Green Produced by Strawdog Theatre Company, Chicago The Battle of the Brains Comes to Britain Listen to my interview with Elly Green Producing Patrick Marber’s After Miss Julie is to adapt an adaptation. Marber took August Strindberg’s landmark 1888 drama about a then-contemporary Swedish count’s … Read more
Adapted and Directed by Zachary Baker-Salmon Produced by Oracle Theatre, Chicago, In association with Theater on the Lake Teaching History to the Choir From Oracle, the theatre company that recently brought us The Jungle among other highly enjoyable examples of Epic Theatre, comes this latest documentary drama using found text. This House Believes… is a … Read more
Written by Joan M. Schenkar Directed by Emily Lotspeich Produced by Trap Door Theatre Derrida Doesn’t Always Make Things Better Joan M. Schenkar’s The Universal Wolf was written in 1996, when Judith Butler was making French deconstructionism the rage in feminist studies. Perhaps that’s why Monseuir Wolf (Antonio Brunetti) and the narrators (Mary-Kate Arnold and … Read more
By Eleanor Bergstein Directed by James Powell Musical Supervision and Orchestrations by Conrad Helfrich Choreography by Michele Lynch Original Choreography by Kate Champion Produced by Broadway in Chicago Playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre A Rousing Good Time With Top Talent Dirty Dancing—the Classic Story Onstage has been touring since 2004, leaving a trail of … Read more
By Peter Ackerman Directed by William Brown Produced by Windy City Playhouse A Very 90s Sex Comedy The new Windy City Playhouse, now in the third show of its inaugural season, has drawn attention to itself for its swanky, comfortable, nightclub atmosphere. With its swiveling armchairs, end tables for drinks, and handsome lobby, the casual … Read more
By Jim Cartwright Directed by Erin Shea Brady Produced by The No Stakes Theater Project Playing at Theater Wit An Auspicious Beginning for New Directors Despite the company’s name, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is a crucial project for The No Stakes Theater Project, founded by Erin Shea Brady. It’s their first full … Read more