Jacob Davis By Frank Wedekind Adapted and Directed by Jeremy Ohringer Produced by Fearless Theatre, Chicago At Charnel House, Chicago Young Company Flexes Creative Powers Spring Awakening has been a favorite of teenagers since a rock musical adaptation by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater in 2006 breathed new life into Frank Wedekind’s indictment of how youth are … Read more
By Marcus Gardley Directed by Chay Yew Produced by Victory Gardens Theater, Chicago New Play Packed With Plot Victory Gardens playwright Marcus Gardley put his new drama A Wonder in My Soul on hold to write this play, An Issue of Blood, in the wake of nationwide protests against police misconduct. With a conscientious attitude … Read more
By Kristoffer Diaz Directed by KJ Sanchez Produced by Goodman Theatre, Chicago It Isn’t Funny. The Upstairs Concierge would have delighted a nine-year-old Joe Orton. This world-premiere is the product of Teatro Vista writer Kristoffer Diaz and director KJ Sanchez’s fruitless, more than two-years-long development process at the Goodman Theatre. Though the play lacks any … Read more
Adapted and Directed by Matt Foss From the Novel by Upton Sinclair Music by Nicholas Tonozzi Score by Sam Allyn Produced by Oracle Theatre, Chicago Jungle a Potent Message for Today Oracle has revived their hit The Jungle from last summer, and it’s easy to see why. This piece, directed and adapted by Matt Foss, … Read more
By Jean Giraudoux Translated by Christopher Fry Directed by John Arthur Lewis Produced by Promethean Theatre Ensemble, Chicago Artists Show Promise with Challenging Piece Jean Giraudoux’s 1935 play The Trojan War Will Not take Place, which was retitled Tiger at the Gates when it was translated into English by Christopher Fry, is a dense neo-classical … Read more
By Tom Stoppard Directed by Nick Sandys Produced by Remy Bumppo At the Greenhouse Theatre, Chicago Drama Packed With Modernist Themes Remy Bumppo’s funhouse themed season culminates in a genre-bending meta-theatrical romp that demands an audience’s full intellectual engagement. Tom Stoppard’s 1974 play Travesties is an adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest set in … Read more
By Denis O’Hare and Lisa Peterson Directed by Lisa Peterson Produced by Court Theatre Story of the Bible Makes Strong Production, Needs Revisions Court Theatre’s world premiere production of The Good Book is a musically transfixing examination of the Bible’s history and impact on present day Americans, but naturally will need some revisions before its … Read more
By Will Eno Directed by Marti Lyons Produced by Lookingglass Theatre, Chicago Man Meditates on Grief and Limitations Title and Deed is a one-man show in which the character’s monologue only vaguely recounts a story. Instead, the Traveler, as he is called, treats us to a dissection of his losses, regrets, and sense of alienation … Read more
By David Hirson Directed by Kay Martinovich Produced by Trap Door Theatre Loquacious Virtuosity on Display La Bête—the beast—is a play about the clash between high and low art. It imagines a conflict between Moliere, here called Elomire, and an amazingly obnoxious street clown. Playwright David Hirson’s choice of that author as his hero is … Read more
By Lanford Wilson Directed by Jonathan Berry Produced by Griffin Theatre Company At The Den Theatre, Chicago Wilson’s Vision Comes to Life Lanford Wilson’s 1965 play Balm in Gilead has won a place in theatrical history, and has some particular connotations in Chicago. But however skilled Steppenwolf’s production was, it was years before I and … Read more