Loving Repeating

Lyrics by Gertrude Stein, Adapted by Frank Galati Music by Stephen Flaherty Directed by Allison Hendrix Produced by Kokandy Productions At Theater Wit, Chicago “Rose is a rose is a rose…” “Very fine is my valentine, very fine and very mine. Very mine is my valentine very mine and very fine. Very fine is my … Read more

Whatever

By Robert Tenges Directed by Adam Webster Produced by The Side Project, Chicago Everything’s Terrible, and Everybody Sucks Naming his newest play Whatever was a bold move on Robert Tenges’s part. The author, who has a longstanding relationship with The Side Project, specializes in drama about teenage struggles, and in the past, has been praised … Read more

Seagulls-Chicago Musical Theatre Festival

The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, now in its second year, is a new-works festival produced by Underscore Theatre company. We created CMTF for one reason: there’s a wealth of musical theatre creators and performers in Chicago, but the high risks of producing new musicals means that few companies are willing to take a chance, especially … Read more

Marble, GA-Chicago Musical Theatre Festival

The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, now in its second year, is a new-works festival produced by Underscore Theatre company. We created CMTF for one reason: there’s a wealth of musical theatre creators and performers in Chicago, but the high risks of producing new musicals means that few companies are willing to take a chance, especially … Read more

Grand Concourse

By Heidi Schreck Directed by Yasen Peyankov Produced by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago What’s Forgiveness For? Grand Concourse, a Midwestern premiere at Steppenwolf, is another one of the plays currently running in Chicago that examines the question: what do we mean by calling someone a “good person?” Playwright Heidi Schreck’s angle is to interrogate the … Read more

Take Me Back

By Emily Schwend Directed by Will Crouse Produced by The Poor Theatre, Chicago A Well-Acted Slice of Very Troubled Lives Reassuring somebody that they’re a “good person” is one of the most common platitudes, but what does it really mean? There are several plays currently in production around Chicago that ask that question, and don’t … Read more

The Winter’s Tale

By William Shakespeare Co-Directed by Alison C. Vesely and Hayley Rice Produced by First Folio Theatre, Oak Brook A Captivating Winter Story this July Outdoor theatre in the Midwest is always tense, because you never know if rain or thunder might prevent you from hearing the end of the story. That’s especially true with The … Read more

The Little Mermaid

Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater Book by Doug Wright Directed by Rachel Rockwell Produced by Chicago Shakespeare Theater Disney Fun Contains Design to Dazzle Children As part of Chicago Shakespeare’s mission of increasing the public’s comfort in theatre, each summer, they perform a short musical that appeals to children … Read more

Kinky Boots (National Tour)

Book by Harvey Fierstein Music by Cindi Lauper Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell Produced by Broadway in Chicago Light Fun from a Strong Production When Kinky Boots debuted at Broadway in Chicago in 2012, many reviewers were of the opinion that it was competently staged and sung, but derivative. Now that it has returned … Read more

Recurring John-Chicago Musical Theatre Festival

The Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, now in its second year, is a new-works festival produced by Underscore Theatre company. We created CMTF for one reason: there’s a wealth of musical theatre creators and performers in Chicago, but the high risks of producing new musicals means that few companies are willing to take a chance, especially … Read more